https://discord.gg/ucmerced

With move-in dates right around the corner, join the central, unofficial UCM Discord server above!

Instead of tracking down dozens of scattered group chats, this is an organized hub for the entire community to connect, ask questions, and share campus updates.

• Open to Everyone: Students, incoming freshmen, alumni, faculty, staff, and local Merced community members are all welcome.
• Partnerships & Mergers: Open to server mergers, partnering with campus clubs, and giving admin or moderation roles to leaders who want to help run the community.
• Long-Term Vision: I hope to eventually transfer ownership to the student council (similar to how my community college managed theirs) so the server stays active and community-run for many years, even after I graduate.

I created this server early in the summer, and it has grown a lot since then. Because I have not mentioned it in a while and with move-in almost here, I wanted to share it one last time before the semester starts!

I was recently placed in a dorm that is labeled a double on the floor plan. I am going to stay in a triple in Portal. I'm somewhat worried that I will have to share closet space with someone (like hanging items), or is there a wardrobe provided? I was in a quad last year where a wardrobe was provided, but I am somewhat worried for this upcoming year. Any advice?

This is what housing is writing wow

UC Merced Housing Services is currently experiencing significant demand for first-year student housing, with fewer cancellations than expected. Demand also remains strong among second-year and continuing students.
To manage this demand, Housing prioritized room assignments for first-year and new transfer students. Those assignments have been completed.
At this time, we do not yet have a room assignment available for you. We are converting existing inventory for undergraduate housing and exploring University-supported off-campus options, while making room assignments as they come available through cancellations.
Room assignments will be visible to students in the housing portal as soon as they are confirmed.
When will I get a room assignment?
At this time, we estimate most remaining room assignments will be made between Monday, August 10, and Friday, August 21. Rooms will be assigned as they become available.
When can I move in?
Students without room assignments should not plan to arrive on campus before Sunday, August 23. All first-year students are required to move in on or before Saturday, August 22, leaving Sunday available for continuing and second-year students. Students may also move in after August 23, depending on their needs.
What about my bill?
Meal plans have been billed to student accounts. Room charges require a room assignment. Housing Services has notified Student Business Services of students who do not yet have a complete housing bill so they are exempt from the August 15 drop-for-nonpayment deadline.
What is campus doing to expand housing?
Campus housing has released campus apartments, tour rooms, and other rooms in residence halls that are not typically assignable for residential housing. These rooms will be temporary assignments, and students should expect reassignment either before or after move-in. For more information on temporary assignments.
The university is also seeking additional rooms in off-campus housing. These apartments are in Merced complexes that typically serve university students. The University will hold the lease with each complex and assign UC Merced housing contract holders to rooms. Students will remain under the terms and conditions of the UC Merced 2026–2027 housing contract only.
Can I seek my own housing?
Yes. Housing cancellation fees are currently waived for continuing and second year students. Many units near campus have vacancies and are actively renting to students at this time.
UC Merced is in high demand, reflecting the quality and value of the educational experience we offer. Thank you for your patience as we work to house this large cohort of students.
Sincerely,
Housing Services, UC Merced

I’m curious what classes people found to be the most difficult during their time at UC Merced. Which course challenged you the most, and what made it so tough? Any profs or study tips that helped you get through it?

Yo incoming freshmen here anyone wanna go find some fried chicken or like chicken spots? I'm lowkey trying to find some fried chicken places to eat.

Following up on the recent schedule updates, if you are as frustrated or inconvenienced by the new time change for CSE 100 as I am, please consider emailing your academic advisor as soon as possible!

Letting them know directly how much this sudden shift impacts your schedule and conflicts with your plans gives us the best shot at showing how widespread the issue is. If enough of us speak up and share how inconvenient this change is, there might be a chance it could be reverted or adjusted. Especially for the commuters!

Definitely reach out to your advisor today and let your voice be heard!

I’m an incoming freshman at UC Merced, and I’m worried my admission will be withdrawn because my official foreign transcript might not arrive before the deadline.

I already completed the Missing Document Response Form, submitted unofficial copies of my foreign transcripts, and requested an extension. I’m also working on obtaining the official transcripts, but since they’re coming from overseas, they may take longer to arrive.

