New Student Orientation

What is New Student Orientation?
New Student Orientation (NSO) is an action-packed and informative program designed especially for incoming freshman students at Texas A&M University-Corpus Christi. To learn more about our New Student Orientation program, we encourage you to visit our About New Student Orientation page.

What is a May Meeting?
May Meetings are reserved for students who will begin taking classes during one (or both) of the summer semesters.  These evening meetings will give the student a chance to get some basic information about the University, meet with an Academic Advisor and also register for their summer classes.  Please remember, students attending a May Meeting will also need to attend a New Student Orientation. There is no cost for the May Meeting.

How is attending New Student Orientation different from attending Island Day?

Though a common misconception, Island Day and New Student Orientation are two completely separate programs. Island Day is Texas A&M-Corpus Christi’s open-campus preview day, which takes place during various times throughout the Fall and Spring semesters and offers prospective students and their families a chance to visit the Island University, and learn about what all it takes to become an Islander. New Student Orientation is a required program for all incoming freshmen (students with less than 30 credit hours) who have been accepted to Texas A&M-Corpus Christi, and involves student advising and registration for classes. For incoming students, attending an Island Day program does not serve as a substitute for attending a New Student Orientation session. Failure to attend a New Student Orientation session will result in the inability to register for classes, so it is essential that you make the necessary preparations to attend.

When does New Student Orientation take place?

May Meeting Dates: (For freshman admitted for Summer 2013)*

Who can attend a New Student Orientation program?
Any incoming student who has been admitted to Texas A&M-Corpus Christi for the Summer and/or Fall 2011 semester is eligible to attend a New Student Orientation program. A student's parents are also welcome to attend, but will follow a different schedule according to our Parent Orientation program, which coincides with our New Student Orientation program.

I am transferring credit hours from another college. Does this make me eligible to attend a
Transfer Transition Workshop?
Only those students transferring with 30+ credit hours are eligible to attend a Transfer Transition Workshop. Those students transferring with less than 30 credit hours are still classified as a college freshman, and thus are required to attend New Student Orientation.

PLEASE NOTE: For NSO purposes, AP and/or dual credit classes do not count towards transfer credit.

Is it possible for me to register for classes at the University without attending New Student
Orientation?
No, a hold is placed on all student accounts for incoming freshmen until they have completed a New Student Orientation session. Once a student has completed a NSO session, the hold is removed and the student will be eligible to register for classes.

What is my student ID? What is my PIN?

Your student ID is a unique identification number (like a social security number) given to you by the University upon applying. Your PIN is your birth date in the format of MMDDYY. For example, if you were born January 1, 1993, your PIN would be 010193. If logging into our online registration system for New Student Orientation, you will need to enter this data in order to utilize the system.

What if the NSO session I want to register for is no longer available?
If the session you desired is no longer available for registration, you must choose an alternative session. To guarantee the availability of academic advisors, all New Student Orientation sessions are limited to a maximum participation of 250 students each. Once it has reached this capacity, a session will automatically close and will no longer be available for students to register to attend. Walk-ins will not be allowed to participate in the program without prior registration, and will need to re-schedule for a different session. This is why it is very important you register as soon as possible to ensure your participation at the session of your choice.

I have already made travel arrangements and the session I wanted to register for is no longer available. What do I do?
We strongly recommend that you do not make any travel arrangements until your registration for New Student Orientation has been confirmed. To guarantee the availability of academic advisors, all New Student Orientation sessions are limited to a maximum participation of 250 students each. Once it has reached this capacity, a session will automatically close and will no longer be available for students to register to attend. As a result of this cap on student participants, we are unable to accommodate those who have already made travel arrangements prior to registration. Walk-ins will not be allowed to participate in the program without prior registration, and will need to re-schedule for a different session.

Why am I having trouble registering for New Student Orientation online?
If at any point you experience difficulty in logging into our online registration system, or while
registering in our registration system, it could be due to any of the following:

• You have not been admitted to Texas A&M-Corpus Christi for the upcoming Summer or Fall 2011 semester(s).
• The Office of Admissions does not currently have your TSI scores or exemptions on file. Not having your scores or exemptions on file will prevent you from registering for a New Student Orientation session.
• The PIN and/or Social Security Number you have on your student file may be incorrect. If you feel this may be the problem you are experiencing, please contact the Office of Admissions at 361.825.2624.
• Though we never anticipate problems with our registration system, occasionally the server may be temporarily down for updates. If you experience difficulty registering for New Student Orientation and are unable to determine a cause, please contact the Islander Welcome Center at 361.825.8687. You may also contact them by mail at recruitment@tamucc.edu.

