The Gates Millennium Scholars Program awards “good-through-graduation” scholarships to 1,000 academically gifted students each year to be used at any university or college. Applications are only accepted online. Click here for more information.
The program is credited with lessening the barriers for African-Americans, Native Americans, Asian-Americans, and Hispanics with talent and a leadership initiative.
Graduate school funding is also provided by the Gates Millennium Scholars Program in the areas of computer science, education, engineering, mathematics, science, public health, and library science.
The average award was $11,593 between the years 2000-2010. Almost 30% of Gates Millennium scholars continue their education in graduate school.
The United Negro College Fund (UNCF) administers the Gate Millennium Scholars Program with assistance from the American Indian Graduate Center Scholars, the Asian and Pacific Islander American Scholarship Fund, and the Hispanic Scholarship Fund.
Be warned, the application process is a bit involved, as it is completely done online, and requires others, specifically speaking a Nominator and a Recommender.
The Nominator and Recommender will have to log in and create an account before recommending on a student’s behalf.
This can be a hindrance to students who have to locate someone with internet access and time to set up an account.
There is a 21-page practice application for students to familiarize themselves with the process. The website also lists a strategy on how to complete the scholarship application.
To save you some time, here is a list of questions you will be prompted to answer after you register and sign in:
- Have you attained a cumulative high school GPA of 3.3 on a 4.0 unweighted scale or earned a GED?
- By June 2014, will you have completed high school or earned a GED?
- Are you a U.S. citizen or permanent resident or national of the United States?
- Will you enter college for the first time in the fall of 2014 as a full-time student to seek an undergraduate degree (except for students currently in high school and college at the same time)?
This is relevant because depending on your answers you may not be eligible to apply. If you answer “No” to any of them you will not be eligible. You will only reach this point after you have registered, which includes providing your contact information, age, birth date, and Social Security Number.
Twitter: @gatesfoundation