Ronald E. McNair Post-Baccalaureate Achievement Program Participant Application

Applications are being processed on a rolling basis. Interested students are encouraged to submit an application soon as interviews for the 2024-2025 cohort will be conducted on an ongoing basis until all available spots are filled. 

The Ronald E. McNair Post-Baccalaureate Achievement Program (also known as the McNair Scholars Program) is one of 187 such programs nationwide. First established in 1989 and named after Dr. Ronald E. McNair, this program is designed to help academically talented students from traditionally underserved backgrounds reach their potential by earning a doctoral degree.

The Ronald E. McNair Post Baccalaureate Achievement Program at Texas Christian University is proud to offer students the opportunity to participate in a unique learning experience. The McNair Program provides eligible juniors and seniors with the opportunity to work with a faculty mentor on a research project for which they may receive a stipend of up to $2800. The program will support some of the cost of research and will provide limited funds for participants to attend professional meetings with their mentors.

Purpose

The Ronald E. McNair Post Baccalaureate Program is funded by the US Department of Education. The program is designed to promote academic excellence, skills, research knowledge, motivation, and opportunities needed for successful entry and acceptance into a doctoral program.

The purpose of the McNair Program is to encourage low income, first generation and students underrepresented in graduate education to pursue doctorate degrees. In addition to the opportunity to work with a faculty mentor and gain research experience, participants will have access to GRE preparation programs, tutoring, individual academic counseling, workshops, financial literacy training, graduate school visits, and opportunities for social and cultural enrichment.

Objectives

• Research or Scholarly Activity: 80% of McNair Program participants served during the project year will have completed appropriate research or scholarly activities during the McNair Program academic year.
• Enrollment in a Graduate Program: 40% of McNair Program bachelor’s degree recipients will be accepted and enrolled in a post-baccalaureate program of study by the fall term of the academic year immediately following the completion of a bachelor’s degree.
• Continued Enrollment in Graduate Study: 50% of first year graduate students will continue to be enrolled in graduate school at the beginning of the fall term of the next academic year.
• Doctoral Degree Attainment: 15% of McNair Program participants served will attain a doctoral degree within ten (10) years of the attainment of a bachelor’s degree.

If you have any questions about the program or application process, please contact the McNair Program at 817-257-7946 or mcnair@tcu.edu. We look forward to receiving your application for the TCU McNair Program. 

Through a summer research experience and programming throughout the academic year, McNair Scholars have an opportunity to sharpen their research and academic skills necessary to achieve admission to and successfully complete graduate study. McNair Scholars will have access to the following opportunities: 

• 8-week summer research experience with a University faculty mentor from their discipline with similar research interests
• Summer research stipend of up to $2,800. Additional financial support throughout the year for graduate school visits and conference travel.
• 3-course credits offered (Introduction to Research course)
• Weekly seminars on strategies for academic success and graduate school preparation
• Opportunities to present research at multiple conferences and other academic spaces
• Chance to build community with a cohort of McNair Scholars
• Year-round seminars and advising services

McNair Participation at a Glance*:

*Juniors and seniors are eligible provided they have an available summer left before graduation to conduct research.

Eligibility

Per federal mandates, a student is eligible to participate in the TCU McNair Program if the student meets all the following requirements:

(a) Is a

(1) Citizen or national of the United States; OR
(2) Permanent resident of the United States; 

(b) Is currently a sophomore, junior, or senior (with a graduation date after summer 2024) enrolled in a degree program at TCU

(c) Is 

(1) An individual with low-income who is a first-generation college student¹ AND/OR
(2) A member of a group that is underrepresented in graduate education; these groups include individuals who are Black, Hispanic, American Indian, Alaskan Native, Native Hawaiian, and Native American Pacific Islanders 

(d) Has not enrolled in doctoral level study at an institution of higher education.²

(e) Has a STRONG desire to attain a Ph.D.³

1 Low-income status is determined by annual taxable household income limits set by the U.S. Department of Education. First-generation status refers to an undergraduate neither of whose parents earned a baccalaureate degree or, in the case of a custodial parent, this parent/guardian did not earn a baccalaureate degree.

2 Postbaccalaureate students and students who already have one bachelors degree are not eligible for the program.

3 Students whose career goals include a medical (MD) or other professional degrees (JD, MBA, PharmD, etc.) are not eligible for the program. 

Participation

The McNair Program staff is committed to investing and exhausting all resources to support McNair Scholars with successful matriculation to graduate programs. As such, McNair Program participation requires students to commit to the following program expectations:  

• Achieve a 3.0 or higher GPA each semester and maintain a 3.0 or higher cumulative GPA.
• Successfully complete the McNair Summer Research Experience or external summer research experience.
• Attend and actively participate in scheduled orientations, program meetings, workshops, and lectures.
• Participate in required professional, educational, and scholarly (research), activities.
• Take required graduate admission tests (GRE) and submit a copy of the results to the McNair Program office.
• Complete an Individual Needs Assessment with assistance from the McNair staff at the start of each semester.
• Meet with McNair staff on a monthly basis during each semester for counseling and advisement.
• Meet regularly with your faculty mentor.
• Complete an exit interview upon completion of the program.
• Submit all required documents to the McNair office.
• Cooperate with alumni follow-up surveys after your graduation from TCU.

