Community College to PhD
Association at UCLA
Program Hiatus
After the 2018-2019 academic year, the CC2PhD Scholars Program is taking a MULTIPLE-YEAR hiatus. In other words, our program is NOT accepting applications for subsequent academic years until further notice. Our website will be UPDATED when our program resumes. Subscribe to our mailing list to receive updates.
​
In the meantime, we recommend watching recordings of previous CC2PhD Scholars presenting their research projects here.
2018-2019 Program Overview [OUTDATED]
The Community College to PhD (CC2PhD) Scholars Program is an introductory-level social science research and PhD preparation program. Every academic year our undergraduate research program accepts up to 25 community college students in social science related majors. We actively recruit and give preference to students who are underrepresented within academia (e.g. underrepresented racial/ethnic minorities, former foster youth, formerly incarcerated, veteran, students with a disability, nontraditional age students, etc.)
​
This year’s program will begin in November 2018 and end in May 2019. CC2PhD Scholars will 1) complete a qualitative interview research project, 2) apply for Leadership Alliance and Big Ten Academic Alliance summer undergraduate research programs, 3) develop an upper-division research proposal that will be used to apply for undergraduate research programs and research grants at their future four-year college, 4) present their interview research project and their upper-division research proposal, and 5) develop a PhD preparation plan for their upcoming junior and senior year.
Scholars receive support through a small research grant (approximately $200), twice-a-month videoconference meetings with a CC2PhD Graduate Student Mentor, monthly meetings with a CC2PhD Community College Faculty Advisor, monthly meetings with a CC2PhD Transfer Student Peer Advisor, and monthly CC2PhD Saturday Academies at UCLA.
​
The CC2PhD Scholars Program is a mostly-online program. There are once-per-month in-person events from November 2018 - May 2019 (i.e. either the CC2PhD Saturday Academies, CC2PhD Scholars Interview Research Symposium, or CC2PhD Scholars Research Proposal Symposium). However, all other aspects of our program are online (i.e. monthly online assignments and readings, videoconference meetings with advisors and mentors, videoconference office hours with program director, and online discussion boards). As such, prospective applicants should be comfortable and willing to learn in a mostly-online setting.
​
In the short term, our program 1) prepares community college students for competitive undergraduate research programs and 2) equips community college students with PhD preparation knowledge so that they can enact strategic PhD preparation behaviors at their future four-year college. In the long term, CC2PhD Scholar alumni should become more competitive PhD applicants.
2018-2019 Eligibility Requirements [OUTDATED]
Applicants must meet ALL eligibility requirements.
-
Enroll and complete at least 6 community college semester units for the Fall 2018 semester and at least 6 community college semester units for the Spring 2019 semester.
​
-
Be either a U.S. citizen, permanent resident, AB 540 student, or DACA student.
​
-
Have an overall GPA of 3.0 or higher.
​
-
Live within a 100-mile radius of UCLA and have a reliable form of transportation to all CC2PhD events.
​
-
Will submit a transfer application to at least three University of California (UC) campuses by November 30, 2018. Then will enroll at any UC, CSU, private, or out-of-state four-year college for Fall 2019. To be eligible to transfer, you must meet the minimum UC transfer eligibility requirements listed here. Keep in mind that certain UC campuses have more rigorous eligibility requirements.
​
-
Apply as a social science related major in their transfer applications.
​
-
Interested in obtaining a social science related PhD.
2018-2019 Program Requirements [OUTDATED]
CC2PhD Scholars must participate in ALL aspects of our program. Students who do not complete all program requirements will be dismissed from the program.
​
-
November 30, 2018 = Submit a transfer application to at least three University of California (UC) campuses.
​
-
November 2018 – April 2019 = There are five monthly CC2PhD Saturday Academies scheduled on November 10, December 15, January 19, February 23, and April 13. Each Saturday Academy runs from 10am-5pm. CC2PhD Scholars must attend four out of five Saturday Academies.
​
-
November 2018 – May 2019 = Complete CC2PhD's monthly online assignments and readings. Scholars are expected to devote 30–40 hours per month towards CC2PhD assignments. These monthly assignments will provide scaffolding for your research project, undergraduate research program applications, research proposal, and PhD preparation.
​
-
November 2018 – May 2019 = Participate in program evaluation activities (e.g. filling out surveys on how the CC2PhD Scholars Program can be improved).
​
-
November 2018 – May 2019 = Meet with your assigned CC2PhD Graduate Student Mentor twice per month from November to May via videoconference. Each videoconference meeting is one hour long and has a prescribed agenda, which involves either asking for guidance on how to complete CC2PhD assignments or feedback on previously submitted assignments.
​
-
November 2018 – January 2019 = Schedule one day between November and January to shadow your CC2PhD Graduate Student Mentor in-person at their university. Activities may include observing their graduate-level courses, research team meetings, university events, etc.
