Seriously, every time there is a holiday they seemingly get a ton of time off. If there is any department that should be open year round it shouldn't be retail, it should be the SFC.

Hi Bobcats! Welcome to the official and also very first (ever) megathread for the 2026–2027 school year! Whether you're an incoming freshman, transfer, or returning student, this is the place for all your questions as the semester approaches!

Feel free to ask questions about anything related to UCM! We have current students, alumni, faculty and staff available to answer!

New Student / Orientation

Use this section for:

• Orientation dates and what to expect
• "What should I bring" / move-in day questions
• Class registration and scheduling help
• Financial Aid
• Meal plan questions
• Parking permit questions
• General "what's Merced like" / campus life questions

Academics & Registration

Use this section for:

• Course registration/waitlist questions
• Major-specific questions
• Advising and degree planning
• Textbook/supply questions

Housing on Campus/Off campus:

• Looking for a roommate / have a spot open
• Subletting or taking over a lease
• Questions about specific apartment complexes (Merced Station, The Hub, etc.)
• Off campus vs. on campus tradeoffs, commute questions
• Rent price checks
• Dorm/on-campus housing questions Glacier, Half Dome, Sentinel, etc.)
• Neighborhood safety/quality questions
• Move in / lease dates
• Budget or rent price
• Location preference (walking distance to campus, near a bus line, etc.)
• Any must-haves (parking, pet-friendly, furnished, gender preference for roommates, etc.)
• Contact method (please don't post phone numbers/emails publicly to avoid scams)

Scam Reminder: Never send a deposit or first month's rent before seeing a unit in person or verifying the lister actually manages the property. If a landlord is only reachable by text and pushes you to send money fast, that's a red flag. Report any suspected listings to mods.

Frequently Asked Questions:

Can I change my major after being admitted?
Yes. Start by checking the UC Merced Catalog for your intended major's requirements. From there, meet with your assigned advisor at the Bobcat Advising Center; they can walk you through the Change of Major process and tell you whether your target major has any additional admission requirements.

What's this "Connect" thing everyone mentions?
my.ucmerced.edu is your portal for basically everything like registration, financial aid status, your unofficial transcript, your checklist of to-dos, and your UC Merced email. You'll use this throughout your time here. CatCourses (Canvas) is separate and is where your actual class content, assignments, and grades live.

Do my AP/IB credits transfer?
Generally yes, and course placement (math, chemistry, CSE, writing) is also partly determined by AP/IB scores or UC Merced's own placement exams if you don't submit test scores. Details are on the Registrar's placement exam page. https://placement.ucmerced.edu/

Engineering, Natural Sciences, or Social Sciences/Humanities & Arts, how is UC Merced organized?
UC Merced has three schools: School of Engineering, School of Natural Sciences, and School of Social Sciences, Humanities & Arts (SSHA). Most majors fall under one of these, and your GE requirements will overlap a good amount regardless of major, especially in your first two years.

How do I find what classes are being offered?
The Schedule of Classes lives on the Registrar's site. You can search by term, subject, and CRN. This can also be accessed through Connect by clicking the registration tab.

How do I get involved on campus?
UC Merced has over 200+ registered student orgs including cultural clubs, professional societies, Greek life, hobby groups, and more. These are searchable through the Student Life/Bobcat Involvement website. There are tabling events all over campus where clubs recruit members! ucmerced.edu/clubs-and-organizations

Housing: on campus vs. off campus?
This megathread covers general Q&A relating to housing (roommates, subleases, apartment reviews etc). We do not have a separate thread for housing yet, if there is demand we will create one!

Merced/Central Valley — what's around?
Merced is a smaller city than most UC towns, but it's growing fast with new retail and restaurants have been opening steadily, and the area around campus continues to develop. Yosemite National Park is roughly 1.5–2 hours away and a very doable day trip. Downtown Merced has lots of great food spots and nightlife scene, and the Merced Mall / Merced Marketplace area covers most everyday shopping needs. A car is useful, though Cattracks and The Bus (Local Merced transit) can get you around too!

Useful links:

UC Merced Off-Campus Housing portal: https://och.ucmerced.edu
On-Campus Housing & Residence Education: https://housing.ucmerced.edu
Merced transit / CatTracks bus routes: https://taps.ucmerced.edu/cattracks
Connect Portal (student dashboard): https://connect.ucmerced.edu
CatCourses (Canvas): https://catcourses.ucmerced.edu
MyBill (tuition & payments): https://mybill.ucmerced.edu
Students First Center: https://studentsfirst.ucmerced.edu
Office of the Registrar: https://registrar.ucmerced.edu
Class Schedule Search: https://registration.ucmerced.edu
MyDegreePath (degree audit): https://registrar.ucmerced.edu/resources
UC Merced Library: https://library.ucmerced.edu
Dining Services & Meal Plans: https://dining.ucmerced.edu
Bobcat Advising Center: https://bobcat-advising-center.ucmerced.edu
IT Help Desk: https://it.ucmerced.edu
Academic Calendar: https://registrar.ucmerced.edu/academiccalendar

So im a biochem major and incoming freshman to UC Merced, im just trying to find out, how hard is it to start a band? and is it worth trying because of studies? how hard is it to maintain good grades while also pursuing a passion!

