r/ucmerced • • Jul 02 '26

Discussion 2026–2027 Incoming & Current Bobcats Megathread

35 Upvotes

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


r/ucmerced • • 23h ago

Question Places to practice instruments

8 Upvotes

I am debating whether or not to bring my clarinet to school so I can play pieces. However, it's obviously too loud to play in my dorm, are there any places I could go to play on campus?


r/ucmerced • • 19h ago

Question Anyone here taken DSA 002 w/ LeRoy?

3 Upvotes

What the class like? Would it be hard for someone who doesn't know much about programming? Are there any exams or just project based lectures and labs?


r/ucmerced • • 1d ago

Question Why are there bird speakers on top of pav?

9 Upvotes

I heard them at Costco, but this week I heard them at pav. They're very annoying, especially the loud screeching sound effects. It reminds me of a dying cockatoo


r/ucmerced • • 13h ago

Question Where the parties at? W00t w00t!

0 Upvotes

r/ucmerced • • 1d ago

Image Parking Enforcement

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19 Upvotes

(plate edited out for obv. reasons)

got a parking citation for “parking outside of the lines” today at the bellevue lot (officers own photo btw)

absolutely ridiculous.


r/ucmerced • • 1d ago

Question Anyone reason UC Merced isn’t a part of this?

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11 Upvotes

I saw that pretty much every other UC is a part of this aside from UCSC. Given that first generation students at UC Merced make up 66% of the undergraduate student body, how could we show this to admins?


r/ucmerced • • 1d ago

News Camp Provides Growth Opportunities, Connection with Livermore Lab

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5 Upvotes

LLNL Data Science Challenge, learn more with the link above. Check out the amazing connections and not-so-well-known pipeline to LLNL that UC Merced has created over the past few years for undergraduates and recent graduates!


r/ucmerced • • 2d ago

Discussion Housing Office Assistant Interview - What to expect?

7 Upvotes

I have an upcoming interview for the Office Assistant position at the Housing Office

For anyone who has worked this role or interviewed for it: What kind of questions do they usually ask? Any general tips for the interview?


r/ucmerced • • 2d ago

Question Are the core upper division CSE courses required to graduate?

3 Upvotes

I emailed my advisor a couple days ago and haven't gotten a response. My audit and CSE roadmap aren't very clear on this. I know CSE-120 is required but can't find any info about the whether the core courses are required. They are listed at: https://eecs.ucmerced.edu/current-students/courses


r/ucmerced • • 2d ago

Question Dropping a class

3 Upvotes

At this point in the semester I decided to drop a class and take the W. I put in my request Monday and ik I need dean and instructor permission, which is dumb, but how long does it usually take? I was honestly hoping it would get approved immediately since I’m sure my instructor got the immediately after I requested it but i still haven’t received an email. If anyone knows pls lmk


r/ucmerced • • 2d ago

News Treats n Beats artist announced

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5 Upvotes

r/ucmerced • • 2d ago

General Looking for friends in the 209? Come join the 209 CA Discord Server!

4 Upvotes

209 CA is a server dedicated to being an organized and well moderated discord server for the 209. A place where people can find local events, learn more about what’s going on, and meet new people.

The server is intended to be a broad, general discord server for the area and intended for +18 audiences.

If you’re interested come join at:
https://discord.com/invite/7TAP2gApZk


r/ucmerced • • 3d ago

Image Someone's dorm door got broken into

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30 Upvotes

Not sure the context as I saw it posted on Fizz


r/ucmerced • • 3d ago

General All major flairs are updated! Please add yours!

13 Upvotes

Hello! The mod team has updated the user flairs on r/ucmerced to include all current undergraduate majors. Please take a moment to choose your major so we can see what everyone is studying!

Alumni are welcome to use the Alumni flair and also choose the major they graduated with. If you notice anything missing or mislabeled, let us know in the comments!


r/ucmerced • • 4d ago

Question Can mods pls add new majors?

8 Upvotes

Reaching out to the mods, can anyone add the new majors them at have been recently added like MIST, DSA, Aero engineering, etc?


r/ucmerced • • 4d ago

Question Lost scooter 🚨🚨🛴

9 Upvotes

Can people check the scooter and make sure it’s yours please??? I wasnt able to lock my scooter because my app was acting up so whoever took a Werhy scooter outside of COB1 room 102 this morning, please return it. I don’t have the financial freedom to buy a new one and I have a bone spur on my left heel lol walking is my last option


r/ucmerced • • 5d ago

Question Choosing between on-campus and off-campus

8 Upvotes

Hello, I am a Spring 2027 transfer student and I am struggling to chose between the cost of living off campus and on campus. I don't have a car so I would have to use the bus to get everywhere, including clinics/hospitals for volunteering. But the housing off campus would save me thousands of dollars.

On Campus housing is very expensive even for a Quad room where you share with four people, and on top of that you have to get a meal plan. But that means I don't need to buy a car or be worried about the bus schedule to get to school.

Do you think it is worth the cost to live on campus, or should I just struggle living off campus to save costs? My parents have suggested to start on campus for one semester to adjust, but i still think it's really expensive to where I have to take out like 5k in loans.

Please help!


r/ucmerced • • 6d ago

Question Any urban planning or public transport related courses at UC Merced?

8 Upvotes

Does anyone know if UC Merced offers any courses related to urban/regional planning, city development, or public transportation? Was interested in taking courses if any are offered related to this area


r/ucmerced • • 10d ago

News $4.5 million NIH Grant Expands Interdisciplinary Biomedical Training at UC Merced

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16 Upvotes

r/ucmerced • • 10d ago

General Interested in applying to the SJV Prime Prime+ BS/MD Program at UC Merced?

9 Upvotes

Join us tomorrow evening for a one-hour webinar on the application process.

When: Wednesday, October 7th, 2026 | 6:30 - 7:30 pm PDT

The SJV PRIME+ BS/MD Program is a highly selective eight-year program that allows students to earn a Bachelor of Science from UC Merced and a medical degree from UCSF School of Medicine while preparing to serve communities in the San Joaquin Valley. This webinar is designed for high school seniors interested in applying to the program.

Through a step-by-step application workshop, you will learn how to complete each stage of the application process, including the Supplemental Application and recommendation requirements. The session will clarify the differences between the UC application Personal Insight Questions and the SJV PRIME+ Supplemental Application, provide tips for developing strong responses, and review important deadlines and submission procedures.

You will leave with a clear understanding of the application process and the tools needed to submit a competitive application. 

Register here: https://ucm.edu/BS2MD-APP


r/ucmerced • • 11d ago

Discussion Major development being explored for Lake Yosemite next to UC Merced

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60 Upvotes

Merced Irrigation District (MID) is evaluating future development opportunities at Lake Yosemite, directly next to UC Merced. This concept shows some pretty major possibilities, including a 4-story hotel, restaurants and beachfront shops, mixed-use commercial space, yacht club/boat docks, water park, event pavilion, soccer fields, pickleball courts, and more.


r/ucmerced • • 11d ago

Discussion Is the school of engineering sending AI generated emails?

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17 Upvotes

Just by the look of the email and over use of emojis it looks like it was ai generated. The formatting looks like it's from Claude or something too


r/ucmerced • • 11d ago

News Abolish Greek Life Petition

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5 Upvotes

r/ucmerced • • 12d ago

Question Will there be upper division CSE classes offered again this summer?

5 Upvotes

I saw that CSE 108 was offered over summer 2026 and this was the first? time that there was upper division CSE class offered over a summer semester. Does anyone know if this was a one off thing or will there be upper division CSE classes in summer 2027?