To complete an application, please submit all four of the following:

1. McNair Scholars Application (Continue in this form. Please sign electronically.)
2. Essay (Please upload into application.) Please write an essay in a separate document that address the following prompts:                                             

Please write a well-written essay in a separate document that responds to the following prompt: Describe your personal, educational journey. Allow us to know your story. Consider the following questions as you answer the prompt.

1. What are your academic and research interests?
2. What factors influenced the development of these interests? These can be things that happened inside the classroom or outside of it.
3. What are your educational and career goals?
4. If applicable, what is your family’s educational background, and how has that influenced your educational journey?
5. How will participation in the McNair program impact your educational and career goals?
6. What is your projected timeline for completing your degree and applying to graduate school?
7. What is your motivation for pursuing a doctoral degree?
8. Additionally, briefly describe any research experience you have gained in a university setting. Please include information regarding the duration of the research, what you accomplished, and the name of the professor(s) with whom you worked. Indicate if you have not had research experience.
9. What do you enjoy about your current academic work?
10. What would you describe as your academic successes and challenges?

Your essay needs to be typed and saved in a MicroSoft Word (.docx or .doc) or PDF format and uploaded to this application using the feature below. Your essay cannot exceed one thousand (1,000) words. Please upload at the end of this form, under the File Upload feature.

3. Most recent copy (2021) of the IRS Form 1040 Individual Income Tax Return. Note: Form 1040 is the strongly preferred and easiest option, but the other below items of proof of household taxable income will suffice: (A) a signed statement from the individual’s parent or guardian, (B) verification from another governmental source, or (C) a signed financial aid (i.e., FAFSA) application. (Please upload into application.)

4. Two (2) Letters of Recommendation from higher education faculty who can speak to your research abilities and/or potential as well as your writing skills. An additional third letter can be submitted from a non-faculty member. Within the application portal, you will be given a link to provide to your recommenders. Recommenders should submit directly via this link: https://form.jotform.com/220807570482153 .

TABLE 1. CURRENT-YEAR IMMEDIATE HOUSEHOLD SIZE & LOW-INCOME LEVELS:

Size of Family | Family TAXABLE Income
1 | $22,950
2 | $30,660
3 | $38,730
4 | $46,800
5 | $542870
6 | $62,940
7 | $71,010
8 | $79,080

For family units with more than eight members, add the following amount for each additional family member: $8,070 for the 48 contiguous states, the District of Columbia and outlying jurisdictions; $10,095 for Alaska; and $9,285 for Hawaii.

The term "low-income individual" means an individual whose family's taxable income for the preceding year did not exceed 150 percent of the poverty level amount.

The figures shown under family income represent amounts equal to 150 percent of the family income levels established by the Census Bureau for determining poverty status. The 2024 poverty guidelines are in effect as of January 17, 2024. Federal Register notice was published January 11, 2024.

For more, please visit www2.ed.gov/about/offices/list/ope/trio/incomelevels.html

Please write a well-written essay in a separate document that responds to the following prompt:

Describe your personal, educational journey. Allow us to know your story.

Consider these questions as you answer the prompt.

What do you enjoy about your current academic work, and what do you hope to learn and achieve from your fields of interest? 

1. What are your academic and research interests?
2. What factors influenced the development of these interests? These can be things that happened inside the classroom or outside of it.
3. What are your educational and career goals?
4. If applicable, what is your family’s educational background, and how has that influenced your educational journey?
5. How will participation in the McNair program impact your educational and career goals?
6. What is your projected timeline for completing your degree and applying to graduate school?
7. What is your motivation for pursuing a doctoral degree?
8. Additionally, briefly describe any research experience you have gained in a university setting. Please include information regarding the duration of the research, what you accomplished, and the name of the professor(s) with whom you worked. Indicate if you have not had research experience.
9. What do you enjoy about your current academic work?
10. What would you describe as your academic successes and challenges?

Your essay needs to be typed and saved in a MicroSoft Word (.docx or .doc) or PDF format and uploaded to this application using the feature below. Your essay should  be double spaced with 1 inch margins and should not exceed 1000 words. Please upload at the end of this form, under the File Upload feature.

Your application requires that you have two (2) letters of recommendation submitted on your behalf from faculty members familiar with your academic and research experience. Both letters must be from a faculty member (this person can be a non-TCU faculty member if you are a transfer student). An additional third letter (optional) can be submitted from a non-faculty member.

All letters should speak to your promise as a graduate student and respond to prompts provided. Be sure to provide recommenders with your TCU ID.

Share this link with your recommenders: https://bit.ly/3utT5Ud 

All letters of recommendation must be submitted within one week of a submitted application for it to be considered complete. Applicants should work with recommenders to ensure timely submission of letters.