Master Colleges
KEAN UNIVERSITY, Union, N.J.
This commuter college requires a course on time management, study skills and human relations

KENNESAW STATE UNIVERSITY, Kennesaw, Ga.
Small learning communities help freshmen bond

XAVIER UNIVERSITY, New Orleans A mostly black school gets parents involved and provides frequent advising

Research Universities
HARVARD UNIVERSITY, Cambridge, Mass.
A freshman seminar founded in 1959 has been expanded to 60 courses this year

UNIVERSITY OF MICHIGAN, Ann Arbor
Professors get 600 freshmen to help with research like identifying the breast-cancer gene

STANFORD UNIVERSITY, Palo Alto, Calif.
A seminar helps freshmen bond with professors

Liberal Arts Colleges
DRURY UNIVERSITY, Springfield, Mo.
Orientation begins with a summer reading assignment to prepare for the August seminar

ELON UNIVERSITY, Elon, N.C.
Students can rough it together during summer leadership programs in the nearby mountains

WAGNER COLLEGE, New York City
Freshmen work at social agencies, charities or museums

Community Colleges
COMMUNITY COLLEGE OF DENVER
Four-fifths of students are the first in their family to go to college. A summer program teaches them study skills

MESA COMMUNITY COLLEGE, Mesa, Ariz.
Returning students greet and advise newcomers

VALENCIA COMMUNITY COLLEGE, Orlando, Fla.
Tough starter classes get underperformers up to speed