The Rural College Student Experience
The Rural College Student Experience is the first and only podcast dedicated exclusively to centering rural college student voices in conversations about higher education access and equity. This podcast is a space for rural students to share their stories, inspire others, and challenge the misconceptions about rural college students.
Hosted by Dr. Matt Newlin (mattnewlin.com), RCSE features student guests —a currently enrolled undergraduate or graduate student from a rural background—who shares their experiences navigating college. Together, we discuss the barriers and challenges rural students face, as well as the resilience, strengths, and successes that define our journeys.
Find us on Bluesky: @rcsepod.bsky.social
The Rural College Student Experience
Ep. 20 - Avery Bass, North Carolina State University
In this episode, Dr. Matt Newlin is joined by Avery Bass, a first-year student at North Carolina State University majoring in Genetics, with minors in Biotechnology and Microbiology. Avery is originally from Pikeville, North Carolina, a small rural town in the eastern part of the state, and graduated from Charles B. Aycock High School.
Avery shares what it was like growing up in a tight-knit rural community and how her early exposure to science camps—and the support of her family—helped her discover a passion for genetics. She talks about the academic and institutional barriers rural students still face, including lack of access to opportunities, college prep resources, and information about scholarships. Avery also reflects on the critical role of mentorship and representation in her journey toward a career in biotechnology, where she hopes to research new treatment approaches for rare genetic diseases.
We also discuss the importance of belonging on large college campuses and how programs like NC State’s Life Sciences First Year Program can help rural students transition and thrive.
Connect with Avery and follow her journey: Avery E. Bass on LinkedIn
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Know a rural student who would make a great guest? Apply at bit.ly/4jNqmS5.