GMS: PREPARING YOUR APPLICATION GATES MILLENNIUM SCHOLARS PROGRAM

The Gates Millennium Scholars (GMS) program, established in 1999, is a 1.6 billion dollar initiative funded by a grant from the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation. The goal of GMS is to promote academic excellence and to provide an opportunity for 20,000 outstanding students with significant financial need to reach their full potential! THE GATES MILLENNIUM SCHOLARS PROGRAM AND THE HISPANIC SCHOLARSHIP FUND

PRESENTED BY THE GATES MILLENNIUM SCHOLARS PROGRAM AND THE HISPANIC SCHOLARSHIP FUND GMS Program Structure UNCF-the United Negro College Fund is the administrator of the GMS initiative and has partnered with the following organizations: Asian & Pacific Islander American Scholarship Fund American Indian Graduate Center Scholars Hispanic Scholarship Fund

THE GATES MILLENNIUM SCHOLARS PROGRAM AND THE HISPANIC SCHOLARSHIP FUND GMS PROGRAM OVERVIEW Selects 1,000 candidates a year Funds unmet need determined by the financial aid award letter provided by the institution Provides opportunity for college education in any discipline or field for undergraduates Provides graduate degree funding for continuing Scholars in: mathematics, computer science, engineering, education or library science, and public health Renews annually based on satisfactory academic progress, full-time enrollment and submission of all required documents 1,000= 350 AA, 350 HA, 150 API, 150 AI Unmet need: Cost of Attendance Cost of Attendance ---- Financial Need ---- Family Contribution = Unmet Need

LEADERSHIP DEVELOPMENT PROGRAM There are three objectives of the GMS Leadership Development Program: 1.Enhance Scholar Development 2.Provide academic support services 3.Facilitate access to academic and career resources The GMS Leadership Development Program provides opportunities for Scholars to achieve academic success and assume significant roles as leaders in their discipline, professions, and global community THE GATES MILLENNIUM SCHOLARS PROGRAM AND THE HISPANIC SCHOLARSHIP FUND Not just a Scholarship!

THE GATES MILLENNIUM SCHOLARS PROGRAM AND THE HISPANIC SCHOLARSHIP FUND GMS ELIGIBILITY CRITERIA African American, American Indian/Alaska Native, Asian Pacific American or Hispanic American Citizen/permanent residents of the United States Cumulative GPA of 3.3 on a 4.0 scale (unweighted) at the time of application Matriculation for the first time at an accredited college or university as full-time, degree-seeking freshmen in the fall of 2013, with the exception of students jointly enrolled in high school and college (GED recipients are also eligible) Significant demonstrated financial need as defined by the Federal Pell Grant eligibility criteria Demonstrated leadership commitment through participation in community service, extracurricular or other activities that reflect leadership abilities

THE GATES MILLENNIUM SCHOLARS PROGRAM AND THE HISPANIC SCHOLARSHIP FUND GMS APPLICATION Opens: Mid-August Closes: Mid-January Applicants must plan to enroll in a U.S. accredited college or university the following academic year

THE GATES MILLENNIUM SCHOLARS PROGRAM AND THE HISPANIC SCHOLARSHIP FUND STEPS TO COMPLETING APPLICATION Step 1: Familiarize yourself with the entire application Step 2: Understand the evaluation criteria Step 3: Select the appropriate nominator and recommender Step 4: Tell your story Step 5: Create a timeline to ensure your application is complete before the deadline

THE GATES MILLENNIUM SCHOLARS PROGRAM AND THE HISPANIC SCHOLARSHIP FUND Nominee Form Student application: Student completes comprehensive Nominee Personal Information Form Nominator Form Evaluation of the student’s academic record: Educator/Guidance Counselor, teacher or any educator who is familiar with the student’s academic background completes the Nominator Form Recommender Form Evaluation of the student’s community service and leadership activities: Community member or individual who is aware of the student’s community service and leadership activities completes the Recommender Form STEP 1: FAMILIARIZE YOURSELF WITH THE ENTIRE APPLICATION PROCESS January 2014 All three forms must be completed by the January 2014 deadline

THE GATES MILLENNIUM SCHOLARS PROGRAM AND THE HISPANIC SCHOLARSHIP FUND NOMINEE FORM Education Name of school, class rank, cumulative GPA, graduation date Leadership Name of Organization Dates involved Title (i.e. President/secretary) Description of activities (what did you do?) Honors and Awards Name of award Date received Description of award Community Service / unpaid employment Name of organization Description of activities Total number of hours Paid employment Name of organization Description of activities Total number of hours Academic Record List the classes and grades received for 11 th and 12 th grade Financial Aid info Gross Annual Income Family Size Number of family members in college Essays Total of 8 essays!