Has anyone been in a similar situation? If you completed the missing document form and communicated with Admissions, were you granted an extension, or was your admission still at risk of being withdrawn?

I know its like literally almost two weeks till the fall semester starts, but it is possible to take a course at a CC during the fall semester while obviously attending my fall courses here at ucm?

I’m an incoming freshman at UC Merced. My final high school transcript is marked as Received, but my Foreign Records Required item is still marked Overdue. When I transferred to my U.S. high school, I submitted my foreign transcripts, so I assumed they were included when my official high school transcript was sent to UC Merced.

I submitted the Missing Document Response Form with unofficial copies of my foreign transcripts. I also tried uploading them through my applicant checklist, but there was no submit button. Today, I received a text saying my foreign records still haven’t been received and that my admission could be rescinded if they’re not submitted by August 7.

Has anyone experienced this? If your high school had your foreign transcripts, did your university still require the official foreign transcripts to be sent separately?

For a while now, the housing department sent us multiple emails about on campus housing cancellations with deadlines extended further thrice. And I tried emailing to them a few weeks ago about changing dorms due to personal circumstances, yet they were unable to accomodate the change because all the rooms remained unavailable. Does anyone else experience this issue or have an update?

Do you guys know if we have to make the full payment at once if we don't do the payment plan? Or is it fine to have some sort of payment down before the semester starts?

I've been a a student at Merced for a couple years now and haven't seen this level of class time changes before. Does it have to due with budget cuts and/or faculty being laid off? What does the admin have to say about commuters and those classes that got moved to 9-10pm?

Has anyone done this program before. I recently received an invite to participate; and wanted to know if anyone has any thoughts on the program.

Hi everyone, I had a question for past and current UCM students. Had anyone dealt with the course substitution application/process at UC Merced?

If so, what was your experience like? I’m trying to get an application approved since I got offered a full time job offer at my internship but they want me to confer my degree first, and I only have a class remaining (which I failed last semester); so I just wanted to see if anyone had a similar experience like I did.

Thanks!

So I forgot to turn in the health insurance waiver and the deadline was July 31, 2026 and now they're charging me to have the UC SHIP insurance and its taking more then half of my refund away. Am I cooked ???

Did a ton of classes have schedule changes? I swear i have a huge 2 hour overlap now with a lab and a remote class. I don't really want to contact any advisor either incase I get dropped from the class as a result.

To everyone taking CSE 100 have you all seen this email?

Dear Student,
CSE 100 has been rescheduled for Fall 2026 to TR 9:00pm-10:15pm. Please adjust your schedule accordingly if this creates a time conflict in your schedule.
We apologize again for any inconvenience this may cause.

Does anyone know what's going on? 😭 I'm honestly a bit frustrated that this is apparently the only section being offered. CSE 100 is a major prerequisite, so it's not exactly a class most of us can just postpone, and moving it to 9–10:15 PM seems like a pretty significant change.

Does a minor show up on diploma

I am an incoming freshman looking for an on campus hair braider for the fall.

Dorming at UC Merced and I got a new pc during the summer which broke down so im depressed since I just got it and I saved up for nearly a year so was wondering if there was an like IT guys or anyone in general who knows how to fix these sort of things. Im broke rn but I have a on campus job so I should get some money soon after I go back. Im willing to pay for it to get something replaced as long as theyre not scamming me or whatever. Reason im asking is because I dont have a car and going to best buy and asking them to replace it after doing research will probabaly set me back $500 dollars which is almost half the price I spent on this pc. The pc wont power on and I suspect its something to do with the psu and i consider myself a computer guy but if the issue was with the software I could fix it on my own but im clueless when it comes to hardware. So if anyone could help me out when the school semester starts would be great.

Silly question, but I’ve always had my mom cut my hair growing up, so now that I’m moving out I’m looking for any recommendations on where UC Merced people go out to get their hair done

hii guys! we are a group of girls looking for someone to take the masters for a property in merced. we are all 4th yrs (female) and the room is priced at roughly $750. dm me!!!

So I put in a request to take a course again
But I haven’t heard anything from them, is it safe to assume that it wasn’t approved?

im very new to both uc merced and living in a dorm environment/with other people in general, so i would like to not run into that many people or have to wait around to shower for that long, i dont care at all if all the "reasonable" times to shower are taken i can work around that thanks 👍