A Penny for Your Thoughts on the McNair Program
Imagine being able to take your research interests to a new height. Imagine that as an undergraduate you would have the opportunity to be treated as a graduate student. That vision can be made a reality by seeking out the McNair Scholars program, which helps underrepresented scholars achieve their fullest research potential at the undergraduate level. This opportunity is not offered to everyone and is special because it will help transform you from a consumer of knowledge to a producer of knowledge.
The McNair program has greatly impacted my time here at the University of Nevada, Las Vegas. It provides scholars with more resources outside of the typical research opportunities and campus organizations. The McNair program offers the opportunity to learn from graduate preparation workshops, create and publish original research, and connect on a deeper level with faculty mentorship. This program has allowed me to travel to conferences without having to worry about funding, so that I have the same opportunity as other scholars to share my research and passion in my field of study. The program is so special because it opens more doors for scholarly research. It prepares students to work one-on-one with a faculty member who shares their research interests. This mentorship is crucial in preparing for graduate studies, because it allows the student first-hand experience to discover their preferred mentoring style, research methods, and topic interests. The scholar is fully immersed in research, in a similar way as graduate students, so they can figure out what works best for their style and passion as a researcher.
Personally, I was able to discover that I did not like the complete hands-off mentoring style. Although it taught me to be independent during my research on children and the quality of their peer relationships, it did not foster my learning as a student. I found it unengaging and I experienced issues with communication. Graduate schools are looking to see if students are a good fit and match with their program, and this is really what you begin to discover during your process with the McNair summer research program. The program allows you the opportunity to connect or not connect with a faculty member. I quickly realized that in order to get the results I wanted, a mentor who shared my research interests was not enough. My mentor needed to be compatible with my work style as well. I learned that it can be difficult to find a mentor whose work style matches your own.
It will take time to fully discover your interests in research, but the McNair program does a good job by encouraging you to determine it now rather than later. Through trial and error I was able to uncover my likes and dislikes about the research process and find topics in child research that are exciting to me and need more attention. A number of hands-on experiences with faculty, colleagues, and children helped to encourage my interests further. I am very thankful for this experience because I have more knowledge about the research I prefer to pursue in the future.
I could not imagine my undergraduate experience without the McNair program. It would have been quite difficult to seek out these opportunities on my own, without assistance from professionals at the university. In my experience, McNair gives you the tools to succeed. All you have to do is make the right connections and seek out the many opportunities the program has to offer.
Ultimately, the McNair program allows underrepresented students the opportunity to discover their passion for research and experience what it is like to be the graduate student they wish to become in the future. With hard work, dedication, and persistence, any student can uncover their potential, but McNair opened doors for an opportunity I would not have had otherwise. You can’t pay for the experience they provide. If you dedicate your efforts to the program, then you will see the benefits for years to come. For more information, go to the McNair program’s website to see if you qualify for this amazing opportunity!
Marielle Leo is a 2016 graduate of the University of Nevada, Las Vegas. She graduated with a Bachelor’s degree in Psychology and a minor in Marriage and Family Therapy. She is a member of PSI CHI and psychology club.
She attends Syracuse University and is pursuing a Master’s degree in Marriage and Family Therapy. After completing her Masters, she plans on obtaining her PhD in Marriage and Family Therapy. She was born and raised in Las Vegas, so making the move to Syracuse, New York will be a nice change. She is excited for the opportunity to continue her passion for research and clinical practice.
She was very humbled to have had the opportunity to work with Dr. Kimberly Barchard during her undergraduate career. She attributes her success to her and other colleagues. In her spare time, Marielle likes to participate in philanthropy. Marielle volunteers with the Candlelighters Childhood Cancer Foundation by raising money for children who are terminally ill.