Conference

The Decision to go to Graduate School: McNair Scholars' Research and Preparation for Continuing Education Beyond the Bachelor's

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Abstract

The decision to apply and attend graduate school can be influenced by many factors, including major, research experience, and professional goals. For students who identify as first-generation, underrepresented, or of lower socioeconomic status, decisions regarding graduate study can be even more complex. This presentation will discuss individual experiences and path to continuing education beyond a bachelor’s degree, and their decision to attend graduate school. This session will feature four Scholar research teams from the Ronald E. McNair Post-Baccalaureate Achievement Program. As part of their McNair first-year research methods coursework, the Scholars' research explored the factors influencing the decision to go to graduate school: major/department, family influence, STEM vs. non-STEM discipline, and socio-cultural factors. McNair Scholars' culturally centered research methods learning, and engagement provide a science with practice experience, as they are learning about the scientific research process, while imparting their own identities and backgrounds, to the topical area. The McNair Program prepares qualified undergraduates for graduate school entry, with the primary goal of increasing the attainment of a Ph.D. McNair supports graduate school-bound Scholars by focusing on three areas: academic research, graduate school preparation, and personal and professional development.