Ronald E. McNair Postbaccalaureate Achievement Program

The University of Wisconsin – Madison Ronald E. McNair Postbaccalaureate Achievement Program (McNair Scholars Program) is an academic excellence opportunity for undergraduate students with aspiration and strong academic potential for advancing toward doctoral (Ph.D.) study upon completing the bachelor’s degree. The program creates a bridge between undergraduate and graduate education through academic, research, and scholarly experiences. Students selected for the McNair Scholars Program join a supportive community of peers, faculty, staff, and alumni. The McNair Scholars Program is housed in the Division of Diversity, Equity & Educational Achievement (DDEEA)

ALL MAJORS ARE WELCOME TO APPLY!

Eligibility: UW Madison undergraduate students must meet either criterion (1) OR (2), in addition to criteria (3) and (4). *
1) First-generation college student as well as a low-income student (https://tinyurl.com/TRIOLIL; 34B C.F.R. §647.7, 2023).
2) Member of the federally-defined underrepresented groups in graduate education: African American, Hispanic/Latinx, American Indian (*according to federal guidelines, Asian American, including Southeast Asian American are eligible under criterion 1; 34B C.F.R. §647.7, 2023)
3) A minimum cumulative Grade Point Average of 2.8 and 45 earned college credits.
4) US citizen or permanent resident

*Preference will be given to applicants who meet criteria #1. Applicants must be able to participate in the program for a minimum of 12 full months (i.e., anticipated graduation term of Fall 2026 or later). However, all eligible students are strongly encouraged to apply.

ALL MAJORS ARE WELCOME TO APPLY!

Application Checklist (Due October 1st, 2024):

Submitted through WiSH Portal:
1. Completed Application (e.g., WiSH profile)
2. Two (2) Letters of Recommendation (at least one letter must be from a UW-Madison Professor or Researcher (e.g., they have a Ph.D.)
3. Current CV/Resume
4. Personal Statement: Please provide a personal statement (no more than 1000 words). Please consider these guidelines as you are writing this statement:

• Why do you want to pursue a Ph.D.?
• What are your short and long-term career goals?
• How can the McNair Scholars Program assist you in attaining those goals?
• Describe a personal example that shows your persistence and commitment to academic endeavors.
• What specific research area interests you the most? Discuss any current research or a possible research topic and mentor/professor with whom you would like to work.

5. Verification Forms Submitted to the McNair Office:
These documents MUST be hand-signed; forms with electronic signatures will NOT be accepted. Applicants can drop these forms off at the McNair Office (408 Bascom Hall) or mail them to The McNair Scholars Program, Bascom Hall 408, 500 Lincoln Drive, Madison, WI 53706.
The First-Generation College Status Form (Found Here)
The Verification of Income Form (Found Here)

• Both Dependent and Independent Forms are available. For the Federal TRIO programs (including McNair), in most circumstances, students under the age of 24 years are considered Dependents, regardless of their financial aid status. Please review the Independent status definitions Here). Please contact the McNair Scholars Program staff if you have any questions.
  The form must indicate the taxable income for the 2022 federal tax returns. DO NOT EMAIL FINANCIAL INFORMATION!! We will only accept hard copies of your financial documents.

DEADLINE – October 1st, 2024

For more information about the program, please visit the McNair Scholars Program website at diversity.wisc.edu/mcnair or through email at mcnair@cdo.wisc.edu.

UW-Madison McNair Scholars Program Linktree: https://linktr.ee/uwmadison_mcnair