This study details the collection, analysis, and interpretation of data from a national multi-institutional longitudinal mixed methods study of college impact and student development of liberal arts outcomes. The authors found three sets of practices in the quantitative data that corroborated with the themes that emerged from the qualitative data: academic challenge, diversity experiences, and supportive relationships aided the transition in the first year. The authors discuss these relationships and their mechanisms for fostering student learning in the first year of college. (Contains 3 notes, 2 tables, and 1 figure.)