How to Apply

Apply to become a McNair Scholar!

Membership in the McNair Scholars Program is challenging, but the rewards are great! You will develop new skills, gain confidence in yourself, make great friends, build an impressive resume, have the opportunity to travel, present your research and interact with caring faculty and staff who are dedicated to your success. Our graduates are building academic and professional lives around the world, and we pledge to open the world to you, too!

  • Why become a McNair Scholar?

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    The EMU McNair Scholars Program offers sophomores, juniors, and seniors opportunities to conduct research, publish, and engage in many exciting activities! 
  • Benefits

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    • Classes to enhance research and writing skills (weekly seminars)
    • Support with research funding
    • Research with a faculty mentor
    • Preparation for the GRE
    • Assistance with admissions essays
    • Individualized advising and academic support
    • Travel to professional conferences
    • Travel to visit prospective graduate schools
    • Publish in the McNair Scholars Research Journal
    • Graduate school application workshops
    • Cultural excursions and trips
  • Quality of a McNair Scholar

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    The ideal McNair Scholar is goal-oriented, disciplined, creative and inquisitive. McNair Scholars enjoy learning and are willing to listen and grow through their interaction with their mentors, advisors and peers. McNair Scholars take personal pride in completing assignments to the best of their ability, meeting deadlines and balancing their work and academic commitments. They have a vision of themselves as successful professionals and are willing to work to achieve their dreams.
  • Eligibility Requirements

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    Participant eligibility is limited to students meeting all of the following requirements:

    • U.S. citizen or permanent resident
    • Currently enrolled at EMU
    • At least 30 credits completed by the time of application and 12 months prior to graduation
    • Minimum of 2.85 GPA
    • Low income* and first-generation college student OR underrepresented**
    • Photo ID
    • Expect to graduate from EMU with bachelor's degree
    • Must have a desire to attain a Ph.D. (Research Doctorate). Please note that an MD or other professional
    • degrees (JD, MBA, PharmD, etc.) are not eligible for the program

    * Office of Post Secondary Education Low Income Designations

    ** African-American, Hispanic or Native American/Alaskan

  • How to Apply

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    Submit a completed application, including a brief essay describing your accomplishments, academic, personal and career goals, and how your participation in the program will advance your goals, official transcripts, financial information and two recommendation forms to the McNair Scholars Program Office, located in Hoyt Hall room 1011.

    Please note that our application process was updated in January 2019, omitting the previous requirement of two letters of recommendation in addition to the recommendation forms. Instead, the recommendation forms now are double-sided.

    Application Checklist

    Selected applicants will be invited to an interview. Admission applications are accepted on an ongoing basis.

Questions about the application process?

Please call the McNair Scholars Program office at 734.487.8240 or email [email protected] for further assistance.