Posted at: 08/25/2012 11:02 PM
By: Katie Eldred

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RCTC Students Head Back to School Monday

(ABC 6 News)  Sunday is the end of summer break for students heading to RCTC this year. For 1st generation college students that transition can be a bit more difficult.

RCTC held their  Welcome Day Saturday. They are hoping to make that transition as smooth as possible.

"I'm getting nervous," said Nicole Merrill.

Merrill is all set for her first semester at RCTC, but she says transitioning from high school to college hasn't been easy.

"Just trying to figure out everything my classes, my books, financial aid."

Making things more difficult for Merrill has been the fact that she is the first from her family to go to college.

"My parents never went to college and not knowing what to do, you need someone to guide you through step by step."

Luckily for Merrill there are advisors like Jamie Johnson who are eager to help.

"I help them through filling out applications, financial aid, discussing what programs they may be interested in, and then guiding them through that transition," said Jamie Johnson.

As a transitions coordinator Johnson says the most difficult part for students is often time management.

"When you come here you have a class portion of the day and then outside of that you need to study, so it’s hard getting used to that adjustment.”

RCTC holds a welcome day every year to make sure students like Nicole are comfortable

"The first week is really overbearing for a student, so this is for them to come and find their classes and get everything taken care of,” said Kyle Huneke.

As student life coordinator Huneke says the school tour and registration help is also to comfort family members.

"A lot of these students are the first to go to college and the families feel more comfortable when they know where their student is going to be.”

As nervous as Nicole is she says she's  ready for a fresh start.

"I'm excited because I'm independent and I want to branch out and have a new fresh thing."

RCTC officials say so far more than six thousand students have registered for fall semester.