FAQs
The McNair Scholars Program at Washington State University prepares first-generation/income-eligible students, for their future doctoral studies. The McNair Scholars Program at WSU is recognized as the university vanguard in preparing undergraduates for graduate education. The McNair Scholars Program at WSU provides program participants with graduate education preparation activities and services to include faculty mentored research experiences, coursework focused on the culture of graduate education, and academic and career counseling.
Your research project will depend on several factors, including your areas of interest and the expertise of your faculty mentor. You will engage in coursework focused on developing your research skills and will subsequently pursue your own project with guidance from your faculty mentor.
Yes, as long as earning a Ph.D. remains a long-term goal. The program emphasizes preparation for Ph.D. programs.
Through participation in graduate school preparation courses, research with a faculty mentor, presenting research at conferences, and receiving academic and career counseling and mentoring.
Yes. McNair provides a research stipend plus a room and board allowance for Scholars who are selected to participate in the McNair Summer Institute. McNair Scholars can submit travel grant proposals to receive funding to cover travel costs associated with research conferences and graduate visitation programs.
For many students, pursuing a graduate education can feel unattainable. The McNair program is designed to help students overcome the challenges they encounter in higher education and ultimately reach their potential as future graduate students. McNair provides the necessary resources for success, enabling students not only to gain admission to graduate programs but also to be retained in them and successfully graduate. As a McNair Scholar, you will build a broad network of colleagues, which includes other McNair scholars at WSU and across the nation, as well as faculty members who support the McNair initiative. Nationally, McNair Scholars are recognized for their dedication to their education and their commitment to excelling in their academic pursuits.
Yes, the McNair program is both challenging and time-consuming. In addition to managing your research project, you will need to complete various assignments as part of the coursework. Success in this program can open doors to highly competitive summer research opportunities, scholarship and research awards, and admission into graduate programs that align with your goals. Ultimately, the value you gain from the program is directly related to the effort you invest in it. Your success in graduate school will largely depend on your dedication and willingness to work hard. If you are motivated and serious about pursuing a graduate education, the McNair program is an excellent fit for you.
You will meet one-on-one with McNair staff at least every two weeks. Additionally, McNair staff teach the courses, so you will engage with them regularly during your time in the program.
Unfortunately, no. The goal of the McNair program is to prepare students for a Ph.D. (research doctorates), not for a professional degree (MD, JD, DVM, MBA, etc.).
No. Instead, McNair will teach you how to identify, apply for, and secure valuable funding resources, such as grants, scholarships, fellowships, and assistantships, to fully fund your graduate education. It is uncommon to find a McNair alum who is not receiving financial support for their graduate studies, thanks to the extensive preparation provided to McNair Scholars in locating these opportunities. Generally, McNair Scholars are able to obtain enough financial assistance to cover their entire graduate education through these resources.