Many of these steps involve using your UC Merced checklist.
For tips on how to use your checklist, review this quick tutorial.
We are so pleased that you have decided to join us! During the next few months, there are some steps you must take before enrolling at UC Merced. This website will take you through the process step-by-step and provide you with the details you need to know to prepare for the 2024-25 academic year, as well as some general helpful information.
Download this handy PDF on all the things you need to do to stay on track this summer!
We can’t wait to see you on campus and don't forget to attend events designed just for you!
The Office of Admissions admitted you to UC Merced with a set of conditions that must be met to ensure that your admission offer will remain intact. View the Conditions of Admission for first-year and transfer students:
Maintain eligibility and complete all courses you indicated as "in progress" or "planned" with grades of C or better. If you receive a D, F, W, NP, or NC grade, or change your schedule from what you indicated on your application, you must notify the Office of Admissions immediately by completing the "myCourseUpdates" form in connect.ucmerced.edu/student Remember, for Fall 2024: Official transcripts and test scores must be received by the Office of Admissions by July 1, 2024. Failure to do so could result in rescinding your admission to UC Merced. Please allow proper time for processing and postal services.
Statement Intent to Register (SIR)
Deadlines
To accept our offer of admission, you must submit your Statement of Intent to Register (SIR) by the date listed in your portal.
Log in to MyAdmissions (decision.ucmerced.edu), and submit your SIR along with the $250 SIR deposit (if required). You can pay online with a credit card, by eCheck, or complete the required form and send your payment, postmarked no later than the deadline listed in your portal, to the Cashier’s Office:
Campus Cashiering Services
P.O. Box 2450
Merced, CA 95344
You may qualify to defer your $250 SIR payment.
If you did not qualify for an SIR deferment, you can request to have your SIR fee deferred by submitting an appeal.
For questions or concerns, call 209-228-7178.
Within 24 hours of submitting your SIR, you will be prompted to enroll in 2-factor authentication upon signing into any UC Merced service that requires you to log in via the Single Sign-On page (email, MyMerced in Connect, etc).
Duo 2-Factor Authentication is designed to make sure that you are the only person who can access your UC Merced account, even if someone gets your password. Duo requires that you provide a secondary means of confirming your identity via your smartphone (the preferred method), a tablet, a landline, or a hardware token.
When you authenticate, you can choose to have Duo Trust your Browser, which saves a cookie in your browser for 14 days, but you may have to authenticate more than once per day if you use multiple browsers, computers, or devices.
Statement of Legal Residence (SLR) Priority Deadline
*If listed on your student checklist
Your SLR questionnaire needs to be completed to ensure that fees are calculated at the correct California resident rate. The information you submit will be used to determine whether you and your parents meet the requirements for California resident tuition as of the first day of instruction of the term.
Many students will have completed this requirement based on how they responded to questions in their UC application. If the SLR is listed on your checklist, you should complete it as soon as possible as failure to submit your SLR or any requested documents will affect your financial aid package and result in nonresident fees being assessed to your student account. Don't wait; this process can be completed before you submit your SIR.
For more detailed information, visit the Office of the Registrar website. For questions, contact (209)-228-7178 or email slr@ucmerced.edu.
If you are interested in living on campus you will need to complete a housing application 1 - 2 business days after submitting your SIR. Once your application is submitted, your application will be reviewed, and you will then receive an email to return and sign your contract. Living on campus is not required.
The rates for on- and off-campus housing are available at housing.ucmerced.edu
No. Although the contract commitment is for a full academic year, you are billed by the semester. You have the option to pay the semester in full (about half the total contract amount), or you can apply for the Deferred Payment Plan (DPP) in MyBill at connect.ucmerced.edu/student
First-year students who submit their SIR on June 1st will be guaranteed housing. First year application submit deadline is now June 6, 11:59pm and the sign deadline is now June 7th, 11:59pm.
You will receive information about placement exams on your UC Merced email address after you submit your Statement of Intent to Register (SIR).
Your placement exam scores will be available in your Connect student portal. Log into Connect and select Student Record. Choose Student Profile then Testing. To see which UC Merced course you test into, see Test Scores and Placement Exams.
Placement exam scores, combined with your other academic data, determine your level of readiness in writing, math, chemistry, and computer science and engineering (CSE) classes. These scores place you in the writing, math, chemistry, and/or CSE class that you qualify to take at UC Merced.
