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.