MCNR 302:
McNair Graduate Application Preparation
Fall 2015
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Instructor: Cheryl Fortner-Wood , PhD
Credit Hours: 1
Prerequisites: Senior standing and current status as a Winthrop McNair Scholars Program
Participant
Section 600 (12039) 5-6:15 pm Mondays in Dinkins 230B
Office Hours: Mondays 3-4 pm in 104 Dinkins Hall and by appointment
Contact Dr. Fortner-Wood at fortnerc@winthrop.edu, 803/323-2125, or by texting my personal cell
phone
Course Description and Purpose
This course is specifically designed to address the third mandatory objective of the
Winthrop McNair Scholars Program which states:
50% of bachelor's degree recipients will enroll in a post baccalaureate program by the fall
term of the academic year immediately following completion of that degree.
With support from the instructor, Writing Coach, program staff, and peers, students in this
course will prepare applications for graduate programs in the discipline of their choice and
prepare for graduate program interviews.
Student Learning Outcomes – Each Student Will…
1. Identify at least four (4) appropriate graduate programs to which to apply
2. Complete satisfactory application materials for at least 4 of those graduate programs, including
statements of intent specific to each program
3. Secure commitments to serve as a reference from at least 3 individuals who have supervised their
work at the university level, at least two of whom are faculty members
4. Successfully complete at least one mock interview
5. Identify at least one fellowship, scholarship, or other funding mechanism that will support their
graduate study
6. Demonstrate effective and professional electronic, phone, and written communication such as they
should use with graduate program personnel
Students with Disabilities/Need of Accommodations for Access
Winthrop University is committed to providing access to education. If you have a condition which
may adversely impact your ability to access academics and/or campus life, and you require specific
accommodations to complete this course, contact the Office of Disability Services (ODS) at 803-3233290, or, accessibility@winthrop.edu. Please inform me as early as possible, once you have your official
notice of accommodations from the Office of Disability Services.
Grade Basis: S/U
To earn a grade of S (Satisfactory) in this course, students must attend class, fully participate in class
activities, and complete classwork and homework assignments as per instructions and by the time and
date specified by the instructor.
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MCNR 302 Syllabus Fall 2015
Course Requirements
Required Reading: Asher, D. (2012). Graduate Admissions Essays: Write Your Way into the Graduate School
of Your Choice. (4rd ed.). New York: Ten Speed Press. With the exception of the first week’s readings, each
student is expected to read the chapters before they discussed in class.
Student Learning Activities
All assignments in this course are designed to help students successfully complete the graduate
application process. Therefore, students will research and choose appropriate graduate programs,
complete application materials for those programs, ask faculty to serve as references, and participate in
mock interviews that will help them prepare for interviews at graduate programs.
In addition to weekly reading and small homework assignments, students are required to provide
proof of completing online mock interviews in person in Crawford or through the CCE’s online
Interview Stream (http://www.winthrop.edu/cce/default.aspx?id=18619). For the culminating
student learning activity, students will submit four distinct, complete application packages in a
meeting with Dr. Fortner-Wood during the time assigned for our final exam. Students must
successfully complete all of these activities in order earn an S in the course. Instructions for each
assignment will be shared in class.
Attendance Policy
Useful information will be shared during every class meeting. Students are required to participate in
all class meetings for the entire class meeting. Having more than one unexcused absence will result in
a grade of U (Unsatisfactory) in the course. Missing more than 15 minutes of any class meeting will be
considered an absence.
Enrollment in this course is a privilege only allowed Winthrop’s McNair Scholars. Your continued
enrollment after the first class indicates acceptance of the instructor’s discretion regarding
timekeeping for the class and determinations of excused absences. If the instructor has granted prior
approval, a student may substitute a graduate study preparation activity (e.g., an interview at a
graduate program, participation in graduate fair, shadowing a professor for eight hours) or related
activity for an absence from the section in which they are enrolled. Please note, the instructor may
choose to substitute some class meetings for relevant out-of-class activities such as participation in
graduate school fairs or one-on-one mock interviews with faculty members. Students will receive at
least one week’s advance notice if in-class activities are to be substituted.
