Bill Gates Scholarships for High School Seniors
As of 2011, the Gates Millennium Scholars Program has provided financial support for more than 13,000 college students since its inception in 1999. The program's aim is to help academically qualified minority students earn undergraduate and graduate degrees. Scholarships are awarded to 1,000 students each year and can be used at any college or university in the country. The program's website notes that scholarships are "good through graduation" and more than 5,000 recipients have earned degrees.
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Eligibility
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African-American, Hispanic-American, Asian-Pacific Islander American and American Indian/Alaska Native students are eligible to apply for a scholarship, according to the The Gates Millennium Scholars Program (GMSP) website . Applicants should be in their senior year of high school with a GPA of at least 3.3 or have a GED. Students must be eligible for federal Pell Grants and be planning to enroll in college as full-time students. Scholarship applicants must be U.S. citizens, permanent residents or nationals.
Application Process
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Interested students submit an application that includes a personal information form, a recommendation that details their leadership and community service record, and a nomination form that evaluates their academic record. Students can ask a community leader or workplace supervisor to provide a recommendation. Nominations must come from a guidance counselor, teacher or principal. Scholars are selected based on a review of leadership potential, grades and community service.
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Award Determination
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Scholarship recipients are awarded funds based on financial need. Students submit a financial aid award letter from the institution of their choice outlining yearly tuition, expenses and fees. The scholarship is renewable each year as long as the student is enrolled full-time and making satisfactory progress toward a degree.
Fields of Study
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At the undergraduate level, the GMSP scholarship can be used to pursue a bachelor's degree in any discipline. At the graduate level, the aim of the program is to increase representation of minority groups in specific fields. Students who continue on to graduate school can request fellowships for master's and doctoral degrees in science, math, engineering, education, computer science and public health.
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