Ronald E. McNair Program
Summer Internship
The Ronald E. McNair Program conducts an 8-week summer internship that provides some of Georgia State University finest students with the opportunity to learn how to conduct research as an apprentice among faculty, post-doctoral and graduate students. During this internship students are given the tools and methodologies to provide a thorough analysis of their research. Students are then required to provide a research paper, oral and poster presentation at the end of the summer. Students receive a $2800 stipend for their research. Lastly, they will have the opportunity to have their research showcased at various conferences and symposiums.
Mentoring Experiences
McNair Scholars are provided with mentoring experiences during the summer internship program with faculty and with McNair Staff during the academic year. These mentoring opportunities come in the form of “one-on-one” sessions with McNair staff and faculty on a formal arrangement throughout the year and informally as student matriculate through the program.
Library/Research Skills
The Ronald E. McNair Program provides students with library and research skills throughout the summer internship program with a series of workshops and seminars. Students are given a wealth of information on how to navigate the Georgia State University Library system (GALILEO, Various Search Engines). Also, the research processes given to students in graduate school are provided to McNair Scholars, using various research methodologies (qualitative, quantitative, mixed) to provide a background developing hypothesis and research papers. Scholars are given access to SPSS to assist in their data analysis
GRE Test Preparation
The McNair program provides its scholars with courses in preparations for the Graduate Record Exam (GRE). Senior McNair Scholars are given priority to take the GRE test prep as they prepare to take the exam and prepare their applications.
GRE Test Reductions
Educational Testing Service (ETS) provide McNair Directors with “fee reduction” certificates to give to their scholars each year. These certificates are limited so they are only provided to seniors in the McNair program. Fee Reduction certificates reduce the fee to half of the regular price of the exam.
Counseling
The Ronald E. McNair Program provides formal and informal counseling to its scholars. Formally, students are provided counsel on graduate preparation, life skills, testing skills, time management, and professionalism, among many other topics. Scholars meet with staff and faculty regularly to discuss goals and various issues faced by participants. Scholars are encouraged to stop by the office to speak to staff when they feel it is necessary to discuss issues in the classroom, preparation for graduate study, as well as employment and career opportunities.
Graduate School Preparation
McNair Scholars are provided with a wealth of information on how to prepare for graduate school. They participate in various graduate school fairs on and off campus. Workshops on how to prepare a “solid” application and portfolio for graduate school is given to scholars throughout the year. Senior scholars are given more focused workshops during the fall semester of their last year in the program.
Application Fee Waivers
All McNair Scholars are given application fee waiver for graduate school to many institutions around the nation. This program was set up many years ago with the Council of Graduate School and Graduate School Deans around the nation to promote graduate study, with less expense to McNair scholars. Visit the McNair Incentives website! Also, McNair Scholars are offered many funding opportunities in graduate study.
Tutoring Opportunities
The McNair program provides tutorial experiences if needed through the Counseling and Testing center, as well as with our “sister” program Student Support Services. Students are given these services on a request basis. We discuss need of these services during our counseling sessions.
