There are lots of options when it comes to getting financial aid. The good news is that there are lots of organizations and foundations that would love to help deserving students and also provide other things that they might need.

Most times this help comes as scholarships, and as a student who needs financial aid to get into college, getting a scholarship is best for you. For scholarships, there are a few you can try. And one of the big ones is what this article would be talking about—the Gates Scholarship.

In this article we would be looking at everything about Gates Scholarship and how you can actually attain it, so journey with us as we delve right into it.

What is Gates Scholarship?

Gates Scholarship is not just for any one. They are highly selective financial rewards for high-achieving high school students. It is intended for students who have good leadership skills and are doing well academically while in high school and who come from low-income households. Each year the scholarship is awarded to exceptional student leaders with the intention to help them achieve their maximum potential.

The students will receive funding for the full cost of the tuition that is not covered by the financial aid or student aid. This other needs includes tuition, fees, room, books, and transportation and may also include other personal costs.

The whole goal of the Gates Scholarship Program is to help students come to the realization of their full potential instead of focusing on worries about money.  Awesome right? If students know the cost of college is taken care of, they can devote their energies to their educational experience instead of focusing on the stress that comes with trying to cover tuition, books, housing, and food.

The Gates Scholarship is called a “last dollar” scholarship, which means it covers any remaining costs that are not already covered by other grants and financial aids applied. Compared with other impressive corporate scholarships, the Gates Scholarship is especially comprehensive and generous. In addition to the funding, it also offers a wide structure of support, guidance, and mentoring.

Getting the Gates Scholarship award, 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 both in grants and/or scholarships.

Benefits of Gates Scholarship

Gates Scholars or students receive so many benefits that support their educational journey and also their personal development.

The scholars will receive funding for the full cost of attendance that other financial aid and the expected family contribution do not cover as determined by the Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA) or the methodology used by a student’s college or university. Please note that the cost of attendance ( tuition, food, room expenses, transportation, fees, board expenses, etc) may include other personal costs as well.

Eligibility Criteria To Apply for Gates Scholarship

1. The student must be a high school student.
2. The student must be from the following ethnicities:
   • American
   • African American
   • Asian and Pacific Islander
   • Indian/Alaska Native
   • And Hispanic American
3. The student must be a citizen of the US
4. The student must be pell-eligible
5. The student must be in good academic standing with a cumulative GPA of 3.3 on a 4.0 scale or equivalent.

Additionally, a student must plan to enroll full-time in a four-year degree program at an accredited US, not-for-profit, private, or public college or university.

You should take note that proof of tribal enrollment is required for students of American Indian/Alaska Native ethnicities.

The main criteria for choosing scholars are outstanding intellectual abilities, motivation for the selected course, a commitment to improving others’ lives, and leadership skills.

The Gates scholarship covers the following costs:

• The University fee
• A maintenance allowance
• Air transportation at the beginning and the end of the course
• Visa costs
• Costs of Immigration Health

It does not cover:

• The bench fees
• Expenses for scientific equipment or similar academic resources

How To Apply for Gates Scholarship

If you correspond to all the eligibility criteria mentioned above. Then the next thing you should be considering is the application procedure.

The Gate scholarship  inside the section for funding will require the following application components:

1. To write a statement of less than 3000 words where you should describe your motivation for the scholarship and prove your eligibility to the scholarship criteria.
2. Research proposal: This is only in case you are applying for a Ph.D. program.
3. Gates Scholarship Reference: This is getting appropriate persons such as your teachers, instructors, professors, e.t.c. that would prove your eligibility for the scholarship. You can either upload their recommendation letter or type.

How Are Applicants Selected?

An ideal candidate should have:

• An outstanding academic record in high school must have been in the top 10% of his/her graduating class.
• Demonstrated leadership ability, for example, maybe shown through participation in community service, extracurriculars, or other activities.
• Exceptional personal success skills like emotional maturity, motivation, perseverance, etc.

What To Do Before You Apply for Gates Scholarship

• First of all, you should create a student profile on The Gates Scholarship site (TGS)
• Then you learn more about financial aid on the Federal Student Aid website.
• Also learn more about the Expected Family Contribution (EFC) formula for the school years as 2019-2020 | 2020-2021|
• Then you complete the FAFSA4Caster to estimate your Pell Grant eligibility (You must know parent/guardian adjusted gross income to complete the online tool).
• Try to attend writing workshops and interview support for the Gates Scholarship application during the school year (January through April).

Tips for the Gates Scholarship

• The only part of the application that is available to submit is the Phase I Gates Qualifying Questionnaire. Students who are selected for Phase II will be invited to complete some essay questions.
• Make sure to remember the deadline to submit the Gates Qualifying Questionnaire, and also note that the deadline is given in Pacific Standard Time (take note that the Pacific Standard Time is two hours behind Chicago/Central Standard Time). And please try and make sure to submit early.
• Make sure you get a trusted adult to review the Gates Qualifying Questionnaire before the submission.
• Create a student profile on The Gates Scholarship site prior to the  deadline to ensure that you receive a correspondent directly from The Gates Scholarship team once the application is open for students.

Double-check the spellings of your email account. Information will be shared via email or through their scholarship portal site only by the Gates Scholarship team.

Note: Do not apply for this scholarship if you do not meet the eligibility requirements.

Gates Scholarship Acceptance Rate

The Gates Scholarship is a highly competitive, prestigious scholarship awarded to outstanding high school seniors from low-income backgrounds. While the official acceptance rate is not published by the Gates Foundation, it is estimated to be around 0.3-0.4%, with only 300 students selected from approximately 75,000-100,000 applications each year.

Additional Tips On How To Put Together An Outstanding Application for Gates Scholarship

1. Start early: Give yourself plenty of time to work on your application, gather necessary documents, and get recommendations from teachers and counselors.
2. Strong academics: The scholarship committee places a strong emphasis on academic excellence. Maintaining a high GPA and taking challenging courses that demonstrate your intellectual curiosity and ability to handle rigorous coursework.
3. Showcase leadership: The Gates Scholarship looks for students who have shown leadership in their community, whether it’s through school clubs, volunteer work, or other extracurricular activities. Highlight your accomplishments and leadership roles.
4. Clearly articulate your financial need: Since the scholarship is aimed at supporting low-income students, make sure to explain well your financial situation and also why you need the scholarship.
5. Write compelling essays: The application requires multiple essays that will help demonstrate your strengths, passions, and character. Be genuine and thoughtful in your responses.
6. Obtain strong recommendation letters: Request letters of recommendation from teachers, counselors, or mentors who know you well and can speak to your strengths, leadership, and character. This cannot be over emphasized.
7. Edit and proofread: Make sure to double-check your application for any errors before submitting it. Ask a teacher, counselor, or mentor to review your materials for feedback and improvements.

Final Words

Being a low-income student who needs financial support to further your college education, Gates Scholarship is one of the best options you could ever choose. Though they are highly selective and have their own eligibility criteria, it doesn’t make it any harder if only you meet all the necessary criteria.