​
-
November 2018 = Secure a community college faculty advisor by mid-November 2018. The CC2PhD Association will provide assistance but it is the students’ sole responsibility to secure a faculty advisor.
​
-
November 2018 – May 2019 = Meet with your community college faculty advisor once per month in person or via videoconference. Each monthly meeting is 45-minutes long.
​
-
November 2018 – May 2019 = Attend your CC2PhD Transfer Student Peer Advisor’s monthly group meetings, which will occur in-person during the CC2PhD Saturday Academies or virtually via group videoconference.
​
-
February 1-10, 2019 = Apply to both the Leadership Alliance and Big Ten Academic Alliance summer undergraduate research programs.
​
-
March 30, 2019 10am-5pm = Present your completed interview research project at the CC2PhD Scholars Interview Research Symposium. Presentations will be recorded and uploaded to the CC2PhD website. CC2PhD Scholars must stay for the entire symposium from 10am-5pm.
​
-
May 18, 2019 10am-5pm = Present your upper-division research proposal at the CC2PhD Scholars Research Proposal Symposium. Presentations will be recorded and uploaded to the CC2PhD website. CC2PhD Scholars must stay for the entire showcase from 10am-5pm.
​
-
Late May 2019 – Mid August 2019 = If accepted into Leadership Alliance or Big Ten Academic Alliance, CC2PhD Scholars must participate in their summer undergraduate research program. Summer undergraduate research programs range from 6-10 weeks long. The start and end date vary by summer program. Generally, program participants will conduct their own independent research project under the guidance of a faculty advisor and/or serve as a research assistant for a faculty member’s research project. In addition to research, the summer undergraduate research program may also provide writing, PhD preparation, and/or GRE preparation instruction. Summer undergraduate research programs typically expect participants to devote 40+ hours per week towards their research and other program activities. As such, many summer undergraduate research programs forbid participants from working or taking summer classes. These programs typically culminate with undergraduate research presentations. Summer undergraduate research programs provide a funding package, which might include travel expenses, food allowance, housing and/or a $2,000-$5,000 stipend.
2018-2019 Frequently Asked Questions [OUTDATED]
Are all program requirements mandatory? Will CC2PhD Scholars really get dismissed if they do NOT complete all program requirements?
Yes, all program requirements are mandatory. Yes, we have dismissed students in the past.
Do I need to meet all eligibility requirements? Can you provide an exception for me?
We will only read applications from community college students who meet ALL eligibility requirements. We do NOT provide any exceptions to our eligibility requirements.
​
Why does the CC2PhD Scholars Program require a 3.0 overall GPA?
One of the primary goals of our program is to help community college students apply for summer undergraduate research programs. Many summer undergraduate research programs require a 3.0 overall GPA or higher.
​
Will this program teach me how to transfer to a four-year college?
No. The CC2PhD Scholars Program does NOT provide any transfer preparation or assistance. Our program focuses on research and PhD preparation. We expect CC2PhD Scholars to go to their community college counselors or other UC community college outreach programs for transfer preparation services.
Will I be given priority or guaranteed transfer admissions to the University of California?
No. Our program does NOT provide transfer preparation services. So this program will NOT give you priority or guaranteed transfer admissions.
​
Why do CC2PhD Scholars have to apply for summer undergraduate research programs?
A part of our program’s mission is to help community college students apply for summer undergraduate research programs and academic-year undergraduate research programs. It is not uncommon for academic-year undergraduate research programs (e.g. Mellon Mays Undergraduate Fellowship Program) to require their participants to apply for external summer undergraduate research programs.
​
Why do we have to specifically apply for the Leadership Alliance and Big Ten Academic Alliance summer undergraduate research programs? Can I apply to other summer undergraduate research programs?
Unlike other summer undergraduate research programs, the Leadership Alliance and Big Ten Academic Alliance has a shared application that you can send to multiple campuses. This saves you time and increases your chances of being placed in a summer program. In addition to applying for the Leadership Alliance and Big Ten Academic Alliance, CC2PhD Scholars are encouraged to ALSO apply for other summer undergraduate research programs.
​
Will I be given priority or guaranteed admission to summer undergraduate research programs?
Our program will help CC2PhD Scholars apply for summer undergraduate research programs. However, our program is NOT affiliated with any summer undergraduate research programs. As such, participating in the CC2PhD Scholars Program does NOT provide priority or guaranteed admissions to any summer undergraduate research program.
​
What happens if I am NOT accepted into any Leadership Alliance or Big Ten Academic Alliance summer undergraduate research programs?
CC2PhD Scholars are only required to participate in a summer undergraduate research program if they are offered admissions into one or more programs. As such we recommend that CC2PhD Scholars apply broadly. Scholars should ALSO apply for summer undergraduate research programs that are OUTSIDE of the Leadership Alliance or Big Ten Academic Alliance.
​