Sonoma State University
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Ready To Apply To the McNair Scholars Program?

The McNair Scholars Program supports a limited cohort of 27 Sonoma State undergraduate students each year, so admission to the program is competitive.

Applications are reviewed on a rolling basis until all available spots are filled. There is currently no formal deadline, but students are encouraged to apply as soon as possible.

The strongest applicants are typically students who have completed at least 60 semester units and meet the program eligibility requirements. Students who are interested but have not yet reached junior standing are still encouraged to contact us so we can help them prepare for a future application.

We welcome your questions at any stage of the process. The McNair Scholars Program is here to support your academic journey, research interests, graduate school preparation, and long-term educational and career goals. We look forward to learning more about you!

Please Review These Eligibility Requirements

To be considered for the McNair Scholars Program, you must meet the following eligibility requirements:

  • Currently enrolled at Sonoma State University as an undergraduate with at least a 3.0 cumulative GPA
  • Completed at least 60-semester units by the Spring semester of the academic year in which you apply for the program
  • Intention to pursue and complete a master's degree and/or a Ph.D.
  • Meet eligibility for family educational background and income status

Not sure if you qualify? Please email us at [email protected] for more information about eligibility for the program.

Please note: Students pursuing a professional degree such as a nursing degree, J.D., M.D., MBA, etc., are not eligible to participate in the McNair Scholars Program.

Follow Each of These Steps To Apply:

To successfully apply to the McNair Scholars Program each of these sections must be filled out in their entirety. Please click on each blue tile to fill out each section accordingly. 

  1. McNair Scholars Program Online Application
  2. Income Verification Form (linked below):

  3. Dependent Students must have their parent/guardian complete the McNair Income Verification Form for Dependent Students.

  4. Independent Students must complete the McNair Income Verification Form for Independent Students.

  5. Once signed, the form will automatically be routed to the McNair program. Not sure if you are a Dependent or Independent Student? Please refer to Income Verification Definitions and Privacy Policy (PDF) for more information.
  7. Unofficial or official transcripts from SSU and/or any other institution where you have earned more than 20 units of academic credit. You will have an opportunity to upload these into the application.
  8. A recommendation from a faculty member in your major (or minor) is required as part of the application process. Please have the recommender use this link: McNair Faculty Recommendation  (If you are unable to get a recommendation from faculty in your major (or minor), please contact us to discuss other options).
  9. Two short essays. Please prepare your responses to the following prompts in separate documents (500–1000 words each). You will have an opportunity to upload these into the application.
    1. Essay #1: Explain your reasons for pursuing a graduate degree. If selected to be a McNair Scholar, what research topic(s) would you be interested in researching, and how is this research related to your educational/career goals? How will the McNair Scholars Program assist you in making your educational/career goals possible? Please specify your projected timetable for obtaining the Ph.D.
    2. Essay #2: Tell us your story (your family background, journey to college, challenges you have faced and overcome, etc.). How has your personal background prepared you for the rigors of the McNair Scholars program as well as graduate-level study?
  10. Please name your files consistently using the following naming convention: Last Name_First Name_Title of Document (e.g., Malpica_Daniel_Application, Malpica_Daniel_Essay 1)

Program Requirements

To be prepared and competitive for graduate school programs, all McNair Scholars program participants must:

  • Attend regularly scheduled weekly workshops.
  • Meet individually with McNair program advisors for assistance with graduate school applications on a weekly or bi-weekly basis.
  • Meet all program deadlines, including the submission of three (3) Research Report Forms detailing the progress of your McNair research project.
  • Make consistent progress on a research project each year in the program.
    This research project will be tailored to the participant’s graduate school interests/goals and developed with the guidance of an SSU faculty member after the participant is accepted into the McNair Scholars program.
  • Present McNair Scholars' research at SSU’s annual research symposia.
  • Submit a scholarly research article under the guidance of a Faculty Mentor each academic year, which will be published in the annual McNair Scholars Research Journal.
  • Earn and maintain a GPA of at least 3.0 by the beginning of the fall semester of the graduating senior year.