By Coral Malagon and Namarta Dadra
The application process for Ohlone College is now underway for students living in Fremont, Newark, and Union City. The process, which officially begins in early spring and continues until the summer, requires students to navigate online applications, financial aid forms, and placement assessments—all with significant assistance from Ohlone College representatives such as Yesenia Gutierrez and James Logan High School staff like Maricruz Meza. Taking advantage of the College and Careers center’s in-person assistance, students like Jazzy Guzman are making significant progress toward their academic goals.
Jazzy Guzman, a senior at James Logan High School, who is nearing the completion of her Ohlone application, said, “I felt it was the best career choice for me, it provides a more affordable and convenient path into a future education.” Jazzy plans to transfer to a University of California after she completes her general education requirements at Ohlone. This is a strategy increasingly popular among students seeking to save on tuition without compromising educational quality.
Yesenia Gutierrez, an Ohlone alumna and current college representative at James Logan, has become an invaluable resource for students. “When I applied to Ohlone, it was a little confusing,” she recalled. Yesenia spends multiple days each week helping students with applications, placement steps, and identity verification at schools such as James Logan, Irvington, and Newark Memorial. She ensures students understand that she is here to support them throughout the application process.
Maricruz Meza, a James Logan High School counselor, shares this sentiment.“Here at Logan, we are lucky to have an Ohlone representative who actually works here,” she said. “As soon as the application opens, workshops are held in the College and Career Center.” These one-on-one sessions and workshops have been instrumental in providing guidance to students through a process that might otherwise seem overwhelming.
Although accessibility has improved, this year’s applicants have faced unique challenges. A major problem is the delay in receiving student ID numbers, which has caused some anxiety. “Students aren’t getting their student ID, and that has caused a lot of stress,” said Gutierrez. “I try to calm them down and reassure them that registration doesn’t even open until May.”
An additional hurdle is the identity verification system, ID.me, which was introduced in order to prevent bots from creating fake accounts. In spite of the fact that it is effective for security, it has caused confusion. “A lot of students don’t have a California ID or Driver’s License, so I tell them to decline it and verify via Zoom instead,” explained Gutierrez. “That’s been really helpful.”
Workshops have proven to be a valuable resource in preventing students from making mistakes. Jazzy Guzman praised the sessions: “I’ve joined the majority of all the Ohlone workshops. It helps me get one-on-one time with the representative and answer any questions I have at that moment.”
Despite the relatively straightforward nature of the process, errors can still occur. Answering a question incorrectly about a student’s status is one of the most common mistakes. “Incoming freshmen should select ‘first time student in college after leaving high school,’ but sometimes they choose the wrong option, which leads to delays,” said Gutierrez.
As for academic interests, high-demand fields such as engineering, nursing, and social sciences are gaining popularity. “I do see a higher interest in students pursuing engineering, biological sciences, and psychology,” said Meza. It is fortunate that students can declare a major at the time of application, although they typically do not begin their formal studies until they transfer to a four-year institution.
Jazzy, who is interested in transferring to a UC, noted that Ohlone “makes the transfer pathway a lot smoother and easier,” especially with the help of structured counseling and guaranteed admission agreements.
Financial aid can also be a challenging process, particularly when it comes to obtaining the necessary documents. “It’s really about starting their accounts and being able to say, okay, this is the next step,” said Meza. However, resources like the California Promise Grant and Ohlone’s own Promise Scholarship provide crucial financial support. “That grant will cover tuition for two years and may even help with books,” Meza explained.
Freshman Days, scheduled for May 9 & 10, is a crucial orientation event where students receive priority registration and meet with Ohlone counselors. “It’s one of the most important dates,” said Gutierrez. “You don’t want to miss it.”
In the end, the message to students is clear: Don’t do it alone. “Come see me in the College and Careers Center,” urged Gutierrez. “I created my own website last summer with all the steps. I want students to know they don’t have to figure it out by themselves.”
With the right support, guidance, and planning, students are finding their way through Ohlone’s application process in 2025—one workshop and application at a time.
