Summer Connections
This in-person opportunity allows incoming first-year students and their families to explore Muhlenberg's academic life, student services, and resources.
Each June, admitted students who have committed to Muhlenberg come to campus to meet faculty, staff, current students, and peers and begin to plan their first semester.
Join us this year for Summer Connections held on June 6 or June 8.
Begin Your Journey on Campus
At your Summer Connections day, you’ll forge relationships, discuss your first college courses, and build excitement for the journey ahead.
New Student Checklist
Welcome to the Muhlenberg family. Follow these steps to prepare for your arrival on campus this fall.
Pre-Advising Form
Complete your pre-advising form by May 15.
Available in April
Pre-Advising Information – Deadline May 15
Share your interests and explore options for your First Year Seminar and other courses before you make your academic plan at Summer Connections.
First-Year Seminars (FYS)
All students take an FYS in the fall of their first year.
- First-Year Seminar (FYS) options for Fall 2026: select 10 on your Pre-Advising Form
- Courses Appropriate for First-Year Students: select 10 on your Pre-Advising Form
Learn more about how to select your First-Year Seminar and first-year courses below.
All students take an FYS in the fall of their first year.
First-Year Seminars are small, discussion-based courses that provide students with the opportunity to work closely with a faculty member.
Offered by faculty members from departments across campus, these seminars vary widely in subjects but all work to promote intellectual discussion and critical thinking, reading, and writing skills.
Please read through the FYS offerings for Fall 2026 and then select the 10 FYSs that interest you most. These courses often fill up, so it is important to have many options before registration.
NOTE: If you are a member of the Emerging Leaders, RJ Fellows, or Shankweiler Scholars, you do not have to select 10 FYSs, please just select an FYS associated with your program.
Here is a list of courses that are Appropriate for First Years - look through the list carefully and select 10 courses that sound interesting to you.
There is no need to worry about checking off requirements - everything you choose will fill a requirement - instead, focus on taking classes that will help you explore your interests. Similar to FYSs, it is possible that you may not get your top choices, so it is important that you select many options.
NOTE: Most students take 4 units each semester, which includes your FYS. This allows you to reach the 32 total units needed to graduate in four years. Most courses at Muhlenberg are worth 1 unit each, with the exception of a few performance-based classes (e.g., some dance and music classes are 0.5 units).
Student ID Photo
Upload your photo for your 'Berg ID before August 1.
Upload Your ’Berg ID Photo – Deadline August 1
Upload your photo into the system before August 1. You’ll receive your card during orientation for use across campus.
First-Year Housing
Complete your first-year housing application to mark your preferences before July 1.
First-Year Housing – Deadline July 1
It’s time to set up your first-year housing!
- Log in to BergConnect to access the first-year housing application to mark your preferences.
Housing assignments will be released at the end of July.
Special Housing Request – Deadline June 20
Students diagnosed with a medical condition that may significantly impact residential living may submit a Special Housing Request through the Office of Disability Services. Documentation should be submitted through the Accommodate portal, which will be available through BergConnect in mid-May. Accommodate Portal and submit the required documentation. Reach out to [email protected] with any questions.
Submit Your Health Forms
Health Forms – Due July 1
The college requires all new incoming students to complete essential health forms.
Follow our health form task list to ensure you have the right information ready.
Placement Tests / Questionnaires
Placement exams ensure you are placed in the language, math, or chemistry course best suited for your level of knowledge.
Available in May
Placement Tests/Questionnaires – Deadline May 24
To ensure you take the language, math, or chemistry courses that are best for your level of knowledge and past experience, please take the appropriate placements. Students may not register for a language, math, or chemistry class until they have taken the corresponding placement test/questionnaire.
- Language Placement – required
- Math Placement – required
- Chemistry Placement – only required for students who plan to take chemistry
NOTE: If you have a documented disability that makes learning a second language or mathematics difficult, please reach out to the Office of Disability Services to discuss petitioning to complete these requirements through alternate courses. This does not have to be completed before your first semester
Learn more about each of the placement tests below.
All students must take the language placement test prior to registration, even if you're not planning to take a language course in your first semester. You will complete one Intercultural Communication (IC) course during your time at Muhlenberg.
- If you're just finishing up a language class in high school, it is recommended that you continue that language in your first semester at Muhlenberg.
- While there are a small number of IC courses that are not language courses, most students complete the IC requirement by taking a second language course.
- Be sure to complete both the "Language Exam" and the "Questionnaire" for the language you studied in high school. If your high school language isn't available, select "Other" and someone from the Languages, Literatures, and Cultures department will reach out to you.
All students must complete the mathematics placement exam prior to registration. All students take one Quantitative and Symbolic Reasoning course during their time at Muhlenberg, but it doesn't have to be taken in the first semester.
If you don't plan to take a chemistry course during your time at Muhlenberg, you do not have to take the chemistry placement exam. If you do plan to take chemistry at some point, you must take the chemistry placement exam before you can register for the course.
Music Placement Form
For students interested in music ensembles and/or music lessons, please complete the Music Advising Form. While you are on campus for Summer Connections, music faculty will meet with you to discuss available ensemble opportunities and match you with an appropriate instructor for individual applied lessons.
Complete Workday Onboarding – Available Mid-May
Workday is Muhlenberg’s student information system, where you will do everything from registering for courses to updating your personal information. We will use Workday to create your academic plan and a schedule for your first semester, so it is very important that you complete this onboarding before you arrive for Summer Connections. You’ll have access to these tools in Workday in mid-May.
Registration Guide
Explore our registration guide to learn more about how to prepare to register for your first courses as Mules.
Available in June
Attend Summer Connections
Create your academic plan on campus during the Summer Connections event, held June 6 or June 8.
If you’re unable to make it due to extenuating circumstances, you may request a virtual advising appointment. Virtual advising will be available on June 11, 12, 15, 16, 17, and 18. A member of the Muhlenberg team will reach out with your assigned advising date.
Register for Classes – Deadline August 14
Your class registration time is based on when you deposited at Muhlenberg.
- Students who deposited before April 1 will register at 12 p.m. EST on June 22.
- Students who deposited on or after April 1 will register at 12 p.m. EST on June 23.