Scholars are provided numerous opportunities to increase scholastic skill and improve research abilities through a series of seminars that aim to provide participants with an understanding of what it means to be a scholar and do research, what it takes to get into graduate school and how to best to complete graduate school applications. Academic department seminars and lectures coordinated with faculty mentors can also provide exposure to graduate academic culture. The seminars help strengthen relationships with other McNair scholars and research mentors. The goal is to assist and motivate scholars to formulate academic goals and to enhance the climate of support necessary for success in graduate school.
Seminar topics may include:
- study skills and time management
- library and online research methodology
- reading and critical analysis
- research design
- finding funding for graduate school
- networking, interviewing, and presentation skills
- finding appropriate graduate schools
- navigating the graduate school admissions process
- writing workshops (proposals, abstracts, literature reviews, graduate school statements)
- Graduate Records Examination (GRE) workshops