Eligibility
Eligibility Criteria
- Applicants must be either low income individuals who are first generation college
students, and/or members of a group underrepresented in graduate education as defined
by the U.S Department of Education, (African American, Hispanic, and American Indian/Alaskan
Native). Federal guidelines stipulate that an applicant must only consider the educational
status of his/her parents to determine whether or not the applicant qualifies as being
a first generation college student. If an applicant prior to the age of 18 regularly
resided with and received support from only 1 parent, consider only the educational
status of that parent.
- Applicants must have completed 60 academic units. (For the purposes of determining
the number of units you have completed, you may include the number of units you are
currently enrolled in this semester.)
- Applicants must be enrolled in a formal degree program at San Jose State University
on a full-time basis.
- Applicants must have a minimum cumulative GPA of 3.00.
- Applicants must be U.S. citizens, or permanent residents of the United States.
- Applicants must be considering graduate study in a PhD program. (Students interested
in studying law, dentistry, medicine, or veterinary careers are not eligible for this
program).
- Applicants must submit the completed Ronald E. McNair application packet with all the necessary supporting documents by the posted deadline date.
Selection will be made on a competitive basis from those applicants who best meet
the purposes of the program as defined by the U.S. Department of Education. Specifically,
at least two thirds of the individuals participating in the McNair project must be
low income individuals who are first generation college students.
No more than ten percent of the participants will be enrolled in a graduate master's
degree program of study at the time of their selection to the McNair project. Applicants
who best meet the federally mandated guidelines will then be selected on the basis
of their potential for pursuing doctoral studies and their ability to benefit from
program.