The collection consists of maps and written essays in both analog and digital file formats created by Eugene Lang College seniors at the request of college dean Stephanie Browner. The maps and essays document the students' "intellectual journey," in the words of the call for submissions, also included in the collection.

The Eugene Lang College Dean's Office first solicited the Senior Experience maps from fourth year students in 2012, during Dean Browner's first academic year as leader of the college. While the call for submissions included opportunities to map student experiences in sound, moving image, and music, according to Jennifer Riegle, who coordinated the transfer of maps to The New School Archives, the Dean's Office did not receive any submissions in those genres.

The collection contains 27 physical maps, two with accompanying essays and biographical statements. Students employed a variety of techniques and media to create the maps, including colored pencil, marker, pen, glitter, and collage. Most are hand-drawn.

The JPEGs and PDFs comprising the digital maps appear to be largely photographs or scans of maps submitted in an analog format (the call for submissions indicates students were required to submit a hard copy). The majority are not maps created in a computer application.

Submissions typically identify the student by name and where they grew up or traveled from to attend Eugene Lang College. They also include course titles and theatrical productions in which the student participated. Many contributors participated in the Senior Seminar in Theater. The Senior Seminar play, Monster, is a repeated motif, represented by Doctor Frankenstein's monster, as is The New School's university mascot, Gnarls the Narwal. The call for submissions, signed by Dean Browner, includes detailed requirements for the maps and essays, including the number of courses (8-15) and Eugene Lang College-specific experiences (3-5) identified.

According to Riegle, students primarily learned about the opportunity to contribute maps and essays via email, but Dean Browner likely also encouraged students to participate in the activity during in-person meetings. The Dean's Office compensated students for their participation.