McNair Scholars Program Application

THE 2024-2025 APPLICATION WILL BE DUE DEC. 6 AT 5PM EST

2024-2025 McNair Application Form

Wellesley McNair Scholars Program - Eligibility Form

If you begin your application and need to stop, it will automatically save and you may use the application link above to continue at a later time.

As part of your application, please complete this eligibility form and upload it in the "UPLOADS" section of the McNair application. Your application will not be considered complete if you do not upload this form. 

 

ENTER YOUR RECOMMENDERS

Two Letters of Recommendation are required. Please have each recommender use the link below to submit their letter. We recommend you send them this Recommender Instructions guide. We would advise you to have an early conversation with faculty members writing your letters no later than November 6 in order for them to have enough time to submit your recommendation letter. 

Additionally, once you have spoken with your recommenders, please fill out the Notify your Recommender Form in order for them to receive an email confirmation with further instructions. Once again, we advise you to do this no later than November 6. 

 

Recommendation Letter Upload Form (Recommenders will have until Friday, December 20 at 5PM EST to submit their letters)

 

WHO IS ELIGIBLE?

First Generation and Low-Income, or Underrepresented ALANA* (African American, Latinx, Alaska Native, Native American, Pacific Islander) as described in federal regulation §34 CFR 647.3, who are:

  • Sophomores or Juniors,
  • U.S. Citizens or permanent residents,
  • Majoring in a STEM discipline, with a
  • Strong desire to pursue doctorate education (PhD, EdD, etc) and graduate studies, and
  • 2.8 GPA or higher.

 

You may also be eligible if you are both a first generation college student and considered federally low-income. 

  • First Generation is defined as: parents/custodial guardians have not completed a 4 year bachelor's degree in any country.
  • Low-income is determined by federally guidelines - please see the TRIO Federal Low-Income table to see if you qualify. 

 

As part of the McNair program updated guidelines, students are allowed to study abroad during their junior year given that they let program directors know in advance. Since we work closely with seniors on their graduate school applications in the Fall, we require that students admitted into the program must be at Wellesley in the Fall semester of their senior year. 

BEFORE YOU START

Before you start, we recommend you have these items ready:

  • Parents' 2023 taxable income required for dependent students
  • Your 2023 taxable income required for independent students 
  • Parents' education level (highest degree earned)
  • Unofficial Transcript
  • You will need to write three essay questions. We have listed them down below for you to better prepare ahead of time:
  1. Please compose an essay of 500 words or less describing:
    • Your academic and career goals.
    • Your research Interests. 
    • Your plans after graduation in regards to furthering your education and your career goals.
  2. Please compose an essay of 200 words or less describing:
    • Your reasons for choosing to participate in the McNair Scholars Program.
    • How you will benefit from and contribute to the McNair Scholars community.
  3. Please compose an essay of 100 words or less describing:
    • Extenuating circumstances that may have affected your GPA, if any.
INFOSESSIONS

Curious and want to learn more?

Come visit our table at the First Gen. STEM Carnival

Nov. 13 | 2:00-4:00PM

 

We also will be hositng two infosessions this semester:

Infosession 1: In-Person

October 28 - H105 | 4-5PM

 

Infosession 2: Online

November 7 - Zoom | 5-6PM

Click HERE to join online.

 

WHAT HAPPENS NEXT?

After the deadline has passed and we have had the opportunity to initially evaluate the submitted applications, you will receive an email confirming that you are being considered for the program.

The selection process is quite thorough and is comprised of three steps: the first step examines basic eligibility and assigns a general rating to each application; the second step is focused more thoroughly on specific research interests and fit for the McNair Scholars Program; and, the third step includes interviews of finalists prior to final selection of the McNair Scholars.

ALL APPLICANTS WILL BE NOTIFIED OF THE SELECTION RESULTS AFTER INTERVIEWS ARE COMPLETED, which we expect to happen in the early Spring semester. Please do not contact our office requesting updates on the status of your application