Concluding My McNair Experience

May 8, 2025

During my time in the McNair Scholars program, I gave seven research talks and three poster presentations across several campuses and conferences, published a coauthored paper in The Fibonacci Quarterly, attended an REU, and was granted an offer of admission into the Biostatistics PhD program at Brown University. 

Getting into Graduate School

The process of applying to graduate schools was stressful and incredibly time-intensive. When looking for graduate programs, my first criterion was research. In particular, I was looking for programs with at least two faculty members conducting research I wanted to be involved in. What was unique about Brown, in contrast to the other programs which met this criterion, was their department of Health Services, Policy, and Practice. This department is housed in the school of Public Health and with a few of the Biostatistics faculty members hold joint appointments.This interdisciplinary setup stood out to me as an exciting opportunity to apply biostatistical methods to real-world health policy and service delivery questions. I am especially drawn to research that not only develops new statistical methods but also contributes to improving healthcare systems and informing public policy. For someone with a background in healthcare, I’m deeply motivated to take biostatistical research and use it to effectively shape community health outcomes. 

When I was invited to attend Brown University’s School of Public Health interview day, I was surprised, to say the least. I was scheduled to interview with three faculty members for 15 minutes each. During these short conversations, each one of my interviewers expressed great enthusiasm for my nontraditional background. One of the short essay questions Brown asked on their application was about the unique perspective I would bring to the university. As a Licensed Massage Therapist of nearly four years, I wrote about the patient-centered perspective I would bring to biostatistics research. Seeing that the admissions committee valued my real-world experiences in the health field spoke volumes to me about program fit in terms of shared goals and values. After my interview I grew truly excited about the program at Brown. Three weeks later I was contacted by one of my interviewers- the chair of admissions- to see if I was available for a brief Zoom call. I arranged to speak with him that very day and he got right to the good news: the department had decided to offer me admission. 

Looking Back and Looking Ahead

When I first came into the McNair Scholars program, I was an academically curious Licensed Massage Therapist with a long term ambition to get a PhD. However, as a first-generation college student, I was still naive to what this would really entail. I certainly never thought that I would be headed to an Ivy League institution to pursue the goal I’ve been working towards for nearly a decade. It is thanks to the McNair program that I have transformed both personally and academically into a capable scholar who is well prepared for this incredible opportunity at Brown University. Over the last two years I have honed my research, grant writing, academic writing, budgeting, and time management skills. Furthermore, and perhaps most importantly, the challenges which arose along the way of juggling my research, coursework, and small business have taught me the value of balance and investing in my wellbeing so I can keep putting forth my best work.

Change is always frightening, but as I told the admissions chair in my interview, although going to Brown might feel like stepping into a new world, I am adaptable. The opportunities to learn, grow personally and professionally, explore my passions in biostatistics and public health, and build new meaningful connections in a radically different environment than I have ever experienced is tremendously exciting. My McNair experience is one that I will forever look back on with fondness and gratitude.

A souvenir gifted to me by the Biostatistics department when I visited Brown!