'Monster' Helps TAMIU Freshmen in 'Making It Count'

A 'monster' is coming to greet Texas A&M International University students participating in New Student Orientation Tuesday, Aug. 12.

Monster.com, that is.

The career search Internet company is currently making a national tour dubbed 'Making It Count!,' a 50-minute presentation which demystifies success and helps high school seniors and first year college students navigate through the labyrinth of life and career options.

The presentation will be a part of TAMIU's First Year Student Orientation and will be held from 4-5 p.m. in the Student Center Auditorium.

The Orientation will be a full day event, scheduled from 9-5 p.m., also in the Student Center Auditorium.

The First Year Student Orientation will be provided free of charge and all incoming, and first time students are invited to participate. Students may register on the day of the Orientation. Those attending the Monster.com presentation can be first year students or anyone from the community. The event will be free and open to the public.

Rachel López, First Year Success Program coordinator, said the Monster.com presentation will focus on the message of treating college as a full time job. Also discussed will be subjects like setting personal goals, freshmen success rates, developing winning characteristics, the importance of the freshman year, success inside and outside of the classroom and success on the job.

Students attending Orientation can also take advantage of campus tours, participate in informative sessions about campus activities and how to read the University catalog, as well as learn how to plan their class schedules.

"We will also help them with degree planning and students will be able to meet with faculty from all of our four colleges so that they can plan for their degrees," López said. "Students can also receive academic advice and register for their Fall classes."

López said Orientation offers campus newcomers a chance to meet with others like them and network.
"Students will be able to share a free lunch, and know more about student organizations that they can participate in," López said. "We highly encourage interested students to attend Orientation and discover how exciting University life can be."

A second Orientation geared for transfer students is planned for Wednesday, Aug. 20 from 5:30-8:30 p.m.

For further information, please contact Rachel López at 326-2785, e-mail rlopez@tamiu.edu or visit offices located in the Sue and Radcliffe Killam Library, room 334.

Information on 'Making It Count' is also available at www.makingitcount.com

With State budget cuts, the University is observing a four-day, 10-hour a day schedule this summer with office hours from 7:30 a.m. - 6 p.m. Monday-Thursday. Offices are closed Fridays.

On Thursday, August 14, regular office hours from 8 a.m. - 5 p.m., Monday-Friday, will resume.