Announcements

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Announcements

Please silence cell phones

Please remain seated for the entire presentation

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Welcome to General Academic Programs’

College Meeting – Our goal is to help students Prepare

to Declare.

Hotard Hall

Dr. Kriss BoydExecutive Director

Freshman Survey

Have your students complete the Freshman Survey!

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Come on in…

Hotard Hall

Purpose of the University Experience

• To better understand the world

• To learn to accomplish complicated tasks

• To develop the ability to function as a self - sufficient adult

• To prepare to be a lifelong learner

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Let’s Partner for Success

• As Joe T. Aggie, Sr., you are contributing to the Joe T. Aggie, Jr. scholarship.

• Students have to maintain grades to keep scholarships.

• The best preparation for your student is to make your expectations clear. 6

Let’s Partner for Success

• The transition to college means a student will and should have more freedom and privacy. We know it is tough to let go.

• You can sign up for a GEST parent list-serve to receive timely information and reminders.

• If students run into difficulties, some of the freedom and privacy should be curtailed.

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Let’s Partner for Success

• Students who have less than 30 TAMU hours and students on probation have official midterm grades posted.

• Midterms are posted about October 10 and March 10.

• Your student has to set it up in Compass so you can see grades.

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Let’s Partner for Success

• Federal Educational Rights to Privacy Act - Unless you and your student sign and submit the Certification of Dependency Form, we cannot talk to you about your student.

• It is better to do this now rather than later.Freshmen who have difficulty often try to withhold information from parents as long as possible.

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High School vs. College

Students are hearing…

• In College, students are expected to take initiative in learning and in communicating any need for help from University Faculty and Staff

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Read full article on the General Studies website: “How College is different from High School”

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Your Student Is Not Alone!

• Some GEST majors know exactly what major they want. Students in the majors may think they do, also.

•65-85% of all college students change their major during their academic career!

• Some GEST majors know exactly what major they want. Students in the majors may think they do, also.

•65-85% of all college students change their major during their academic career!

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What is

General Studies?

Our Goal

To help students PREPARE TO DECLARE . .

.• Maximize student’s options

through careful course selection

• Allow students to graduate without taking excessive hours

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G P S

GEST academic advisors have:

Global knowledge of Texas A&M University (Student Counseling Service, Scholarships & Financial Aid,

Support Services for Students with Disabilities)

Positioning students to change their major (Change of Curriculum Requirements, Degree Plans)

Systems to help students succeed (Processes, Referrals)

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G P S

Add value to the TAMU experience:

Global knowledge of other cultures – Do a study abroad. Financial aid can help.

Practical training through internships and coops.

Service to other students and the community

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University Structure

Dept. of Biochemistry and Biophysics

Genetics

College of Agriculture & Life Science

Texas A&M UniversityUNIVERSITY

COLLEGE

DEPARTMENT

MAJOR

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Colleges

Agriculture & Life

SciencesArchitecture

Business

Education & Human

Development

Engineering

Geosciences

Liberal Arts

Science

Veterinary Medicine

General Academics

Texas

A&M

University

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University Studies Curriculum

Hours Component

43-45 TAMU Core Curriculum Courses

21-24 Concentration

30-36 Two Minors

15-26 Electives or prerequisite requirements

120 Total hrs required for University Studies Degrees

unst.tamu.edu

General Studies (GEST) website

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Important Notice Area

http://gest.tamu.edu

Tips For Academic SuccessEncourage them to join the Aggie

Network• AGGIES HELP AGGIES, but they have to ask

for help.• Stop by and talk to faculty during office hours

early in the semester. • Meet with academic advisor after first

round of exams when there are no waiting lines.

• DO NOT STOP ATTENDING A CLASS WITHOUT TALKING TO AN ADVISOR.

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Tips For Academic SuccessEncourage them to join the Aggie

Network

– AGGIES HELP AGGIES, but they have to ask for help.

