<p>CLAREMONT, Calif. (AP) - Claremont McKenna College received a $20 million grant from the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation to create a new full-tuition science-based scholarship.</p>
<p>Scholars in the Interdisciplinary Science Scholarship Program will be selected on the basis of financial need, academic excellence and leadership potential, the college said in announcing the grant on Tuesday.</p>
<p>The scholarship program 'is designed to increase interest in science leadership and engage students with economic need,' the college said.</p>
<p>The grant is the largest foundation grant received by Claremont McKenna College since its founding in 1946. The college expects to graduate 170 scholars during the projected 15-year life of the gift.</p>
<p>Given the fact that Bill Gates' principal money adviser is a CMC graduate, it was only a matter of time before a large donation would be negotiated. This will fit nicely in the planned expansion and continue to demonstrate that the Claremont Colleges provide a reasonable choice for students seeking to combine hard sciences and the fuzzier pars of a liberal arts education.</p>
<p>xiggi, can you tell me a little about your experience at cmc? has it met your expectations? Would you rather be at any other claremont schools instead? thanks</p>
<p>CMC has met my expectations, and a lot more. With five colleges, anyone can find the one that offers the best fit. In my case, CMC was the right choice when I enrolled, and even more today. Each college has its small quirks and great qualities, but the best attribute of the Claremont Colleges Consortium is the close proximity and overlap of five great schools.</p>