Download McNair Application

Program Overview

The UC Santa Barbara McNair Scholars Program is a two-year program funded by the U.S. Department of Education. It is designed to encourage students from groups often underrepresented in graduate programs to pursue doctoral degrees. Twenty to thirty undergraduates and incoming transfer students are selected each year to participate in academic year and summer activities. One of the key aspects of the McNair Program is the opportunity for undergraduate students at the junior and senior years to participate in research experiences.
 

Program Benefits

The McNair Scholars Program provides year round services to prepare participants for acceptance into quality graduate programs of their choice.

• Workshops and seminars provide information on such topics as selecting a graduate school, the graduate school application process, graduate financial aid, library research skills, technical writing, polishing computer skills, strengthening academic skills, Graduate Record Examination preparation and more.
• Faculty research mentors help students formulate their research interests and develop their research skills.
• Individualized assistance to help students with their undergraduate academic needs (planning, counseling, tutoring, GRE preparation, and application process.) and to help identify graduate schools & special programs of interest. Also, we assist in admission to graduate programs of choice.
• Networking with a cohort of students with similar interests
• A summer research internship for 18 students is provided during each summer. Benefits include working with a faculty mentor, a stipend (up to $2,800 summer research stipend) and units of independent study credit.
   

Program Services

We will offer the following services to McNair Scholars:

• Free tutoring
• Academic advising
• Graduate Record Exam (GRE) preparation
• Funding for travel to research conferences
• Pre-graduate school advising  and career counseling
• Presentation assistance and technology training
• Class schedule planning
• Mentoring by graduate students
• Help choosing a faculty research mentor
• Professional  writing assistance
• Publication opportunities
   

For further information, please contact:
Beth Schneider - bschneider@ltsc.ucsb.edu
Director of UCSB McNair Scholar Program