Instructor’s Expectations of Students
1) You will prepare for, attend, and participate in every class.
2) You will be an active learner: raising questions, responding to instructor or peers’ questions or
comments, contributing to discussions both in and out of class, taking accurate and complete
notes, attentively reading assignments, and sharing relevant resources you have found with
your classmates. Being an active learner also means focusing on the discussions we are having
in class and that you will not text, email, or talk on your cell phone while in class or meetings
with the instructor.
3) You will complete all assignments according to the directions, honorably, and on time. This
includes reading the text before the material is discussed in class.
4) You will contact me as soon as possible if you have concerns about understanding material,
accessing course materials, completing assignments, or your performance in this class.
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MCNR 302 Syllabus Fall 2015
5) You will utilize me as a resource as early as possible in class, during office hours, by
appointment, by e-mail, and/or via telephone.
6) You will listen and interact effectively, respectfully, and graciously with peers, staff, and with
me even when someone expresses a viewpoint that is very different from you own.
7) You will exhibit academic integrity at all times and follow the student conduct code found at:
http://www.winthrop.edu/studentconduct/.
Syllabus Change Policy
The instructor reserves the right to make modifications to this syllabus if the needs of the class
warrant. Students will be notified of any modifications in class and via email as early as possible. All
students are responsible for the consequences of modifications even if they were absent from class or
have not checked their email for over a week.
Resources
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Author’s Website: www.DonaldAsher.com/
http://mcnairscholars.com/
Blackboard
Writing Coach – Stephanie Bartlett (bartletts@winthrop.edu) Office hours will vary
Winthrop Graduate School Open House
Thursday, September 10, 5:30-7 pm
Visit www.winthrop.edu/graduateschool for more information
Campus Services
Academic Success Center
ASC is a free resource for all undergraduate students seeking to perform their best academically. The
ASC offers a variety of personalized and structured resources that help students achieve academic
excellence, such as tutoring, academic skill development (test taking strategies, time management
counseling, and study techniques), group and individual study spaces, and academic coaching. The
ASC is located on the first floor of Dinkins, Suite 106. Please contact the ASC at 803-323-3929 or
success@winthrop.edu. For more information on ASC services, please visit
www.winthrop.edu/success.
The Office of Victims Assistance (OVA) provides direct services to survivors of sexual assault,
domestic violence, dating violence, and stalking as well as campus-wide educational programming to
prevent these crimes from occurring. The office is staffed with a full-time Victim Services Coordinator
and a full-time licensed counselor who provide on-going support to the survivor, male or female, from
the time of initial reporting. The staff provides counseling services and assists with obtaining sexual
assault forensic exams, STI testing/treatment, pregnancy prevention, housing options, legal
prosecution, and access to other support services. Each case is handled individually, and the client is
allowed to select which services he or she wishes to pursue. In the case of an after-hours emergency,
please call Campus Police at 803/323-3333 or the local rape crisis center, Safe Passage, at 803/3292800. For more info, visit: http://www.winthrop.edu/victimsassistance/
MCNR 302 Syllabus Fall 2015
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Winthrop University’s Office of Nationally Competitive Awards (ONCA) identifies and assists
highly motivated and talented students to apply for nationally and internationally competitive awards,
scholarships, fellowships, and unique opportunities both at home and abroad. ONCA gathers and
disseminates award information and deadlines across the campus community, and serves as a resource
for students, faculty, and staff throughout the nationally competitive award nomination and application
process. ONCA is located in Dinkins 222. Please fill out an online information form at the bottom of
the ONCA webpage www.winthrop.edu/onca and email onca@winthrop.edu for more information.
Using Evaluation to Improve MCNR 302
Student evaluations consistently indicate that students feel better prepared for the graduate admissions
process after taking this class. 100% of last fall’s Scholars “strongly agreed” with the statement “I
recommend this course to the next cohort of graduating Scholars. Students ranked the text,
assignments, guest speakers (like Dr. Sleigh), temperature cards, Writing Coach, and professor
insights as the top 5 “helpful” resources.
Below are anonymous evaluations from the last group of students who took MCNR 302 (fall 2014).
