Freshman GO Guide

Freshman Orientation Checklist

The following items must be completed before you leave campus. Bring your completed list to check-out to receive your student ID & HCU GO Giveaway! Don’t forget! All final transcripts must be submitted by August 1st, 2026.

Documents To Turn In

• Proof of meningococcal vaccination
• FERPA form (HuskyNet)
• Parking permit
• Proof of ENGL 1313 Eligibility (see English Placement section below)
• Final high school transcript
• Dual credit college transcript
• Request AP/IB/CLEP scores to be sent

Go Activities

• Step 1: Check-in
• Step 2: Turn in Liability Waivers/Photo Release/Meningitis Forms
• Step 3: Schedule Financial Aid Appointment
• Step 4: Complete Residence Life on-campus housing or off-campus petition
• Step 5: Sign up for Welcome Days
• Step 6: Pick up room keys/wrist bands for meals

Freshman GO Checklist

What should I bring to GO? Who can come with me?

GO Checklist

Freshman Go Schedule

View freshman Schedule

New Husky Reminders

• Pick up your Husky ID card at Check-out in MD Anderson
• Purchase/Order your Textbooks via BookPass!
• Be prepared to pay or make plans to pay your tuition and fee bill. Pick up your Husky ID.
• Register your vehicle or waive it if you are not bringing a car to campus.
• Visit the HCU Bookstore to purchase Husky gear!

Important Information Covered During GO

FERPA Release

FERPA is short for the Family Educational Rights and Privacy Act. Among many other topics, FERPA gives college students age 18 and over the right to decide who has access to their educational records. The FERPA Release Form must be completed if you would like your parents to be able to discuss financial matters and clear Financial Aid during GO without your presence. In addition, you have the ability to select what type of information that you would like your parents to be able to access (academic, financial, etc.). FERPA is enforced by the U.S. Department of Education.

Meningitis

You must submit proof of meningococcal vaccination or waiver at or before your GO session. Texas law mandates that all new college students under the age of 22 have the Meningitis Vaccine within the last 5 years. This means you are not allowed to attend classes or live on campus until sufficient proof has been received by the university at least 10 days prior to move-in or first day of classes.

Math Placement

Do you have AP/IB or Dual Credit for math? Is your major Business, Mathematics, Science, Engineering, Nursing or Undecided? If so, please be sure to submit your scores and transcripts so your credit may be given before class registration.

If you don’t have credit mentioned above, you must take the ALEKS math placement assessment in order to be placed into a mathematics course. As a reminder, SAT and ACT scores cannot be used for placement into MATH 1313 (College Algebra).

If your major is not listed above, and you have a MATH SAT score of 530 or higher or an ACT MATH score of 22 or higher, you may register for MATH 1305. If you don’t have these scores, you must take the ALEKS math placement if MATH 1305 is a core requirement. Visit HCU GO for details.

English Placement

The first English course on all degree plans is ENGL 1313: Composition I. However, if a student does not meet one of the prerequisites for ENGL 1313, they must take ENGL 1303: Basic Grammar and Composition and pass it before taking ENGL 1313. Traditionally, only SAT and ACT scores have been used for placement. However, with students choosing “Test Optional” this year, additional placement options have been added. Below are the prerequisites for ENGL 1313. If a student meets ANY ONE of these requirements, they are eligible to enroll in ENGL 1313.

For Placement into ENGL 1313:

• SAT EBRW (Evidence Based Reading and Writing) Score of 570+
• ACT English Score of 22+
• CLT (Classical Learning Test) Total Score of 75+
• Student earned a “B” (or higher) final grade in AP, IB High Level, or Honors English on their high school transcript
• Student earned an “A” in their SENIOR year English Course on their high school transcript
• Accuplacer Next Gen Reading score of 253+ AND a Writing Score of 253+ or and a WritePlacer Score of 5+
• TSIA Reading Score of 351+ AND Writing Score of 340+ AND Essay Score of 5+
• TSIA2 score of 945+ on the ELAR CRC Test AND an Essay score of 5+
• Transfer credit for ENGL 1303

If a student does not meet any of the above requirements, they may enroll in ENGL 1303, or they may sign up to take the Accuplacer Next Gen exam. The exam is offered on HCU’s campus and must be taken in-person. The cost of the exam is $25 and students can register at HCU Testing Services.

