McNair Scholars Recommendation Form

The GVSU McNair Scholars Program is a 15-month program that provides training and support to highly talented first-generation, low-income, and/or underrepresented college sophomores and juniors who want to pursue a Ph.D. McNair Scholars receive training and support in all aspects of professional development, and preparation for doctoral level study. McNair training includes academic writing, mentor-driven research, academic presentation and publication practices, GRE preparation, graduate school application, and graduate school funding. Please indicate below your evaluation of the applicant’s abilities AND potential for Ph.D. attainment.

Please note that the McNair Program is meant to close the achievement gap in Ph.D. attainment. With consideration of the services McNair will provide, please rate the applicant with consideration of present-day skill, rate of learning trajectory AND potential for doctoral level study.

* denotes a required field

First Name of Applicant *

Last Name of Applicant *

Graduate Discipline of Interest *

First Name of Recommender *

Last Name of Recommender *

Recommender Rank and Department *

Institution Name *

Institution Address *

Email of Recommender *

Phone Number of Recommender *

Please consider the following questions carefully and provide as accurate an assessment of the applicant as you are able.

In comparison with a representative group of your students in the same field who have had approximately the same amount of experience and training, how does the applicant rate in the following areas?

Learning trajectory (e.g. how quickly does the student learn new material) *
Unable to Judge
Below Average
Average
Somewhat Above Average
Good
Outstanding

Current academic performance in area of concentration *
Unable to Judge
Below Average
Average
Somewhat Above Average
Good
Outstanding

Academic writing ability *
Unable to judge
Below Average
Average
Somewhat Above Average
Good
Outstanding

Ability to accept and implement advice or input *
Unable to judge
Below Average
Average
Somewhat Above Average
Good
Outstanding

Ability to handle research/writing related critique *
Unable to judge
Below Average
Average
Somewhat Above Average
Good
Outstanding

Motivation to earn a Ph.D. *
Unable to judge
Below Average
Average
Somewhat Above Average
Good
Outstanding

Overall Assessment

Potential for Ph.D. level work *
Unable to judge
Below Average
Average
Somewhat Above Average
Good
Outstanding

Additional Questions Regarding the Applicant

What is the context in which you know the applicant? *

How would you assess the student's strengths as a future graduate student? What are areas of development and growth? *

How could the applicant benefit from the services provided by the McNair Scholars Program? *

Would you be willing to serve as a faculty mentor for the student, why or why not? *

Are there any other insights about this student and their ability/potential for doctoral study you would like to share that the questions above did not capture? *

Human Verification *

Page last modified September 30, 2026

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