PickAScholarship.com

The Gates Scholarship (TGS) stands as an immensely exclusive scholarship program designed to support exceptional minority high school senior students hailing from economically disadvantaged backgrounds. Every year, this scholarship is bestowed upon outstanding student leaders, aiming to empower them to achieve their utmost capabilities.

Annually, the selection process identifies and honors the students who can demonstrate their leadership skills, excelled in their academics, and also showcased their potential to drive positive change in their communities and beyond. By granting these students the opportunity to access higher education without the financial burden, The Gates Scholarship aims to break down barriers that often hinder individuals from realizing their fullest potential.

The scholarship recipients become part of a larger network of accomplished individuals who are united by their shared determination to make a meaningful impact on the world. The Gates Scholarship doesn’t just provide financial assistance; it opens doors to global opportunities, enabling these young leaders to pursue their passions, engage in innovative research, and contribute to various fields of knowledge.

Source: Gates Scholarship

About The Gates Scholarship 

The Gates Scholarship was launched in 2017 by the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation. Their unwavering dedication to aiding outstanding students from economically disadvantaged backgrounds to realize their full potential. This esteemed scholarship initiative is grounded in the belief that removing financial hurdles from the path to higher education can serve as a catalyst for high-potential, low-income minority students to excel academically, complete their college journey, and continue to shine as leaders in their respective fields throughout their lifetimes.

The Gates Scholarship goes the extra mile by offering comprehensive assistance to Scholars. Through various engagements with both the recipients and their educational institutions, the program ensures that scholars have unlimited access to the essential resources and support services necessary from their initial day of classes to the moment they walk across the graduation stage and transition into their chosen careers. This multifaceted approach underscores the foundation’s commitment to nurturing scholars holistically and fostering enduring success.

The Bill and Melinda Foundation 

The Bill and Melinda Foundation is a well-known organization in the USA established with a clear vision of addressing the world’s most pressing challenges. Founded by Bill Gates, the co-founder of Microsoft, and his ex-wife Melinda Gates, the foundation has played a significant role in shaping global health, education, and poverty alleviation efforts.

They are equally dedicated to education, the foundation has worked to enhance the quality of education and accessibility to all students globally. With the help of their partnerships with the university or institution, innovative programs, and technology integration to ensure all individuals regardless of their nationality and socio-economic background have their chance to receive a quality education that will empower them to reach their full potential.

Scholarship Summary

• Applicant’s Nationality: Selected Citizens
• Degree Level: Senior High School/Undergraduate
• Number of Awards: NA
• Duration: NA
• Scholarship Country: United States
• Renewable: Yes
• Offered Annually: Yes

Scholarship Basic Eligibility

• Must be a high school senior
• Belong to at least one of the following ethnicities: African-American, American Indian/Alaska Native*, Asian & Pacific Islander American, and/or Hispanic American
• Must be Pell-eligible
• Must be a US citizen, national, or permanent resident
• Should maintain good academic standing with a minimum cumulative weighted GPA of 3.3 on a 4.0 scale (or equivalent)
• Must plan to enroll full-time in a four-year degree program at a US-accredited, not-for-profit, private, or public college or university.
• Proof of tribal enrollment is required for American Indian/Alaska Native applicants.

Pell-eligible Determination

• Calculated by the U.S. Department of Education post submission of the Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA).
• Factors considered: family contribution, full-time student status, and academic intentions.
• Pell-eligible student households have varying income levels.
• The majority (99%) of Pell-eligible students originate from households earning $80,000 or less annually in recent years.

The Ideal Candidate for the Scholarship 

• The candidates must have remarkable high school academic achievements, consisting of performance in the top 10% of their graduating class.
• They can display their leadership capabilities through involvement in community service, extracurricular engagements, or similar undertakings.
• Candidates must also demonstrate their exceptional personal qualities such as motivation, emotional maturity, perseverance, and other related attributes.

Application Process

All eligible applicants can start their application in an online portal provided by TGS, all information must be completed including the required materials needed to better support the application.

Keep in mind that there will be a restriction on the institution that the students can attend in the USA. The students must be accepted in an accredited undergraduate university or college and must only be based in the USA. In case the students have already enrolled in a full-time four years program in an undergraduate degree, they are still encouraged to apply for the scholarship.

Scholarship Benefits 

• Recipients will be granted financial support encompassing the complete cost of attendance*.
• Covers expenses not already addressed by external financial aid and expected family contribution determined by FAFSA or college/university methodology.
• Student tuition, fees, room, board, books, transportation, and potentially additional personal expenses will be included.

Scholarship Timeline 

• Scholarship Availability: July 15, 2023
• Application Deadline: September 15, 2023
• Semifinalist : December 2023 – January 2024
• Interview: March 2024
• Selection of scholars: April 2024
• Awarding: July – September 2024

To maintain eligibility for the scholarship awards the students must provide the following: