Make sure you’re Rattler Ready! for orientation at St. Mary’s.
Congratulations on joining the St. Mary’s University family! We are excited you are St. Mary’s bound. Whether you are coming to St. Mary’s as a first-year student or a transfer student, Rattler Ready! and Zaragoza will help you with your transition to St. Mary’s University.
Rattler Ready!
Rattler Ready! is the St. Mary’s University new undergraduate student orientation for first-year and transfer students. Several sessions are offered throughout the year.
Entering Class of Spring 2025
Monday, Jan. 13, 2025
Entering Class of Summer or Fall 2025
Friday, June 27, 2025
Monday, July 14, 2025
Friday, July 18, 2025
Thursday, August 14, 2025
Zaragoza
Zaragoza is a required program for all first-year and transfer students that takes place Aug. 15-18, 2025 to help you meet your future classmates and transition to St. Mary’s, and learn about campus life. The first day of Zaragoza includes programming for parents and families.
Graduate Student Orientation
Graduate students in the Greehey School of Business; School of Science, Engineering and Technology; and College of Arts, Humanities and Social Sciences must complete an online orientation course before classes begin.
Next Steps: Rattler Ready!
Step 1
Complete your Enrollment Confirmation Process
Before you can register for Rattler Ready!, be sure you have completed your Enrollment Confirmation Process and paid your $200 non-refundable enrollment deposit. It can take up to two business days for your deposit to be processed and Rattler Ready! registration to become available to you.
If you have not completed this step, visit the Rattler Roadmap for instructions on how to do so. The Rattler Roadmap also has more steps to complete after you’ve registered for Rattler Ready!, so don’t forget to return to it to finish your next steps.
How many guests can students bring with them to Rattler Ready?
Due to spacing and building capacities, students are asked to limit their guests to two people.
Can students and guests stay overnight for Rattler Ready?
June and July Rattler Ready participants can request overnight housing on campus. There is no cost for students to stay on campus for Rattler Ready. Students will stay with other students and parents and other guests can reserve rooms for a fee per person per night.
Are students required to attend both Rattler Ready and Zaragoza?
Yes, new undergraduate students must plan to attend both Rattler Ready and Zaragoza.
Why do students need to attend both Rattler Ready and Zaragoza?
Rattler Ready will provide students with important opportunities to get familiar with campus to help them make sure they are first day ready for classes to begin in August. Zaragoza is their opportunity to get to know their future classmates, learn about traditions and help them adjust to their new home with St. Mary’s. We believe both are critical parts of the Rattler journey and being successful in the St. Mary’s community!
What if students can’t attend a June/July Rattler Ready but cannot access the August registration?
Email orientation@stmarytx.edu with the student’s name, student ID number and why they need to attend the August Rattler Ready instead of a June/July date. The Rattler Ready staff will review your request and provide them with further instructions.
What should students bring with them to Rattler Ready?
Students should bring any official final high school or college transcripts if they have them and haven’t yet submitted those to the Admissions Office.
They should bring their vaccination record showing they have received the meningitis vaccines.
They should bring a photo ID with their name on it to check in.
What steps do I need to complete before Rattler Ready?
Students must pay their enrollment deposit of $200 through Gateway on the Undergraduate Student tab and click on the Enrollment Confirmation Process. It takes 1-2 business days to process the ECP; once that is processed is when students can register for Rattler Ready.
They should also complete the Accuplacer AAF placement exam before attending Rattler Ready. They should be emailed a voucher to complete the placement test virtually to their St. Mary’s email within ten days of depositing. If they need it to be resent, they can email rsctesting@stmarytx.edu.
Rattler Ready FAQS
Step 2
Register for Rattler Ready!
All new freshmen and transfers are required to attend Rattler Ready! prior to the beginning at St. Mary’s for the fall or spring semester. Space at each session may be limited and is available on a first-come, first-served basis. We highly recommend registering as soon as possible to ensure your session best fits with your personal schedule.
Two guests are welcome to attend Rattler Ready! with their students, but please note the students do separate from the guests during the program. There will be parent-centered activities to participate in as well.
Step 3
Review the schedule for Rattler Ready!
8 a.m., Check-in
Alumni Athletics and Convocation Center (AA&CC), Concourse (Lot J Entrance)
8:45 a.m., Welcome
AA&CC, Movement Studio
Session timing and order will vary by student’s assigned Rattler Mingle Groups starting at 9:30 a.m.
9:30 a.m., Academics 101
AA&CC, Movement Studio
10:30 a.m., Financial Aid Individual Meetings Begin
University Center, Conference Room B
Advising Individual Meetings Begin
University Center, Conference Room C
Explore the University Center
Barnes and Noble St. Mary’s University Book Store, Bank of America, Business Office and Student Accessibility Services Office
11:30 a.m., Lunch
Diamondback Café
Veteran and Military Benefits Luncheon
University Center, Alumni Conference Room
12:15 p.m., 30-minute Campus Tours (Optional)
Leaving from the UC Info Desk & ending at the AA&CC, Auxiliary Gym
12:30 to 1:30 p.m., Community Resource Fair
AA&CC, Auxiliary Gym
1:30 p.m., Rattler Mingle Groups (Students Only)
Blume Library, Cotrell Learning Commons
Parent/Family English Q&A
AA&CC, Movement Studio
Parent/Family Spanish Q&A
AA&CC, Classroom 2155
2:00 to 4:00 p.m., Parent and Family Relaxation Space
The Pub at St. Mary’s
2:00 to 5:00 p.m., Check-out Required Before Leaving
Blume Library, Cotrell Commons
Order of sessions may change based on the student’s assigned group.
Students are encouraged to complete their Accuplacer Math Placement Testing virtually before attending Rattler Ready! if they are not exempt. If they don’t complete it ahead of time, they will be required to complete it during their Rattler Ready! session.
Schedule
Step 4
Register for Zaragoza
All new freshmen and transfers are required to attend Zaragoza before the beginning of the fall semester. Families are invited to Day 1 of Zaragoza on Friday, Aug. 15, 2025.
Zaragoza Parent and Family Day Registration coming soon.
Step 5
Review the Schedule for Zaragoza
Day One
Friday, Aug. 15
8 a.m. to 8 p.m.
• Parents and family are invited to participate (2 guests per student)
• Academic Convocation
• Parent and Family Sessions
• Students Major Connections
• Rattler Meet Groups
Day Two
Saturday, Aug. 16
11 a.m. to 9:30 p.m.
• Students are shuttled on buses to an off-site retreat location near San Antonio for a day of activities, leaving from and returning in front of the AA&CC.
Day Three
Sunday, Aug. 17
11 a.m. to 5 p.m.
• Students are on campus for a day of activities, presentations and group bonding.
Day Four
Monday, Aug. 18
Noon to 5 p.m.
• Students are on campus for a day of activities, presentations and group bonding.
Zaragoza Tentative Schedule
Step 6
Prepare to travel for Rattler Ready! and Zaragoza
We are excited to welcome you and your family to campus. Check out the link below for a campus map, area accommodations and travel information. Participants and guests are asked to park in Lot T and Lot W for their scheduled Rattler Ready! day and Zaragoza weekend at the Alumni Athletics & Convocation Center (AA&CC).
Explore More
Questions?
Office of New Student and Family Initiatives
University Center, Second Floor
210-431-8066
orientation@stmarytx.edu