For new high school graduates transitioning to a college campus, the experience may lead to confusion and frustration.

“I got confused trying to register and add classes. I felt like I was the only one who didn’t

know what they were doing,” Emmily Thacker, undecided, said.

Because of the influx of new students, the admissions, registration and counseling staff have overwhelming workloads.

Long lines all over campus, but especially for the one-on-one sessions with counselors, have been grueling for student and faculty alike.

“Standing in lines was pretty ridiculous, especially at the counseling office,” Thacker

said.

With the current and new students all signing up for classes, registering for desired courses have been difficult and at some times impossible because of full capacities.

“The classes I wanted were already full, so I had to pick from the bottom of the barrel,”

Brenna Smith, undecided, said.

To help with the stress and fear of a new experience, students have resources on campus that are made to help with especially that issue.

“When a student feels more connected to a campus, they have a higher chance of

success,” Julieta Ortiz, Student Services specialist and high school liaison for

the Outreach and School Relations Division, said.

The Outreach and School Relations Division specializes in offering guidance to first-semester students.

It has a variety of programs, such as First Year Experience (FYE), Project Success, EOPS, and the Puente program, with each one specialized for the needs of the students.

“I was a part of the Puente program. I had direct access to my counselor and instructors. I attribute part of my success, personal and in my career to being a part of the

program,” Ortiz said.

Students can come into contact with the Outreach program as early as their senior year as well as attend an ECC hosted special high school senior day, organized by Griselda Castro and Maribel Hernandez.

The event is held late in the spring semester, giving students a basic orientation and introduction to the services and resources ECC has to offer.

“It gives them a sense of belonging,” Ortiz said.

College is itself a whole new experience and can be out of student’s comfort zones but with the right knowledge and preparation, it can be a positive and growing experience for all new students.

“ECC is a lot different from high school mostly because it isn’t high school. It’s

college, a completely different kind of education,” Smith said.