2024 Back-to-School Special! (ep 800)

Ten with Ken (Audio)

“Ten with Ken” returns for its 8th season with a special double episode distilling the best moments from literally hours of welcome back, orientation, move-in and kick-off videos, from more than 100 colleges and universities. Students overcome their anxieties and homesickness by celebrating, dancing, screaming and clinging to their stuffed animals and favourite comfort foods. They’re distracted by concerts, midway rides, marching bands, fireworks, confetti cannons, and so much more. Some schools play games too, staging their own versions of “Cash Cab,” “Undercover Boss,” or “Roommate Match.”

While the post-pandemic Class of 2028 is anxious, so too are campus administrators, still smarting from heated protests and campus occupations this spring. Their Fall welcome videos overtly urge tolerance for diverse viewpoints and a culture of respect on campus. Incoming first-years are asked to share words of advice for their future selves, while senior students and new graduates share their own advice for the incoming class of 2028. A sense of community is quickly established with matching t-shirts, massive logo formations on the football field, running the gauntlet and plunging in to the mud. From “BamaJam” to “GobblerFest,” campuses are working hard to amp up the enthusiasm of students returning to campus this month. (As so many student put it: “Whoooooo!”)

The 125 videos (and counting) considered or clipped in this special are listed in our complete Back-to-School 2024 YouTube playlist here.

In particular, Ken has chosen 10 “Ken’s Picks” as the best in class this Fall:

Duke University “Class of 2028 Class Photo Behind-the-Scenes”

Princeton University “Dear Students, Welcome Back to Princeton!”

University of Oregon “Duckflix: Quack Match”

University of Virginia “It’s Joyful. It’s Bittersweet. It’s Move-in Day.”

Michigan State University “Advice for Incoming Spartans”

University of Guelph “Welcome Back, Gryphons!”

College of William & Mary “Let’s Write a New Story: Move-in 2024”

University of Michigan “Welcome Back 2024: Movin’ through Campus”

Stevens Institute of Technology “Unpack the Quack: Welcome Class of 2028!”

Rochester Institute of Technology “The Wonderful Wizard of RIT” (definitely the best of the whole pack!)

Enjoy!