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How to Win the Gates Scholarship

Financial Aid

The Gates Scholarship is a program with a huge impact. Launched in 2017, the program's mission is to give opportunities to outstanding minority students to reach their highest potential.

In this guide, I'll go through all the details of the scholarship and the application protocols. After that, I'll give you expert tips and strategies for putting together the strongest Gates Scholarship application possible. Read on to learn more!

Note: The Gates Scholarship was established in 2017 as a replacement for the Gates Millennium Scholars Program , which reached its goal of 20,000 scholars in 2016.

What Is the Gates Scholarship?

The primary mission of the Gates Scholarship is to increase the number of underrepresented minorities in all majors. By offering outstanding scholars better educational opportunities, the program aims to develop a diversified group of future leaders for America.

Each year, 300 student leaders are selected for the Gates Scholarship, with each winner receiving funding for the full Cost of Attendance to an accredited four-year US university or college.

Compared with other impressive corporate scholarships, the Gates Scholarship is especially comprehensive and generous. In addition to funding, it offers a wide structure of support, guidance, and mentoring.

Overall, the Gates Scholarship provides the following:

• Renewable educational funding: The scholarship covers any unmet need and self-help aid (in other words, instead of having to take out loans and do a work-study job, the scholarship would cover those Cost of Attendance expenses) for up to five years.
• Online support services: Services offered to scholarship winners include academic support, mentoring, professional advice and guidance, and help with financial literacy.

The total amount of aid you're eligible to get will depend on your amount of unmet need. Unmet need is the difference between your school's Cost of Attendance (room, board, tuition, fees, books, and personal expenses) and the amount you've received in grants and/or scholarships. The larger your unmet need is, the larger your scholarship award will be.

Your total amount of aid will also depend on how long you're able to renew the scholarship. As long as you meet renewal qualifications every year, you can continue to receive funds for up to five years for a bachelor's degree program.

Are You Eligible for the Gates Scholarship?

To be considered for the Gates Scholarship, you must meet all the following criteria:

• Be a high school senior

Be African-American, American Indian/Alaska Native, Asian American/Pacific Islander, and/or Hispanic American

Be a US citizen, legal permanent resident, or national

Have a cumulative 3.3 GPA on an unweighted 4.0 scale

Meet federal Pell Grant eligibility criteria (this means that you must demonstrate significant financial need—check out our Pell Grant eligibility guide to learn more)

• Plan to enroll full-time in a four-year (bachelor's) degree program at an accredited, not-for-profit US college or university

Ideal applicants will also have the following traits, per the Gates Scholarship website :

An ideal candidate will demonstrate:

• Outstanding academic performance (Students in the top 10% of his/her graduating class)
• Leadership ability (e.g., as shown through participation in community service, extracurricular, or other activities)
• Exceptional personal success skills (e.g., emotional maturity, motivation, perseverance, etc.)

If you meet all the above eligibility criteria, you're on the right track to getting a Gates Scholarship.

What Do You Need to Apply for the Gates Scholarship?

Before you get to work on your Gates Scholarship application, you'll need to gather some important information.

From your guidance counselor, you'll need to get the following:

• Your full academic record
• Your cumulative GPA
• Your class rank
• Your Enrollment Verification

From the college/university you plan to attend, you'll need the following:

• Your college acceptance letter (again, this must be a four-year, accredited, not-for-profit US college or university)
• Your Financial Aid Award letter

You'll also need some family financial information, including the following:

• Your status as either a dependent or independent student
• Your personal gross annual income from the past year

Next, you'll need to prepare names, dates, and descriptions of participation for the following:

• A list of your leadership roles and experiences
• A list of community service experiences
• A list of employment experiences

Finally, you'll need to have your SAT/ACT scores handy.

All applicants must make a MyTGS Profile and apply through their online account.

Note that the Gates Scholarship application process consists of two phases, with each phase having its own application and selection process.

The Phase 1 application consists of a questionnaire—that's it! If you get to Phase 2, you'll need to submit another application that's a bit denser and will take more time; this one includes another questionnaire, essays, updated transcripts, and letters of recommendation.

What Is the Gates Scholarship Application Timeline?

This year, the Gates Scholarship application is expected to open on July 15, 2022; the deadline for submission will be September 15, 2022. Selections will be made in April 2023, with awards given out from July to September.

Below is the annual timeline for the Gates Scholarship:

• July: Phase 1 application opens
• September: Phase 1 application deadline
• December: Semi-finalists announced
• December: Phase 2 application opens
• January: Phase 2 application deadline
• March: Finalists announced; interviews for finalists
• April: New class of scholars announced
• Fall: Scholarships disbursed to winners

It's time to get tactical.

Strategies: How to Increase Your Odds of Winning the Gates Scholarship

Every year 300 scholarships are awarded through this program, but that doesn't mean the Gates Scholarship isn't competitive.

If you want a chance at winning this prestigious scholarship, you'll have to dedicate yourself 100% to the application process. Winners come from all over the country, with many scholarship recipients ending up at prestigious colleges.

The strategies I'll present here won't just help you strengthen your application for the Gates Scholarship but will also help you more generally with your college applications.

The best candidates for the Gates Scholarship will be motivated, high-achieving students with strong resumes, transcripts, and test scores —basically, the students who prepare themselves well for college.

As you might expect, the best way to effectively implement the strategies below will be to start the scholarship application process as early as possible. We've divided the strategies into two sections depending on where you're at in school and the application process.

Scenario 1: You're in Your Early Years of High School

If you're still just a freshman or sophomore and want to get a head start on looking good for the Gates Scholarship, here are four important tips to keep in mind.

#1: Demonstrate Academic Excellence

Competition for the Gates scholarship is stiff. In order to be a strong applicant, you should strive for more than the minimum GPA (3.3). Be sure to take advanced, honors, and AP classes when available, and actively seek out extra help from your teachers in any weaker subjects. Take those opportunities to develop strong relationships with teachers, tutors, and/or mentors.

#2: Cultivate Leadership Skills

Many scholarships, including the Gates Scholarship, want to invest in future leaders and innovative pioneers. One of the best ways to prove you have leadership potential is to actively develop your leadership skills as a student.

Here are some ways you can do this:

• Actively participate in your classes. Volunteer to lead discussions or group projects. Help out other classmates who might be struggling with a particular problem or concept.
• Join clubs or extracurricular activities that ignite your passions and interests. Focus on quality over quantity; invest in fewer activities but stick with them. If the opportunity presents itself, move up to team captain or a club officer role. The more your instructors, coaches, and peers respect you, the easier it will be to assume a leadership role.

#3: Commit to Community Service

The Gates Scholarship isn't just for helping individuals achieve their own personal goals; it's also for aiding in the betterment of whole communities. An ideal Gates Scholarship applicant will use opportunities they'll get through the scholarship to give back to their communities.

You can demonstrate your commitment to service by choosing (and sticking with) a community service or volunteer position. Ideally, this should be something you participate in regularly, on a weekly or so basis.

If you're thoughtful about choosing where you volunteer and spend time doing something you're passionate about, it'll definitely pay off when you submit your scholarship application.

#4: Develop Relationships With Educators and Mentors

It's important to have wise people around you who can offer you trusted guidance and advice. It's also important to have good relationships with people who can serve as recommendation writers for any scholarships you apply to.

If you have respect for a particular class or activity, your teacher or mentor will come to respect you—that's Step 1.

To work on further developing these relationships, you can do the following:

• Go to office hours to ask for extra help on tricky problems or concepts
• Actively participate in class, practice, or club meetings
• Go to your teachers, coaches, or mentors with questions that might be outside the scope of your regular curriculum; this demonstrates intellectual curiosity

Scenario 2: You've Made It to Phase 2 of the Gates Scholarship

The following three tips are for high school seniors who've made it past the Phase 1 questionnaire and are ready to get started on the much heavier Phase 2 application for the Gates Scholarship.

#1: Plan Ahead

Recall that you'll need letters of recommendation for this part of the application. It's important to give your recommendation writers as much time to write their letters as possible.

And since you'll only have about a month after you move to Phase 2 before your application is due, it's imperative that you find and secure a recommender as soon as you are told you're a semi-finalist.

#2: Invest in Your Essays

If the Gates Scholarship evaluators only cared about your grades and resume, they wouldn't ask you to write essays. So how can you ensure that your essays are great?

First off, make sure you're answering every part of the essay prompt in your response. Most essay questions have multiple parts!

You also want to elaborate —don't just provide a list as a response or give a yes/no answer. The evaluators want to see that you're thoughtful and have put time into your application.

Another tip to keep in mind is to make your goals clear. Why do you want the Gates Scholarship? You don't want to worry about paying for college, sure, but how will winning the scholarship affect your long-term and short-term academic and/or career goals? Most importantly, how will it enable you to be the person you want to be?

You'll get brownie points if your future goals include pursuing an underrepresented field (i.e., computer science, education, engineering, library science, mathematics, public health, or science) or serving others in some capacity.

The more thoughtful and clear you are in describing your goals in your essays, the more impressed the scholarship evaluators will be.

You should also craft a narrative with your essays. Make sure that all your essays work together to tell a single unified, logical story.

Before you start writing, come up with two to three points you want to get across about who you are. Maybe you want evaluators to know that you're empathetic, hardworking, and interested in mental health. Or maybe you want them to know that you're focused, ambitious, and passionate about social justice issues. The point is that all of your essays should ultimately serve to elucidate these points.

On that same note, don't be afraid to brag (to an extent). You're allowed to bring up any honors, awards, accolades, promotions, or fancy titles you've received. You earned them—talk about them! It's helpful to make a comprehensive of all these things before you start writing your essays so that you don't forget anything important.

That said, you should also be humble in your essays. Very few people can attribute their success solely to their own hard work. Did your family, friends, teachers, coaches, and/or mentors support you or offer guidance? Don't be afraid to partially attribute your accomplishments to them, as well as to your own efforts. Evaluators won't see this as a weakness but as insightful self-awareness.

Finally, remember to stay positive. Be honest about any struggles you've had but maintain a matter-of-fact tone. It's a smart idea to express optimism and a positive viewpoint about future outcomes and goals after you discuss any difficulties or disappointments.

#3: Choose Your Recommenders Wisely

Your recommenders will be expected to include detailed, glowing anecdotes and accounts of your personal relationships with others in addition to your academic and extracurricular performances.

Therefore, it'd be ideal if you could ask someone who knows you in multiple contexts (e.g., a teacher who serves as a club head, coach, or personal mentor). This should also be an individual with whom you feel very comfortable.

What's Next?

One of the best ways to make yourself a strong Gates Scholarship applicant is to set your goals high by being a strong college applicant. Check out our expert guides to getting perfect SAT scores and ACT scores , and learn how to get into your top-choice colleges .

Got more questions and Pell Grant eligibility since you have to meet these criteria in order to receive the Gates Scholarship? Read all about the Pell Grant and its eligibility criteria .

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Francesca graduated magna cum laude from Harvard and scored in the 99th percentile on the SATs. She's worked with many students on SAT prep and college counseling, and loves helping students capitalize on their strengths.

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How to Win the Gates Scholarship

Bill gates scholarship– introduction.

In this article, we will discuss a highly competitive merit-based scholarship from the Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation. This merit-based scholarship is called “The Gates Scholarship” (you will also hear us refer to this as the Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation Scholarship or the Bill Gates Scholarship).  

In this guide on “How to win the Gates Scholarship”, we will cover:

• An overview of the Bill Gates Scholarship

What is a merit-based scholarship?

