McNair Application

To be eligible for the McNair Scholars Program, potential scholars must be: 

• A U.S citizen or permanent resident.
• An individual earning their first bachelor’s degree.
• An undergraduate at the University of Kansas with at least 30 credit hours.
• At least two-thirds of our participants must be both first-generation students and meet income eligibility requirements set forth by the U.S. Department of Education.

• Present potential for graduate school. McNair does not have a GPA requirement, but we will evaluate your cumulative GPA, courses, and transcripts as part of the application.
• Strong interest in pursuing a graduate degree immediately following completion of a bachelor’s degree.
• Desire to attain a traditional, research-based Ph.D. (McNair does not prepare students for professional degrees, such as M.D., M.B.A., or J.D.).
• Commitment to participate in an intensive research program that includes engaging in the following:
  • Enrollment in a spring semester McNair seminar course (Thursday evenings).
  • An intensive research internship in the summer semester.
  • Other required program and scholarly activities (i.e., monthly symposia, advising, ongoing research, and conference attendance).

Before you start the application, please make sure you have the following ready:

• Essays: 2 brief essays are required for the McNair application. Each essay has a limit of 300 words; Ensure that your responses are concise and answer each prompt clearly.
• Essay 1: Please describe how your personal background and educational experiences led you to pursue participation in the McNair Scholars Program. Why do you want to pursue graduate studies in your chosen field and how can the McNair Scholars program help support and prepare you for your educational and career goals?
• Essay 2: If selected, you are required to complete a research project under the guidance of a faculty mentor. Please provide a research statement describing: Any current or prior research experience, what topic(s) you are interested in researching and why, and including the name of at least one KU faculty member who shares similar research interests and why you selected them.
• Two References (Names and Contact Information): Atleast one reference must be a professor/instructor who can best assess your ability for academic research and your motivation to attend graduate school. The program will contact your references directly. 

Once you start the application, you must complete it in one sitting. 

1. To receive priority consideration, complete the online application before November 10, 2025.
2. Applications will be reviewed as received, and interview invitations will be sent to eligible applicants of interest. Interviews will be 30-45 minutes long.
3. References will be contacted by McNair staff.
4. Applicants will be notified of acceptance to the program before the end of the fall semester. 

Once you SUBMIT your application, you will not be able to make changes. The application is estimated to take 30-60 minutes to complete.