The Gates Scholarship: All You Need To Know to Study in the USA

The Gates Scholarship (TGS) is now opening its doors for 300 students looking to study in the USA.

Since 2018, the scholarship scheme has been providing top students the opportunity to reach their full potential. TGS is a highly selective, last-dollar scholarship for outstanding, minority, high school seniors from low-income households. 

Application deadline: September 15, 2021  

About The Gates Scholarship

With the launch of this program in 2017, The Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation continues its long-standing commitment to helping outstanding minority students who come from low-income backgrounds realize their maximum potential.

This prestigious scholarship program is based on evidence that by eliminating the financial barriers to college, a last-dollar scholarship can enable high-potential, low-income minority students to excel in their course work, graduate college, and continue to be leaders throughout their lives.

In addition to funding, The Gates Scholarship will provide further support to scholars, by engaging with them and their institutions in a variety of ways, to ensure they have access to the resources and services they need, from their first to last day of classes, through graduation and the transition to their chosen careers.

What is Covered by The Gates Scholarship?

Scholars will receive funding for the full cost of attendance* that is not already covered by other financial aid and the expected family contribution, as determined by the Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA), or the methodology used by a Scholar’s college or university.

These include:

• Tuition Fee
• Other Miscellaneous Fees
• Room
• Board
• Books
• Transportation, and may include other personal costs

*NOTE: Cost of attendance includes tuition, fees, room, board, books, and transportation, and may include other personal costs.

Eligibility Criteria for Students

Persons interested in applying for the opportunity must meet the basic eligibility requirements of The Gates Scholarship. These are as follows:

• The student applicant must be a high school senior.
• They should also be from at least one of the following ethnicities: African-American, American Indian/Alaska Native*, Asian & Pacific Islander American, and/or Hispanic American.
• Next, students looking to study in the USA must be eligible for a Federal Pell Grant. This is usually awarded to undergraduates who have a high degree of unmet financial need, including students whose families have a total income of up to $50,000 may be eligible for the need-based funding. Although, most Pell grant money goes to students with a total family income below $20,000.
• The applicants must be a US citizen, national, or permanent resident. While there are various Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation scholarships and internships for international students, The Gates Scholarship is for the students who are ready to pursue a full-time four-year degree program at the US accredited, not-for-profit, private or public college or university.
• Lastly, prospects must have good academic standing with a minimum cumulative weighted GPA of 3.3 on a 4.0 scale (or equivalent).

Although the Gates scholarship seeks minorities and people of race, only US citizens, national, or permanent residents are eligible for the scholarship.

While you hope to win the Gate and Melinda scholarship award, the foundation requires you to have certain qualities.

An ideal candidate will have:

•  An outstanding academic record in high school (in the top 10% of his/her graduating class),
• Demonstrated leadership ability (e.g., as shown through participation in community service, extracurricular, or other activities), and
• Exceptional personal success skills (e.g., emotional maturity, motivation, perseverance, etc.).

Application Process to Study in the USA

Applicants for The Gates Scholarship may start their application process by creating a MyTGS account on the official scholarship website.

| READ MORE: Student Visas 101 – USA Admissions

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