Yay, you’ve been accepted to college – congratulations! It might feel like the most challenging part is behind you… until the emails start rolling in. Suddenly, you’re being told to log into your student portal, and you’re met with a whole list of “next steps” you didn’t even know were coming.

In a recent episode of Countdown2College, Gage spoke with Jina Byarlay, advising specialist at Southeast Community College, about navigating student portals, meeting critical deadlines, and what to do if the portal feels like a maze.

What is a Student Portal?

A student portal is your college’s online home base. After you apply and get accepted, the portal becomes the place to find important information and stay on track as you move from applicant to enrolled student.

It Looks Different Everywhere

Jina pointed out that portals can look totally different from school to school. The best thing you can do is give yourself some time to click around and explore. Getting familiar with your student portal early will make your admissions process a breeze.

How To Get Access

Typically, access instructions are sent to the same email you used on your application. You’ll receive a message from the school with your student ID and instructions for setting up your account. This is one of the biggest reasons Jina suggests checking your email regularly. Missing that message could delay important steps in your college timeline.

What’s Inside a Student Portal?

Once your portal is set up, you can expect to find things like:

• Your class schedule.
• Your account balance (what you owe).
• Financial aid information.
• A course catalog.
• Links to tools like Canvas, where assignments and course materials live.
• Your official college email account.

Where to Begin

If your portal feels confusing, you’re not alone. Jina’s biggest advice was to take a breath and slow down. If you’re stuck, ask for help. Whether it’s your advisor, an admissions rep, or the college’s help desk, someone at your school can point you in the right direction. You’re not expected to know everything right away.

Final Portal Advice

Your student portal isn’t meant to stress you out! It’s meant to help you stay organized and keep track of what comes next. If you check your email and student portal regularly, follow the instructions step by step, and aren’t afraid to ask for help, you’ll be ahead of the game long before your first day of college.