Student Support & Scholarships
Biology students at the Mount have access to a wealth of opportunities: we have built strong structures of peer mentorship and faculty guidance into our program.
Department Grants
Throughout our history, the Department of Biological Sciences at Mount Saint Mary’s University has successfully earned numerous grants from a wide variety of sources. From private donations to prestigious federally funded grants, we empower students and scholarly success by creating scholarship opportunities, supporting student research, elevating classroom innovation, establishing STEM mentorship programs and more. Additionally, our ongoing partnerships with other Southern California educational institutions — including USC, UCLA and Loyola Marymount University — provide our students with opportunities to conduct research across a wide array of topics.
S4X Grant
A successor to the S4 Grant (“Supporting STEM Scholars to Succeed”), the Mount Saint Mary’s University “Expanding STEM Scholar Support System (S4x)” grant provides renewable $10,000 scholarships to academically talented STEM scholars with unmet financial need. The S4X STEM Scholars will also have access to faculty and peer mentors, supplemental instruction, and other workshops and programs that support scholar engagement and success.
Student support
Supplemental instruction
Supplemental instruction takes many forms: students have access to one-on-one tutoring, group tutoring and supplemental lecture sessions, all run by students who have already taken the class and done well in it. Our supplemental instructors are incredibly flexible and eager to help students excel in their studies, and all supplemental instructors are screened and approved by the course instructor before they can work with students.
Peer mentoring
There are many opportunities for peer mentoring at the Mount. However, we believe that STEM-specific peer mentoring is valuable because it connects new STEM majors with students who have experience unique to the field. Because of this, our S4X Grant funds peer mentoring for STEM students. Biology is a rigorous major, and our third- and fourth-year peer mentors are here to guide newer students through a wide array of topics. From navigating the transition from high school to college, to applying for summer research, to preparing for the MCAT and GRE, our peer mentors have your back. Additionally, students can join the Women in Science and Health club (WISH), Pre Med Service Alliance (PMSA), Eco Club, Pre Physician Assistant Club, and more to further connect with their peers.
STEM seminars
Funded by the S4X Grant and other departmental sources, these seminars connect students to professionals in STEM careers, provide opportunities to explore career options and help students navigate the application processes for research, graduate school and jobs. When possible, these seminars are conducted by recent graduates from the Mount, who can connect with current students and speak candidly about their experiences. Past seminars have covered what medical school is like, what to expect from a PhD program, how to write a good CV, what it’s like to work in biotechnology and much more.