<p>@juliaax5 My condolences. And I know it’s no consolation, but our kid is a non select as well. Pretty disappointed over here, but life goes on. He will still go to college, but it’s either just not gonna be the one he would like or he’s gonna have to rack up a little debt. We’ll see. Regardless, I wish you luck in your endeavors.</p>
<p>@davidthethird Haven’t heard from you lately. Hoping all is still well for you.</p>
<p>@Krazed2014 Ditto.</p>
<p>@GMSTXLglGrdn any news yet? My fingers are crossed for you and everyone else. </p>
<p>@GMSTXLglGrdn sorry I haven’t been on, I found out I got food poisoning from school two days ago…I also got a rejection email as well so my spirit is a little crushed </p>
<p>For those of you who are not finalist or who eventually do not make it as scholars. There are several schools out there that are consider “no loan” or “limit loan” schools. For example, if you have the grades to get into RICE, they promise that no student leaves school with more than $10,000 in debt. Keep an open mind, do your research and continue to believe. <a href=“https://drive.google.com/file/d/0B2oGxpRMuL1lUTVtX21ncTg2X1k/edit?usp=sharing”>https://drive.google.com/file/d/0B2oGxpRMuL1lUTVtX21ncTg2X1k/edit?usp=sharing</a></p>
<p>Finalist from Nebraska (Hispanic) received email before letter. Nominator received email shortly after. Good luck everyone!</p>
<p>CONGRATS TO ALL FINALIST! IM SO PROUD OF U GUYS. I didnt make it, but glad u all did. :x </p>
<p>FINALIST (East Asian from Kansas)!!! While nothing is quite FINAL yet, I am very honored to actually be considered! Congrats to all my fellow finalists…good luck!</p>
<p>Finalist!!! Hispanic from Southeast San Diego, California.</p>
<p>congratulations to everyone there were 5 out of 15 finalists at my school</p>
<p>I made a mistake with submitting my acceptance letter and submitted two instead of one. Is there a way to remove them?</p>
<p>Hey guys I have a question… kinda difficult. I’m not yet considered a citizen or even a resident but I am in the Dream Act on the process to one day finally be one. I’m a finalist but I don’t even know if im elegible to continue! :(</p>
<p>this year it feels as though they selected over 2000 applicants to become finalists. </p>
<p>@greenisin I just got the mail that same day I posted my experience. I also received my email that night. Sorry for the confusion. </p>
<p>@GG2014 will that happen before the deadline of April. Otherwise, you failed to meet the requirement. I would contact the Gates people to explain your situation. Good Luck!</p>
<p>I wonder how many people applied this year.</p>
<p>If you’re a finalist, they sent out letter and emails around March 6th. All finalists, can you post to the finalist thread:</p>
<p><a href=“http://talk.collegeconfidential.com/gates-millennium-scholarship/1623269-c-o-2014-gates-millenium-finalists-and-scholars.html”>http://talk.collegeconfidential.com/gates-millennium-scholarship/1623269-c-o-2014-gates-millenium-finalists-and-scholars.html</a></p>
<p>Congratulations everyone! I’m so excited! → African American female from Virginia!</p>
<p>2013 Gates winner here - it’s an awesome scholarship so best of luck to all of you. Earlier you asked about number of finalists and number f winners ochosen. There are 2000 finalists. They select 500 finalists for each of the 4 minority groups (500 Hispanic, 500 African American, 500 Native American, etc). From those, they chose 1000 total winners, 250 from each minority group. Hope that helps. </p>
<p>Past GMS Scholar here. One of you asked if “how much minority you are” affected your chances. NO - they don’t know whether you are 100% African American or 25% African American or whatever. They don’t know and that is not an issue, trust me. You MUST qualify for the Pell Grant and there is no getting around that. Last year, we realized that some of the finalists had not actually “qualified” for the Pell, so they didn’t make it to the winner’s circle. But once you have passed that hurdle (qualifying for the Pell Grant), then they look at “everything else”. And I don’t really think they look at your school that much because I know plenty of winners from last year (with me) that were not at well known schools. Many of them were - including me - but I know plenty that are going to state universities. </p>
<p>Quick question, once you are a finalist, do they still heavily consider the essays, or is the decision as to whom receives the scholarship based mostly on the information they have asked us to submit (GPA/transcript, etc.)?</p>