• Eligibility requirements for the Bill Gates Scholarship
• The Gates Scholarship acceptance rate
• Top tips on how to apply to and win the Bill Gates Scholarship
• A look at more Bill Gates Scholarships and other merit-based scholarships to help lower your cost of college

Looking for more resources on merit-based scholarships from CollegeAdvisor? Read our merit-based scholarship guides on:

• Coca-Cola Scholarship
• Vanderbilt Scholarship and more !

Without further ado, let’s dive into our guide on one of the most sought-after merit-based scholarships in the world: the Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation Scholarship. 

Understanding Merit Scholarships: What is a merit-based scholarship?

Wondering how to lower the cost of college? You’ve undoubtedly already heard about scholarships for college. However, many students have misconceptions about what it takes to win these awards. For example, you may have heard that unless you demonstrate dire financial need, you don’t have a hope of winning a scholarship. That’s not the case!

In fact, there’s a whole category of scholarships for college that are awarded primarily based on merit or ability, as opposed to financial need. If you’re worried about qualifying for need-based aid, merit-based scholarships might be a great avenue to explore.

A merit-based scholarship is an award given to students based on their excellence in a category. The category emphasized by merit-based scholarships is specific to each one. Some merit-based scholarships emphasize GPA and academics; others award aid for a commitment to volunteering or sports or artistic ability. 

Merit-based scholarships can be awarded by universities themselves—such as USC and Vanderbilt , for example—or by private organizations. The Gates Scholarship is one of many prestigious merit-based scholarships available to students hoping to lower the cost of college. 

There are dozens of merit-based scholarships given away each year. These scholarships vary in terms of the amount they offer for the cost of college, the competition, as well as how well they promote equal access.

Top tips for winning merit-based scholarships

It’s hard to know where to start when applying to merit-based scholarships. Let’s take a look at some of the most tried-and-true tips from our team at CollegeAdvisor . 

1. Identify the merit-based scholarships you are eligible for

The list of merit-based scholarships is long, which is both a blessing and a curse. It’s simply too overwhelming to try to apply for all of them. However, each merit scholarship comes with its own unique list of eligibility requirements. For example, some are only available to certain school districts, others focus on niche abilities, and so on. 

Use resources such as the U.S. News prestigious scholarships list and other online lists of merit-based scholarships as a starting point. Then, look through the scholarships’ requirements and make a shorter list of awards you’re eligible for. This list should look a lot more manageable!

2. Make sure you understand the application requirements for merit-based scholarships.

The last thing you want is to be removed from an applicant pool on a technicality. Therefore, read each scholarship’s website thoroughly and take the time to really understand the application requirements. 

We recommend keeping a spreadsheet of application deadlines , as well as a list of corresponding application components. That way, you can be sure you have everything organized and ready to go before any deadlines. 

3. Submit a competitive application to your merit-based scholarships.

This tip sounds like an obvious one. However, you’d be surprised how many students send in half-hearted application attempts, even for awards as prestigious as the Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation Scholarship. This can happen because students think components like essays or interviews don’t matter that much or that their odds of winning are too low to really put in the effort.

Remember — using that extra time to strengthen your applications can make all the difference in getting scholarships for college. Wondering if you should retake a test to aim for a higher score? If you think you can improve your score, do it. Wondering if you should get someone to proofread your application essay? Absolutely do it!

Apply this mindset to every part of the application process. Ask for strong recommendation letters , write powerful essays , earn high grades, and of course, submit ahead of the application deadlines. If you put in the time and effort now, you’ll reap the rewards later.

In fact, there are many similarities between applying for merit scholarships and applying to top colleges and universities. Take our quiz below to put your college admissions knowledge to the test!

Bill Gates Scholarships: What is the Gates Scholarship?

The Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation Scholarship was started in 2017 . Since then, it has become one of the most prestigious minority scholarship and merit-based scholarships available worldwide. Each year, the Bill Gates Scholarship selects 300 high school seniors from low-income households and pays the entire cost of college for their undergraduate attendance. 

Bill and Melinda Gates, the founders of the program, have used the Bill Gates Scholarship to send over 3,000 minority students to college. Bill Gates, co-founder of Microsoft, and Melinda Gates are two of the most prolific philanthropists in the world. Their organization, the Gates Foundation , is dedicated to resolving inequities all over the world. This is what inspired them to start the Gates Scholarship program, one of the most well-known minority scholarships. Since its founding, the Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation Scholarship has given more than a billion dollars to put Gates Scholarship winners through school.

Gates Scholarship winners are selected for their academic excellence, leadership, as well as personal successes. Scholars are typically in the top 10% of their graduating class. In addition, as the Bill Gates Scholarship is a minority scholarship, applicants must belong to a minority ethnicity. 

What are minority scholarships?

Minority scholarships are a category of merit-based scholarships for minority groups. They may select by ethnicity, first-generation, low-income, or any other criteria, and they seek to promote equal opportunity in access to higher education. 

You can read more about what the foundation looks for in Gates Scholarship winners here . Finally, find out more about the Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation scholarship here . 

What does the Gates Scholarship cover?

The Gates Scholarship is one of the most generous minority scholarships and merit-based scholarships out there. Each year, the 300 Gates Scholarship winners receive an award to cover the total cost of college , minus financial aid, other scholarships for college, and the expected family contribution. 

The Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation Scholarship award also covers room and board, books, transportation, and other personal costs associated with the cost of college. Students may also use the Gates scholarship to pay for a study abroad or off-campus housing. The funds may not , however, be applied toward graduate school tuition.

How hard is it to get the Gates Scholarship?

The path to becoming one of just 300 annual Gates Scholarship winners is not an easy one. Gates Scholarship winners all faced the Gates Scholarship acceptance rate. In fact, over 34,000 Gates Scholarship hopefuls apply each year. This makes for a Gates Scholarship acceptance rate of less than 1%. 

Curious what it takes to beat the Bill Gates Scholarship acceptance rate? Read one Gates Scholarship winner’s story to get an idea. Akayla Brown, a teen from Philadelphia, became one of the Bill Gates Scholarship winners in 2021. Brown founded a nonprofit called Dimplez 4 Dayz at the age of 13. Her nonprofit, aimed at lifting people up within Brown’s community, was the focus of her essay submission for the Bill Gates Scholarship. 

Other notable Gates Scholarship winners include NASA astronaut Kayla Barron, mathematician Melanie Wood, and journalist Juliet Lapidos. 

The Gates Scholarship – Am I eligible?

Wondering if you have what it takes to win one of the Bill Gates Scholarships? Let’s take a look at the basic eligibility requirements for those hoping to beat the Gates Scholarship acceptance rate.

Bill Gates Scholarships ask that students meet the following requirements :

• High school senior
• Identifying as one of the following: African American, American Indian/Alaska Native, Asian and Pacific Islander American, and/or Hispanic American
• Pell-eligible
• A U.S. citizen or permanent resident
• Minimum GPA of 3.3 on a 4.0 scale

In order to qualify for the Bill Gates Scholarship, students must also plan to attend a four-year degree program at a U.S. college or university .

In addition to meeting the above basic requirements for the Gates Scholarships, the ideal candidate for the Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation Scholarship will also show:

• Excellent academic performance, including graduating in the top 10% of your high school class. This includes GPA, test scores, and other measures of academic success.
• Demonstration of leadership ability, perhaps through community service, school organizations, extracurricular activities , etc. 
• Personal success skills such as maturity, motivation, and perseverance.

Pay attention to all of the characteristics listed above, as opposed to simply meeting the basic eligibility. This will give you the highest chance of making it through the <1% Gates Scholarship acceptance rate and winning the Bill Gates Scholarship. 

When can I apply for the Gates Scholarship?

Once you’re sure you’re eligible for the Bill Gates Scholarships, you can turn your attention to the application itself. With a Gates Scholarship acceptance rate of under 1%, it’s important to craft an application you’re proud of. This is the main way the Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation Scholarship committee assesses candidates and selects the Gates Scholarship winners.

Each year, online applications for the Bill Gates Scholarship open on or around July 15 th . You’ll find the specific date on the Gates Scholarship website . The deadline for the first round of applications is September 15 th . After another round of applications for semi-finalists and a round of interviews for finalists, the Gates Scholarship winners are announced in April. Then, in the autumn, scholars receive their Gates Scholarship awards.

As you can see, the process for this merit-based scholarship is drawn-out, more so than most scholarships for college. That’s because of the prestige of the Bill Gates Scholarship and the large number of applicants this merit scholarship attracts.

To save yourself any last-minute stress, gather your materials for the application as early as possible. In particular, ask your recommenders far in advance of the deadline to give them time to write the best letters possible. 

Lastly, make sure you take the application for the Bill Gates Scholarship seriously. Remember: the Gates Scholarship acceptance rate is less than 1% and you will only have one chance to beat the odds. Putting in more effort early on could make all the difference in winning this merit scholarship.

How do I apply to the Gates Scholarship?

In this section, we will go over the application materials you need to submit in order to apply to the Bill Gates Scholarship. We will also cover how to submit the application itself via the Bill Gates Scholarships’ website. 

Before you apply, you will need to create a myTGS Profile . This profile will serve as a portal throughout your application process for the Bill Gates Scholarships. You can complete the myTGS Profile before the application’s opening. 

Once the Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation Scholarship officially opens, you will need to submit the following documents: 

• One copy of your most recent transcript (this will be submitted by your high school counselor)
• A Student Aid Report (SAR), which you will attain once you complete the FAFSA
• Financial aid award letter
• Letter of admission to a four-year bachelor’s degree program at a not-for-profit, private or public university
• CSS profile
• Headshot photo

There are two phases to the Bill Gates Scholarship application process. Phase I opens earlier and is available to any prospective applicant who meets the basic eligibility requirements outlined above. This is where the Gates scholarship committee rejects the majority of applicants, hence the infamously low Gates Scholarship acceptance rate. Phase II of the application, open later, is available only to the semi-finalists selected from Phase I. 

Selecting finalists

After Phase II, the Gates scholarship committee selects finalists from the remaining pool and asks them to participate in Bill Gates Scholarship Finalist interviews . These happen in-person or online, depending on the location of the finalist. 

Concerned about the Gates scholarship interview process? Don’t be! Watch CollegeAdvisor’s free webinar on acing college interviews , led by an admissions officer. You can also read our guide on college interviews . The questions will be slightly different for a merit-based scholarship, compared to a college interview. However, you should apply the same techniques for interview preparation including: 

• Looking professional
• Practicing ahead of time
• Mastering the most common questions

The Gates Scholarship – Application Timeline

With such a low Gates Scholarship acceptance rate, the committee for the Bill Gates Scholarships takes time to select Gates Scholarship winners. Therefore, the process for applying to this merit scholarship is longer than many scholarships for college. 

In addition, unlike many other minority scholarships and merit scholarships, the Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation Scholarship takes several rounds to decide the Gates scholarship winners. 

In 2021, the timeline for applying to the Bill Gates Scholarship was as follows: 

Note that the exact dates change from year to year. However, the above dates give you a sense of the general timeline of the Bill Gates Scholarship application.  Here are the general dates for the 2023-2024 application cycle.

Bill Gates Scholarship winners are announced in the spring. Then, the Gates Scholarship committee awards Gates scholarship winners’ schools the following autumn.

The Gates Scholarship – Frequently Asked Questions

Presently, we’ll answer your top questions about the Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation Scholarship, and merit scholarships generally. 

