"I really like their student-oriented perspective on things," said the 18-year-old, who plans to study anthropology. "Also, the classes are so small, it's like going to a private school."

Last week, Goldstein made the long drive to CSUCI from his home in Windsor, north of San Francisco, so he could get to know more about the place he'll call school for the next four years.

He was among the 70 students and 50 parents who attended the university's first freshmen orientation. The two-day introduction to college will be offered several times between now and the start of class Aug. 25 and incoming freshmen are required to attend one of the sessions.

"We're trying to ensure our students are successful," said university President Richard Rush. "We want them to get off on the right foot. Right from day one we want them to know where to go for help."

By definition, orientation means to get acquainted with a situation or environment. The freshmen orientation at CSUCI is designed to acquaint new students with the workings of a university, from how to select and register for classes, to finding tutoring help or joining student clubs or organizations.

Researchers have found that college students who feel comfortable and well-connected to their university are more likely to succeed during their first year in college and are less likely to fail classes or drop out of school. Orientation is one way universities can help students build connections with faculty, staff and other students.

Skits, get-to-know-you games and a scavenger hunt around the campus helps get students excited about their new school and all it offers, said Gregory Sawyer, vice president for student affairs.

"It's about building an esprit de corps," he said. "It helps them feel motivated to get involved."

Kori Schleicher is looking forward to becoming part of CSUCI. The 18-year-old art major from Placerville chose CSUCI in part because it is a new school. She knows what it means to be first -- she was part of the first freshmen class at Union Mine High School.

"I'm kind of used to the whole new school thing," she said. "It's nice. We get to set up everything."

A little more difficult for Schleicher is the move to a city and a new school where she doesn't know anyone. Schleicher plans to stay with an aunt in Somis temporarily, but she hoped to make some connections with her new classmates during orientation.

"It's hard coming down here and not knowing anyone," she said. "Orientation was fun. I got to meet a lot of people."

Current CSUCI students serve as orientation leaders, each one working with a group of freshmen to introduce them to the campus as well as each other. The orientation leaders also spend a lot of time answering questions about classes, the campus, financial aid and more, said Becca Glazier, one of the leaders and the president of the university's student government.

"We've worked as kind of an introduction to the campus, helping them to build team unity and get them introduced to their fellow freshmen," she said. "They're really excited about registering. They're actually registering before anyone else."

One of the perks of the orientation is the opportunity to register early, thus ensuring a good selection of available classes. That's why Cristina Magallanes, an 18-year-old liberal studies major from Oxnard, wanted to be part of the first orientation.

"I wanted to come to the first orientation just to be able to register for the classes I wanted and get it out of the way," said Magallanes, who said the orientation was helpful. "They provided a lot of information on financial aid and all the aspects of coming to a new school."

But registering first also means paying first. The long line at the cashier's office -- where students paid tuition, bought parking passes and had their pictures taken for their identification cards -- wasn't much fun, but it is part of life on most college campuses, and thus, part of orientation.

Jenna White, an 18-year-old business major from Westlake Village, tried to make the best of the wait, sitting on the floor, leaning against the wall and reading the brochures she'd accumulated during her two-day visit to the campus.

"I thought it was really thorough," White said of the orientation. "It answered some questions I had, like what classes I need. And you get to meet people -- people you'll have classes with."