About the McNair Scholars Program

The McNair Scholars Program prepares qualified undergraduates for entrance to a PhD program in all fields of study. The goals of the program are to increase the number of first-generation, low-income, and/or underrepresented students in PhD programs, and ultimately, to diversify the faculty in colleges and universities across the country. The McNair Scholars Program provides undergraduates with opportunities to participate in academic- year and summer research activities. McNair Scholars attend courses, seminars, and workshops on topics related to graduate school preparation; complete a research project under the guidance of a faculty mentor; and have the opportunity to present their research at local, regional, and national conferences.

Benefits:

• Personal and academic counseling,
• Network with faculty and graduate student mentors,
• Attend workshops on graduate admissions and funding,
• Participate in intensive GRE training,
• Attend regional and national conferences,
• Present research at conferences,
• $2,500 stipend for summer research with faculty mentor.

Who is Eligible to Participate?

An applicant for the McNair Program must either be a: 

• first-generation college student with demonstrated high financial need, or

• member of an underrepresented group, which has traditionally been underrepresented at the graduate level (African American, Latino American, Native American).

 The Applicant must also:

• be highly motivated, dedicated towards gaining a Ph.D. and teaching at the university level,
• have achieved sophomores class standing,
• be a citizen or permanent resident of the United States,
• have a minimum overall grade point average of 2.75 or better.

To learn more about the McNair program, please attend an informational session- dates listed on https://oadi.cornell.edu/programs/student-success-programs/mcnair/application-recommendation.html. Please note that this program accepts applications annually during the Fall semester.