1. What is a merit-based scholarship and why is it different from other scholarships for college? 

Scholarships for college can be awarded for just about anything, from athletic ability to financial need to essay competitions and more. A merit-based scholarship is simply a scholarship awarded for excellence in a given category. Each merit scholarship will specify the category. This can include academic ability, artistic prowess, extracurricular achievement, and more. 

See more CollegeAdvisor guides on top merit-based scholarships for college:

• Vanderbilt Scholarship

2. Can the Bill Gates Scholarship be used for any college major?

Yes! While the Bill Gates Scholarships must be applied to U.S. accredited institutions of higher learning, there is no restriction on the field of study selected by scholars.

3. Can I use the Bill Gates Scholarship at any school? 

Unfortunately no. Recipients of Bill Gates Scholarships must attend a U.S. accredited, four-year, not-for-profit, private or public college or university. However, this is far less restrictive than many other minority scholarships and scholarships for college. It still allows recipients to attend almost any institution in America.

4. Can I apply the Bill Gates Scholarship toward a four-year community college? 

Yep! As long as it is still a four-year program in which you will receive a bachelor’s degree, you are eligible for the merit scholarship. 

4. How can I retain my Bill Gates Scholarship throughout college? 

In order to remain eligible for your Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation Scholarship throughout your four years, you must submit: 

• A completed FAFSA
• A renewal form with current transcripts
• Enrollment verification dated after the start of each new term

You must submit these documents annually. In addition, you must achieve satisfactory academic progress toward your degree. 

More Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation scholarships

Worried about the Gates Scholarship acceptance rate? Good news – the Bill Gates Scholarship is not the only Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation Scholarship available.  

The Gates also fund two other scholarships for college: 

• Millennium Scholars
• Gates Cambridge

The Gates Millennium Scholars Program is another Gates minority scholarship. The program grants an average of $12,785 to 1,000 annually-selected scholars. This has amounted to a total of over $1 billion over the lifespan of this merit scholarship. 

The GMSP is open to all students of color. The Gates Scholarship assesses applicants according to academic achievement, community service, and leadership potential. Funds are distributed based on the financial need of these Gates scholarship winners. 

The Gates Cambridge Scholarship is another Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation scholarship. Unlike the foundation’s other scholarships for college, this merit-based scholarship is only available to students who attend the University of Cambridge. Each year, 80 postgraduate applicants to the University of Cambridge, all from outside the UK, are selected to receive this award. 

The Gates Cambridge merit scholarship covers the full cost of tuition, in addition to discretionary funding.

You are eligible for this merit-based scholarship if you are:

• A citizen of a country other than the United Kingdom
• Applying to a PhD, MPhil, or MLitt residential course of Cambridge or you are applying to a one-year postgrad course

Each year, applications for the Gates Cambridge merit scholarship open in September . Offers are made to these Gates scholarship winners the following January.

The Bill Gates Scholarships are amongst the most generous and competitive scholarships for college available worldwide. If you are among one of the few Gates scholarship winners the aid will greatly reduce the rising cost of college. However, it’s not easy to overcome the Gates Scholarship acceptance rate. 

How to win the Gates Scholarship– Final Thoughts

There’s a high demand and a low supply of merit scholarships. So, it can be daunting to try to win minority scholarships, merit scholarships, or other scholarships for college. 

Bill Gates Scholarships in particular are amongst the most selective merit scholarships and minority scholarships out there. So, how do you overcome the Gates Scholarship acceptance rate? Here are our best tips for winning the Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation Scholarship. 

1. Tell a story through your extracurricular activities

The Bill Gates Scholarship seeks both leadership qualities and personal qualities in Gates scholarship winners. In order to stand out, your extracurricular activities must be impressive. That means they should tell a story of who you are as a person and what you are passionate about. Decide what matters to you and then find a way to take it a step further through your activities. Start a non-profit, get a job, write for a local newspaper—whatever your story is, make sure your extracurriculars speak to it.

2. Challenge yourself in your classes

Bill Gates Scholarships are both minority scholarships and merit-based scholarships. In order to satisfy the former, you must meet basic eligibility for the award. For the latter, it’s vital that you achieve academic excellence. Therefore, select classes that challenge you, and then work hard to get good grades. 

Ideal candidates for the Bill Gates Scholarship will be in the top 10% of their graduating class. While this is not a strict requirement, it greatly increases your odds of beating the Gates Scholarship acceptance rate. 

3. Stand out with strong letters of recommendation

Other than your extracurriculars, your letters of recommendation are one of the only places in the application where readers will get a sense of your character. Furthermore, it’s the only place where they’ll see your personality through another person’s eyes. So, it’s crucial to have strong letters of recommendation.

How do you ensure that your letters are strong? Firstly, forge authentic, lasting connections with your prospective recommenders. The people you ask should be able to talk about what makes you unique, as well as the reasons you deserve the Bill Gates Scholarship.

4. Start early

As with most parts of the college application process , the best way to win scholarships for college is to start early. Bill Gates Scholarships don’t open until the autumn of your senior year in high school. However, by the time you apply to the Bill Gates Scholarship, it’s too late to drastically change your GPA or extracurriculars. Since both are crucial to the evaluation process, put in the work early in high school to set a strong foundation. 

5. Don’t worry if you don’t win

Finally, it is important to be honest about the odds of beating the Gates Scholarship acceptance rate. The Bill Gates Scholarships are simply too competitive to put all of your eggs into this basket. 

And if you don’t win, it’s okay! There are lots of other minority scholarships and merit-based scholarships out there; it’s just a matter of finding them. 

CollegeAdvisor has tons of resources available to help you win the best merit-based scholarships. Check out our resources and articles for articles and webinars to help you beat the odds and lower your cost of college. 

Best of luck as you apply for the Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation Scholarship and other scholarships for college! You’re taking a hugely important step in your college journey, and we know you have what it takes to excel.

This article was written by Becky Weinstein. If you want to get help with your college applications from CollegeAdvisor.com  Admissions Experts ,  register with CollegeAdvisor.com today.  Also, check out our other guides to  Merit-Based Scholarships  as you embark on your college application journey!

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Your chance of acceptance, your chancing factors, extracurriculars, gates scholarship essay: what are they looking for.

I'm applying for the Gates Scholarship and am currently working on the essay portion. What are some key points or aspects that I should focus on in my essay to give myself the best chance of being awarded the scholarship? Thanks for any advice you can give!

The Gates Scholarship is a highly competitive program that seeks to reward exceptional, Pell-eligible, minority high school students with strong leadership potential. When working on your Gates Scholarship essays, it's important to showcase your personal strengths, aspirations, and leadership qualities. Here are some key points you should focus on:

1. Goals and aspirations: Clearly articulate your long-term goals and how you plan to use your education to achieve them. Your goals should be realistic while demonstrating ambition. For example, if you're interested in becoming a doctor, discuss the steps you'll take to reach that goal and how obtaining the Gates Scholarship will help you get there.

2. Overcoming adversity: Share a personal story that demonstrates your resilience in facing challenges. Explain the circumstances, how you overcame the obstacles, and what you learned from the experience. This is an opportunity to show your strength, resourcefulness, and adaptability, which are all key traits the Gates Foundation values.

3. Leadership and impact: Highlight your leadership experiences and how they have influenced you as a person. This can include leadership roles in school, community organizations, or even in your family. Explain how these experiences have shaped your values and how you plan to continue being a leader in the future.

4. Community involvement: The Gates Foundation is focused on creating positive change in underserved communities. Discuss any volunteer, advocacy, or mentorship experiences where you've worked to uplift your community. This will help demonstrate your commitment to bettering the lives of others and your potential to make a broader impact if awarded the scholarship.

5. Academic excellence: Showcase your academic achievements and the steps you've taken to excel in your studies. This can include AP classes, honors programs, or rigorous course loads. Explain how challenging yourself academically has prepared you to succeed in college and beyond.

6. Personal qualities: Finally, focus on your unique characteristics that set you apart from other applicants. You might discuss your work ethic, curiosity, empathy, or any other qualities that demonstrate what makes you an exceptional candidate for the Gates Scholarship.

Keep these points in mind when developing your essay and remember to be genuine, authentic, and specific in your responses. Paint a compelling picture of who you are as an individual, and how the Gates Scholarship can help you reach your potential to make a positive impact in the world. Good luck with your application!

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CollegeVine’s Q&A seeks to offer informed perspectives on commonly asked admissions questions. Every answer is refined and validated by our team of admissions experts to ensure it resonates with trusted knowledge in the field.

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Does anyone have the exact 4 prompts? I have my responses but I didn’t copy down the prompts and I know they’re going to ask me about one of them in the interview and I just want to make sure I’m fully prepared

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The Gates Scholarship

By Eric Eng

Welcome to our latest blog post, where we’ll be delving into the prestigious Gates Scholarship and what it means for ambitious students around the world. Established by Bill and Melinda Gates, this highly sought-after program aims to empower the brightest young minds to pursue their academic dreams and make a lasting impact on society.

If you’re eager to become a Gates Scholar and embark on a transformative educational journey, keep reading to find out everything you need to know.

Understanding the Gates Scholarship

What is the gates scholarship.

So what is the Gates Scholarship ? Well, the program is a highly coveted scholarship that is awarded to undergraduate students who come from low-income families and backgrounds. It was founded by Bill and Melinda Gates to help students achieve their dreams of higher education. The scholarship covers the full cost of attendance and is renewable for up to five years, depending on the length of the student’s course.

Winning the scholarship is a life-changing opportunity that can open doors to a world of possibilities. It provides financial support, access to resources, and mentorship opportunities that can help you achieve your goals and make the most of your college experience.

Eligibility Criteria for the Gates Scholarship

In order to be eligible for the Gates Scholarship, you must meet certain criteria. Firstly, you must be a high school senior who is eligible for federal Pell Grants. Pell Grants are awarded to students who come from low-income families and demonstrate financial need. Secondly, you must have a minimum GPA of 3.3 on a 4.0 scale. Lastly, you must be able to demonstrate strong leadership skills, academic achievement, and community involvement.

Being eligible for the scholarship is just the first step. You must also demonstrate that you have the drive, determination, and passion to make a difference in the world. The scholarship is awarded to students who have a strong commitment to social justice and making a positive impact on their communities.

The Impact of the Gates Scholarship on Your Education

Winning the Gates Scholarship is not just about financial support. It can have a major impact on your education and future career prospects. The scholarship provides access to resources, networks, and mentorship opportunities that can help you achieve your goals and make the most of your college experience.

The scholarship also provides opportunities for personal and professional growth. Scholars are encouraged to participate in leadership development programs, internships, and study abroad programs. These experiences can help you develop new skills, broaden your horizons, and prepare you for a successful career.

Moreover, the scholarship community is a supportive and inspiring network of scholars who share a common goal of making a positive impact on the world. Being a part of this community can provide you with lifelong friendships, networking opportunities, and a sense of belonging.

In conclusion, the scholarship is an incredible opportunity for students who come from low-income families and backgrounds. It provides financial support, access to resources, and mentorship opportunities that can help you achieve your goals and make a positive impact on the world.

If you meet the eligibility criteria and have a strong commitment to social justice, then the scholarship may be the opportunity you have been waiting for.

The Application Process

The Gates Scholarship is a highly competitive scholarship that is awarded to outstanding minority students who demonstrate exceptional leadership, academic achievement, and community involvement. If you are interested in applying for this scholarship, it’s important to understand the application process and what you need to do to be successful.

Key Dates and Deadlines

The application cycle for the Gates Scholarship opens in July and closes in September of each year. This gives applicants a few months to complete their application materials and submit them before the deadline. It’s important to keep track of these dates to ensure you have enough time to complete your application materials and meet all deadlines. Missing a deadline could result in your application being disqualified.

