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For some new Athenians, the first few weeks of college are about figuring out where to go. For others, they are about figuring out where they belong.

For criminology major Sophia Laguna ’30, college has already meant making new friends, finding her voice and discovering a community where she feels supported. “I have already made more friends here than I had in high school,” she says.

Orientation activities helped her become familiar with campus, while fairs and other events have given her opportunities to meet people and explore student life. She has also connected with campus support services to help her transition from the assistance she received in high school to the college environment.

“I have already received so much support from the University,” Sophia says. “They reach out so much to the point you don’t feel like you are alone.”

Sophia is one of hundreds of new Athenians beginning their Mount journey this fall. The new incoming class includes 435 first-year undergraduate students and 81 traditional transfer students. The University also welcomed 84 students transferring into nontraditional programs, including the Accelerated Bachelor of Science in Nursing (ABSN), the RN to BSN program and Weekend / Evening & Online College (WEOC), as well as 192 new graduate students. Together, these students bring a wide range of academic interests, communities and experiences to the Mount.

This year, the Mount also received its largest number of applications in the University’s history, with more than 7,500 applications across its undergraduate and graduate programs.

But the numbers only tell part of the story. For many new Athenians, the transition to college began long before the first day of classes.

A head start on college life

In June, nearly 300 incoming students gathered at the Doheny Campus for Athenian Experience, a two-day event designed to give new students an early glimpse of life at the Mount. Through campus tours, student panels, academic advising and fun activities, students met future classmates, learned about campus resources and began imagining themselves as Athenians.

For exercise science major Leslie Zacarias ’30, the next step was Summer Pathways, a six-week (M)POWER program designed to ease the transition from high school to college. The program gives incoming students an opportunity to take college courses, meet faculty and mentors, explore campus resources and build relationships before the fall semester begins.

“The first day of the program I was a bit anxious and nervous,” Leslie says. “It has been a great way to ease into campus and feel more confident. I started the semester with friends already.”

This year, 80 students participated in Summer Pathways, earning five units of college credit while receiving a $250 stipend. The program also included campus tours, workshops, field trips and opportunities to explore Los Angeles together.

Pre-nursing major Valeria Garcia ’30 says the experience helped her feel more prepared for college. After taking a math course through Summer Pathways, she entered the fall semester with a lighter schedule and a better understanding of the resources available to her.

“Now I recognize people that I had in my summer class and it is nice to see familiar faces,” she says. “I feel like I know the campus a little bit more and I feel more confident.”

From day one to what comes next

That sense of connection continues through First-Year Seminar (FYS), a mandatory introductory course for all first-year undergraduate students that was expanded last year to align with the Mount’s (M)POWER program.

Rather than treating the first year of college simply as an adjustment period, the Mount uses FYS to help students begin thinking about their strengths, interests and future careers from the start. Through Career Launch, students explore career options, identify their strengths, research potential employers and begin developing professional skills such as creating a résumé and a LinkedIn profile.

“I think (M)POWER will help me explore different career opportunities instead of limiting myself to one path,” says Ayleen Becerra ’30, a pre-nursing major from Compton.

For international student Anne Minoca ‘30, who recently moved from the Philippines, the transition to the Mount has already opened unexpected doors. After attending orientation and campus fairs, she built relationships with faculty and staff, engaged with the Department of Career and Professional Development, and secured a position as a social media assistant in the Office of Student Employment.

“(M)POWER is helping me better understand my own personality, desires and aspirations and how that would translate into my future career as an international student,” says Anne.

For the newest Athenians, the college experience is already underway in classrooms and residence halls, at campus fairs and coffee shops, through new friendships and first opportunities. And with Athenian Experience, Summer Pathways and First-Year Seminar helping students find their footing and look ahead, new Athenians are beginning their Mount journey with plenty of possibilities to discover.