McNair Scholars Program Home Page

Services Summary

Applying for the Program

THE BENEFITS OF BEING A McNAIR SCHOLAR

Opportunities to Engage in Faculty-Guided Research
One of the most exciting aspects of the McNair Program is the opportunity for Scholars to engage in ten weeks of summer research under the guidance of faculty mentor. McNair Scholars attend national conferences where they make formal presentations of their research to faculty and peers. To prepare for the research experience, McNair Scholars attend a pre-research seminar conducted by faculty members who are active researchers. The seminar provides Scholars with an overview of the research process from design through implementation and offers guidance on selecting a suitable faculty research mentor. During the summer research internship, McNair Scholars receive a $3,000 stipend and a $300 supply allowance.

Opportunities to Participate in an Undergraduate Teaching Internship
The McNair Program offers Scholars training in college pedagogy to prepare them for teaching assistantship duties that they most likely will assume while in graduate school. The first component of this preparation is an intensive summer workshop on issues and methods in college teaching. The second component of the Program's preparation for teaching is the semester-long internship under the guidance of a faculty research mentor. Participation in the teaching workshop and internship has resulted in past Scholars receiving paid positions as teaching assistants during their first year in graduate school.

Tuition Assistance

McNair Scholars with financial need receive (undergraduate) tuition awards during their tenure in the Program at Indiana University-Bloomington

Preparation for Graduate School
During the summer between the junior and senior years, McNair Scholars participate in a five-day senior camp that focuses on the graduate school application process, types of financial aid available to graduate students, and survival skills for graduate study. At the camp, students attend workshops that offer assistance in writing fellowship proposals and essential portions of the graduate school application, such as the personal statement and academic resume. Scholars also participate in a summer eight-week GRE (Graduate Record Exam) preparation course and receive a 50% discount on one GRE General Exam or subject test. Senior scholars receive funding to visit their top choice graduate schools to talk with faculty and graduate students. Over 300 colleges and universities across the country waive graduate school application fees (ranging from $45-$75 per application) for McNair Scholars. Additionally, many schools offer multi-year fellowships for McNair Scholars who are accepted to their graduate programs.

Who Qualifies For the McNair Scholars Program?

Eligible candidates for the McNair Scholars Program are:

Full-time students at Indiana University-Bloomington who have a minimum cumulative grade point average of 2.75; competitive applicants for the program should have a 3.0 or above. The cumulative GPA of the current McNair Scholars is 3.51.
U.S. citizens or permanent residents of the United States
Either a first generation college student (neither parent has received a four-year bachelor's degree) of any ethnic background who has a low-income level as established by the U.S. Department of Education; or a member of a group that is underrepresented in graduate education as defined by the U.S. Department of Education (African American, Hispanic American, Native American, or Alaskan Native)
Students who have a serious interest in pursuing graduate study leading to the Ph.D. This does not include students who wish to pursue the professional degrees of law (J.D.), medicine (M.D.), dentistry (D.D.S.), optometry (O.D.), education (Ed.D.), MFA degrees in Fine Arts or Creative Writing, nor students wanting to pursue the M.B.A. in Business.

803 E 8th St | Bloomington, IN 4708 | Phone (812) 855-1135/4005 | Fax (812) 855-8741