Required Documents and Materials

The Gates Scholarship application requires a number of materials, including academic transcripts, test scores, letters of recommendation, and essays. It’s important to read through the application carefully and ensure you have all the necessary materials prepared ahead of time.

You may need to request transcripts from your school, take standardized tests, and ask for letters of recommendation from teachers or community leaders. It’s important to give yourself plenty of time to gather these materials and ensure they are of high quality.

Tips for a Successful Application

When applying for the Gates Scholarship, it’s important to set yourself apart from the competition. This means showcasing your unique qualities and experiences that make you stand out as a strong candidate. Your essays and letters of recommendation should highlight your leadership abilities, academic achievements, and community involvement. Be sure to provide specific examples of how you have demonstrated these qualities in your life.

Additionally, make sure your essays are well-written, concise, and free of errors. You may want to have a teacher or mentor review your application materials before submitting them to ensure they are of the highest quality.

Another important tip for a successful application is to start early. Don’t wait until the last minute to begin working on your application. Give yourself plenty of time to gather materials, brainstorm ideas for your essays, and revise your work. This will help ensure that you submit the best possible application.

Finally, don’t be afraid to ask for help. If you have questions about the application process or need assistance gathering materials, reach out to your school counselor or a teacher for guidance. They may be able to provide valuable advice and support.

Writing a Winning Essay

Understanding the essay prompts.

The Gates Scholarship application requires a number of essays. These essays are opportunities for you to showcase your personality, accomplishments, and aspirations. It’s important to understand the essay prompts and ensure your responses are thoughtful, engaging, and well-written.

When it comes to understanding the essay prompts, it’s important to read them carefully and make sure you fully comprehend what is being asked of you. Take some time to reflect on the prompt and think about how you can best answer it.

Consider what the prompt is asking you to discuss, and think about how you can use your own experiences and insights to provide a thoughtful and insightful response.

Remember, the essay prompts are designed to help the scholarship committee get to know you better. Use this as an opportunity to showcase your unique qualities and experiences, and to demonstrate why you are a strong candidate for the scholarship.

Showcasing Your Unique Qualities and Experiences

Your essays should highlight what makes you unique and how you have overcome challenges to get where you are today. Use specific examples to illustrate your points and show how you have demonstrated leadership abilities, academic excellence, and community involvement.

When it comes to showcasing your unique qualities and experiences, it’s important to be authentic and honest. Don’t be afraid to share personal stories or experiences that have shaped who you are today. This can help the scholarship committee get a better sense of who you are as a person and what motivates you.

Remember, the scholarship committee is looking for candidates who are not only academically strong but who also have the potential to make a positive impact on their communities and the world at large. Use your essays to demonstrate your passion for making a difference and your commitment to creating positive change.

Tips for Effective Essay Writing

To write a successful Gates Scholarship essay, it’s important to be concise, engaging, and authentic. Start by brainstorming ideas and drafting an outline. Then, write the first draft, focusing on your main points and supporting evidence. Finally, revise and edit your essay to ensure it’s polished and error-free.

When it comes to effective essay writing, it’s important to remember that less is often more. Focus on making your points clearly and concisely, and avoid using overly complex language or jargon. This can make your essay difficult to read and understand.

Additionally, make sure your essay is engaging and interesting to read. Use anecdotes, personal stories, and examples to bring your essay to life and make it more memorable. Finally, take the time to proofread and edit your essay carefully, checking for grammar and spelling errors and ensuring that your essay flows smoothly from beginning to end.

Acing the Interview

Preparing for the gates scholarship interview.

If you make it to the interview stage of the Gates Scholarship application process, it’s important to prepare thoroughly. Research the scholarship and its mission, practice answering common college scholarship questions , and come up with questions to ask your interviewer about the scholarship and college experience.

One way to prepare for the interview is to research the scholarship and its mission. The scholarship was founded by Bill and Melinda Gates to help outstanding minority students who have financial needs achieve their full potential. The scholarship is designed to cover the full cost of attendance, including tuition, fees, room and board, books and supplies, and transportation. By understanding the mission of the scholarship, you can better demonstrate your fit for the program during the interview.

Another way to prepare for the interview is to practice answering common interview questions. Some examples of questions you may be asked include the following:

• What inspired you to apply for the Gates Scholarship?
• What are your academic and career goals?
• How have you demonstrated leadership in your community?
• What challenges have you faced, and how have you overcome them?

It’s important to use specific examples to illustrate your points and to emphasize how the scholarship can make an impact on your life. For example, if you are interested in pursuing a career in medicine, you can talk about how the Gates Scholarship can help you achieve your goal by providing financial support for medical school and research opportunities.

Common Interview Questions and How to Answer Them

Interview questions can range from personal to professional. It’s important to be prepared to answer questions about your academic achievements, leadership skills, and future goals. Use specific examples to illustrate your points and be sure to emphasize how the scholarship can make an impact on your life.

When answering questions about your academic achievements, be sure to highlight any honors, awards, or recognition you have received. Talk about any research projects or academic papers you have written and how they demonstrate your intellectual curiosity and academic potential.

When discussing your leadership skills, give specific examples of how you have taken the initiative and made a positive impact in your community. This could include starting a community service project, organizing a fundraiser, or mentoring younger students.

When talking about your future goals, be sure to explain how the Gates Scholarship can help you achieve them. For example, if you are interested in pursuing a career in engineering, you can talk about how the scholarship can provide funding for internships and research opportunities that will help you gain practical experience in the field.

Making a Lasting Impression

Finally, when it comes to the interview, be sure to dress appropriately, arrive on time, and make a great first impression. Show enthusiasm, confidence, and a genuine interest in the Gates Scholarship and its mission.

During the interview, be sure to listen carefully to the questions and take your time to formulate thoughtful answers. Don’t be afraid to ask for clarification if you don’t understand a question. Remember, the interview is an opportunity for you to showcase your strengths and demonstrate why you are a good fit for the scholarship.

After the interview, be sure to follow up with a thank-you note or email to your interviewer. This is a great way to express your gratitude for the opportunity and to reinforce your interest in the scholarship.

Tips from Gates Scholarship Recipients

How to stand out from the competition.

Winning the Gates Scholarship is a dream for many students. It is a highly competitive scholarship that provides financial support to outstanding students who demonstrate leadership potential and academic excellence. According to past Gates Scholarship recipients, the key to winning the scholarship is to be authentic, passionate, and dedicated to your goals.

One of the ways to stand out from the competition is to think outside the box and take risks. Don’t be afraid to showcase your unique talents and interests. Share your story and be true to who you are. Your authenticity will shine through and make you a strong candidate for the scholarship.

Another way to stand out is to be proud of your achievements. Don’t shy away from highlighting your accomplishments and the impact you have made in your community. The scholarship program is looking for students who have the potential to make a positive impact in the world, so be sure to showcase your leadership skills and your commitment to creating change.

Balancing Academics and Extracurricular Activities

One of the biggest challenges of winning the Gates Scholarship is balancing academics, extracurricular activities, and the application process itself. It’s important to stay organized, focused, and motivated. Use tools like calendars and to-do lists to keep track of deadlines and tasks.

However, it’s also important to remember to take care of yourself. Don’t overwork yourself to the point of burnout. Make time for self-care activities like exercise, meditation, or spending time with friends and family. A healthy mind and body will help you perform better in all areas of your life, including your scholarship application.

Additionally, don’t be afraid to ask for help. Reach out to teachers, counselors, or mentors for support and guidance. They can offer valuable advice and help you stay on track.

The Importance of Networking and Mentorship

Finally, past Gates Scholarship recipients emphasize the importance of networking and mentorship in achieving your goals. The Gates Scholarship provides a unique opportunity to connect with other scholars and leaders in your field of interest.

Take advantage of the resources and mentorship opportunities provided by the scholarship to build relationships, gain new skills, and set yourself up for success both in college and beyond. Attend networking events, connect with alumni, and seek out mentorship from professionals in your field.

Remember that the scholarship program is not just a financial award but also a community of scholars who are committed to making a positive impact in the world. Use this opportunity to learn, grow, and make meaningful connections that will support you throughout your academic and professional journey.

What to Do If You Don’t Win the Gates Scholarship

Applying for scholarships can be a daunting process, especially if you have your heart set on a particular one. However, it’s important to remember that there are plenty of other scholarship opportunities available for high-achieving, low-income students.

Alternative Scholarship Opportunities

When searching for alternative scholarships, start by researching organizations that align with your interests, career goals, or personal background. For example, if you are interested in pursuing a career in the STEM field, you could look for scholarships offered by organizations such as the National Society of Black Engineers or the Society of Hispanic Professional Engineers.

Additionally, many universities and colleges offer scholarships specifically for their incoming students. Be sure to check with the financial aid office at the schools you are considering to see what scholarships may be available to you.

When applying for scholarships, it’s important to read the eligibility requirements carefully and submit all required documentation by the deadline.

Reapplying for the Gates Scholarship

If you are not successful in your first application for the Gates Scholarship, don’t give up. You can apply again in the following year if you meet the eligibility requirements.

Take the feedback you received on your first application seriously and use it to improve your essays and application materials. Reach out to mentors, teachers, or other individuals who can provide guidance and support throughout the application process.

Staying Positive and Persistent in Your Scholarship Journey

It’s important to remember that the scholarship application process can be challenging and competitive. However, by staying positive, persistent, and focused on your goals, you can overcome any obstacles and achieve your dreams of pursuing higher education.

Remember to take care of your mental health and well-being throughout the scholarship application process. This can include taking breaks when needed, seeking support from friends and family, and practicing self-care activities such as exercise or meditation.

In conclusion, the Gates Scholarship is a unique opportunity for low-income students to pursue their dreams of higher education. However, if you don’t win the scholarship, there are still plenty of other opportunities available. By researching alternative scholarships, reapplying for the Gates Scholarship, and staying positive and persistent, you can set yourself up for success and make the most of your college experience.

How AdmissionSight can help you with college admissions

AdmissionSight is a college consulting firm that provides personalized assistance to students throughout the college admissions process. Here are some ways that AdmissionSight can help you:

Admissions strategy: AdmissionSight can help you develop a strategic plan for your college application process. Our professional consultants can assist with identifying schools that are a good fit for your academic, extracurricular, and personal goals and help you plan and prioritize your application strategy.

Application review: AdmissionSight can review your application and provide feedback on how to improve it. We can offer suggestions on how to make your application stand out and highlight your strengths and unique qualities.

Essay coaching: AdmissionSight can help you craft compelling essays that showcase your personality, goals, and achievements. We can guide you through the essay writing process and provide feedback on your drafts to help you refine your writing.

Interview preparation: AdmissionSight can provide interview coaching to help you feel confident and prepared for your college interviews. Our experts can offer tips on how to present yourself professionally and how to answer common interview questions.

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Overall, AdmissionSight can provide valuable guidance and support throughout the college admissions process to help you maximize your chances of getting accepted into the college of your choice .

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Op-Ed: How I won ‘The Gates Scholarship’

Miguel Moran

When I found out that I won The Gates Scholarship , I felt so much weight off my shoulders, because I would no longer have to worry about how I have to pay for college. The process was tiring and, honestly, a bit of a self-esteem killer, but I triumphed.

After a year hiatus, the scholarship made a comeback. I couldn’t pass up the opportunity to possibly alleviate my family and myself of the financial hardship of having to pay for school, so I applied.

The first two rounds asked about basic information such as family income, high school grades, standardized test scores, and involvement in extracurriculars.

