McNair Scholars Program
Application & Eligibility with an application icon on a layered stripes and blue blob background

Application & Eligibility

Eligibility Requirements

You are eligible for the program if you are :

  • A low-income (please refer to   Federal TRIO Programs Current-Year Low-Income Levels  to determine if you meet this criterion) AND first-generation college student (a first generation college student is defined by the Federal government as a student who has not resided with or received primary support from a parent who has received a BA degree or equivalent);
  • *Or underrepresented in your field of study at the doctoral level (the US Department of Education considers students who are African American, Chicano/Latino, or Native American to be underrepresented in higher education);
  • Must have completed at least 75 quarter or 50 semester units by the time you apply;
  • Have a GPA of 3.0 or higher.
  • U.S. Citizen or Permanent Resident status.

Application

  1. Eligibility Form and Supporting Documents: Please note that everyone must fill out an   Eligibility Form   online and submit supporting documents to the McNair Program office before you can complete the application package.
  2. Application Packet:  Once it has been determined that you are eligible for the program, you will be given an application. You should complete all parts of the application packet; incomplete or late application packets will not be accepted .  Application due date: March 10, 2025.
  3. Interview:   Once applications are processed, top candidates will be invited to interview with the selection committee.  Interviews will be held during the weeks of March 2025.

A complete application packet includes the following:

  1. The completed online application;
  2. Your Academic Degree Progress report;
  3. Your unofficial transcripts; if you are a transfer student, you may submit your community college transcripts if you have only been at CPP since Fall.
  4. Your Personal Statement of no more than 500 words;
  5. Your Research Statement: about a page long;
  6. Two recommendation forms. Please submit recommendation form here (opens to new window).

Please note that some of this information will take time to gather. You should plan accordingly. As soon as you decide to apply to the program, ask professors and others to write letters of recommendations. If you wait to do these things, you may find that the deadline will arrive, and your application packet will be incomplete. All complete application packets must be submitted online no later than March 10, 2025.

If you have any questions, please refer to the FAQ or contact us by e-mail at mcnair@cpp.edu.