THE GATES MILLENNIUM SCHOLARS PROGRAM AND THE HISPANIC SCHOLARSHIP FUND STEP 2: UNDERSTAND THE EVALUATION CRITERIA Applications are evaluated based on academic rigor, community service and leadership activities Evaluation of student’s academic record should reflect the rigor of his/her commitment to academics and determination to succeed academically Evaluation of the community service and leadership should provide insight to the student’s service to community and his/her leadership potential exhibited through extracurricular activities

THE GATES MILLENNIUM SCHOLARS PROGRAM AND THE HISPANIC SCHOLARSHIP FUND DEFINING LEADERSHIP The purpose of the GMS application is to identify leaders in the community. We want to read how YOU define leadership in your community! Re-thinking usual Leadership roles: Dance groups Supporting parents with household bills and/or translating on behalf of your parents Participated in quinceañeras Watching over siblings or younger family members Tutoring classmates after school Church youth groups / Catechism

THE GATES MILLENNIUM SCHOLARS PROGRAM AND THE HISPANIC SCHOLARSHIP FUND Nominator must be an educator (i.e. Teacher, Counselor, Principal, etc.) Recommender must be familiar with the student’s community service and leadership activities (i.e. Club sponsor, church leader, Teacher, College Counselor) Neither the nominator nor recommender can be a relative of the student Provide your nominator and recommender with a resume or brag sheet Select someone who knows you best and will be able to provide a positive recommendation STEP 3: SELECTING THE APPROPRIATE NOMINATOR AND RECOMMENDER

THE GATES MILLENNIUM SCHOLARS PROGRAM AND THE HISPANIC SCHOLARSHIP FUND “Who am I? How do I talk about all of the leadership activities I have participated in? Tips on getting you started on your personal statement: Tell your story and bring your experiences to life, the more details you provide, the better! We want to know all about your leadership activities and how you have grown over the years Ask supporters to assist you in identifying how far you have come and achieved during the course of your high school career Ask supporters to review your essays for feedback (content and grammar!) Provide your nominator and recommender with a resume STEP 4: TELL YOUR STORY

THE GATES MILLENNIUM SCHOLARS PROGRAM AND THE HISPANIC SCHOLARSHIP FUND Complete sections of the application weekly Contact your recommender and nominator to ensure they have submitted their forms to complete the application prior to the deadline Follow-up periodically to ensure they are progressing to complete their form prior to the deadline BEFORE Submit BEFORE the deadline Tips: Take each essay one at a time, one essay per week Give your recommender and nominator enough time to submit their documents (at least 2 weeks) STEP 5: CREATE A TIMELINE TO ENSURE YOUR APPLICATION IS COMPLETE BEFORE THE DEADLINE

THE GATES MILLENNIUM SCHOLARS PROGRAM AND THE HISPANIC SCHOLARSHIP FUND GMS APPLICATION – TOP MISTAKES 1.Not reading or following instructions 2.Not addressing essay question 3.Improper grammar & spelling 4.Entering wrong or forgetting address 5.Having different names in account and documents 6.Not double-checking answers before submitting 7.Not completing all steps in the application 8.Not submitting documents on time 9.Not following up with recommenders/nominators 10.CHECK YOUR ! To Do List

THE GATES MILLENNIUM SCHOLARS PROGRAM AND THE HISPANIC SCHOLARSHIP FUND NEXT STEPS… After this presentation: Visit and begin the online scholarship application Begin working on your Application Essay Questions (8 total) Identify who your Nominator and Recommender will be Make a timeline and add important dates to your Student Planner Contact your College Counselor or our GMS Office if you have any questions

AFTER THIS WORKSHOP… Visit our GMS Imagine website to begin preparing to become a GMS Scholar!

THE GATES MILLENNIUM SCHOLARS PROGRAM AND THE HISPANIC SCHOLARSHIP FUND QUESTIONS Presented by: