Fall 2025 first year admits who register for New Student Orientation by Monday, June 9 will be eligible for Smart Start.
Smart Start allows the Registrar's Office to place you into 8-16 units of required coursework in your first semester based on your major.
INFORMATION FOR FALL 2025 ADMITS
To register for your Fall 2025 classes:
- Review your academic history and any AP or IB exam scores or college courses completed in high school.
- Review the 4-year plan for your intended major in MyDegreePath (MDP) and the 2025-26 Catalog..
- Check your test scores or previous college courses to see if you need a preparatory class.
- Review the Schedule of Classes (open course list) for class times and open seats. Select your classes. Don't be worried if some courses seem full right now! Seats that have been "hidden" (reserved for first years) will open on the Schedule of Classes between June 16-20, 2025.
- Connect with your Bobcat Advising Center (BAC) temporary summer academic advisor at a Zoom workshop or Zoom walk-in hours during June 2025 (before registration week) if you have questions. See the Fri. May 30, 2025 message on your UC Merced email for more information.
- Register for 14-16 units at your assigned registration time between June 23-27.
After registration:
- Registration will remain open 24 hours a day, 7 days a week after your assigned time.
- Seats will continue to open when students drop and add courses throughout the summer.
- Waitlists for closed classes open to first years at 9:00 am on Mon. June 30, 2025.
- Being on the waitlist does NOT count toward full-time enrollment.
- Stay enrolled in at least 12 units (full-time status) even if you are trying to adjust your schedule during summer.
- Full-time status is required if you qualify for financial aid or academic scholarships.
As a first year college student at a UC research university, you have the freedom and responsibility to:
- Choose your classes each semester.
- Take different classes every semester.
- Each class is only one semester (16 weeks) long.
- Choose your class times.
- Register for (enroll in) your classes at your assigned registration time each semester.
- Register for 12 or more units each semester to be full-time (required if you receive financial aid or scholarships).
- Waitlisted units (trying to get into a class that is full) do not count toward full-time enrollment.
- Most students take 14-16 units each semester to meet Undergraduate Normal Progress to Degree.
- You can take a maximum of 18 units in your first semester at UC Merced.
- Register for 12 or more units each semester to be full-time (required if you receive financial aid or scholarships).
- Use the many available resources and actively engage with your classes and professors to earn the highest possible grades.
- UC Entry Level Writing Requirement (WRI 001) must be completed with a C or higher grade.
- Classes toward your major and General Education (GE) must be completed with a C- or higher grade.
Wondering where to start?
Hints to prepare to register between June 23-27, 2025:
1. Explore and read the sections on this site and the information sent to your UC Merced email.
- Messages and videos about registration will be sent to your UC Merced email throughout June.
- To find your UC Merced email: connect.ucmerced.edu
- Select Undergraduate Students to log on to your student portal.
- Click on the email icon.
- Read your UC Merced email each day.
2. Review your academic history to see how you qualify to take or skip certain classes at UC Merced in Fall 2025.
Your "academic history" refers to things you have already done that make you eligible to skip certain classes or take certain classes in your first semester at UC Merced.
- Watch the short Understanding Your Academic History video.
Your academic history includes:
- Your scores on UC Merced placement exams in Chemistry, Computer Science & Engineering, Math, or Writing
- If you took any UC Merced placement exams:
- Watch the short Understanding Placement Exams video.
- Check Test Scores and Placement Exams.
- If you took any UC Merced placement exams:
- Your scores on Advanced Placement (AP) or International Baccalaureate (IB) exams
- If you took AP or IB exams: start with this page.
- College courses taken during high school
- If you took college courses in high school: check here to explore how courses count.
The reason to review what you have already done: do not waste your time or money taking a course in Fall 2025 that you have already completed or do not need!
3. Review your intended major and the 4-year graduation plan for Fall 2025 first year admits in that major.
- Review the sample Four-Year Course Plan in your intended major in the 2025-26 Catalog.
- Select Academic Programs in the left column.
- Select your intended major.
- The sample 4-year graduation plan is located above the list of required courses in that major.
4. Select your preferred Fall 2025 classes and alternate (backup) choices.
- Watch the short Selecting Your Classes video.
- Use the Schedule of Classes to plan your class times and check open seats.
5. Explore how to register using the online registration system.
- See How to Register for Classes and start to become familiar with the online registration system. (You will use it every semester!)
- Watch the short Steps to Register for Classes video.
6. After you have watched the short videos and reviewed the above information, connect with your BAC temporary summer academic advisor during Zoom walk-in hours starting Mon. June 2, 2025, if you have questions about:
- Major(s) and optional minor(s)
- Course sequencing
- General Education (GE) requirements
- Intended career goals
- How AP exams, IB exams, or college courses taken in high school impact the courses you are eligible to take in your first semester
- Registration for Fall 2025 classes
See the Fri. May 30, 2025 message sent to your UC Merced email from your BAC temporary summer academic advisor. We look forward to helping our Fall 2025 admits starting June 2, 2025. We will be available in June 2025 and throughout the summer!