If you choose not to take the required placement exams by the deadline, you will be placed into the preparatory class for the following subjects: chemistry, computer science and engineering (CSE), and writing. You MUST take a math placement exam to enroll in ANY math course at UC Merced. For possible exemptions visit the Test Scores & Placement Exam site.
UC Merced has 4 required one-time-only placement exams for first year students:
Writing (administered by the Merritt Writing Program). All first years who have not satisfied the UC Entry Level Writing Requirement (ELWR) must complete the Writing Readiness Review. For information on how you can satisfy ELWR, see Requirements | University of California. More information is available at https://writingprogram.ucmerced.edu/writingplacement. Deadline: July 31, 2024
Computer science and engineering (administered by the School of Engineering). All first-year computer science & engineering (CSE) or math—CSE emphasis majors must take the CSE placement exam. The CSE exam is also strongly recommended for management and business economics (MBE) majors since passing the CSE exam may satisfy a requirement in the MBE major. More information is available at the School of Engineering CSE Placement Exam page.. Deadline: September 3, 2024
Chemistry (administered by the School of Natural Sciences) All first-year science, engineering, and pre-health majors must take the chemistry exam. More information is available at the School of Natural Sciences Math & Chemistry Placement Exam Page. Deadline: September 3, 2024
Math (administered by the School of Natural Sciences) All first years in every major must take the math exam. Starting Fall 2024, a math placement exam score will be required to enroll in any of the introductory math or calculus classes (MATH 5, 8, 11, or 21) at UC Merced. More information is available at the School of Natural Sciences Math & Chemistry Placement Exam page. Deadline: September 3, 2024
For more details on the placement exams, please visit the Bobcat Advising Center site.
Note for Undeclared students: The checklist in your connect portal shows which placement exams are required based on your major. If you are undeclared, it is recommended that you take all 4 placement exams.
If you took AP exams, IB exams, or college courses during high school, those exam scores and courses may impact the classes you are eligible to take at UC Merced in your first semester. Three actions you may need to take now:
Official college transcripts are required for all college courses taken, including dual enrollment classes that appear on your high school transcript.
Sending your college transcripts as early as possible will allow the Office of the Registrar to begin to evaluate and post those completed courses on your UC Merced record. This may help you qualify to take more advanced courses.
If you have a two-part last name (hyphenated or not hyphenated), be sure that the name on your AP or IB score report exactly matches the name on your UC application.
First year students can change their major before entering UC Merced by completing the major confirmation form. The form can only be completed once. The form opens May 11, 2024; in order for this to be reflected in the student's record by the fall 2024 registration date, the major change must be submitted by June 7, 2024.
A complete list of majors can be found at Academics & Majors.
Junior level transfer students cannot change their major without school approval. Please speak to the school transfer advisor you would like to change majors into for eligibility evaluation: Who is My Academic Advisor? | UC Merced Academic Advising
The change major form will be available on May 11, 2024.
Registration will take place during the week of June 24, 2024.
BEFORE REGISTRATION – by Friday, June 21st
Items required by the Office of Financial Aid and Scholarships will be listed in your personal checklist in the Connect portal. Requirements must be completed by the priority deadline, or the deadline listed on your MyChecklist, or your awards will be subject to cancellation. Please note that some of these documents (tax transcripts, income statements, etc.) will need to come from a parent.
Financial Aid and Priority
Documentation Deadline
If you or your parents would like to apply for a loan, you can visit the Financial Aid website for detailed instructions.
Email the Office of Financial Aid and Scholarships at finaid@ucmerced.edu or call the Students First Center at 209-228-7178.
Within 24-48 hours after of submitting your SIR (statement of intent to register) you will have the ability to submit a photo for your CatCard. Simply follow the steps on our Catcard website. You will pick up your physical CatCard at new student orientation.
UPDATE:
All orientation sessions have now concluded. If you missed your orientation, please sign up for our Launch program, which is designed to help you get up to speed. If you have any questions or need help enrolling in the Launch program, please contact our office at orientation@ucmerced.edu.
New Student Orientation is a two-part experience and is a requirement for all new students. Your Orientation experiences will provide valuable information and activities to help jumpstart your transition to UC Merced.
Build relationships, explore resources, reflect on your goals and learn more about what it means to be a Bobcat!
Reservations are processed on a first-come, first-served basis. We encourage you to register your parents, guardians and supporters, as we have a special program designed especially for them. More information on registering will be available on the orientation site.
Registration fees are:
$110 students, $100 per parent / registered guest
Important Orientation Dates
First Year Students:
Transfer Students: Exact dates coming soon.
Orientation Registration
Deadline
