Prospective Scholar Information

 

Students who are income eligible and first-generation (neither parent has a bachelor's degree) or who are members of a group historically underrepresented in a graduate study and who have attained undergraduate junior level academic status (sophomores may be considered) are eligible to apply for the McNair Scholars Program.

McNair Scholars Program applications are available outside Tower 2136 at the beginning of each academic year. The completed application (including an essay on career goals and why you want to enter into graduate level study), an official college/university transcript, income eligibility information and two faculty letters of recommendation need to be returned to Tower 2136 for consideration as part of the current academic year's cohort.     Application Packet

Is Graduate School for You?

The decision to pursue a graduate education is one that will open many doors for you. Because you will become an expert in your field of study, obtaining an advanced degree means greater responsibility, increased salaries and the momentum to embark on a journey into the ever-changing realm of research and post-secondary instruction.

You will continue to acquire knowledge, develop critical thinking and problem-solving skills and have more opportunity to interface with the most experienced in your field.

If your personal and professional goals include these objectives, the decision to pursue a doctoral degree is the right one. The McNair Scholars Program at The College of St. Scholastica is designed to help prepare you for graduate school and to help you realize your dreams.

Am I Eligible?

As an applicant for the McNair Scholars Program you must meet one or more of the following criteria:

• Be income eligible AND
 
• Be first generation (neither parent has a bachelor's degree)

OR

• Be a member of a group historically underrepresented in graduate school (African-American, Hispanic, Native American, Alaskan Native, Native Hawaiians, and other Pacific Islanders),  AND
• Have demonstrated academic ability, AND
• Have achieved junior class standing (sophomores may be considered), AND
• Have expressed a desire to complete doctoral work, AND
• Be a citizen or permanent resident of the United States.

Scholar Activities

Scholars are provided with many services through the McNair Program. If selected you will be helped to:

     » Identify and secure a paid summer research position.
     » Identify and obtain information about appropriate graduate programs.
     » Learn about scholarships and fellowships for graduate study.
     » Prepare application or scholarship forms and edit personal statements.
     » Secure letters of recommendation for graduate school applications.

In addition, you will receive the following:

     » 10 academic seminars and 8 summer seminars, 2 day intensive
        Graduate School Launch seminar, 1 evening of an intensive Summer Research Launch seminar.
     » Coordinating research with academic departments requiring independent or applied research.
     » Publication of your research.
     » Present research at posters sessions.
     » Group graduate school visits during the summer.
     » Reflections newsletter.
     » Career and academic advising.
     » Attendance at discipline-specific conferences.
     » Referral to other campus resources to help you meet academic requirements.
     » Individual tutoring for any course at no cost.
     » Coordinating services with Student Support Services.
     » Admission to ethnic or cultural events.
     » Receive specialized instruction for applying to nationally competitive scholarships:
        e.g., Rhodes, Fulbright, Goldwater, NIH, NSF, NASA, Truman, Marshall
        and J.K.Cooke.