McNair Scholars Alums and alumni from other undergrad First Gen/Minority prep programs

[Lillian]

Hi All-

I've been reading through the first generation posts and noticed several other McNair Alums like myself posting. I'm wondering what everyone's experiences have been as grad students from these programs? How has your preparation from these programs helped you? What have you adapted/changed in your years as a graduate student? Any negatives? What do you miss?

One of the difficulties I've had is establishing connections with grad students of similar backgrounds on my campus. I guess I miss the shared experiences and "must do this" attitude!!

[ILuvPsych2013]

Hi there,

I just got accepted to McNair as I am finishing up my undergrad. I have the same general questions you posted awhile ago. What has been your experience?

[sonnyday]

McNair scholar here. I'm in my 3rd year of graduate school, and I think the program really prepared me. We had seminars and workshops for all types of things, but the most valuable was the summer research institute they have. Here, you get to spend a paid summer conducting your own independent research and presenting it at conference. There's no reason you can't try to get it published when you're done either. You essentially get to mimick grad student life for a few months with other students of a similar background/culture.

And they also paid for me to take the GRE and the application fees for all of the grad schools I applied to. You can't beat that. I'm still in contact with the program staff today, and they are still very supportive and always there to make sure I stay through the program.

The program name is also helpful--I think grad programs recognize the program as producing good students/scholars, so you're looked at a little differently when you have the name under your belt.

[ILuvPsych2013]

McNair scholar here. I'm in my 3rd year of graduate school, and I think the program really prepared me. We had seminars and workshops for all types of things, but the most valuable was the summer research institute they have. Here, you get to spend a paid summer conducting your own independent research and presenting it at conference. There's no reason you can't try to get it published when you're done either. You essentially get to mimick grad student life for a few months with other students of a similar background/culture.

And they also paid for me to take the GRE and the application fees for all of the grad schools I applied to. You can't beat that. I'm still in contact with the program staff today, and they are still very supportive and always there to make sure I stay through the program.

The program name is also helpful--I think grad programs recognize the program as producing good students/scholars, so you're looked at a little differently when you have the name under your belt.

That's very helpful, thank you! In your opinion, is the summer research project really like grad school life? I've heard conflicting things...

[tauren]

McNair scholar here. I'm in my 3rd year of graduate school, and I think the program really prepared me. We had seminars and workshops for all types of things, but the most valuable was the summer research institute they have. Here, you get to spend a paid summer conducting your own independent research and presenting it at conference. There's no reason you can't try to get it published when you're done either. You essentially get to mimick grad student life for a few months with other students of a similar background/culture.

And they also paid for me to take the GRE and the application fees for all of the grad schools I applied to. You can't beat that. I'm still in contact with the program staff today, and they are still very supportive and always there to make sure I stay through the program.

The program name is also helpful--I think grad programs recognize the program as producing good students/scholars, so you're looked at a little differently when you have the name under your belt.

I agree! I'm a second year developmental psych grad student and my mcnair project was brought up during interviews at places I got accepted.So I think it's a great program to get research experience as well as a lot of help and support when applying to grad.

[sonnyday]

That's very helpful, thank you! In your opinion, is the summer research project really like grad school life? I've heard conflicting things...

I think it depends on the individual. For me it was. It was very isolating and you generally had to stay focused and finish the project on your own. My advisor treated me like advisors do now in grad school--little guidance but there to help when you need. Its not for everyone if you can't work independently.

They also pay you to live on campus and I spent the day in the library or in my room studying, which is also what we do in grad school. Its not perfect, but it emulates the research aspect of it well. Of course you don't get an understanding of how classes go and all the reading you must do to prepare for classes, so maybe it is based more on the later years of grad school when you are working independently on your dissertation/research.

I loved it, so I knew a PhD was right for me. Three years in and no regrets.