Program Description: Summer Program
The Ronald E. McNair Post-Baccalaureate Achievement Program at the University of Rochester encourages talented students to pursue the doctoral degree. Established and funded by the United States Department of Education and named in honor of Challenger astronaut and laser physicist, Dr. Ronald E. McNair, the program provides participants with a mentored research experience, seminars and workshops on topics germane to the pursuit of the doctoral degree, and opportunities to meet with role models who have obtained the terminal degree.
During the months of June and July, participants live on the UR campus, work with a faculty member on a research project in their major field, prepare for the Graduate Record Examination (GRE), and complete a course entitled “The Culture of the Academy,” which includes a series of assignments that will assist in the graduate school application process.
Student Responsibilities Include:
- Research 40 hours per week
- Attend all required courses and meetings
- Design and complete a research project during the summer program
- Making formal presentations of research at local and national conferences
- Preparing for and taking the Graduate Record Examination (GRE)
- Applying to at least five Ph.D. programs during the final year of undergraduate study
To be Eligible, An Applicant Must Meet All of the Following Criteria:
- Be a US citizen or permanent resident
- Have a cumulative GPA of 2.8 or higher (a GPA of at least 3.0 in major field is preferred, but not required)
- Be a sophomore or a junior
- Be committed to pursuing the Ph.D (not an MD, JD, or other graduate degree)
- Be one of the following: low income (according to federal guidelines) AND a first-generation college student OR a member of a group underrepresented in graduate study at the doctoral level (African American, Native American, Hispanic)
Program Benefits Include:
- Room and board on the University of Rochester campus
- $3600 stipend for the summer
- Round trip travel allowance (from permanent residence to the University of Rochester)
- Opportunity to travel to local and national conferences to present research
- GRE fee reimbursement
- Application fee waivers and some fellowship opportunities for doctoral programs across the country
Application Instructions:
- Ensure that you have the latest version of Adobe Reader.
- Download the Application Form.
- Complete the application on your computer and save it in the following format: lastname,firstname_SumApp.pdf
Note: Your application and supplemental materials must be returned as a SINGLE pdf. If you do not have a version of adobe acrobat that will do this, there is an online program that will do the same: Merge PDF. If you need assistance with this, please email Chris Grant at the address below. - Letters of recommendation can be emailed seperately by the professor at any point to the email address below.
- Return the completed application and letters of recommendation to Christopher Grant as an email attachment: chris.grant@rochester.edu.