Can I register for and/or attend a NSO program without having my TSI scores or exemptions on file?
Students cannot register for New Student Orientation without having their TSI scores or exemptions on file with the Office of Admissions. The Texas Success Initiative (TSI) is a state-legislated program that requires students to be assessed in reading, writing, and math skills prior to enrolling in a Texas public institution and to be advised based on that assessment. The ASSET, COMPASS, ACCUPLACER, and the THEA are all tests that the Texas Higher Education Coordinating Board has approved as acceptable assessment instruments for entering students. Texas A&M-Corpus Christi administers the THEA. Please consult the Office of Academic Testing at 361.825.2334 for more information on testing options.

Do I have to register ahead of time for a NSO session, or can I just show up?
A student must register for a New Student Orientation before they can attend. Walk-ins will not be allowed to participate in the program without prior registration, and will need to re-schedule for a different session.

How much does it cost to attend a New Student Orientation session?
The cost for attending New Student Orientation is $75 per student and $30 per guest. The fee covers the costs of staffing, publications, refreshments, and program materials. This fee will be included in your student tuition bill, so it is not required that you pay this fee in advance. This fee is non-refundable, even if the student later chooses not to attend Texas A&M-Corpus Christi.

Do I need to send in my payment for New Student Orientation when I register?
Payment is required at the time of registration via Credit Card.  If you do not pay at the time of registration, you will not be signed-up for any date and will need to register later.

Do I have to attend Day One and Day Two of New Student Orientation?
Yes, all students are required to attend both Day One and Day Two of New Student Orientation. Events taking place during Day One of New Student Orientation may not be repeated on Day Two, or vice versa. Please refer to our Schedule of Events page for a general list of times and events.

Where can I view a schedule of events for New Student Orientation?
You may view a general schedule of events by visiting our Schedule of Events page. A detailed schedule of events will be provided to you in your official confirmation materials, as well as at New Student Orientation.

I have already registered for New Student Orientation. What happens now?
If you have already registered for New Student Orientation, we encourage you to visit our Freshman Checklist page for further instruction and information.

I have already registered for New Student Orientation and will be unable to attend the
session I originally selected. Can I reschedule/cancel my current registration?
Though we do not encourage you to change your registration for New Student Orientation, we do realize that sometimes the situation is unavoidable. If you would like to reschedule/cancel your current registration, please visit our Reschedule/Cancel Program Registration page.

What do I do if I am unable to attend any of the New Student Orientation sessions?
If you will be unable to attend any of the scheduled New Student Orientation sessions, please contact Leticia Bazan, Assistant Director of Admissions and Records/Coordinator of New Student Programs, at 361.825.6051. Only under certain and very limited circumstances will students be allowed to make alternative arrangements.

Are on-campus accommodations available for students during New Student Orientation?
Texas A&M-Corpus Christi is currently unable to provide overnight housing accommodations during the course of New Student Orientation. If students and their guests will require overnight accommodations, these arrangements will need to be made separately. To view a list of area hotels located in close proximity to the Texas A&M-Corpus Christi campus, please click here.

What materials do I need to take with me to New Student Orientation?
Please visit our Enrollment Checklist for more information on this and other important matters to address prior to attending a New Student Orientation session.

What sort of clothing attire do you recommend I wear to New Student Orientation?
For attending New Student Orientation, we would highly recommend wearing comfortable clothing and a pair of walking shoes, since there will be some light walking involved between various sessions through out the day. We would also recommend bringing a light jacket, as the classrooms can get a bit chilly. And, though we are the Island University, the sun doesn't shine here all the time! Please be sure to pack an umbrella, just in case.

Can my family attend New Student Orientation with me?
Of course! Our New Student Orientation program actually has a coinciding program built into it especially for the families of new students to attend. To learn more about our Parent Orientation program, click here.

What if my question is not listed on this page?
If you are unable to find an answer to the questions you have on this page, please contact a representative with the Islander Welcome Center at 361.825.8687. You may also contact them by mail at recruitment@tamucc.edu.