Ronald E. McNair Postbaccalaureate Achievement Program (McNair Scholars Program)
Application Due Date: Apply Now! Applications are currently being accepted until program reaches full capacity.
Statement of Purpose
Write a single essay addressing the following topics and attach it to your application. Please limit your
statement to a maximum of two double-spaced pages, with 1-inch margins. Use Times New Roman or Arial,
12-point font.
1. Share your educational background, highlighting your academic accolades.
2. Discuss your educational and career goals. How is earning a Ph.D. essential to your goals?
3. What Ph.D. program (major) do you intend to pursue? What are the contributions you wish to make in
your field of study, as well as your community, with a doctoral degree?
4. What motivated you to apply to the McNair Scholars Program? Discuss how your participation in the
McNair Scholars Program will help you achieve your goals.
5. Describe your research experiences at the university level, if any. Include specifics regarding your
topic, project, accomplishments, and name the faculty member with whom you worked. If you do not
have research experience, discuss topics of interest.
References (please read carefully)
! Current sophomores and transfer students need one letter from a professor, lecturer, instructor, teaching
assistant, academic counselor, or undergraduate advisor. An additional letter from a Cal Lutheran faculty
member is encouraged, but not required.
! Current Juniors are required to submit two letters of recommendation, one of which must be from a Cal
Lutheran faculty member with an earned Ph.D. We encourage you to get an additional letter from a Cal
Lutheran faculty member, but letters from a lecturer, instructor, teaching assistant, academic advisor are
also acceptable.
Directions for Submitting your Recommendation Letters:
1. Contact your letter writers, telling them that you will be applying to the McNair program (this should be
your first step towards completing your application, thereby giving your recommender ample time to
write your letter.)
2. Fill out the top portion of the recommendation form and give it to your recommender.
3. The recommender should return the form directly to the McNair Program at the address provided on the
form.
4. Provide the McNair Director with the name, email, title and department of your letter writer(s) via
email. (McNairScholars@callutheran.edu). In your subject line write: Reference Submission for (your
name).
5. We will send your letter writer an email with the instructions for writing and submitting your letter.
6. We will send out your email within 24 hours (M-Th) of receipt of your email. Make sure you provide us
with the name(s) and email(s) as soon as you begin your application.
Please return this form and your application and attachments to: McNair Scholars Program, Attn: Dr.
Owens, 60 W. Olsen Rd, MS 3800 Thousand Oaks, CA 91360 or bring to Room 117 in Swenson.
Questions? Please contact: Dr. Kelly Owens, McNair Scholars Program Director (Interim)
Email: McNairScholars@callutheran.edu Office: 805-493-3743