New Student Checklist

New Student Checklist

• Be Admitted to Mercer: Students who have applied may receive acceptance to Mercer as early as August of the year prior to their enrollment. Congratulations! Follow up with the Office of Admissions to submit your enrollment deposit.
• Submit Immunization Form: Your Immunization Form should be mailed back to the Campus Health Center soon as possible. This document requires students to provide their immunization histories for measles, mumps, and rubella along with the signature of a physician or health care provider. It must be completely filled out and received by the Campus Health Center before beginning classes at Mercer.
• Review Scholarship Information: Various kinds of scholarships may be awarded to qualifying students. Contact your Admissions Counselor for more information on financial aid, the HOPE Scholarship, and other forms of Georgia Aid.
• Complete FAFSA: In order to receive federal and state financial aid, students must have filled out the Free Application for Federal Student Aid, or FAFSA. The information is then sent to Mercer’s Office of Financial Planning (code #001580) for use in determining financial aid packages.
• Submit On-Campus Housing Contract: The housing application provides the Office of Housing and Residence Life vital information on where to house each incoming student, as well as serves as a contract between the student and Mercer for housing for that year. In order to submit your On-Campus Housing Contract please head over log-in to your MyMercer and:
  • Under My Homepage and Housing, select Macon Housing
  • Select Apply for Housing
  • Select “Click Here for 2025-2026 New Freshman Housing Contracts”
• Review University Bill: Your University Bill is generated 30-days prior to the start of the semester. The bill will appear on your MyMercer account. These bills are subject to change, but provide insight into expenses. Tuition payment is due by the first day of class.
• Review Health Insurance Information: All Mercer students are required to have health insurance coverage. Mercer provides coverage to all its students.  Students are billed for the cost of health insurance coverage each semester. If you already have coverage under another policy and do not want to pay health insurance fee, you must complete an online Student Health Insurance Waiver. Carefully follow all instructions found on the Bursar’s Office website>>. This process must be completed each term you are enrolled.  If you do not complete the waiver process by the deadline, you will be responsible for the payment.
• Complete the Mercer Academic Profile & Register for Orientation: 
  • *First-year students can fill out their Mercer Academic Profile (MAP) beginning late-Spring of their senior year. The MAP is an important tool used by academic advisors when constructing student class schedules. This is also how first-year students register for Summer Orientation in June. Students will receive information via e-mail with the link to the MAP.
  • Transfer students and/or students attending Spring Orientation or May Orientation will also complete an Mercer Academic Profile (MAP). Transfer students starting in the fall will receive the MAP via e-mail in April. Once completed, the MAP provides academic background information and insight in students’ future academic goals at Mercer. This information will be reviewed by an academic advisor from the students’ academic department to construct a class schedule for the semester ahead.
• Electronically Sign your ‘Statement of Student Responsibilities’ Form: All students have a “Statement of Student Responsibilities” hold that appears when you log in to MyMercer for the first time. To access this hold, log in to MyMercer>> and locate the “Statement of Student Responsbilities” tile on your MyMercer homepage. Click on the link, read your statement, and electronically sign your form. Students are unable to be registered for classes until they’ve submitted their statement.
• Complete your U Got This Training Course: U Got This is an online course that approaches the interconnected issues of substance abuse, sexual violence, and healthy relationships through a variety of realistic scenarios and guided self-reflection. This MANDATORY course promotes a healthier and safer campus environment for everyone. You’ll gain access to this free course after your orientation date and are expected to complete the requirement PRIOR TO BEGINNING YOUR SEMESTER AT MERCER.
• Attend Orientation: Orientation is designed to give new students and families information about attending Mercer. Attending Orientation provides an opportunity for students to receive and review their course schedule, meet classmates, and utilize important campus resources.
• Purchase/Rent Textbooks:
  • To find your textbooks, simply sign into your MyMercer account and locate the ‘Barnes & Noble (Macon)’ tile on your MyMercer homepage. Select “order textbooks” and choose your term. This will redirect you to the Barnes & Noble website that automatically pulls your schedule and lists required textbooks for each course. View the Mercer University Bookstore Barnes & Noble website>>.
  • All eligible students will be automatically enrolled in The Bear Book Bundle Program. Students may opt. out of the program through the drop add date each semester if they do not wish to participate.
  • Bear Book Bundle is a course materials delivery rental program for Mercer undergraduate students.  The program lowers the cost of course materials by 35 to 50% over the cost of purchasing books and ensures students have their required course materials on the first day of class. Learn more at The Bear Book Bundle FAQ Page>>.
• Complete Summer Reading: All first-year students are expected to complete a summer reading.* Review the Summer Reading website for more information and the Summer Essay Contest>>.
• Prepare for Opening Days: *Opening Days>> are special days for both residential and commuter first-year students and their families. Residential students move to campus during their designated timeframe per their residence hall assignment. Commuter students and families also attend a Commuter Program prior to the start of Bear Beginnings on Friday afternoon.
• Attend Bear Beginnings: *Our two-day fall orientation program for first-year students, known as Bear Beginnings, is when students will meet their orientation group (O-Group), Peer Advisor (PA), and academic advisor. During Bear Beginnings, students finalize their fall course schedule, learn of various campus resources, gain an understanding of Mercer’s academic expectations, and attend social events.
  • Transfer students will attend a Transfer Check-In with the Office of Academic & Advising Services on the Monday before classes begin. Students will receive information to assist them in beginning classes, and attend relevant portions of Bear Beginnings including New Student Convocation.

Navigating Mercer Resources

Mercer University stays connected with new students through a variety of resources, such as the MyMercer portal, student e-mail, and campus mailbox.  It is important that students learn to navigate these resources, as these become some of the primary methods of communication with faculty, staff, and the institution as a whole.  Students can begin accessing these Mercer resources as soon as they are admitted to the institution.  Information regarding the MyMercer portal, student e-mail, and campus mailbox will also be covered with first-year students during Bear Beginnings and the UNV 101 classroom.

MyMercer Student Portal