SAN MARCOS ---- Cal State San Marcos opened its doors for 1,000 new students on Tuesday to start the new academic year, and for the first time in the university's 14-year history, some students just rolled out of bed and were almost in class.

But despite new on-campus housing, which is home to 460 students, and 700 new parking spots at Craven Drive and Twin Oaks Valley Road, students still found the campus crowded as commuters circled and searched for parking spots.

"Things are crazy and I had no idea it would be a problem to park," said student Merilee Curtis, 18, of Temecula. "Just getting off the freeway was tough but it took me at least 10 minutes to find a parking space. I thought this was a quiet little campus but I might be wrong."

On the other hand, student Stephanie Giglio, of Susanville, woke up in her University Village apartment and turned nary an ignition switch to get from her new home near Barham and La Moree roads to class. The freshman gave her new digs high marks.

"I spent all of Labor Day moving in and decorating," she said. "I've already made three new friends and we're starting a sort of party and study group combo. It's really exciting for me to be here."

About 3,200 students were granted admission as new Cougar freshmen this fall, with Giglio among some 1,000 who took Cal State San Marcos up on the offer. Although the demographics of the new students won't be broken out until later this month, officials do know that all those admitted did solid, B plus work in high school and came mostly from North County. Mt. Carmel, Rancho Bernardo and Poway high schools led the way in terms of successful applicants.

According to the enrollment services office, most of them ---- more than one out of four ---- have not declared what their majors will be and, of those who have, one in five intends to study business. The next most popular major is liberal studies, the choice of one in 10 declaring freshmen and the traditional route to the teaching profession, followed by psychology at 9 percent and the biological sciences at 7 percent.

The university reported the total first-day enrollment was 7,407, an increase of 196, or 2.7 percent, compared with opening day in 2002. The enrollment is expected to grow to as many as 7,800 by the time the Sept. 16 deadline arrives to sign up for specific classes. Officials say the wild card this year is how much the 30 percent tuition hike that took effect this fall will discourage the latecomers.

Cal State San Marcos also welcomed 23 new full-time professors to the faculty ---- 10 within the College of Arts and Sciences, six within the College of Education, five within the College of Business Administration, and one in Library and Information Services.

And as for the official point of view on opening day, university spokesman Rick Moore reported but one glitch and concluded, "It seems like it went very well."

The glitch: Burnt toast set off apparently hyper-sensitive smoke detectors at the $28 million University Village apartments.

Farther up the hill Tuesday, students stood in line at bookstores and campus cafes and others walked with heads down, eyes peering at maps of the multi-level campus in search of their classrooms.

"I was told to look for a tower and then go through the doors and down the steps but it was a dead-end," said student Bevra Trusdale, 18, a tardy and frustrated freshman from Oceanside. "I should have listened to my mom and scoped the place out this weekend."

The burden of absorbing the rising cost of their education in a year of deep state budget deficits was lost on few.

"I worked all summer to pay my tuition and right before I came here I got a notice of the fee increase," said one, Jason Young, 19, of La Mesa. "Now I hear that if I don't pay those fees, like, this week, I could be dropped from my classes. That's pretty bogus."

As morning turned to afternoon, Founders Plaza, a key outdoor gathering point and campus crossroads, filled with students. They sat under sun-drenched skies, drinking coffee, socializing and getting a jump on their studying.

Martin Guffler had a stack of books on his table as he closed his eyes, put up his feet and took a short nap. "Summer is officially over and it pretty much sucks," said Guffler, 24, of Escondido, a returning junior.

"I got all my classes, paid my fees and now I'm ready to start but now I'm too exhausted to study. Maybe tomorrow I'll feel like being a college student."