Requirements

College/School Eligibility:

  • Agriculture and Life Sciences
  • Brooks School of Public Policy
  • Architecture, Art and Planning
  • Arts and Sciences
  • Engineering
  • Human Ecology
  • Industrial and Labor Relations
  • SC Johnson Business - Dyson
  • SC Johnson Business - Hotel
  • SC Johnson Business - Johnson

Class Year Eligibility:

  • Fourth Year + (undergrad)

Open to:

  • Cornell Undergraduate Students

GPA Requirements:

Minimum GPA: 3.70

Please note: The McCall-MacBain Scholarship requires a Cornell endorsement to be nominated to the national competition. In order to be considered for an endorsement, a candidate must submit all application materials to the Office of Fellowships by 1pm ET on August 1, 2025.

 

Brief Description:

Each year the McCall MacBain Scholars program seeks a group of outstanding students* to receive full funding to pursue a master’s or professional degree program at McGill University, with the goal of creating a global community of innovators, creative leaders, academics, entrepreneurs and others with a lifelong commitment to working with others to make real change. Up to 30 full scholarships and 100 entrance awards are offered for those matriculating into master's or professional programs in the summer/fall terms at McGill University. 

 

Description:

The McCall MacBain Scholarship covers tuition and fees for an eligible master’s program or a second-entry professional undergraduate program at McGill  University as well as a living stipend of $2,000 CAD per month during academic terms. Scholars also participate in an intensive leadership development program, connect with mentors and advisors, and participate in a breadth of workshops and talks.

Since 2022, eligibility is open to students and graduates of universities in Canada and the United States. Citizenship status no longer limits eligibility. However, please note that Cornell students, as graduates of a university in Canada/U.S. should apply to the September deadline. Please check the official program website for more information and the annual deadline.*

Interested Cornell applicants should carefully read the detailed information provided on the official McCall MacBain Scholars Program website.

All application materials should be completed and submitted to the Office of Fellowships at ccs-fellowships@cornell.edu by 1pm ET August 1, 2025.  

The McCall MacBain Scholarship application deadline precedes McGill graduate admissions. You may list up to five eligible programs of interest on your scholarship application. Applicants must apply separately to an eligible master’s or professional degree program at McGill University they want to enter.  Applicants cannot be selected as McCall MacBain Scholars unless they are admitted by the department (however, departments may freely admit applicants who are not selected as McCall MacBain Scholars). Please note the program application deadlines vary. 

 

It is important for applicants to understand the mission and goal of this funding opportunity. They are clear about what they are looking for and trying to achieve through this scholarship. Applicants should take time to seriously consider and reflect on their motivations for pursuing graduate study at McGill University and reflect on whether their experiences align with the type of candidates they seek. McCall-MacBain Scholars are selected for:

  • Exceptional Character. We are looking for integrity, honesty, humility, empathy, resilience, an unwavering commitment to the pursuit of excellence and to hard work and service, continual learning and self-awareness, long attention-span, perseverance, and a willingness to take meaningful risks and learn from failures.
  • Community Engagement. We are looking for a track record of service: thoughtful, committed experience working for and with others to address challenges that face communities large and small. We are looking for a breadth and depth of interests, evidenced by sustained involvement in extra-curricular or other activities. These activities may include mastery in the arts, athletics, or other pursuits.
  • Leadership Potential. We are looking for experience working with and leading others towards a common goal, of taking on tough leadership roles to advance meaningful change. We are looking for those with a collaborative spirit who seek to improve the lot of others and develop the potential of those they lead.
  • Entrepreneurial Spirit. We are looking for those who can identify needs and gaps and to motivate others in developing and implementing creative and effective solutions to address them. We are looking for people who are not afraid to forge new paths and are not held back by fear of failure.
  • Academic Strength & Intellectual Curiosity. We are looking for those with a deep interest in and curiosity about people, ideas, and the world around them. They will have an interest in and experience working with others with perspectives different from their own. We are looking for a good fit between the proposed graduate program(s), the candidate’s qualifications, and their plans for the future.

Additionally, we expect that our scholars will come from different communities, with diverse backgrounds and life experiences. Collectively, they will pursue a broad range of academic paths. They will be introverts and extroverts. They will have different political stripes, with passions and interests that cover the spectrum of issues facing Canada and the world.

Understanding that our future scholars will be at different points in their journeys and will have had access to different opportunities, McCall MacBain Scholars will be united by a track record of community engagement, informed by a sense of duty, empathy, intellectual curiosity, grit, and a willingness to take risks. They aim to create meaningful and lasting change, while improving the lives of others.

 

Interested applicants should, after doing some research of their own on the program, application process and/or attending a program info session, schedule an appointment with Krista Saleet, ks2334@cornell.edu, from the Office of Fellowships, who advises on the McCall-MacBain Scholars.

 

Application Information:

Applicants should demonstrate exceptional character, community engagement, leadership potential, entrepreneurial spirit, and academic strength and intellectual curiosity.

A complete application includes the following:

  • Several short essays (225-300 words each)
  • Two written references - An academic* reference from someone who knows your academic work well and a community reference from someone who knows your community involvement well. (Requested and completed via online form within the secure-platform system. You can see the questions they will be asked. Feel free to discuss with your recommenders ahead of time to make sure sure they feel they can answer the questions fully and specifically.)
  • A one-page resume (PDF)
  • Official or unofficial transcripts (PDF format) 

All application materials should be completed and submitted to the Office of Fellowships at ccs-fellowships@cornell.edu by 1pm ET August 1, 2025.  

Special Eligibility Requirements:

  • As of 2022, this fellowship is open to students and graduates of universities in Canada and the United States, irrespective of individual citizenship.
  • Eligible are graduating seniors, graduate/professional students, and alumni.


Understanding the Application: https://mccallmacbainscholars.org/resources/

McCall MacBain Scholarship FAQs: https://mccallmacbainscholars.org/faq/


 

Contact Information:

For questions about this application, please contact Krista Saleet at ks2334@cornell.edu