Welcome: New Student Advising    

The advising questionnaire is how we get all the information necessary to give you the best possible course schedule! We encourage you to get it completed by the end of May.  

Click here to complete the Advising Questionnaire.

To find your registration holds:

• Login to your Howdy portal
• Click on the "Registration" icon in the row of thumbnail icons toward the top of the page
• You should then see the "Registration & Schedule Builder" channel box
• Click on the "Registration Readiness Status" link at the bottom of this box, under the "!!IMPORTANT!!" header
• Scroll all the way down to the bottom of your dashboard, and you should see a a Holds box that details any holds you currently have
• Note that only those holds that list "Registration" in the "Processes Affected" column need to be addressed

Once you have found your registration holds, you can begin working to take care of any that you have. Some common holds include:

• CALS Advising Requirement 
  • This hold will get taken care of when you complete your advising appointment. If you are unable to attend an advising session - don't worry! We'll take the hold off prior to your New Student Conference.
• Tuition Rate Code Selection
  • Click here for more information on tuition rates
  • For additional questions, Student Business Services is your best resource
• Bacterial Meningitis Immunization
  • You are required to submit proof of this immunization as part of the admissions process; this should be submitted via your AIS portal. Ideally, try to get this completed prior to your advising session. If that is not feasible, be sure it is done by your NSC.
• International Student holds
  • If you are an international student, you will have several additional holds to clear. Be sure you work closely with International Student Services for these.
• Other
  • If you have additional holds that you are unsure how to clear, feel free to email us and we can help.

Click here for a video tutorial on checking your Registration Readiness Status.

To find and complete your Howdy Checklist:

• Login to your Howdy portal
• Click on the "Registration" icon in the row of thumbnail icons toward the top of the page
• You should then see the "Registration & Schedule Builder" channel box
• Click on the "Registration Readiness Status" link at the bottom of this box, under the "!!IMPORTANT!!" header
• Under the "Action Items" heading, you should see three items in your Checklist. Please ensure for each item you select the "Fall 2024 - Galveston" term:
  • Terms of Use - for this item, you will need to read the full terms of use and then click the button at the bottom
  • Lab Safety Acknowledgement - for this item, you will need to read the full acknowledgement and then click the button at the bottom
  • Location Update - for this item, you will need to read the text, enter the zip code in which you will reside while taking classes, and then click the submit button. Note that this should NOT be your home zip code unless you are local and will be residing at home during the semester. If you will be living on-campus, use the zip code: 77553

Be sure you check your TSI status to take care of any requirements you may have. Many students gain TSI Exemption based on their SAT, ACT, or other examination scores. If you have not gained exemption in all areas (Math, Reading, and Writing), you MUST complete the TSI assessment prior to course registration. If you have any questions, please contact tsi@tamug.edu. 

Click here for additional details on how to check your TSI Status, how to gain exemption, and how to complete the TSI assessment

Most incoming students are required to complete the TAMU Math Placement Exam. The only students that are NOT required to complete the MPE are those that have completed a college-level calculus-based mathematics course.

Students majoring in Marine Engineering Technology or Marine Sciences (MARE/MARR or MARS):

• You are required to complete the MPE as an online proctored exam. There are several testing dates available; we strongly encourage you to complete the exam prior to your NSC. Testing dates for Fall 2024 admits are: June 4^th, July 10^th, August 8^th from 10am – 1pm. 
• You must sign up for your proctored MPE session via the link provided in the registration email. You should have received this email at your university email address; if you did not, please contact cals@tamug.edu. 
• If you are unable to complete the exam in June, or you want to retest after June, a final session is being offered in August.
• Registration is now open! You can sign up via Navigate; please check your university email address for additional information.

Students in all other Galveston-based majors (MARB, MARF, CESS, USGA-OOH, MART, MARA, MAST, USGA-MELP, USGA-TCCD):

• You should complete your MPE via your Howdy portal at your convenience. We encourage you to complete this at least two weeks prior to your NSC.

Click here for additional information and practice exams.

This new initiative aims to ensure students have the foundational skills necessary to succeed in their entry-level Chemistry coursework. If you are entering an undergraduate science major on the Galveston Campus in Fall 2024, you are required to complete this module prior to entering your freshman chemistry coursework. Please thoroughly read this page for information on this requirement.

If you are incoming for Marine Biology, Marine Fisheries, Coastal Environmental Science & Society, Marine Sciences, or USGA: Oceans & One Health, you must complete this module UNLESS you already have college credit for CHEM 119 (CHEM 1411).

Click here for additional information and to access the Chemistry Prep Module.

Small group advising appointments will be available via Zoom periodically throughout the summer. In these sessions, advisors will go over some important information for the group, and students will then have the opportunity to break out one-on-one with an advisor if they have specific questions or concerns. Please note that you will also meet with your advisor for a longer session during your New Student Conference, so don't worry if you think of additional questions after this time!

Our campus utilizes a software platform called Navigate for all advising scheduling. Please watch your @tamu.edu e-mail for a message from Navigate inviting you to schedule your advising appointment. You can also get a headstart by downloading the "Navigate Student" app from EAB to schedule.

Click here for additional instructions on downloading and scheduling with the Navigate app.