I was surprised when I found out that I made it past the two preliminary rounds and into the semi-finalist round, which was the essay round of the scholarship. That portion was difficult because I had writer’s block during the two months I had to complete the essays. I began and finished my essays the day they were due, which is something I advise against.

It was not the best choice to procrastinate about something so important, so my hopes of getting the scholarship absolutely went down the drain.

I was trying to get the most help as possible, so I applied to more scholarships, such as the Milken Scholars program, the Coca-Cola Scholars Program, the META Foundation scholarship. After rejection from those scholarships, my self-esteem went fell to an all time low. I felt as if no matter how hard I tried, I was not succeeding the way I hoped.

I remember the day I found out I made it into the finalist round. I was at practice at the tennis courts, and I jumped up in the air. People were worried, because my shriek of excitement sounds a lot like a shriek of panic.

I was surprised, because I thought my essays weren’t as strong as expected, but when I re-read them, I was shocked at how I was able to encapsulate the downs and lows of my personal and academic life in so little time.

The finalist round was the interview stage of the scholarship and it was nerve wracking. For previous college admissions interviews, I did not prepare and would unsurprisingly do a horrible job. I would stutter, give unclear and short answers, and not answer the question quite well.

I had about a week from the time I found out I was a finalist until the interview date, so I decided to dedicate my life to preparing for the interview. I asked peers, teachers, and administrators to give me the most tips possible. I had mock interviews with myself in the mirror to practice what I said and how I said it.

As the interview approached, I felt like something was punching me in my gut. I was completely nervous, but I kept my cool. The interview was a Skype interview, so I wore jeans with a button up shirt and tie to seem professional.

My interviewer asked me questions about what I like to do at school, so I elaborated more on my extracurriculars. While I don’t do many, I do become completely invested and gave my full time and attention to the process.

The question that can make or break an interview: “Is there anything you’d like to add that was not reflected in your application?” was the question where I shined bright.

I talked about how I always seek to improve and innovate things I do and things I participate in. For example, I helped our newspaper create a design that is sleek and pleasing to the reader’s eye. I also helped our school’s Interact Club grow its membership to the biggest in years because of sharing my experiences in the club and how I’ve benefited from being a member. I also helped the tennis team grow from a mere sport that was constantly ignored to one of the sports with the most participation because of my experiences of growing into a student-athlete where I can perform to my fullest potential in the classroom and on the court without giving up one or the other.

After my interview, I was confident about receiving the scholarship because I gave some of my best responses, and I could tell that the interviewer was impressed with what I said.

I had to wait about a month and a half for April 20, the day I found out if I had been awarded the scholarship.

On that same day, our tennis team had a playoff quarterfinal match, so I felt the pressure mounting. We lost our match and our season came to an end that day, but I had yet to hear the response.

I was waiting for other matches to finish when the email I dreaded for over a month came in. The email read, “Congratulations! We are delighted to announce that you have been selected as a Gates Scholar and a member of The Gates Scholarship Inaugural class of 2018.”

I jumped off of the bench I was sitting and yelled “OH MY GOD!” I immediately called my mom to tell her the news and we started crying on the phone. I felt a weight off my shoulders, because, although I had not chosen the most affordable university to attend, I did not have to worry about being a financial burden on my family.

The last time I went to Panda Express, my fortune in my cookie read, “You have to kiss a few frogs before finding Prince Charming.” I was surprised that the fortune became kind of true, because, after being rejected from other scholarships, I received the most rewarding of them all.

My advice to people seeking to apply not only to The Gates Scholarship , but other scholarships and to colleges and universities in general, is to put forth your best effort both inside and outside of the classroom.

Get involved. You don’t have to be in a lot of clubs, but find something you are interested and passionate about and do something related to your interest outside of school.

Always do your work on time and do not procrastinate . Constant procrastination will not get you very far. Don’t be afraid to seek for help from others because their help will get you very far.

You don’t have to be the smartest person to receive opportunities like these. I’m not at the top of my class, but I do believe that I go the extra mile compared to others to achieve what I have, so never be discouraged because of academic standing.

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• The scholarship
• The experience
• The University
• Eligibility
• How to apply
• How we select
• The Impact Prize 2025
• Current Scholars

Each year Gates Cambridge offers c.80 full-cost scholarships to outstanding applicants from countries outside the UK to pursue a postgraduate degree in any subject available at the University of Cambridge. Approximately two-thirds of these awards will be offered to PhD students, with approximately 25 awards available in the US round and 55 available in the International round.

The selection criteria are:

outstanding intellectual ability

reasons for choice of course

a commitment to improving the lives of others

leadership potential

There are approximately 250 Scholars from c. 50 countries studying in Cambridge at any one time who pursue the full range of subjects available at the University and are spread across its departments and Colleges, as well as forming their own distinctive community.

There is also a community of more than 1,700 Gates Cambridge Scholar Alumni spread across the world.

The Gates Cambridge mission is to build a global network of future leaders committed to improving the lives of others. It aims to achieve this mission by selecting outstanding scholars, providing them with financial and non-financial support at one of the world’s leading universities and facilitating community building at and beyond Cambridge.

The Gates Cambridge Scholarship programme was established in October 2000 by an historic  donation of US$210m from the Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation to the University of Cambridge. The first class of scholars came into residence in October 2001. Since then, the Trust has awarded over 2,000 scholarships to scholars from more than 100 countries.

A Gates Cambridge Scholarship covers the full cost of studying at Cambridge. It also provides additional, discretionary funding.

Core components

the University Composition Fee at the appropriate rate*

a maintenance allowance for a single student (£20,000 for 12 months at the 2023-24 rate; pro rata for courses shorter than 12 months) – for PhD scholars the award is for up to 4 years

one economy single airfare at both the beginning and end of the course

inbound visa costs & the cost of the Immigration Health Surcharge

* The University Composition Fee varies for different types of students; applicants should see the Graduate Studies prospectus for full details about precise amounts. Where a student has been successful in gaining a fee award from public authorities (such as the UKRI ) they should accept this award and the Trust will not pay their fee or may share their fee and maintenance costs.

Discretionary components

The Trust also considers applications for several types of additional funding on a discretionary basis:

Academic development funding – from up to £500 to up to £2,000, dependent on the length of your course, to attend conferences and courses.

Dependent Children Allowance – up to £11,604 for one child and up to £16,548 for two or more children (2023-24 rate). No funding is provided for a partner.

Fieldwork – you may apply to keep up to your normal maintenance allowance while on fieldwork as part of your PhD (the Trust does not fund other fieldwork costs as these should be funded by the University Composition Fee).

Maternity/Paternity funding – should you require it, you may apply to intermit your studies for up to 6 months and continue to receive your maintenance allowance during this time

Hardship funding – for unforeseen difficulties facing the scholar

Receiving a salary or substantial other scholarship?

If you are receiving a salary from an employer or have another substantial scholarship, the Trust reserves the right to reduce or not pay the standard maintenance allowance. You should let the Trust know ASAP if you are awarded any funding towards your degree at Cambridge.

What is not covered?

Most costs are covered by the Scholarship but Gates Cambridge does not cover bench fees or the costs of scientific equipment or similar academic resources. The Trust expects such core course costs to be covered by the academic department at Cambridge.

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The Gates Scholarship

About the scholarship.

The Gates Scholarship recognizes minority high school seniors who have excelled academically and demonstrated motivation to succeed in college. Applicants will be reviewed for leadership abilities exhibited through participation in extracurricular activities and community service.

• Essay Required : No
• Need-Based : Yes
• Merit-Based : Yes
• Minimum 3.3 GPA
• High school senior
• Seeking a bachelor's degree as a fulltime student in the U.S.
• U.S. citizen, national, or permanent resident
• African American, American Indian/Alaska Native, Asian & Pacific Islander American, and/or Hispanic American
• Participate in extracurricular activities and community service
• Demonstrate financial need (Pelleligible)
• Proven leadership and personal success skills
• Country : US

The Orange Grove

Gates Scholarship Guide: Unlocking Opportunities for Academic Excellence

The Gates Scholarship serves as a beacon of opportunity for outstanding minority high school seniors from low-income households, helping to bridge the gap between potential and opportunity with substantial funding for academic pursuits . As a highly selective program, it recognizes students who show exemplary leadership skills and academic excellence, aiming to support their educational journey and foster future leaders. The scholarship emphasizes inclusivity and diversity, targeting a range of ethnicities including African-American, American Indian/Alaska Native, Asian American/Pacific Islander, and Hispanic American students.

Understanding the nuances of the Gates Scholarship application process is crucial for hopeful applicants. Eligibility hinges on several strict requirements, such as citizenship status, academic achievement, and participation in community life. Candidates must navigate through a multi-phase application process, demonstrating a consistent academic record and a commitment to their community. The scholarship not only offers financial resources but also support systems that help scholars maximize their college experience and post-graduate opportunities.

Key Takeaways

• The Gates Scholarship provides considerable educational funding for high-achieving, low-income minority students.
• Eligibility requires meeting stringent academic and citizenship criteria, and commitment to leadership and community.
• The multi-phase application process demands thorough preparation and showcases a student’s holistic achievements.

Eligibility and Requirements

The Gates Scholarship provides a significant opportunity for outstanding minority high school seniors across America. To ensure consideration, applicants must meet specific eligibility requirements concerning their background, academic records, and citizenship status.

Basic Qualifications

To be eligible for the Gates Scholarship, applicants must be high school seniors and identify as a minority, which includes being African-American, American Indian/Alaska Native, Asian & Pacific Islander American, and/or Hispanic American. They should also be Pell-eligible , demonstrating financial need and ensuring they meet the federal criteria for receiving a Pell Grant. Moreover, candidates must be a U.S. citizen, national, or permanent resident to qualify.

Academic Criteria

Academically, Gates Scholarship candidates are required to exhibit a strong performance in their studies. They must hold a cumulative GPA of at least 3.3 on an unweighted 4.0 scale. Academic achievements are considered a clear indicator of intellectual prowess and dedication to learning, which are qualities the Gates Foundation seeks in its scholars.

Ethnicity and Citizenship

The scholarship specifically targets minority students from certain ethnic backgrounds to promote diversity and support underrepresented groups in higher education. Eligible ethnicities include African-American, American Indian/Alaska Native, Asian & Pacific Islander American, and/or Hispanic American. It is crucial that applicants also hold status as a U.S. citizen, national, or permanent resident , which aligns with the aim of the scholarship to empower young change-makers within the United States.

Application Process

The Gates Scholarship offers a comprehensive application process designed to identify high-potential students with an emphasis on leadership qualities and commitment to the community. Each step is pivotal in showcasing the applicant’s abilities and fit for the scholarship.

Initial Application

Applicants must create a TGS Profile and provide basic information including educational background , extracurricular activities, and their role in the community. Additionally, they need to submit transcripts and standardized test scores , and demonstrate financial need typically by submitting the Free Application for Federal Student Aid ( FAFSA ). The application deadline is critical and must be adhered to.

Essays and Personal Statement

The application requires several essays and a personal statement. These writings should reflect the applicant’s leadership experiences , their commitment to improving their community , and their educational goals . The essays are a chance to illustrate personal growth and potential to succeed in college .

Letters of Recommendation

Strong letters of recommendation are essential, providing third-party insights into the applicant’s character and achievements. It is recommended that these letters come from individuals who know the applicant well and can speak to their leadership skills and educational commitments .

Interview and Final Evaluation

If selected as a finalist, applicants will undergo an interview to further assess their abilities and support they can provide to their communities through their education . Final evaluations consider the applicant’s interview, application materials , and their potential for impact in their chosen extracurricular activities and future educational endeavors .

