McNair Summer Virtual Community &

Grad School Prep Program

Preparing Scholars for the New Reality of Academia

May 27, 2025 - July 4, 2025

The academic landscape is shifting, and McNair Scholars are facing unique challenges as they prepare for graduate school. Reduced research funding, evolving admissions priorities, and changes in DEI initiatives mean that success in graduate education requires more than just academic readiness.

That's why the McNair Summer Virtual Community & Grad School Prep Program has been revamped to empower scholars with the mindset, skills, and strategies they need to thrive in this new reality. Hosted by Dr. Toyin Alli, a former McNair Scholar and PhD graduate, this program goes beyond traditional prep to equip students with tools for resilience, adaptability, and long-term success.

Program Outcomes

  • Scholars will master a repeatable time management method for breaking down big goals into manageable steps.

  • Scholars will build realistic timelines and set up accountability measures to ensure progress.

  • Scholars will create a personalized digital grad school application roadmap using Trello.

  • Scholars will gain strategies for navigating the current academic climate and research funding landscape.

What’s New This Year?

State of Affairs for McNair Scholars Orientation
We’ll open the program with an orientation session discussing the current realities of graduate school admissions, research funding, and DEI challenges. Scholars will gain valuable context, hear practical strategies, and learn how to navigate these challenges with confidence.

Speaker Sessions with Relevant Insights
This year, our expert-led workshops will include updated insights addressing how scholars can adapt to changes in academia, secure funding, and build resilience. Each session is designed to provide actionable steps for success in an evolving landscape.

Program Components

Weekly video lessons

Topics will include reflection, goal setting, big dream mapping, time management, productivity and follow-through, accountability, weekly planning, wellness, and grad school preparation. The videos will be hosted on the website for the program as well as in the Skool community to foster engagement and connection.

Week 1:  Reflection

The students will answer reflective questions about their undergraduate experience so far to discover which courses and subjects they are most interested in learning more about.  The goal of this lesson is to help the students narrow down what field they would like to study in grad school.

Week 2:  Projections (Big Dream Mapping)

In this lesson, the students will learn a visualization technique to choose a possible career path and map out all of the necessary steps to go from undergraduate sophomore or junior to professional in the field of their choice.  The students will then create a Trello board for their big dreams.

Week 3:  Goal Setting (Building a Grad School List)

The students will research graduate programs in their field of interest and create three lists of schools they are interested in attending:  dream schools, safety schools, and target schools. The students will then learn how to add these lists to their Trello board.

Week 4:  Practical Time Management Tips (Making a List of Admission Requirements)

The students will learn the basic principles of time management and create a list of admission requirements for each school on their list.  Then the students will break down the list of requirements into tasks and subtasks and create checklists in Trello.

Week 5:  Creating a Plan

The students will learn to draw a visual roadmap or timeline for their big goal of applying to grad school.  They will set a deadline to complete their big goal and set deadlines for smaller milestones and tasks.

Week 6:  Productivity and Accountability (Schedule Deadlines in Trello)

The students will learn how to use their roadmap or timeline to set realistic goals and use the Calendar feature within Trello to schedule the start dates and deadlines they created in the previous week. The students will learn that the bridge between setting goals and actually following-through with those goals is accountability.  The students will choose an accountability partner and learn about co-working sessions.

Weekly Q+A Sessions with Grad Students

Scholars can submit questions and engage in live discussions with graduate students from The Academic Society community. Recordings will be available for those who cannot attend live.

Live Workshops

  • State of Affairs Orientation (Opening Session)

  • Key Habits for Academic Success with Lynn Curry – Focused on refining habits to strengthen resilience and well-being.

  • Navigating Funding & Finances for Grad School with Dr. Emily Roberts – Updated insights on managing finances amid changing research funding.

  • Mindset for Overcoming Adversity with Dr. Kendrick Savage – Lessons for navigating academic challenges with preparation and intention.

  • What to Expect in Your First Semester of Grad School with Dr. Toyin Alli – Insights on common missteps and how to avoid them.

Online Community and Resource Hub

All program resources, recordings, and discussions will be hosted in a private Skool community for easy access and deeper engagement.

Additional resources

Students will receive a coupon to enroll in The Academic Society LLC’s grad school survival course for free.  This course is a digital course that teaches students all of the mindset, time management, and productivity skills necessary to succeed and excel in graduate school. The course is designed to give students an idea of what to expect in grad school and then to rewatch the lessons as they reach new milestones in grad school.

Why This Program Matters Now More Than Ever

  • Address Current Challenges: Help scholars understand and navigate the new realities of academia.

  • Build Resilience: Equip students with tools to stay adaptable and focused despite external challenges.

  • Foster Community: Create connections across the McNair community, encouraging shared experiences and support.

Total Price for Your Cohort: $5000

Deadline to Register Your Students: Friday, May 23, 2025

CREATED BY

Toyin Alli, PhD | Founder & CEO, The Academic Society

Senior Lecturer in Mathematics, University of Georgia

Dr. Toyin Alli is a former McNair Scholar who earned her PhD in Mathematics from the University of Alabama. As the founder of The Academic Society LLC, she helps graduate students succeed through time management, productivity, and self-care strategies. Her digital programs, workshops, and resources have empowered thousands of students across the country.

Live Workshop Speakers

Dr. Emily Roberts is on a mission to inspire and empower early-career PhDs to make the most of their money. She engages with graduate students and postdocs through her Personal Finance for PhDs seminars, coaching, and websites, Personal Finance for PhDs and PhD Stipends. Dr. Roberts launched Personal Finance for PhDs shortly after her PhD defense in fall 2014.

Dr. Kendrick Savage, a native of Oxford, MS, is an award nominated mathematics and mathematics education professor at Georgia Gwinnett College, a poetry slam champion (college), and STEM advocate. His educational background includes a B.S. in mathematics, a M.S. in mathematics, a M.A in teaching, and a Ph.D. in mathematics education. He comes from a first-generation, low-income background. He has been motivating students for over 15 years. He knows all too well what it is like to not come from an educationally rich family and have to overcome multiple levels of adversity. He is the creator of Savage Motivation, LLC – an educational services business where he serves students in K-12, college, and graduate school. He is the author of A Few Steps In The Right Direction: Giving Yourself The Chance You Deserve.

Lynn Curry has been working with McNair scholars for over twenty years and is passionate about supporting students in well-being. She is creator and host of 365 Mindful Days Community, a peer-based learning community teaching Trio students how to prioritize their well-being so they can truly thrive. 

She is a certified meditation teacher with the Open Heart Project and regularly presents on such topics at various national conferences, including the Council for Opportunity in Education and Institute on Teaching and Mentoring.

Ready to Support Your Scholars?

Take the first step in preparing your McNair Scholars for success in this new academic reality. Complete the form to set up a meeting with Dr. Toyin Alli and learn how to enroll your students in the 2025 summer program.

Let's work together to ensure your scholars are ready to thrive.