The responses are presented exactly as they were written.
For me, the benefits of completing this course are/were:
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It forced me to be honest with myself about how I was doing throughout the process. It allowed me the
venue to figure out what path works best for me after graduation.
 The biggest benefit of this course was that it was a source of accountability for me getting my
application materials ready, and not putting them off. I also liked being able to talk to my fellow McNair
Scholars about their experiences as well.
 Keeping me on task with the completion of my applications. Providing a set “meeting” each week where
I could ask questions about my applications. Getting advice from students, professionals, and professors
who have been through the process of applying to graduate programs.
To improve the course, I recommend the following change(s):
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Requiring that students have materials started from the summer before they enter the class (ex.
Personal statement draft, list of programs, reference packet draft)
I feel like more time should be devoted to group discussions. For example, I think that 15 minutes
should be devoted to us being able to talk about our progress and ask any questions we may have.
Maybe weekly individual meetings would further help the students stay on task with their applications
and ask any questions they may have.
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MCNR 302 Syllabus Fall 2015
Tentative Schedule Fall 2014 MCNR 302 60 (Monday Section)
Date
Topic
Reading due before class
Assignment due by the beginning of class
8/24
Introduction to
course, Priorities,
Programs short list
What to expect
during the process;
communicating
with graduate
program personnel
Ch. 1: Should you go to Grad School
and how are you going to pay for this
Ch. 2: Choosing a School or Program
Ch. 3: Planning and Managing your
Application Process
--Email your first draft of a graduate program
spreadsheet to Dr. FW
--Email a current personal statement draft to Dr.
FW and Stephanie. Schedule a meeting with Dr.
FW or Stephanie to discuss your draft.
8/31
9/7 - Labor Day - No class
9/10 Winthrop Graduate School Open House 5:30 – 7 pm
Ch. 4: What Happens to your
-- Email Dr. FW a mock graduate school inquiry
Application;
communication. Address it to Dr. FW as though she
www.winthrop.edu/graduateschool
were the director of the graduate program
Ch. 5: Getting Ready to Write
--Enter graduate application deadlines in your
SKIM Ch. 8: Samples, Samples, Samples spreadsheet
(make notes of things you thought were
particularly effective and/or you might
like to emulate)
Ch. 6: Your First Draft: From your
heart onto the page
9/14
Starting the writing
process & asking for
recommendations
9/21
Revising
Ch. 7: Subsequent Drafts: From the
page into the reader’s brain
9/28
Preparing the
reference packet
Ch. 9: Letters of Recommendation
10/5
10/12
10/26
11/2
11/9
11/16
11/23
11/30
12/7
12/12
--Report on your first three “asks” for references
and briefly summarize the outcomes on the index
card in class
--Revise your first draft to reflect the feedback
you’ve received from Ms. Bartlett and/or Dr. FW
--Share your next draft with someone you trust to
give you honest, constructive feedback
--Enter financial support deadlines in your
spreadsheet
Meet one-on-one with Dr. FW this week (No more required reading, keep working on your apps and update us each
week)
Matching
In class, write a personalized “here’s
--Submit a reference packet to Dr. FW that follows
paragraphs
why I am a good match” paragraph for
our checklist.
at least one more program (email it to
Dr. FW)
10/19 and 10/20 – Fall Break - No class
Preparing to
--Once I have given you feedback on your reference packet, revise your packet accordingly and
Interview
give it your references
--Meet with your mentor or another faculty member in your desired discipline about your
statement and implement their recommendations
Interview McNair Applicants (to see the experience from the interviewer’s perspective)
Mock Interviews
Complete Online Eaglelink Interview during class time or sometime this week
In-class Mock
Prep apps, revise statements, update
--Show me proof of your mock interview
Interviews
your spreadsheet
--Finalize the drafts of 4 or more statements and
email them to me
Show and Tell
Prep apps, revise statements, update
Schedule appointment with Dr. FW
your spreadsheet
11/25 - 11/29 - Thanksgiving Break
Complete application materials
Complete application materials
Final Exam – Submit 4 complete sets of graduate application materials to Dr. FW