Scholarship Benefits

The Gates Scholarship provides significant support to its recipients, ensuring that financial barriers do not impede their educational aspirations. This comprehensive program covers not only direct educational costs but also offers various resources to facilitate scholars’ academic and professional growth.

Financial Coverage

The Gates Scholarship is a last-dollar scholarship , which means it covers any remaining tuition and fees not already covered by other financial aid and the expected family contribution. Scholars receive funding that can be used toward the full cost of attendance, including books , room and board , and transportation . The scholarship aims to alleviate the financial strain on low-income households and enables students to attend college without the burden of educational expenses.

Additional Resources

Aside from monetary support, scholars have access to additional resources to enrich their college experience. These resources include various academic resources and services, ensuring that students maintain good academic standing and have all the necessary materials for their studies. The program also covers living expenses , which can significantly reduce the financial challenges associated with attending college.

Mentorship and Community

Importantly, the Gates Scholarship provides more than just financial support; it offers a sense of community and opportunity for personal and professional development. The scholars benefit from mentorship opportunities, connecting them with leaders and professionals who guide them through their four-year degree program at a not-for-profit institution. Additionally, the scholarship encourages involvement in a tight-knit network of peers and alumni, fostering a supportive and collaborative environment.

Selection Criteria

The Gates Scholarship has a multifaceted selection process that targets individuals demonstrating exceptional leadership qualities, commitment to community engagement, and distinct personal characteristics that predict future success.

Leadership and Achievement

Candidates for the Gates Scholarship are evaluated on their leadership skills and achievements . Applicants are expected to have a track record of effectively guiding others and initiating positive change . This includes holding significant leadership positions in school or community organizations and exhibiting the potential to become global leaders in their respective fields. Leadership ability combined with academic excellence is critical, as competitive candidates must also possess strong grades and research experience relevant to their educational goals.

Community Engagement

Community service carries substantial weight in the selection criteria for the Gates Scholarship. Applicants must showcase their commitment to community by demonstrating meaningful and sustained engagement . They should provide examples of how their service has had a tangible impact on others and how they have inspired their peers to contribute to their community. Prospective scholars must embody motivation and a genuine interest in addressing community issues through action and mentorship.

Personal Characteristics

The scholarship committee pays close attention to personal success skills such as emotional maturity and perseverance . These attributes are essential for navigating the challenges of rigorous academic environments and beyond. A candidate’s capacity for thoughtful self-reflection, resilience in the face of obstacles, and ability to benefit from and appreciate the guidance of mentors are considered indicators of future success. Their personal stories and experiences provide insight into these characteristics, shaping them as outstanding individuals set to achieve a notable personal and academic impact.

Program Expectations

The Gates Scholarship holds its recipients to high standards, expecting them to maintain not only exceptional academic records but also to be actively involved in their communities and adhere to an ongoing commitment to leadership and excellence.

Academic Performance

The program demands outstanding academic performance from its scholars. They must enroll in an accredited institution of higher education and sustain a high level of academic excellence . The scholarship is renewable , but continued support is contingent upon maintaining satisfactory academic progress, which typically means keeping a robust academic record through consecutive terms.

Extracurricular Involvement

Beyond academia, scholars are encouraged to engage in meaningful extracurricular involvement . This includes participating in organizations or initiatives that align with the scholarship’s ethos—fostering a diverse network of leaders. Such involvement demonstrates their dedication to using their education as a platform for broad and positive societal impact.

Ongoing Commitment

A defining feature of the Gates Scholarship is the ongoing commitment to societal betterment. Scholars are expected to grasp each opportunity as a means for growth and to provide support to others. As part of a community of leaders, they are tasked to give back through mentorship or service, thereby perpetuating the cycle of support and community strengthening that resonates with the program’s core mission.

Tips for Applicants

To excel in the application process for this prestigious scholarship, one must deliver a standout application, prepare thoroughly for interviews, and adhere to all timelines and deadlines with precision.

Crafting a Strong Application

A strong application begins with a compelling personal statement . Applicants should highlight their achievements, class rank, leadership roles, and how they envision themselves as future leaders. Including evidence of a supportive network —like endorsements from a mentorship program—can bolster the credibility of the application.

• Reflect on personal goals and how they align with the scholarship’s vision.
• Emphasize unique experiences and qualities.
• Seek feedback from trusted teachers or mentors.

Preparing for Interviews

Interviews are a critical component of this competitive scholarship process. They allow the selection committee to gauge applicants’ communication skills and level of commitment. One should practice answering questions that relate not only to their academics but also to their potential for leadership and contribution to their community.

• Conduct mock interviews with a mentor or advisor.
• Review core application materials to ensure consistency in responses.

Managing Timelines and Deadlines

Respecting the timeline is crucial for a successful application to a highly selective scholarship program. Missing a deadline can lead to an automatic disqualification, regardless of an applicant’s qualifications.

Important Timeline Points:

• Note all relevant deadlines in a calendar.
• Prepare application components well in advance.
• Plan for contingencies, such as technical issues, when submitting online.

By adhering to these tips, applicants can improve their chances of joining the ranks of scholars benefiting from this prestigious scholarship .

Beyond the Scholarship

The Gates Scholarship provides more than just financial resources; it lays down a foundation for future leaders, especially those from minority backgrounds, to excel in both academic and professional arenas.

Educational Paths

Recipients of the Gates Scholarship gain access to prestigious four-year degree programs, with the funding necessary to cover the full cost of attendance not already paid by other financial aid. This highly competitive scholarship recognizes academic excellence and leadership skills, offering minority students an opportunity to pursue higher education without the burden of financial strain. Educational paths are not just limited to private colleges; the scholarship ensures that scholars can attend a wide range of accredited institutions where they can engage in rigorous coursework and research opportunities.

Career and Networking Opportunities

The program extends beyond funding, providing scholars with crucial mentorship and a strong network of alumni and professionals. This empowers them with career and networking opportunities that can shape their professional lives. The scholarship’s community fosters connections that can lead to valuable internships and job offers in a diversity of fields, aligning with the scholars’ education and aspirations. The trajectory laid forth by the Gates Scholarship aims to cultivate future leaders equipped with robust leadership skills and a comprehensive support system.

Additional Gates Foundation Opportunities

The Gates Foundation provides a plethora of opportunities aimed at empowering education and research. One prominent example specifically targeting postgraduate applicants is the Gates Cambridge Scholarship.

Gates Cambridge Scholarship

The Gates Cambridge Scholarship is a prestigious, full-cost scholarship intended for outstanding applicants from outside the UK to pursue a full-time postgraduate degree in any subject available at the University of Cambridge. The scholarship covers the full cost of studying at Cambridge, including tuition fees, maintenance allowance, and return airfare.

Eligibility Criteria:

• Must be a citizen of any country outside the United Kingdom.
• Applying to pursue one of the following full-time residential courses of study: Ph.D., MSc/MLitt, one-year postgraduate course.

Scholars are selected based on:

• Academic excellence
• Leadership potential
• A commitment to improving the lives of others

Application Process:

• Apply to the University of Cambridge for an eligible course
• Complete the Gates Cambridge section of the graduate application form

For a detailed guide on the eligibility and requirements, refer to the Apply Now for the Gates Scholarship: A Guide to Eligibility and Requirements .

Understanding Financial Aid

Navigating the complexities of financial aid is critical for students aiming to manage the cost of attendance at college. Understanding the types of aid available, such as federal grants and scholarships, is essential, particularly for those from low-income households seeking to minimize tuition and fees.

FAFSA and Federal Grants

FAFSA , or the Free Application for Federal Student Aid, is a form that students must complete to determine eligibility for financial aid. The data collected from FAFSA is crucial in the allocation of federal grants, such as the Pell Grant , which is awarded to undergraduate students with financial need. The size of the grant is based on factors like the cost of attendance, expected family contribution, and enrollment status.

• Eligibility for FAFSA : Determined annually, requires submission of financial documents.
• Pell Grant Amounts : Vary based on program funding, but can cover a significant portion of tuition and fees for qualifying students.

Scholarship as Part of the Aid Package

Scholarships, including the prestigious Gates Scholarship , play a pivotal role in an aid package, often significantly reducing the financial burden on scholars. They can be merit-based or need-based and do not require repayment, making them an attractive form of financial aid for many.

• Merit-based Scholarships : Reward academic, artistic, or athletic excellence.
• Need-based Scholarships : Aimed at supporting students from low-income households.

In summary, both scholarships and federal grants can be instrumental in making higher education more accessible and affordable, and tools like FAFSA are key to unlocking these resources.

Frequently Asked Questions

The Gates Scholarship is a highly prestigious opportunity that beckons many queries. Below, find the most pertinent questions addressed with clarity and detail.

What are the requirements to be eligible for the Gates Scholarship?

Eligibility for the Gates Scholarship hinges on high school seniors from minority backgrounds who are U.S. citizens, nationals, or legal residents. They must also be Pell-eligible and have demonstrated academic excellence.

How can one apply for the Gates Scholarship for the upcoming academic year?

Students can apply for the Gates Scholarship by submitting an online application. The process includes providing detailed information about academic achievements, community involvement, leadership qualities, and financial need.

What are the selection criteria for the Gates Scholarship recipients?

Recipients are selected on criteria such as academic excellence, leadership ability, and personal success skills. The Gates Scholarship seeks individuals with an outstanding academic record who exhibit great leadership potential and have a drive to succeed despite personal adversities.

What kind of financial coverage does the Gates Scholarship provide?

The Gates Scholarship offers full financial coverage to its scholars, which includes tuition, fees, room, board, books, and transportation costs. It aims to remove financial barriers for exceptional students to enable them to maximize their educational potential.

By what date should applicants submit their Gates Scholarship applications?

Applicants should aim to submit their Gates Scholarship applications by the specified deadline, which is typically in September of the year preceding college enrollment.

What tips can help applicants strengthen their Gates Scholarship essays?

Applicants can strengthen their Gates Scholarship essays by being concise, personal, and reflective. They should convey their experiences, challenges, and goals while demonstrating their commitment to improving the lives of others.

Helpful Resources

Navigating the scholarship landscape can often be overwhelming, but there's no need to go through it alone. Scholarship Owl offers a supportive platform that can help simplify your search by matching you with scholarships suited to your unique situation. By consolidating numerous scholarship opportunities into one place, it provides a significant time-saving benefit, allowing you to focus more on your studies and less on the search. If you're looking to streamline the scholarship application process, Scholarship Owl may be a valuable tool in your educational journey.

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The Gates Cambridge Scholarship

The Gates Cambridge Scholarship program, created by the Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation, offers various scholarships funding between one and four years of study at Cambridge University in England. Areas of funded study are graduate, affiliated (a second undergraduate degree), clinical, and MBA, and the scholarships are competed for internationally. Students apply directly to Cambridge through the usual procedures, with the scholarship award decision heavily driven by the target Cambridge department. About 500 US students per year apply for the scholarships, with approximately one-fourth of them being offered a follow-up interview. Nearly 100 scholarships are awarded per year, and about one-third of those awarded scholarships typically go to US applicants.

The Gates Cambridge Scholarship Selection Criteria

Gates Cambridge Scholarship applicants are evaluated by the following criteria:

• exceptional academic achievement and scholarly promise;
• aptitude for research, analysis, and a creative approach to defining and solving problems;
• appropriate fit between candidate’s plans and Cambridge offerings, as revealed through the applicant’s written application and interview.