My number one focus is obviously my studies but i was in a highschool band for 2 years and it was the best time of my life! im trying to bring that energy to Merced, but im not sure if its possible. ASWELL AS LOOKING FOR PEOPLE TO WANT TO START A BAND ASWELL, it almost seems impossible!

(help please…)

Okay so i’m an incoming freshman and i have always worked out at home. I do not feel comfortable going to a gym because I’m a girl that has no clue about the area as I’m not from here (which I’ve heard is an unsafe area). I don’t think I’d be comfortable going to a school gym either honestly, if I’m even allowed as a non athlete.

I am going to live in a triple and I’d like to bring a yoga mat to workout. I do calisthenics (with the exception of dumbbells, although rare) and dont need equipment. However, I am very tall (6’) so I need to know if there’s room.

Has anyone else had this issue? Sure i guess i could suck it up and go to a gym but it isnt my first option since I genuinely just dont feel safe for now.

Is there room in a triple to do basic bodyweight skills & progressions? Workouts are mostly 20-45 mins depending on waht im training and my mood. I doubt they’ll be long as I will first need to learn to adapt to the new area and schedule so I will probably keep them short for a while.

Ok thanks guys plz help me out here!!

Im majoring in Philosophy as an incoming freshman. Does anyone know if using a regular notebook or an iPad would be better? I prefer traditional notebooks but I was wondering if professors would have a preference or if one is more efficient and helpful than another.

If a regular notebook what size r yall using? Or does it depend on the class? I have a bunch of unused notebooks and i wanna bring the "right one" instead of winging it and bringing all of them and usinf only a specific one, or none at all

Thanks 😊

I would like to try it at least once but it's honestly confusing to figure out how it works. Im still a freshman so I dont expect to go anytime soon but I would like to consider studying abroad at least once.

If anyone has gone, where did you go? How was the process to apply? Are the areas safe (as in the academic areas)?

What about scholarships?

I know its a lot but im mostly just asking if theres anything i should know before even considering. When the time comes, i will also talk to my academic advisor so I can figure it out.

Thanks 😊

Hey r/ucmerced ! I'm excited to announce that I've joined the mod team along with u/tnt84268. We look forward to growing this community and making it a great experience for everyone.

If you have any suggestions for improvements to the subreddit, drop them in the comments below! Go Bobcats!

What’s the steps? Do I really have to call LA county to transfer? how long does it take to transfer？It is so difficult to call the health department in LA

hi I submitted my SLR and was charged non resident fees on my financial award letter. my Parents are seperated and I live with my mom. The only thing I was asked to provide was a written statement of my dads country and city. the document says received but not accepted. My question is…is this finalized, is there any away to appeal? Does anyone have experience with this and how successful/ how long is the appeal process?

I was born in California and have lived here my whole life and my mom has lived here for over 20 years and never lived anywhere else.

I already have an appointment with financial aid but just wanted to see if anyone has experience with this. any information is helpful! Thank you.

Got a email that my 2026-27 financial aid offer is ready. I checked UCM Connect but there's no Middle Class Scholarship, only loans. I don't qualify for any Cal grants. I only got it my first 2 years at UCM and didn't get it last year either. Is there a way to reach out to them?

I see nothing when searching “ucmerced” on UCLA following list!!

Taking CSE 160 in the fall with Cerpa, and have heard many warnings about this class. Anything I can do to prepare in advance? I'm really interested in this course, but I don't know if the potential GPA tank will be worth it.

I’m not sure if i should be worried or not( I mean i am) but i ended up not getting into BIO 011 which is the intro course to biology due to every class being full. Has anyone on here been in my shoes? Is this normal? i’m a lil worried.

Has anyone done this program for incoming freshman? You take a SPRK, undergrad studies course, and a math of your choice in 6 weeks. Specifically, if anyone has done Calc I, could you give your thoughts on the program?

I am currently a chemistry major, but I’m also hoping to have a minor in biological science and so I’m wondering what classes I should take and what professor should I avoid for my classes and from what my understanding is chemistry is also a hard subject in general so please anyone that’s able to help me please contact me or comment

I'm debating between these two dorm buildings to live in. I noticed, based on the 3d tours, that the dorms are the same; the only big differences I see are the lounges and the kitchen.

Hey everyone, as an incoming freshman, I have questions about tennis and pickleball at Merced. I'm wondering how big the community of tennis players is, given that there are some courts behind Glacier Point, and what time do most people play tennis at Merced? I'm curious about this because on my schedule, I have a lot of free time and don't know what to do besides play tennis or go to the gym. I honestly don't even mind playing pickleball if that's the only option too!