Eighteen undergraduate students in science and engineering from the University of Connecticut McNair Scholars program visited Northeastern University last week to learn more about Northeastern’s Ph.D. programs. The students had the opportunity to meet with faculty and admissions staff from the College of Science, College of Computer and Information Science, and the College of Engineering.
Outside ISEC, UConn students go on a tour of Northeastern. Photo by Tim Briggs
The McNair Scholars Program is a national initiative funded by the U.S. Department of Education’s TRIO program. Its mission is to help prepare motivated undergraduate students for doctoral programs, especially first-generation, low income college students, as well as students from underrepresented populations. UConn’s program is focused in science, technology, engineering, and math (STEM) fields. The program extends throughout a student’s undergraduate career, including a nine-week summer research program for rising seniors. The program allows students to complete independent research projects with faculty and graduate students, take a GRE preparatory class, participate in professional development workshops to aid in graduate school applications, and present their McNair research projects at symposia. Finally, the program allows students to visit institutions such as Northeastern to explore graduate program options, discuss research, and network with faculty.
The visit also included insight from McNair Scholars who are now completing Ph.D. programs at Northeastern. The McNair students’ day at Northeastern ended with a campus tour, featuring Northeastern’s new science building, the Interdisciplinary Science and Engineering Complex.
UConn students were able to seek advice on student life in Boston, admissions, and financial information from Northeastern staff and students during their conversations. Students were able to get a feel for campus life and the research facilities that Northeastern offers to graduate students. The College of Science and Dean Henderson hope to continue to welcome McNair Scholars from UConn and around the nation as visitors and potential incoming Ph.D. students.
McNair Scholars from University of Connecticut stand in front of Krentzman Quad. Photo by Tim Briggs