Gates Cambridge scholars will become leaders who address such global concerns as social equity, health, and technological advances. Obviously, evidence of an applicant’s ability to have such an impact leads to a more favorable outcome.

Preparing the Gates Cambridge Scholarship Application

Gates Cambridge application questions vary slightly based on the area of funded study, but commonalities are questions related to your intended course of study and a 500-word personal statement. When answering these and other narrative questions, detail should be given about how your past activities reflect both leadership and service, and for how a particular course of study at Cambridge will serve to help you attain your goals. A useful exercise is to browse through the Gates Cambridge website link below, where you will find ample opportunities to hear from past Gates Scholars about their work and background. For instance, one Gates Scholar notes the value of her volunteer work in Ecuador. Discussing research and future plans, one scholar describes his plan to work on neuron regeneration at the Brain Repair Centre in Cambridge, while another summarizes his long-term goal to serve in Pakistan as a financial advisor. There is also a 12-minute film on the website detailing the goal to create a network of scholars through the Gates Scholar Alumni Association, and featuring recent Gates Scholars discussing their motivations and goals. Obviously, familiarizing yourself with these scholars will help you decide how to present yourself so that you can stand tall among them.

Evaluation of Two Sets of Sample Gates Scholarship Application Essays

In the pdf link below, the two sample excerpts from Gates Cambridge applications show the depth and diversity of students who apply for this scholarship. The first student, studying colon cancer, shows interests in everything from Renaissance painting to technical writing, while the second, studying speech technology, discusses interests ranging from computer security to swing dancing. Both of these students were awarded a Gates Cambridge Scholarship.

The first writer uses her short statement of research proposal to demonstrate her thorough awareness of the program at the center where she aims to conduct research at Cambridge. In her accompanying 500-word essay, she strikes a bold and creative tone by representing herself as something of a modern “Renaissance woman” (she even explores her creativity by “reproducing an intricate Renaissance painting” at the age of 13)—one who sees the study of science as an outlet for her creative mind, and one who takes the initiative to co-found and edit a health journal as well as teach science to students in state custody. Her theme of creativity as the “driving force” in her development and eventually leading her to science is both rhetorically persuasive and stylistically elegant.

The second writer discusses the specific course of study he would like to complete at Cambridge, followed by research which he hopes would make computer technology available to a wider audience, “including those suffering from physical disabilities.” His passion for working in this area becomes further articulated in his 500-word essay, where he expresses concerns about sensitivity of personal information and “the safety and stability of the global economic community.” Like the writer in the first example, he sees education as an important vehicle for change, and he has taught computer literacy classes to the elderly as well as studied abroad during his junior year at Oxford University. He ends his essay affirming his desire to “take action to improve the condition of humanity.”

The Gates Cambridge Scholarship website provides information on applying for the scholarship, profiles and quotes from recent Gates winners and alumni, and links to the bi-annual magazine The Gates Scholar.

Visit the Gates Cambridge Scholarship website.

Faces of the millennium: Gates scholars share their hopes and histories

Text by Nikolai Koveshnikov, Photos by Mary Levin

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T he University of Washington has one of the largest groups of Gates Millennium Scholars in the nation. Students from minority families must demonstrate personal achievement, community service involvement and financial need to win this award. The scholarship covers their basic tuition for all four years of undergraduate study.

The program, a 20-year, $1 billion initiative aimed at reducing the financial barriers to a college education for 20,000 students, was created in 1999 with a grant from the Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation. To date, the foundation has awarded nearly 6,000 scholarships to students studying in five different fields: math, computer sciences, natural sciences, education and liberal arts sciences.

“The best and the brightest students shouldn’t be denied access to higher education simply because they can’t afford it,” Microsoft CEO Bill Gates said when the program was announced. “Melinda and I hope that this gift will not only benefit thousands of students, but also benefit America by empowering a diverse generation of leaders who otherwise might not have a chance.”

Over the last three years, the University of Washington has been able to attract 90 Gates Millennium Scholars. Here are the stories of five recipients.

Morris C. Johnson Jr.

Age 29, Doctoral Candidate, Forest Resources

See, the funny thing is, when I was in high school, whenever the teacher asked who is going to college, I never raised my hand. I wanted to be the Marine, you know, “The few and the proud.” I’m not sure what changed my mind. I lived in Waterproof, La. Twenty-six people graduated with me in my class. There were no advanced math courses. When I got to college, it was a big culture shock. I went to Southern University in Louisiana—the largest historically black college in the country.

My parents did not go to university. On mom’s side I am the only child who ever graduated with a bachelor’s and other degrees. I tell my wife all the time that I’m kind of surprised that I’m even in college. I was raised by my great-grandfather and grandmother. I don’t even remember what my father looks like. My mother never had a real job. My great-grandfather never went to high school. My uncle and aunt know what a master’s degree is, but not my grandma. They know I’ve been in school for a long time, they don’t understand what a Ph.D. is.

I didn’t want to take out loans, because the most stuff I’m interested in is not worth the investment. How did I get in forestry? The reason is for the money! Nobody believes me, but that’s how it was. They started something new and they needed to get students in. Never in a million years had I thought I would go into forestry! See, back in Louisiana you don’t go to the woods, especially a fella with a nice tan like me.

If you major in the urban forestry program, you’re required to do two internships. By the time I was enrolled, there were no good ones left, except a traditional forestry internship in Prospect, Ore. I took a Greyhound bus there, and I got “married” to the U.S. Forest Service for two years. Then I got bored and decided to go back to school.

I considered UW, and my mentor, Chad Oliver, whom I’ve known from working in southern Oregon, told me I should come to Seattle. Oliver, a UW forestry professor at the time, gave me a research assistantship and got me in, even though I didn’t do very well on the GRE. I came here in 2000, the same year I was married.

I found out about the Gates scholarship one week before the deadline. Chad told me, “You should apply for it.” In many ways it is because of Chad that I got this scholarship. The first thing you have to realize is the distinction between the adviser and a mentor. Chad would be mentor and a second father. He would always tell me, if you have trouble, let me know. He’d give me his number, his address, he’d tell you the way things are. He wouldn’t be sugarcoating things.

Then I received a letter, which simply said “Congratulations! You have been selected as a recipient.” To this day I’m still shocked. I’m still suffering from an impostor syndrome. I don’t know what I did to get it. Now I look back and I realize that I did some preparation. I thought there is no way I can go to get a Ph.D. My plan was once I got my master’s degree, I am outta here, but when the Gates came along, everything changed. If it wasn’t for the Gates scholarship, there wasn’t a Ph.D. for me. I carry around a card with me, which I will give to Bill Gates someday. It reads, “If it wasn’t for you, I’d never be in school.”

Age 21, junior, Informatics

My parents don’t know I have this scholarship. It is very hard to explain to them what I got. They think it’s all paid for by the state. I don’t tell them about my successes. I don’t tell them because of my little brother. When he was little, they put a lot of pressure on him by pointing out my achievements. I was very lucky growing up in a middle class neighborhood. Even though my family was poor, I was exposed to people who were better off. It was the peak of my parents’ financial stability. They owned a doughnut shop, which for some reason was the most common Cambodian immigrant, get-rich-quick scheme in the ’90s. My brother was not so lucky. When he was growing up, my parents’ business went under. They moved down south. My brother now has to deal with all the problems of a poor neighborhood and the stress my parents put on him—because of me—is not making it easier.

My parents came from Cambodia in 1980. I am not really sure how, but they left because of the genocide that was happening in the country. They refuse to talk about it now. I guess they try to put the past behind them. Every time I try to ask about what happened, my dad turns stone cold and won’t say anything. My mom just starts crying. I am what you call second generation. My parents decided to have me after they came here. We still have few relatives in Cambodia, but if Pol Pot and his Khmer Rouge regime hadn’t ever occurred, I’d have so many aunts and uncles. They’re all gone now.

My dad managed to get a high school education, not college. My family does not value education very highly. But I wanted to be successful in life. I wanted to be able to take care of my family, of my parents. So I figured I should go to college, because education is very valuable—it opens doors.

My parents know that education is important, but unfortunately they don’t know the system. They have always told me to study hard, but in terms of getting around the system, I had to do it on my own. I went to high school in Shoreline. I got exposed to computers at an early age. I have always worked on them at school. My third grade teacher encouraged us to use computers, but I was the only one doing it. So I became better than others, and when you’re better at something else, you just want to keep on doing it. I did well in school, got involved in the community service through the environmental club and worked a lot at regular high school part-time jobs. All of that, I guess, helped me to receive the Gates Scholarship.

At the time when they awarded the Gates to me, I was not as happy as I should have been. I thought, “OK, a cherry on top of my other scholarship.” I took it for granted back then, but I am not taking it for granted anymore. The biggest impact this scholarship had on me—it really encouraged me to get a master’s. It enabled me to focus not so much on finances, but on the academic part of college.

You have to be careful when you talk about your scholarships. I don’t want to appear cocky to people. The Gates is such a great scholarship. It allows you a full ride to go as long as you want. I am lucky to be one of the very few students graduating with no loans. I know that the majority of Cambodians live in poverty in America and the fact that I was able to climb the ladder makes me feel good and in a way I do feel I represent them—I am going to give them a good name, you’d say.

Lorin Baker

Age 21, senior, Psychology and Pre-Med

About five years ago I moved to Seattle with my mother. During the same year both my grandmother and my mother got cancer. My mom was undergoing radiation to treat the tumor, so I couldn’t be near her. She is doing OK now, but because of the treatment we ended up with a lot of bills. I went through many different high schools, while living with my grandmother and had to deal with my parents’ divorce. A major setback was when my mother got laid off from Boeing during my senior year of high school. It was a year of major challenge, change and heartache for me. I lost my grandmother. I am proud of the fact that I was able to stay focused on my studies.

My parents expected me to go to school. They recognized that not everyone will go through college, but they did stress the importance of education. Because I received other scholarships before, I don’t think that they were very surprised to see me receive the Gates. So in a nutshell, I think what helped me getting this scholarship was the difficult family situation, along with grades and volunteering.

My family was always active in the community, so I think that had a big effect on my volunteering. I volunteered for the homeless with my mom’s friend, who goes out and feeds people on streets.

I also volunteered with Team Survivors NW, a support group for breast cancer survivors. I learned about it my freshman year and continue volunteering there to this day. Sometimes that could be difficult emotionally, especially when a person you know learns that the cancer has come back. But at the same time, it is comforting to hear the inspiring survivor stories and be a part of the caring and support team for these brave women. My experience with these women gave me real insight into what both my grandmother and mother experienced.

With regard to my future plans, I’m definitely interested in something that deals with the human body. I would like to do reconstructive surgery. Why do I want to be in the medical field? I don’t see myself doing anything else. I know med school will be stressful. Both my parents were wary of my decision because they know what lies ahead, but they are supportive. Despite all the difficulties in my life, I graduated with a 3.8 from high school. I found out about the Gates Schloraship through my Equal Opportunity Program counselor and saw it on the news. It came at a very good time, as my major scholarship, which I received for graduating in the top 10 percent of my class, was over. My mother still is unemployed. Her debt burden due to surgical and medical expenses is still large. The scholarship is a real godsend. Without it I would be in a different place, where I would have to take out loans, which would be very difficult to pay, especially with my mother’s medical bills.

Moon Ki Hwang

Age 23, senior, Comparative History of Ideas and International Studies

I don’t know if it was exactly my parents who encouraged me to go to college. I always thought I would want to get a higher education. I was born in South Korea and moved to the U.S. when I was 12. Ever since I could speak and walk, I have always wanted to go to school. When I was little in Korea, I would pack my backpack and books and walk to the elementary school by myself, but at the door they would always turn me around and bring me back to my mom. She still jokes about that.

