‘A peak behind the curtain’: A study exploring higher education pathways arising from an outreach program for under-represented students

School outreach programs are a significant tool for engaging with under-represented students within higher education. However, understanding outreach success can be challenging, particularly regarding whether lasting impacts are made. Using qualitative survey methods, we investigated the impact of an outreach program designed to introduce year 9 and 10 students from under-represented schools to university settings in Australia. The study explored participants’ reflections of the program seven to 10 years after their attendance. We discuss three main outcomes: (1) learning about university, (2) experiencing a socially and intellectually rewarding environment, and (3) increased motivation for completing final years of schooling. Most participants understood the program to be a valuable form of personal development, regardless of their higher education pathways. Our findings, centred on what participants deemed memorable and significant, offering insights for the design of future programs, particularly in catering for students with a range of levels of understandings about universities and pathways into them.