– Students must quickly learn to balance:

Classes and studying = 30-40 hours/week

Extra Curricular – 1 or 2 things this fall

Employment – 15 hours max in BCS this fall

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Tips For Academic SuccessEncourage them to join the Aggie

Network

– Importance of First Semester Grades

1.75 + 2.0 + 2.5 + 3.25 = 2.37

– This student is not prepared to declare half of the majors at TAMU. The student will run out of time in General Studies and have to declare a second-choice or third-choice major.

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Tips For Academic SuccessEncourage them to join the Aggie

Network

– First Year Grade Exclusion – The grade does not go into the GPR, but it is visible on the transcript and other schools may count it.

– Freshmen can exclude up to 3 D’s and F’s that were posted during their first calendar year.

– Students should not exclude a D until after the first calendar year.

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Tips For Academic SuccessEncourage them to join the Aggie

Network

– Q-drop – Deadline is the 50th class day --- around November 1 and April 2. The deadline is FIRM!!!

– A Q is posted rather than a grade on the transcript.

– Students are allowed 3 Q-drops. One-hour classes don’t count.

– State law limits students to 6 drops, and one-hour classes do count.

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Tips For Academic SuccessEncourage them to join the Aggie

Network– Freshmen are too optimistic when they run into

trouble, and parents not fully aware.

– The student’s academic advisor can provide the best advice about whether to Q-drop a class or exclude a grade. There are pros and cons to Q’s and FYGE’s.

– The student is responsible for making the decision.

– If a student is planning for medical, law, or graduate school, the Q-drop may be the best option.

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Cost of an Extra Semester

Tuition & fees: $ 4, 207

Books & supplies: $ 675Room & Board: $ 4,004Lost salary $14,000+TOTAL: $22,886*Graduating

on Time: PRICELESS!

* $22,886 @ 5% X 25 years = $77,500

Other Cost Issues

– Students who graduate with no more than 3 hours more than that required for the degree receive a $1,000 rebate from TAMU.

– Students who accumulate 30+ hours above the degree plan prior to graduating will be charged non-resident tuition. $$$!!!

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Freshmen with High Hours

– Freshmen who arrive at TAMU with 45+ concurrent enrollment/AP/IB/Credit by Exam hours pose challenges. Many majors do not allow students to change majors if they have more than 60 or 75 hours.

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Freshmen with High Hours

– PLEASE POST COMMUNITY COLLEGE TRANSCRIPTS ASAP. We can’t post the college credit from high school transcripts.

– We need each student to list college courses for which they have or are likely to have credit on their registration form TODAY. If you are not sure, when you are home please check. Call an advisor to make sure the schedule includes classes that count.

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Freshmen with High Hours

– Accommodation for Freshmen who arrive with 45+ hours:

1. Must complete at least 24 hours first two semesters at TAMU.

2. Must meet GPA requirements for the desired major.

3. Must meet course completion requirements for the desired major.

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Freshmen with High Hours

Strategies for Success if a student has a lot of transfer credit:

– Understand that TAMU courses are a LOT more rigorous and competitive than community college or AP courses.

– Keep non-academic distractions to the bare minimum the first two semesters. There will be dire consequences if these students don’t do well the first semester.

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Fall Calendar

September at end of month first round of test

OctoberMid Term grades, may only include 1 test

NovemberQdrop and withdrawal deadline – no exceptions!!!Send care package, registration at end of month

DecemberFinals – stressful time, be encouraging – Postpone

stressful news until AFTER finals.32

Join our LISTSERV where you will receive periodical information of interest about General Studies in your email mailbox.

To join send an email to: listserv@listserv.tamu.edu

In the body of the message put SUBSCRIBE gestparents firstname lastname

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General Studies Parent LISTSERV

- What students can expect7 hours of coursework = summer fulltimeAcademic Support - STLC 289/SI/TutoringDevelopmental opportunities – weekly group

meetings, guest speakersSocial Events – BBQ, Pizza, Ice Cream Social

- How parents can help- Listen, support, encourage

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Gateway Overview

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