Applications for the 2018 cohort of McNair Scholars has closed. The next application cycle begins in Fall 2018.
If you want more details about the UNT McNair Scholars Program, please see the Program Information page. Hopefully, you were able to join us for one of our information sessions. If you were not able to join us, please feel free to come by SAGE 234 during business hours or send us an email at McNair@unt.edu.
To apply, you must complete the online application that follows. As part of the online application, you will include two short (400-500 word) personal essays responding to these prompts:
Describe your interest in your field of study and why you would like to pursue a Ph.D. Discuss your tentative plans for your research and career goals.
Given your background (low income, first generation college student, or member of underrepresented group), discuss some of your specific educational needs and address the specific advantages that being part of the McNair program will give you. In other words, explain why you believe working within the McNair Scholars Program will assist you in preparing for graduate studies and ultimately achieving your goal of obtaining a Ph.D.
You will want to draft, proof read, and revise your essays before you submit a final polished essay. We encourage you to visit the UNT Writing Lab writinglab.unt.edu. Writing Lab staff will help you craft your personal essays. The McNair staff has contacted the director of the UNT Writing Lab, and she and her staff look forward to helping you!
You may qualify if you meet most of these criteria:
- you come from a household where neither parent has a four-year degree
- you come from a low-income household
- you are a member of an underrepresented group in graduate education
- you have or will have successfully completed at least 60 hours by end of the 2018 spring semester (i.e., be at least a rising Junior in fall 2018)
- your ultimate educational goal is a doctoral (Ph.D.) degree
- you are a U.S. citizen or permanent resident
- your GPA is a 3.0 or above
- you want to conduct research with the guidance of a faculty mentor
- you need assistance navigating the graduate school process
- you will graduate in spring 2019 or later
| Components of the Application and Selection Process | Timeline/Deadline | Additional Information |
|---|---|---|
| Application | 10.30.2017 11:59pm | |
| Recommendations |
11.6.2017 |
Contact your recommenders as soon as possible to confirm their participation. When you submit your completed application, we will send an email to your recommenders and request that they complete an online recommendation form. We will also include a deadline for completing the recommendation form. DON'T wait until you have submitted your application to ask for a letter of recommendation. |
| Preliminary Interviews | Upon receipt of application | During these interviews, the McNair staff will discuss your elibility and the Program's expectations for participation. Based on these interviews, selected applicants will move forward to the final interviews. |
| Final Interviews | Tentatively the 3rd week in November | The McNair Selection Committee, comprising UNT faculty members and McNair alumni, will conduct 30 minute interviews with each of the selected applicants. The Selection Committee recommends to the McNair staff their final selection of applicants to invite to the McNair Scholars Program. |
| Selection Decision Announced | Not later than 11.30.2017 | Applicants will be notified via email of final selection decision. |
You must login with your EUID before you can begin the application: Click on the link at the top of the page to login.
Click "Next Page" to begin application and use the "Save Draft" button at the bottom of pages to save your progress to return later to complete your application.
If you have any questions or difficulty submitting your application, please send your inquiry to McNair@unt.edu.