Preparing to Register for Spring 2011 Courses

Parents of GEST students,
Even though it is mid-October, we are now taking the initial steps toward registration for spring classes. One of the most unsettling things that can happen to a student is to determine well into a semester that a course the student is taking is actually one that he/she has already taken. Another, similar situation, is that a student finds that a previously-taken course thought to be degree-applicable is either not transferable and/or not applicable to a specific degree at Texas A&M University. Remedial courses and vocational courses, such as EMT training, are not transferable to Texas A&M University.

Both of these problems can be easily resolved by taking these steps:

1. Students must make certain that original college transcripts of all previous college courses are submitted to the Office of the Registrar at Texas A&M University. This includes college courses taken at community colleges, other 4-year colleges/universities, all dual credit and concurrent enrollment courses (for which the student received high school and college credit), advanced placement (AP) credit and coursework from Early College High Schools. College level course credit that is submitted only by presentation of high school transcripts will not be accepted. All college courses must be supported and presented on a transcript from the college or university from which they were taken.
2. Contact each college from which any collegiate level courses were taken and have your student's transcript from that college or university sent by regular mail or electronically to Texas A&M University, Office of the Registrar. Faxed copies of transcripts are not acceptable.
3. Have your student check the Texas A&M "Howdy" portal on-line to see if the courses taken previously at another institution have been applied to the student's academic record and appear on the student's official academic transcript.

If you have any questions about this process, do not hesitate to contact the Office of the Registrar (979-845-1031) or the General Academic Programs Advising Office (979-845-5916).