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Merit Day at UK 2024

Merit Day is a special event designed for high-achieving students who have been admitted to UK for fall 2024. Invited students have the opportunity to meet other Wildcats, explore life on campus, connect with campus resources, and register for your fall 2024 courses.

Merit Day is both an in-person, new student orientation and an opportunity to learn more about life as a Wildcat. While you are at Merit Day, you will register for your fall courses earlier than any new or current student. 

As noted on the invitation and on this website, Merit Days often reach capacity early, and registering early is strongly encouraged.

Merit Days reached capacity in February and registration has closed for Merit Day 2024.

Ready to confirm your plans to attend UK? Register for our other early orientation - Bluegrass Day on April 26  (capacity is limited by college) - or register for a summer BBN Orientation.

Merit Day identifier with text reading University of Kentucky with stars and an outline of the state

Merit Day registration has closed

Merit Day is a by-invitation early orientation. Space was limited and available on a first-come, first-served basis within each college.

Merit Days have reached capacity and registration has closed for Merit Day 2024.

Ready to confirm your plans to attend UK? Register for our other early orientation - Bluegrass Day - on April 26 or register for a summer BBN Orientation.

 

Already registered for Merit Day?

Visit your Merit Day course in Canvas to learn more.

Your Canvas course includes information about what to bring, where to park, the day's schedule, and so much more!

If you have questions, you can always email the orientation team.

Each Merit Day will include:

  • Welcome to Merit Day and Opening Session 
    • This session formally kicks off Merit Day and begins at 8:30 a.m. (Eastern Time). Check-in will be open from 7:30-8:15 a.m. 
  • Small group meetings with a First-Year Experience Ambassador and other new students
  • Lunch in Champions Kitchen, an on-campus dining hall
  • Information about living on campus and student life
  • Opportunities to meet with and ask questions of different student resources on campus
  • Registration for fall courses with your academic college
  • Family/Guest programming from the Office of Parent and Family Engagement

Prior to Merit Day, students will be required to complete modules in their Merit Day Canvas course.

Most students will be finished by 4:30 p.m. ET.

Two students with Wildcat at Orientation

How to Register for Merit Day

If you have not already registered for a BBN Orientation

You’ll need to use Google Chrome or Firefox to complete this process. Microsoft Edge, Safari and Internet Explorer do not work with the myUK portal.

You can follow the steps below or follow these detailed instructions with screenshots.

  • Log in to myUK.uky.edu with your linkblue username and password.
  • Select Student Services
    • You'll see the message "Not an Active Student."
    • This is a normal message to see until you've registered for coursework at orientation. You can still continue with the registration steps below.
  • Select Admissions from the top toolbar, then select BBN Orientation Registration on the left panel.
  • Once you’re in the BBN Orientation Registration in myUK: 
    • Select Register for an Orientation;
    • Select your preferred Merit Day date;
    • Select Continue and choose your payment method. Once you have selected your payment method, click the Next button to enter your payment method information. If payment is not made at the time of confirmation, you will not be confirmed for Merit Day and will need to reserve your space when your payment can be completed.

      IMPORTANT: After completing your payment, be sure to follow all prompts. If you do not complete the process after payment to select an orientation date, you will not be registered for Merit Day.

If you've already registered for a BBN Orientation

You’ll need to use Google Chrome or Firefox to complete this process. Microsoft Edge, Safari and Internet Explorer do not work with the myUK portal.

  • Log in to myUK.uky.edu with your linkblue username and password.
  • Select Student Services
    • You'll see the message "Not an Active Student."
    • This is a normal message to see until you've registered for coursework at orientation. You can still continue with the registration steps below.
  • Select Admissions from the top toolbar, then select BBN Orientation Registration on the left panel.
  • Once you’re in the BBN Orientation Registration in myUK: 

    • Select Switch Orientation;

    • Select preferred Merit Day date;

    • Select Continue

There will be no additional charges for switching to Merit Day.

Orientation fee and enrollment pre-payment instructions

There is a $250 Merit Day payment that includes the Merit Day orientation fee and enrollment pre-payment. This payment process must be completed to reserve your space at Merit Day.

Military-connected students and families: We appreciate those who defend our country and the incredible role of military families, who sacrifice and support their loved ones. If your admission application responses indicated that you are a member of a military-connected family, as gratitude from the University of Kentucky you'll receive a reduced registration fee when registering for a UK orientation date.

Additional Fees:

  • There is a $30 guest fee for each guest a student brings to Merit Day. Students are allowed to bring up to two guests to Merit Day
  • There is a $20 Student ID Fee that covers the cost of the physical student ID students will receive prior to the start of the Fall semester. This fee is optional at this time but will be required prior to the start of the fall semester.

Instructions based on payment method

If paying via credit or debit card, a new browser window will open and display our credit/debit card payment form, powered by Value Payment Systems, LLC (please note the convenience fees associated with credit and debit transactions). Follow the instructions to enter and process your payment. When finished, the window will close and you will receive a confirmation message in the student portal.

