McNair Scholars Program

The UF Ronald E. McNair Scholars Program is currently seeking talented undergraduates to apply for the 2019-2020 cohort. Funded by a grant from the U.S. Department of Education (DOE), our program prepares students for doctoral studies through engagement in research and other scholarly activities. Our mission is to increase Ph.D. attainment by students from underrepresented segments of society and to encourage their entry into teaching and research careers. McNair Scholars are students with strong academic potential who are either first-generation college students with financial need or members of a group that is traditionally underrepresented in graduate education. There are currently 151 McNair programs throughout the U.S.

The McNair Scholars Program has been funded at UF since 1995. Recent graduates are enrolled in competitive graduate programs throughout the U.S. Our program is open to students in all majors, with emphasis on STEM to help meet the national need for STEM talent at all levels. Rising juniors are especially encouraged to apply as they gain the maximum benefit from two years of participation in the program.

Please share this opportunity with students you know who may be a good fit for the program. Undergraduates who are already conducting research make strong applicants, but we select students without research experience who show strong promise for graduate studies.

Application Deadline: January 31, 2019

Eligibility:

U.S. citizen or permanent resident
Rising junior or rising senior with at least 60 credit hours by the beginning of summer 2019
Expect to graduate with a bachelor’s degree between spring 2020 and spring/summer 2021
Cumulative GPA of 3.0 or above
Meet at least one of the following criteria:

A first-generation college student (neither parent has received a bachelor’s degree) who also meets the low-income guidelines established by the U.S. DOE, or
A member of a group that is underrepresented in graduate education as defined by U.S. DOE (Alaska Native, American Indian, Black, Hispanic, Native Hawaiian, Native Pacific Islander)