<p>Just found my son’s ID and called the toll-free number. No message about needing additional documents, so I am assuming he is not a finalist. Oh well, I am grateful for the scholarship he DID receive.</p>
<p>Good luck to everyone else!</p>
<p>Wildcatmomof2- just FYI- they changed the message on the phone number to be generic. It no longer will ask anybody about the documents. Don’t lose hope yet!</p>
<p>@WildcatMomOf2: What part of Texas? Coastal bend area?</p>
<p>Guys,
Has a Facebook page been created yet so we can ask questions and communicate with Gates representatives/past scholars like last year?</p>
<p>For reference
<a href=“http://talk.collegeconfidential.com/gates-millennium-scholarship/1136377-gates-millenium-scholarship-2012-2013-a-24.html[/url]”>http://talk.collegeconfidential.com/gates-millennium-scholarship/1136377-gates-millenium-scholarship-2012-2013-a-24.html</a></p>
<p>I’m a pass scholar. I’ll be happy to answer any questions :)</p>
<p>@Azscholar17, do you know any finalists that didnt get the scholarship, and their reason for not receiving it?</p>
<p>From my year? Yes. And Gates never tells why others were denied. I’m guessing not strong enough essays, or financial status.</p>
<p>@Azscholar17 - So at this point, what are they mainly looking at? I remember you telling me half of the finalists actually get the scholarship.</p>
<p>Yes right now, as of the second round. 500 finalists are selected from African American branch, 500 from Asian/pacific islanders branch, 500 from Hispanic branch, and 500 from Native American branch. A total of 2000 finalist as of right now. In May they will select their 1000 scholars. 250 from each branch. </p>
<p>The five documents they say you need to turn in are important in making their final decision.</p>
<p>Thumbs down here. Congrats and Good Luck to the finalists</p>
<p>I applied for this scholarship and sadly, I’m not a finalist. I decided not to attend college this year because my family is having financial problems so I will go find a job. I read that to be eligible for this scholarship, you have to be an incoming freshman at college. Does that mean I can apply again next school year?</p>
<p>Oh no! Please please go to college! Where did you apply?? Did you apply for any other scholarships? It breaks my heart when I see some people say goodbye to college because they can’t pay for it.</p>
<p>By the way, guys, I’m not a finalist either 
I guess I’m over it though. I’m just gonna keep praying for some generous financial aid from my top choices.</p>
<p>Does anyone know if the income from my mom and stepdad will affect my eligibility? They live in a different state and I live with my sister. Yet nearly all the paperwork I have done concerning financial aid has asked for their information instead of my sister’s.</p>
<p>Hispanic finalist from Washington state 
So happy</p>
<p>Does anyone remember if we were required to put our family income on the application?</p>
<p>Erdnod - Re: your question on income limits, your parents / stepdad etc… They’ll look at the same info as on your Student Aid Report / SAR (generatred by FAFSA application). The FAFSA asks which of your two parents provides more than 50% of your living expenses and / or you live with more than 50% of the time. Then all subsequent questions (and scores) are based on that parent’s income. If that parent is remarried, the FAFSA requires that you report that stepparents’ income as well. You are living with your sister, but unless she has custody, or you are legally considered an emancipated minor by the courts (no longer in custody of your parents), the FAFSA is assuming you live with one parent or the other. When you completed it, it required that you report on one of your two parents. Does that make sense? If you are legally separate from your parents and did not state that on your FAFSA, you can re-file a corrected FAFSA. But Gates goes by the Student Aid Report generated by the FAFSA. You can also call the GMS office if you want the answer straight from an expert there. Hope that helps.</p>
<p>ixSnow - The income will be taken from the Student Aid Report (SAR) that you are required to send in. The SAR is generated autimatically and emailed to you when you complete your FAFSA. Basically everything on the FAFSA is about income and assets of your family. Mainly they are looking at Adjusted Gross Income from your parent’s 2012 tax return, plus cash assets they have (savings, checking, etc…). It asks about your student income and cash assets as well. Income is based on all of 2012 and assets are as of December 31, 2012. .</p>
<p>AZscholar17 - Since you are a past scholar you will know this. If you win this year, Do you have to requalify for a Pell Grant every year to continue?</p>
<p>Makes sense. Thanks, kcqutie.</p>
<p>@kcqutie No, you only have to be pell eligible when you first apply.</p>