Class Schedule

Each student who has not previously registered for classes will have the opportunity to meet with an Academic Advisor to select a class schedule. You will have the opportunity to view your schedule after you have completed class registration in the computer lab rotation at GO. If you have submitted dual credit or AP/IB credit in advance, it will be taken into consideration when meeting with your academic advisor.

Tuition & Payments

Everyone will have the opportunity to meet one-on-one with one of our financial aid representatives during GO to ensure you and your family are prepared to pay for college. You are not required to make a payment at GO. However, you will have several options to assist in the payment process including: registering for a payment plan and applying for loans. If you have not completed a FAFSA, please do so prior to Orientation.

Liability/waiver Forms

Please complete the following forms within this packet, and submit them to the Admission’s table once you arrive at GO during check-in. If you are under the age of 18, please have your parent sign the forms.

Parents & Families

We love to have parents attend GO! In order to best accommodate work schedules, the majority of parent activities occur on day 1. You and your student will have the opportunity to meet and greet with staff from across campus and meet with financial services. Our goal is to answer any questions you may have about sending your student to HCU. Please note that lunch is free for new Huskies and $10 for parents and other guests. Payment will be taken during check-in, either cash or card.

Exemptions to Attendance

An exemption is defined as a justifiable excuse, with documentation, to not attend an in-person orientation date. All incoming students are required to attend in-person orientation unless the student has an exemption request approved by the Office of Admissions. Please see below for information on requesting an exemption. The orientation matriculation fee is non-refundable even if a student is unable to attend in person.

Exemptions From An In-person Orientation

Students can request an exemption from attending an in-person New Student Orientation under certain circumstances. All exemptions will be reviewed and granted on a case-by-case basis. To request an exemption, at least one of the following must apply *:

1. Students will be completing an online–only degree program.
2. Student will be a non-degree seeking or transient student, AND is not planning to transition to a degree seeking student.
3. Students have a documented medical condition spanning the entirety of the offered orientation dates, which prevents them from attending any in-person orientation date.

All students interested in requesting an exemption must email GO@HC.edu with a subject line containing their legal name, H number, and EXEMPTION.

*Students in these exemption categories will be required to provide documentation and complete alternate orientation.

Overnight Exemptions And Accommodations

Students can request an exemption from spending the night at a New Student Orientation or request overnight accommodation under certain circumstances. All requests will be reviewed and granted on a case-by-case basis. To request an exemption or accommodation, at least one of the following must apply:

1. Students have documented medical conditions prohibiting them from staying overnight in the residence hall.
2. Student’s religious beliefs do not allow them to stay overnight in the residence hall.

All students interested in requesting an exemption or needing accommodation must email GO@HC.edu with a subject line containing their legal name, H number, and overnight exemption.

Distance Advising

Distance Advising is available to students who are unable to attend an in-person orientation before their intended semester of enrollment. All requests for Distance Advising will be reviewed and granted with proof of one of the following circumstances. Students being advised at a distance must attend a virtual orientation.

1. Student lives outside a 250-mile radius of HCU
2. You have a trip booked during ALL orientation session dates.

All students who request Distance Advising must show documentation to confirm their inability to attend an in-person orientation. Acceptable forms of documentation include address confirmation, a confirmed airline ticket, and rental car confirmation.

All students interested in requesting Distance Advising must register for distance advising through the email sent after depositing.

We reserve the right to deny a student’s Distance Advising for orientation without sufficient documentation of need.