Ronald E. McNair Scholars Program at Wellesley College (sophomores and juniors)
The McNair Scholars Program is a federal TRIO program funded at 187 institutions across the United States and Puerto Rico by the U.S. Department of Education. McNair participants are first-generation college students with financial need, and/or members of a group that is traditionally underrepresented in graduate education and have demonstrated strong academic potential. The goal of the McNair Scholars Program is to increase graduate education for students from underrepresented groups. At Wellesley, the McNair Scholars Program is STEM focused, and applications are typically due in November each year.
“I’ve definitely created new roots beyond reconnecting to my Asian heritage, and I hope that I’m one step closer to being a true citizen of the world.”
“I was motivated to fight for environmental justice in my community after hearing about the respiratory illnesses that many children were diagnosed with as a result of the environmental contamination we live with.”
“Medicine is about studying how life works, but the practice of medicine is also learning about life through other people. I have appreciated the opportunity to experience both this summer.”
On-Campus Recruiting Program Policies (Students)
Career Education expects all students to abide by the following rules in order to maintain the success and integrity of Wellesley’s recruiting program.
Resources for Undocumented Students and Students Qualified for DACA
This document offers links to on- and off-campus resources and supports for undocumented students. Due to the ever-changing nature of this issue, these resources may quickly become outdated or less applicable to any given person. While we make an effort to keep these resources up-to-date, please check on current developments when using the information below. You can also make an appointment to meet with someone in Career Education for additional career-related support.
Career Resources for Students with Differing Abilities
This resource provides career resources for students with differing abilities, including job and internship opportunities, job search tools, and scholarships.
Resources for LGBTQ+ Students
This document provides an overview for LGBTQ+ students of factors to consider during the job search and in the workplace, organizations and resources should you experience discrimination, professional organizations, and funding sources.
Resources for First Generation College Students
Navigating the college experience is complex affair, especially if it is a new context for you and your family. Below you will find resources that illuminate pathways to success during the college experiences, as well as some financial, networking, and career opportunities geared toward first generation college students.
Udall Scholarship (sophomores & juniors)
Supports a year of undergraduate study for American Indians and Alaska Natives working on an array of policy issues in Indian country or interested in pursuing health-related careers, or for students with demonstrated leadership, service, and commitment to issues related to conservation and environmental issues. Eligible are college sophomores and juniors who are US citizens, nationals, and permanent residents. Campus application deadline typically in early February.
Mellon Mays Undergraduate Fellowship (sophomores and juniors)
The Mellon Mays Undergraduate Fellowship Program (MMUF) was founded to increase diversity among minority faculty scholars in higher education. MMUF supports underrepresented minority students and others who have demonstrated commitment to eradicating racial disparities in academia by encouraging talented students to develop their academic interests, pursue and complete their doctoral training, and thrive in their faculty careers in higher education. With funding from the Andrew W. Mellon Foundation, MMUF undergraduates are able to conduct original undergraduate research in the humanities and social sciences. Campus deadline annually in March
The Susan Rappaport Knafel ’52 Scholarship for Foreign Study or Traveling Fellowship (seniors)
Scholarship for Foreign Study – up to $36,000
The scholarship will be awarded to a member of the graduating class who displays a desire for learning and an ability to impart knowledge and judgment to others. It will fund a year of study at a foreign institution to pursue a specific subject that requires contact with foreign scholars, libraries or other resources.
Traveling Fellowship – up to $36,000
The fellowship will be awarded to a member of the graduating class who displays an interest in and an acceptance of others, and who displays the ethos of a Wellesley education. It will fund a year of purposeful travel abroad to explore a particular interest with the requirement that the recipient not remain in the same area for more than two months.
Projects for Peace (students)
Created in 2007 by Kathryn Wasserman Davis (Wellesley College '28), the Projects for Peace program offers undergraduates and graduating seniors funding to design a grassroots project for the summer of 2024—anywhere in the world — that promotes peace and addresses the root causes of conflict among parties. Projects may employ innovative techniques for engaging project participants in ways that focus on conflict resolution, reconciliation, building understanding and breaking down barriers that cause conflict, and finding ways to resolve conflict and maintain peace. Any current Wellesley student is eligible to apply. Campus application deadline typically in January.
Resources for Underrepresented Students and Alumnae Applying to Health Profession Schools
A crucial topic in healthcare today is how to eliminate inequities in the quality and availability of medical care for ethnic, racial, social, and economic minorities. There is an urgent need to increase both the diversity and cultural competence of our health care workforce.
Lumpkin Summer Institute for Service Learning
The Lumpkin Summer Institute for Service Learning offers students the opportunity to work in Boston-based non-profits geared toward social change and community engagement.
Global Citizenship Internships
These internships provide students the opportunity to work with international organizations and communities around the world and hone cultural competency leadership skills.
Biomedical Research and Health Internships
Developed to expose our pre-health students to professional research opportunities, the Biomedical Research Internships provide an opportunity for students to learn skills related to research in healthcare today. Interns work with a mentor to conduct basic research in a laboratory or to contribute to the development of a research effort. Interns are expected to become familiar with the research approaches used by their mentors. At the mentor’s discretion, students may: develop a specific project within the research team; have shadowing opportunities with a health professional; and interact with patients and their families through volunteer experiences.
Sama Mundlay ’20 American Cities Internships
The Sama Mundlay ‘20 American Cities Internships are designed for students who want to work in major U.S. cities and engage in the social, economic, and/or cultural realities of diverse urban environments
“From the beginning, my career mentor was there to brainstorm, encourage, and motivate me to pursue an internship that aligned with my interests.”