Preparing for Academic Success

Prepare for Academic Success!

Successful students utilize on-campus resources, including tutoring services, office hours, academic advising and find the right location to study.

Peer Assisted Learning Support (PALS)

  • PALS offers tutoring services in over 20 subjects – free of charge for all students! You can search the online calendar by keyword for your course (e.g. CHEM, WRI)

STEM Resource Center

  • The STEM Resource Center offer tutoring for science, math, and engineering course as well as opportunities for research and internship opportunities that support success for students in the sciences and engineering. 

Office Hours

  • Get to know your professors! Check your course syllabus for information regarding your professor’s office hours if you have questions or concerns about a course or are interested in getting to know your professor.
  • Check out the “Building a Strong Connection with your Professor/Instructor” presentation: building_a_strong_connection_with_your_professor_instructor.pptx.

Study Locations: Finding the right study location is important when working on homework or preparing for exams. The campus offers numerous locations to study, but aren’t limited to indoors or on-campus space.

  • Quiet study locations: COB 3rd Floor, SSM 2nd Floor, S&E Lobby, Golden Room (located in the Library), and Library Study Rooms (Click Here to reserve a room).
  • Common study locations: Lantern, Green Room (located in the Library), Dorm Lounges (Click Here for the housing amenities), Starbucks, Coffee Bandits, and Panera (free Wi-Fi).

Visit your Academic Advisor. Advisors can assist with degree completion and discuss strategies to be successful in coursework.

Academic Standing

  • Project your GPA!  A quick way to find your GPA is by checking your “Unofficial Transcripts” in your UC Merced portal and selecting MyStudentRecord. If your grades have not been posted, you may use the following website to calculate your GPA:

UC Merced GPA Calculator OR UC Berkeley GPA Calculator

  • Is your estimated GPA below 2.0? Click here to learn more about UC Merced’s academic standing policies

Programs and Workshops

  • Success Mentor Program empowers first-year students to make a successful transition to academic and social life at UC Merced through one-on-one mentoring with upper division students and community based initiatives.
  • Workshops (in-person and on-line) are offered throughout the semester to help students with their academic and personal success. Workshops are offered through the Bright Success Center and your School (Engineering, Natural Sciences, SSHA)