STEP 1: Sign up for college
First off, you need to sign up for Mendocino College if you want to take their courses. When you try to apply, it will ask you to make an OpenCCC account. First, make the account, then you can start submitting your online application, or send one by mail. (Online is faster)! Make sure you fill it out seriously and include your GPA and real name, and things like that. Otherwise, this step is pretty easy. You will receive an email after you apply that will tell you if you got in or not!
STEP 2: Online orientation
Now that you're in, before taking classes, you need to complete Orientation. Click the button above that says "Orientation" to be taken to the online Orientation session. In order to take Orientation, you will need to sign in with your WebAdvisor username and password. What is that and where do I obtain it?? Well, click the highlighted blue text on the orientation page that says "you need to activate your WebAdvisor account". A download will pop up, asking you to download a Microsoft Word document, and you should click yes. Now you have a document that tells you how to get into WebAdvisor, a part of the Mendocino College website that manages your transcript, classes, and registration. Sign into WebAdvisor, then complete orientation online. You might get some pop quiz questions about what your reading, so if you're skipping through thick pages of words, just answer them with common sense.
STEP 3: Log Into Webadvisor to find classes
If you have completed online orientation, now you're ready to get into WebAdvisor so that you can pick your class(es). Go to Mendocino.edu, then up near the top, click "Register/WebAdvisor". Now you can click "Log In" where it will take you to a new page that includes "Students". Click that, student!
Step 4: Pick a class!
You're logged in. Great! Now on the right of the page "Search For Sections" should appear near the top. Click it. "Search For Sections" takes you to an advanced search engine for all classes occurring at Mendocino College. First, select your term: when are you taking the classes? Fall? Summer? Spring? After selecting your term, you may pick subjects that interest you. Or if you're just wanting to take General Ed classes, leave the "Subjects" popup window blank. Lastly, for location, select "Online". This will show you all online classes for General Ed or the section you picked. Now you're ready to submit.
STEP 5: LOOK AT THE DETAILS
There are some important things to look at when you see a class that catches your eye.To find one that you'd like, make sure you through all the pages of classes they offer. You can find the name of the class near the end of the blue highlighted text, in case you're confused about what AOD-153-0297 and AST-200-0288 are! Then, you need to look at the status of the class. The one I have highlighted is Closed and waitlisted, so it is probably not a good idea to go for that class. You can see in red that there is only 1 available spot. Lastly, and most importantly, how many units does the class offer? The more, the better! Most classes offer 3 units, but some give you only 2. It is probably a good idea to take a 3 unit class. What are units? They are credits- and you need a certain amount of credits to get a bachelor's degree or master's degree. For a bachelor's degree, you need 120 units. By taking one of these classes, you will have 3 out of 120 units completed. At first units/credits are hard to understand because they are different than the way we do high school, but you will start to understand them too.
STEP 6: A closer look at your class
Now you've picked a class that has piqued your interest. Click the class and it will take you to this page, where it can tell you many important things. First look at the description, where it tells you what you will be doing. Then, look at the start and end date. Will you have internet access and a computer for that whole time? If so, continue on. If not, find a way! Even if you have to go to a café to use their free wifi, you can do it! Next, if you're a high-schooler that does not have their license or car, see to it that the class does not have any on-campus meetings. What this means, is, that although it is an online course, all students in that online class must meet about five times on the Mendo campus in Ukiah. If you do have a way to get to Ukiah for all those meetings, then go for it. Ask your parents though, first! After looking at online meetings and such, look for prerequisites such as English 200 or English 80. Most classes will require that you either have taken English 200 or have been placed there by the assessment process. Confused? No problem. The "assessment process" indicates that the teacher wants you to have taken the English placement test before taking their class. The English placement test is a 1-2 hour test held on-campus for anyone who wants to take it. After taking the test, you will either be recommended for Eng. 80 or Eng. 200. Eng. 200 is what the teacher wants, so do a good job on the assessment!
STep 7: the english placement test
Click the button above that says "TESTING INFO" to be taken to Mendocino College's page on placement tests. There, you'll download a Microsoft Word document displaying all the info you need to find a date to go to the campus and take the test. Make sure you click the link to the "Math and English Review and Brushup". After all, this is a college-level test, and you'll need to take it pretty seriously. I did the practice test online from that link, and I did fine on the placement test. Also, do NOT forget your ID when going to take your test! Whether it's your passport, license, or school ID, you cannot take the test without it. Also, arrive 15 minutes early. You will take the test on the computer, and have access to scratch paper and a pencil. Good luck!