If paying via electronic check, you will proceed through our UK check payment process. Follow the prompts to enter and confirm your bank and routing numbers and the account holder name and click Submit Payment. Please note that it will take several days for your transaction to post through your financial institution. 

If paying via international bank transfer or international credit card, you will select one of our international payment vendors. Once you select one and click the Continue button, you will be redirected to that vendor’s website to complete your payment.

Please do not attempt to pay your orientation fees directly through the UK Account Services tab, Web Payment Services or Guest Access through the student portal. Proceed through the BBN Orientation Registration (see instructions above) to make any changes or payments.

If payment is not made at the time of confirmation, you will not be confirmed for Merit Day and will need to reserve your space when your payment can be completed.

Why Merit Day?

Explore Life on Campus

Attending Merit Day was the deciding factor for me to attend UK! The information sessions for both parents and students, Big Blue Crew meetings, and college meetings made it easy and exciting for me to envision myself at UK. All the faculty and volunteers at Merit Day were extremely kind, welcoming, and eager to answer any questions you had. I enjoyed learning about all the on-campus resources and opportunities available to students, and hearing about these in-depth during the information sessions made me super excited to attend in the fall! I would recommend Merit Day to any student who is struggling to make a college decision, or to students who know they will attend UK and want to learn more about all that is offered!

- Siena P., Public Policy Freshman

Meet other Students

I was extremely appreciative of my Merit Day experience because it allowed me to not only get a feel for campus while students were in classes, but I was also able to meet like-minded students who I am still friends with today. Merit Day provided me an opportunity to make friends and sign up for classes ahead of everyone else, and I truly believe that it was a big factor in making UK feel like home.

- Zachary G., Finance and Marketing Sophomore

Register for Fall Courses

Merit Day is what really sealed the deal for me. I'd toured the campus before, but I was struggling to pick between UK and another school. Everything felt so organized, and the best part was that I got to have my classes scheduled and my orientation done in March. That took a lot of stress off the end of my senior year and I just got to relax as everything was set up for me to enjoy my summer and start at UK in the fall.

- Grecia G., Human Health Sciences Freshman on Pre-Athletic Training Track

Parent and Family Opportunities

Family/guests of students joining us for Merit Day are encouraged to join us for:

  • A presentation from the UK Office of Parent and Family Engagement full of insider tips on promoting your student’s collegiate success. Their professional and student staff will share their experiences and answer frequently asked questions.
  • In the afternoon, ask questions of current students to get their insights on life at UK. This will take place while Merit Day students meet with their academic colleges.
Family on campus walking

Other Helpful Information

Attending Merit Day does not obligate you to attend the University of Kentucky. 

Merit Day attendees who notify us by email by May 1, 2024 after participating in Merit Day that they will not enroll at UK will receive a refund of the $125 enrollment pre-payment, but they will not receive a refund of the $125 Merit Day orientation fee.

To request this refund, students must notify the University of Kentucky by May 1, 2024 in writing via email to orientation@uky.edu. Refunds will only be processed after receiving the request via email.

Find other helpful information in the dropdowns below.

Lewis Honors College Reception and Open House

Lewis Honors College admitted students who are registered for Merit Day are strongly encouraged to attend a reception and open house at Lewis Hall between 4:30-6:00 p.m. ET the evening before their Merit Day. (Students attending Merit Day on Friday, March 16, are welcome to attend the reception that night if they are unable to attend the Thursday night offering on March 15 due to travel schedules.)

Free parking for this reception is available at the Rose Street Garage (301 Hilltop Ave.) beginning at 4 p.m. on the day of the reception. Lewis Hall (420 Hilltop Ave.) is a 5-minute walk from this garage.

Lewis Honors College decisions were sent to students on February 15, 2024. Students ultimately not admitted to Honors are still invited to attend the Reception and Open House to learn more about Upper-Level Admission (which you can apply for as a current UK student) into the Lewis Honors College.

Invitations to Merit Day are independent of any decisions regarding the admission process for Lewis Honors College.

Scholarships and Financial Aid

Attending Merit Day does not impact any decisions regarding the scholarship award process at UK. Scholarship awards were not and are not considered in preparing the invitations for Merit Day.

Learn more about scholarship programs for Fall 2024 freshman students

Cancelling your Merit Day

Full refunds will only be issued for cancellations requested by the Monday prior to your Merit Day.

If you are requesting a refund due to cancellation, please submit your request in writing via email to orientation@uky.edu. Refunds will only be processed after receiving the request via email.

After attending Merit Day:

Merit Day attendees who notify us by email by May 1, 2024 after participating in Merit Day that they will not enroll at UK will receive a refund of the $125 enrollment pre-payment, but they will not receive a refund of the $125 Merit Day orientation fee.

To request this refund, students must notify the University of Kentucky by May 1, 2024 in writing via email to orientation@uky.edu. Refunds will only be processed after receiving the request via email.