MajorityMinority

Hi raybans I was a McNair Scholar for my last two years of undergrad and I'm currently attending a top graduate school for chemistry. To this day, I still receive assistance and encouragement from the director of my McNair program when I ask for it. I'm sorry that your McNair program is poorly run, but I would suggest finishing at least your current term in the program. Yes, I had to complete work that was useless/unrelated to my field, but the experiences I got during the summer research portion of the program (long hours with lost of work, friends in different departments, sleepless nights, deadlines, presentations, conferences, workshops, seminars, etc.) definitely prepared me for life as a graduate student. Furthermore, my McNair office hired a PhD in english as a writing coach to help us craft our SoPs and fellowship materials while we were applying to graduate school. That was an invaluable resource and it definitely made a difference in the caliber of my graduate school application. If your program doesn't already have a writing coach, you should suggest they get one. McNair offers financial assistance to support you if you decided to attend a conference to present research or visit a school before applying. Doing either or both of those things will increase the chances that you get into the graduate school of your choice. McNair scholars often receive fee waivers for the GRE and most schools offer free graduate school applications to McNair scholars. There are fellowships available specifically for McNair Scholars that you can find listed on the national website. The whole point of McNair is to prepare you for graduate school and help you get there and be successful. I had pretty good stats when I applied to graduate school so I'm not sure how much of a "boost" being a McNair scholar gave me in the eyes of admission committees, but I know for a fact that my experiences as a McNair scholar helped me gain perspective on graduate schools and life as a graduate student that most students would not have gotten on their own while working in a research lab. I could talk about the benefits of the McNair Scholars program all day, but suffice it to say that it's a great program that will definitely help you in the future. I don't mean to get all sappy, but McNair is a family. Being able to attend national conferences, meet complete strangers, and have the common bond of being an alum of the McNair Scholars program is pretty special and even opens doors to future opportunities. Have a great rest of your year!

Yes, I was very lucky to receive the the GEM fellowship upon entering graduate school; however, the fellowship only lasts for one year.

Ugh, I'm so anxious! I really need this fellowship to come through.

+1

Please don't do that. Professors are very busy people, and I doubt they would actually take the time to read and respond to an unsolicited email like the one you've described. Instead, you can use this introduction email I wrote last year as a template for you to create your own. Subject: Introduction and inquiry into your research at Awesome University Body: Dear Dr. Awesome, I am a senior chemistry major at Wonderful University in Somewhere, State. I have had the opportunity to work on ## summer research projects throughout my undergraduate career. In the summer of 1969, I worked under the direction of Dr. Cool Guy and completed research in the field of hard chemistry: the project was titled "Look at all the awesome chemistry I've done." In the summer of 1970, I worked under the direction of Dr. Super Fun and conducted research in the field of really hard chemistry: the project was titled " Look, I did some more awesome chemistry." Both projects have exposed me to the trials and tribulations of research and strengthened my resolve to complete research at the graduate level. Thus, I plan to obtain a PhD in some kind of chemistry. While researching possible graduate school programs, I came across your website. I believe my research interest in some kind of chemistry with medicinal and industrial applications aligns with your developing research areas. I was quite intrigued with your research focus on blah blah and blah. Do you have any new research projects in your group that you would like me to be aware of? Will you be accepting graduate students into your laboratory next fall? Is there anything else you would like for me to know about your research group? I am in the midst of completing my application to the chemistry graduate program at Awesome University, to start on my path towards earning a PhD in some kind of chemistry. I would be delighted at the opportunity to learn more about your work and, perhaps, work with you in the future. Thank you very much for your assistance. I look forward to hearing from you via email at your earliest convenience. Sincerely, Your future grad student

Someyoungkid and loginofpscl, yall need to read "Graduate Admissions Essays, Fourth Edition: Write Your Way into the Graduate School of Your Choice" by Don Asher. It tells you everything you need to do from contacting professors to writing SOPs. The Grad Cafe is good for general advice but yall should talk to your research advisors and professors for personal advice.

Graduate Admissions Essays - Don Asher

Also, also, you must follow-up with the POI's you met during the visitation weekend! If you met them and found out their personalities/ research weren't a good fit for you, just send a simple "it was nice to meet you" email. On the other hand, if you had exceptionally good conversations and have a great research fit with a POI and you really would like to work in that professor's lab if you accept an offer, you better send a follow-up email with a little more "meat." You never know what they'll say, and you'd be surprised by what kind of networking can be done even if you don't end up at that school or in their lab. Believe me... I did this and got a personal "invite" to join the "highly sought after" lab at AwesomeUniversity Holla TL;DR Build and maintain bridges, don't abandon or burn them.

See you there

I'm visiting 5 the schools I've gotten into. Indiana's visitation weekend is during my spring break, BUT it runs right into the National ACS convention in New Orleans, so I'm gonna have to coordinate carefully to schedule flights. This is going to be a very busy Spring!

Indiana University decisions are out, just got my acceptance email *Bernies*

Same as Faraday...

"... I personally stayed away from this forum while I was on adcomm. When I was a graduate recruitment member, we often used these forums to determine where students might have other offers from (listing the schools you were accepted to at the bottom) which isn't always information recruits are forthcoming with on their weekend. Most schools (the 5-6 I have experience with) do look at these boards to gain more information. Right or wrong, I just feel that I should publicize that knowledge to anyone who thinks they are remaining semi-anonymous. It's not so much about judging as it is about gaining information..." Excerpt from Food for thought...

I'll see you in NOLA, I'm presenting my research as well