The National Institute of Mental Health - Career Opportunities in Research Education and Training (NIMH-COR) Program at Hunter College

Applicant Pool and Recruitment of Candidates

Hunter College has a large pool of students from which to draw National Institute of Mental Health - Career Opportunities in Research Education and Training (NIMH-COR) Program Scholars and Associates. As already noted, fifty-eight percent of Hunter undergraduates belong to recognized minority groups, and the percentage majoring in the social sciences is even higher. New NIMH-COR Program students have usually just finished their sophomore year, but some of them come into the Program from one of the community colleges in the CUNY system. Applications are accepted at any time until the deadline in late spring. Students are accepted in May and enter the Program on July 1. Most recruitment efforts are made in the early spring.

The NIMH-COR Program actively recruits by several different methods:

NIMH-COR Program students attend meetings of student clubs on campus to describe the NIMH-COR Program and to encourage interest and applications.

All faculty in the participating departments and programs are asked to refer students believed to be academically talented and worthy of consideration.

The Coordinator asks faculty in participating departments to take time in classes to describe the NIMH-COR Program and announce upcoming application deadlines.

NIMH-COR Program students try to visit and make announcements in lower-level and research-oriented classes.

NIMH-COR Program members post fliers around Hunter College several weeks prior to the application deadline and place ads in campus newspapers and other publications.

The Director, Coordinator and NIMH-COR Program students set up a recruiting table in a strategic place on campus during a day prior to the date applications are due.

The staff holds an open house to meet prospective candidates and to provide information about the NIMH-COR Program.

In selecting NIMH-COR Program scholars, the Admissions Committee considers the following:

Commitment to a Research Career Evidence that trainees are committed to pursue graduate programs leading to the acquisition of doctoral level degrees necessary for research careers.

Academic Record In recent years the GPA of students accepted into the program has hovered around 3.4. As mentioned earlier, a GPA of 3.00 is required for the NIMH-COR Program. Regardless, the Committee expects to see clear evidence of superior classroom performance, particularly in difficult research-oriented courses, and acceptance is not based upon the highest GPA, but on the full combination of all these factors.

Letters of Recommendation from faculty members that attest to the student's academic talent and commitment to research. Each applicant must provide the names of at least two professors who are willing to write about his/her potential as a scholar and his/her performance in class. These references carry substantial weight in the selection process.

A Personal Interview with the Admissions Committee. The interview is critical to the selection process and helps the Committee evaluate the applicant's academic potential, his/her commitment to doing research in the social sciences, and his/her potential for continuing research in a graduate program. During the interview, the committee members ask students to speak about their academic backgrounds and interests, as well as research experiences and career goals.

Curiosity about Topics of Concern to NIMH and dedication to a research career. The student must demonstrate such interest in a personal statement s/he writes as part of the application.

Additional Factors, for example: the demonstration of an unusual ability or interest in the social sciences, prior research experience, or other activities.

The Admissions Committee also chooses students who have not yet achieved junior status or who are new to Hunter College. Some receive full tuition and a stipend from NIMH as NIMH-COR Program scholars, others become Associates and receive a small stipend from Hunter College or other sources. Associates are considered for admission as full NIMH-COR Program scholars after a year in the program. This two-tiered system is designed to provide opportunities for as many students as possible.

NIMH-COR Program APPLICATION

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updated 02/21/99