My uncle immigrated to U.S. back in the early ‘90s. One year my parents decided to come here for my cousin’s marriage and brought me along. After the marriage was over they left me in California, fearing that if I returned to Korea, I wouldn’t agree to emigrate back to America permanently.

When I came here, I did not know any English. I had to learn it in school. Because I had people teach me English, I wrote to the UW ESL department and they tried to set me up with students who wanted to learn Korean. I also joined Union Gospel Mission. Somehow, I am more sensitive about the issue of hunger, because my parents used to make me fast one day a year. That taught me what it’s like to starve. So whenever I get a chance to do a community service, I am more likely to serve meals.

My future goal is to have a career in law and public policy. I want to take a year off from school to find a fellowship and actually get some work experience in the field. I already have done some work there. My sophomore year I went to Korea through the law school direct exchange program. There I researched “Korean Comfort Women.” During World War II, Japanese soldiers abducted young women and used them as sexual slaves. I was trying to figure out why this issue was silenced in Korea until the 1990s. I have always been interested in women’s issues and in Korean-American issues. I am choosing law because it is one of the most effective ways to change things. I want to do something with international human rights.

At the same time, after receiving the Gates scholarship, I want to make sure that I do my best to contribute to the minority community. I think law needs minority representation, especially because it plays such a large role in shaping American public policy.

Michael Look

Age 19, junior, Bioengineering

I don’t know if my story is all that extraordinary. I was born in Seattle. Both of my parents are from China. They came here in the 1960s. I never asked them why they immigrated to the United States. They speak Cantonese. I used to speak it too, but I don’t speak it very well.

My parents used to tell me to do well in school, but after a while I learned to push myself. My teachers used to say that diversity contributed to what makes up a great education and I think they were right. As a student at Franklin High School in Seattle, it was very natural for me to hang out with all different kinds of people, and to grow up in a very heterogeneous environment. I was very lucky to be raised in that kind of environment, because it exposed me to all different kinds of people, cultures and ideas, all of which can expand your perspectives of the world.

I learned about the Gates scholarship through my high school counseling office. In the application essay, I wrote about a number of topics: my volunteer experiences through the Key Club, books I read and my senior project of working in a biology lab. Additionally, my U.S. history teacher and a faculty adviser wrote recommendations for me, both of them were aware of my academic ability. The summer I graduated from high school, the Gates Foundation sent me a letter saying it was awarding me a scholarship. I was excited.

The Gates scholarship is great because it recognizes potential in people. And it’s definitely flattering to have this sort of honor awarded to you. What it did for me was sort of validate my efforts, by saying that you have this promise and that you have that potential. But I believe there is definitely a lot of expectation with receiving such an award, as if the Gates Foundation is also saying, “You should live up to the potential we think you have, which starts with doing well here at the University.”

I really appreciate what the Gates Foundation is doing. It will have lasting improvements in society in terms of representation in sciences. This scholarship is very encouraging to people to go into science, which provides a deeper perspective into the way the world works and why it works this way. I am in the bioengineering department. I’ve always liked biology and I joined the UW bioengineering department because it has a truly interdisciplinary approach to answering complex questions in biology. Its research and education draws across diverse fields to address biology questions in a way that is great and unique, and cannot be done through a one-sided view. And there is a strong recognition of diversity. They recognize people as people.

The face of financial aid at the UW

How needy are the undergraduates at the University of Washington? The Office of Financial Aid this year will help about 48 percent of the total undergraduate population—that’s about 15,000 students.

Because 92 percent of those who receive aid are residents of Washington state, the office focuses much of its analysis on needy resident undergraduates. “About 55 percent of resident undergraduates who receive aid get loans. About 45 percent receive grants, scholarships or work study,” says Financial Aid Director Kay Lewis.

Students increasingly rely on loans to help finance their education. For the Class of 2002, about half of the 7,088 who graduated had loans. For these new alumni, the average cumulative debt was $14,528.

One significant statistic is the number of students who qualify for federal Pell Grants, which go to the most needy college students. This year about 23 percent of UW undergraduates will get these grants. This number is higher than at many peer universities—even those that charge much more for tuition. For example, the University of Michigan has only 14 percent of its undergraduates receiving Pell Grants.

“This tells us that about a quarter of our undergraduates come from very low income families,” Lewis says, “and that we have made efforts to maintain access to this University. We feel good about that, knowing we’re helping students.”

UW officials also know that rising tuition has an impact on all of its undergraduates, including its most needy students. When the state gave the UW authority to raise its resident undergraduate tuition 16 percent last year, it also told the UW to set aside 3.5 percent of that increase for financial aid. But the UW followed its own policy to set aside 7.5 percent, ensuring that there would not be an increased burden on students with the most need. Increases in federal and state need grant programs also helped.

“But storm clouds are on the horizon,” warns Eric Godfrey, the UW’s assistant vice president for scholarships and student programs.

Costs—tuition, books, and room and board—are continuing to rise, he says. “Right now total costs come to about $15,000 a year for resident undergraduates and it could be $20,000 in a few years. We cannot expect federal and state aid programs to keep pace with these increases.”

While the UW expects to administer $137 million in financial aid this year, only 10 percent comes from scholarships. About $5.7 million comes through the central Office of Financial Aid while $8.3 million is awarded by departments and other units, such as the UWAA Alumnae Board. Private scholarships not administered by the UW—such as the Gates Millennium Scholars Program—are not counted in those totals.

The University only has about 10 percent of its endowment dedicated to scholarships, says Godfrey, amounting to about $97 million. Peer universities such as the University of Michigan or Cal-Berkeley have much larger percentages in their endowments.

“Over the course of the next several years we need to expand the central scholarship endowment and scholarships administered by schools and colleges,” Godfrey says. “Economics have changed in very significant ways since 1990, especially the shift in economic support from the state.

“Private support may be the only relief valve we have,” he says.

— Columns Editor Tom Griffin

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The Gates Scholarship

Offered by The Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation

Multiple awards worth

Grade level.

High School Senior

Application deadline:

September 15, 2024

Scholarship Overview

Are you an academically excellent, minority, high school senior from a low-income household? If so, we may have a perfect opportunity for you: the Gates Scholarship! The scholarship is extremely prestigious and generous, offering a full ride to students by covering any of their college costs that are not already covered by financial aid and one’s expected family contribution (EFC). Applicants should ideally have an outstanding academic record, demonstrate leadership ability, and have impressive personal success skills. The scholarship is offered by the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation and is committed to helping low-income, minority students realize their full potential. 

If you’re a low-income, minority student who has gone above and beyond during the course of high school, we encourage you to apply to the Gates Scholarship!

Eligibility information

This scholarship is open to pell-eligible students who meet the below eligibility requirements. Applicants also must be planning on enrolling full-time in a four-year degree program in the U.S.

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To apply for this scholarship, students must submit an online application in addition to the below application materials.

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• School Education /

Essay On Bill Gates: The Founder of Microsoft

• Updated on  
• May 14, 2024

Today, we are all connected to technology in one way or another. But did you know how technology has evolved in the past few years? A young boy from Seattle, Washington, aged 13, wrote his first software program, which later gave birth to one of the most advanced computer programmes and software. Bill Gates was the co-founder and CEO of Microsoft Corporation, the world’s largest private computer software company. Today he is listed as the Forbes Richest Man in the World. Let’s learn more about this great man through an essay on Bill Gates.

Table of Contents

• 1 Essay On Bill Gates in 400 Words
• 2 Paragraph on Bill Gates
• 3 Quotes By Bill Gates
• 4 Books By Bill Gates

Essay On Bill Gates in 400 Words

Willian Henry Gates III, more commonly known as Bill Gates, is the CEO of Microsoft and is not only a co-founder of the well-known software company but also a noted author and philanthropist. He was born in 1955 in Seattle, Washington, United States. Gates was a brilliant student who enjoyed maths and reading from a young age. 

Aside from being a bright child, he has a strong interest in computers, which his parents have encouraged and supported. He attended Harvard College as a law student in 1973 but dropped out after two years to start his own software company. He later co-founded Microsoft with his childhood friend Paul Allen in 1975. Microsoft envisioned “a computer in every desktop and every home.”

After years of hard work, this idea has become a reality. Following Microsoft’s success, he started and invested in several firms, including TerraPower, Gates Venture, BEN, Cascade Investment, and Breakthrough Energy. During the late 1990s, he was criticized for his uncompetitive business practices. Gates held various positions at Microsoft, including chairman and chief software architect. In 2000, Bill Gates and his then-wife Melinda founded the Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation, the world’s largest private charity foundation. 

In 2008, he changed his role at Microsoft to part-time, with a full-time focus on the Gates Foundation. He then stepped down as CEO of Microsoft in 2014 to support Satya Nadella, the newly appointed CEO. In 2020, he left his board position at Microsoft to focus on his philanthropic activities for global welfare, including climate change, global development, and education. He has made huge contributions to various charitable organizations and scientific research projects over the years. Since 1987, he has been on Forbes’ list of the world’s billionaires. According to a Forbes study in 2024, his net worth is $128.7 billion. He also wrote many books, including The Road Ahead and How to Avoid a Climate Disaster.

He has committed his life to building the world’s top software company, contributing a large portion of his income to social activities. This shows that, along with his financial wealth, Bill Gates has a great heart too.

Quick Read: Greatest Writers of All Times

Paragraph on Bill Gates

Quick Read: Trees Are Our Best Friend Essay

Quotes By Bill Gates

Here are some of the popular quotes by the co-founder of Microsoft Corporation.

• “Money has no utility to me beyond a certain point. Its utility is entirely in building an organisation and getting the resources out to the poorest in the world.”
• “We all need people who will give us feedback. That’s how we improve.”
• “Don’t compare yourself with anyone in this world … if you do so, you are insulting yourself.”
• “It’s fine to celebrate success, but it is more important to heed the lessons of failure.”
• “The belief that the world is getting worse, that we can’t solve extreme poverty and disease, isn’t just mistaken. It’s harmful.”
• “Patience is a key element of success.”
• “Everyone needs a coach. It doesn’t matter whether you’re a basketball player, a tennis player, a gymnast, or a bridge player.”

Books By Bill Gates

• How To Avoid A Climate Disaster- 2021
• The Road Ahead-1995
• Business@The Speed of Thought- 1999
• How To Prevent the Next Pandemic- 2022
• Unleashing the Power of Creativity- 2006

Ans: Bill Gates is the CEO of Microsoft and a noted author and philanthropist. He was born in 1955 in Seattle, Washington, United States. Gates was a brilliant student who enjoyed maths and reading from a young age.  Aside from being a bright child, he has a strong interest in computers, which his parents have encouraged and supported. He attended Harvard College as a law student in 1973 but dropped out after two years to start his own software company. He is listed among the Richest Men in the world.

Ans: Bill Gates is famous for co-founding Microsoft with his childhood friend Paul Allen in 1975. He also founded the ‘Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation’, the world’s largest private charity foundation, with his then-wife, Melinda Gates.

Ans: According to Forbes, Bill Gates’ net worth is $128.7 billion, making him the eighth richest person in the world.

Ans: Bill Gates was admitted to Harvard College as a law student in 1973 but dropped out after two years to start his own software company, Microsoft.

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Bhumika Sharma

A writer with a fresh perspective on thoughts, I have an year of experience in writing the blogs on various topics. Here, you will find my blogs for the students and education purpose.

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