Prospective Scholars | McNair Scholars | SIU

The McNair Scholars program provides you with the opportunity to:

• Receive individualized academic and personal support from our McNair staff.
• Conduct paid summer project.
• Present your research at the McNair Scholars Research Symposium
• Be mentored by faculty, graduate students and peers.
• Travel funds to present at research conferences or visit graduate schools.
• Assistance researching and applying to graduate schools.
• Access to workshops on graduate school admisisons, funding, and culture.
• Access to GRE review and fee reduction waiver.
• Access academic coaching/tutoring.

If you answer “Yes” to all of the questions in either Part A or Part B, you are eligible!

Part A

1. Neither of my parents completed a four-year degree.
2. I (my family) has demonstrated financial need as determined by the income levels established by the U.S. Department of Education. (See Federal income guidelines at https://www2.ed.gov/about/offices/list/ope/trio/incomelevels.html)
3. I am a citizen of the United States or meet the residency requirements for Federal Student Financial Aid.
4. My GPA is 2.6 or higher.
5. I am seriously considering going to graduate school.

OR

Part B

1. I am African American, Hispanic, Native American, or Native Pacific Islander:
2. My GPA is 2.6 or higher.
3. I am a citizen of the United States or meet the residency requirements for Federal Student Financial Aid.
4. I am seriously considering going to graduate school.

McNair Scholars are required to:

• Attend all scheduled events and workshops
• Maintain a GPA of 2.6 or above
• Stay in contact on a regular basis with the McNair Scholars Program staff and your faculty mentor
• Conduct full-time research one summer before graduating
• Participate in our eight-week Summer Research Institute and all of the associated, required activities including weekly meetings, GRE sessions and preparing a final paper and presentation
• Present your research at a professional conference (McNair or a conference for your discipline) and/or publish a research paper, either in our annual SIUC McNair Scholars Journal or in a peer-reviewed journal
• Present a poster at the University’s Undergraduate Research Forum
• Complete an undergraduate degree program
• Apply for admission to at least three graduate degree programs prior to completing your Bachelor’s degree and keep the McNair staff informed about all graduate school acceptances, rejections, and financial package offers
• Maintain contact with our McNair staff after graduating from SIU Carbondale

Step 1: Meet with a McNair Staff member and confirm eligibility.

Step 2: Complete our application form part 1 to determine eligibility.

Step 3: Part 2- McNair staff will notify you of your eligibility status and will request addtional information including: a personal statement, research statement, resume and letters of recommendation.

Complete part 1 of the application to determine your eligibility. If you are eligible, you will be asked to complete part 2 of the application which includes supporting documents like your essays and two letters of recommendation.  At least one recommendations should be from faculty.

Our selection committee will review all applications and make recommendations for interviews.  We will notify you within two weeks of the application deadline if you have been selected as a McNair Scholar!