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Summer Start Program

Summer Start Program

UC Merced’s Summer Start Program offers multiple learning and engagement opportunities for incoming first-year and transfer students, especially those in STEM majors. These opportunities are designed to help students transition to university and build community with their peers.

If you have sumitted your Statement of Intent to Register (SIR) at UC Merced for fall 2024 you may apply for Summer Start using

this application! 

  • You will need to have your UC Merced email and your UC Merced student id number to complete the application.
  • You will use this application to apply to any of the four Summer Start Programs.
  • You will be prompted to choose your first choice between the programs, and your second choice between the programs if you have a second choice. 
  • If you have questions about the application, please email summersession@ucmerced.edu

Priority Deadline to Apply for the Summer Start Programs is Friday, June 7, 2024

Summer Edge

  • June 24 – August 2, 2024 (placement exam retake the week of August 5-9, 2024)
  • Learning modules: Math, Computer Science, Chemistry, and/or Writing (ONLINE)
  • Non-Credit/Free

Summer Edge modules are designed for students interested in refreshing their knowledge of one or more of these subjects and/or who are interested in preparing to take/re-take placement exams. Students who complete Summer Edge modules will be eligible to re-take placement exams in the subject they completed. Students can enroll in multiple modules.

Summer Bridge

  • July 1 – August 9, 2024 (Session C)
  • Courses: Math 005, SPARK 010, and USTU 010 (7 units total) (IN-PERSON)
  • Academic Credit/Summer Session Fees & Housing costs (Financial Aid available)

The Summer Bridge program is designed to prepare students for college-level calculus and will help build resilience, improve academic skills, and build community at UC Merced. Students in this program have the option to live on campus while taking these courses but will need to return home between the end of Summer Session and fall semester move-in.

Accelerate

  • July 1 – August 9, 2024 (Session C)
  • Courses: Math 21, SPARK 010, and USTU 10 (ONLINE)
  • Academic Credit/Summer Session Fees (Financial Aid available)

OR

  • June 17 – August 9, 2024 (Session B)
  • Course: Math 22, Calculus II (IN-PERSON), AND
  • July 1 – August 9, 2024 (Session C)
  • Courses: SPARK 010, and USTU 10 (ONLINE)
  • Academic Credit/Summer Session Fees (Financial Aid available)

AND

  • August 18-23, 2024 (proposed)
  • Research Week*
  • Non-credit/Free (plus optional online courses for Academic Credit

Accelerate invites students who have completed college-level pre-calculus or Calculus I prior to summer 2024 to apply to take Math 21,  SPARK 010, and USTU 010: College Success during Summer Session and to participate in Research Week, which includes research experiences in computer sciences and biological sciences. Up to 20 first-year students will be invited to participate in Research Week.

Participants who will be living on campus in the fall will be able to move into their fall dormitory, and the program will pay for campus housing costs from August 18 until the fall contract begins.

*Students do not have to participate in Research Week to enroll in the Summer Session offerings of Math 21, Math 22, SPARK 010, or USTU 010.

Transfer Summer Start

  • June 17 – August 9, 2024
    • Summer Session - A variety of upper division courses are available for enrollment. (Summer Session fees, financial aid is available)

And/Or

  • August 18-23, 2024 (proposed)
    • Research Week

Students who have completed college-level pre-calculus or first-semester calculus prior to summer 2024 can apply to participate in Research Week. Up to ten (10) transfer students will be invited to participate. Research experiences include options in computer sciences and biological sciences.

And/Or

  • Transfer Students may join after they have submitted their Statement of Intent to Register
    • Google Professional Certificates  – space for 35 incoming transfer students in high-demand Coursera courses (free).
    • Forage – virtual experience programs with a variety of career interests and companies (free).