Mt. SAC is one of California’s leading community colleges, offering over 400 programs that allow students to explore their passions and open up career paths that fulfill their needs. For most students, college is intimidating and even scary at times. Mt. SAC offers so much that some students need help figuring out what they want to study.
The High School Outreach program was created to ease the transition from high school to college as well, providing new students with a clear path to success. Located on the west side of building 9A, HSO has been a symbol of student success for years.
HSO partners with 53 local high schools, including Diamond Ranch High School, Ganesha High School and Walnut High School, offering workshops meant to guide students through their initial years of college. HSO specialists will often visit local high schools to inform students about Mountie Academic Plan workshops and other events to help new students.
According to Outreach, about 70% of students who are enrolled at Mt. SAC reached out to them for assistance or planning.
MAP workshops are meetings with counselors in which students outline their academic journey at Mt. SAC. Oftentimes, these workshops are when students figure out what classes they are going to take based on their intended major and estimate what time frame they could earn a certificate, graduate and/or transfer.
HSO specialists from Mt. SAC regularly visit partner schools and explain to students how to register for classes and join programs that will benefit them. These specialists also guide students in the right direction and offer general college advice, even to students who intend to pursue education elsewhere.
Although HSO primarily focuses on students who recently completed high school, its mission expands beyond students who just graduated. The program also extends support to returning students and students who decide to attend college later on in life. Additionally, HSO will help any student who needs assistance getting acclimated to the college experience.
Joel Monroy, the Director of Outreach and Entry Services, highlighted just how crucial HSO work is when it comes to helping students.
“We provide students with all the steps needed to become a Mt. SAC student but spaced out in different levels so it’s not an overwhelming experience,” Monroy said. “It’s all about making sure they feel comfortable and prepared before they start their first year.”
Monroy also emphasized that HSO will help any Mt. SAC students with anything educational or anything that pertains to growing as a student.
A key offering of the HSO program is the “Connect 4” plan, which is a four-step guide to becoming a Mt. SAC student available to in-district high school seniors. Connect 4 walks students through the application, orientation, assessment and registration phases. Students who decide to work through Connect 4 will receive assistance and an earlier registration date.
When students attend a Connect 4 workshop, they receive help navigating their first few months at Mt. SAC. This resource is important for those who are unfamiliar with college or are confused with the application process.
HSO’s mission is to ensure students feel both confident and comfortable as they pursue their goals at Mt. SAC. Francisco Osuna, one of Mt. SAC’s Outreach Specialists shared just how impactful HSO can be.
“For me to be able to come back to the high schools and do that now for someone else not just undocumented students, but other students that maybe don’t necessarily believe that college is a place for them, that’s what is most impactful,” said Osuna.
High School Outreach specialists focus on helping students find what works best for them and inform students Mt. SAC will always be there to support them.
With the help of HSO, students can thrive while reducing the stress of budding college life knowing they have support from a program that has their best interest at heart.
