<p>I’m applying to the GMS, how much time did you take on each essay?</p>
<p>I was going to, but I’m not eligible for the pell grant.</p>
<p>I received the Gates this past spring and I find it an AMAZING scholarship! I didn’t really have internet access to write essays or time but when I did I stayed after school in a room where my teacher allowed me to use his computer and write my essays and fill out my application. He gave me snacks too and if I wanted to stay a little extra hour or so he’d drive me home! 
BUT I saved my essays on a dumb flashdrive that disappeared on me so the day of the deadline I went to school and immediately worked on writing my essays from memory. BUT we had an early release from that stupid snow so I only wrote like four essays that were all crappy like and hurried. I got a call from the Gates people who sent off the app and everything and it was a long wait because my honors/awards. leadership and community services (all the red starred areas) were great. I’m glad that Gates saw my hardwork through my awards and leadership and community service instead of my lack of essay! I’m Native American (Rosebud Sioux Tribe) and I attended Todd County High School in Mission, SD. I am currently a chemistry major at the South Dakota School of Mines and I LOVE helping people with the Gates application and process. I can answer any questions and help you with anything you might want help with like other scholarships, loans and college life! I’ve been preparing for college for THIRTEEN YEARS (yeah since I was 5!) and I don’t mean to brag but I pretty much know a lot 
So yeah if you want help or hae questions just post or PM me!!</p>
<p>How long is everyone writing their essays. Online it gives you some 7000 characters, but does anyone know a suggested amount of words per essay?</p>
<p>I’m applying as well! I’m African-American and Hispanic and I was matched through Questbridge to Stanford, which means I have a full-ride minus $4500 student contribution. I’m applying because I still don’t have $4500 and I’m also applying to MIT, my top school, so if I get in, I will definitely need aid. I have a few questions so since DakotaYoung has nicely volunteered to answer questions, here they are:
What’s the percentage of applicants that get it? I’ve heard 1000 do, but out of how many?
I have finished most of my essays (still working on the unfair one, the forte subjects, and the anything else one) and I’ve written most of the in the range of 5000-6500 characters. Is that enough?
When they say need, so they mean need based from your income?
Does it cover anything outside of room & board and tuition, like travel or personal expenses?
That’s all I can think of for now, but thank you if answer them! :)</p>
<p>@DakotaYoung
The ones that you did complete in their entirety. About how long were they?</p>
<p>some of mine were 2-3 pages while one was only about a 3/4’s of a page. it may sound cheesy, but just write from the heart. they want to see passion. my dad passed away in last December, and I spent the rest of that week to write those essays. Once I was finished, I submitted it immediately. I probably should have let someone look at it first, but all of my emotions were put into words on those essays</p>
<p>I’m applying (African American). I’ve only got one essay right now though, so this will probably be a painful week. How far along is everyone else?</p>
<p>I have 3 half written, 2 written that need editing, and 3 that I have yet to write.</p>
<p>Any current scholars care to post their stats?</p>
<p>I have completed 3 essays, but they still need to be edited. I have to do another 5, but I’m going to do 2 of them tonight. The other 5 that still need to be completed will be the shorter essays compared to the 3 that are currently done.</p>
<p>When do we find out the results? Is it announced through emails?</p>
<p>I’m having some difficulty with the some technical details.
Like in the accomplishments section: I received honor roll like two years in a row. Do we put down the same thing under two different dates?</p>
<p>And in that same section but regarding Community Service: Since they give you specific dates, and a space where you can put you completed hours, are these hours an accumilation of ALL your hours for everthing “Community Service” you did in that alloted time?</p>
<p>I hope that made sense. Can anyone please help?</p>
<p>Another question… should I count AP and IB classes as honors?</p>
<p>are we suppose to receive an email that tells us if our recommender has completed it yet? I got an Email from my nominator after he completed the nomination. but not yet from my recommender…maybe they havent even started it!</p>
<p>I just applied (: I hope for the best. Good luck everybody!</p>
<p>Finally finished editing all my essays!! For I just have to wait for my recommender. ugh. :(</p>
<p>how long are all your essays? I seem to be having the opposite problem of a lot of people and writing a TON on each essay. do you think that would annoy them, having essays that are way too long? they fit in the character limit, the 7800 characters is a LOT of characters…</p>
<p>most of my essays are just 1-2 pages. I was wondering, how do you know if you qualify for a Pell Grant. I found out that most of the students who receive pell grants have family incomes lower than $20,000, but is there a cut-off maximum income level? Do you have to be eligible for a Pell Grant to be eligible for GMS?</p>
<p>My household income is about $30,000 and I was given the Pell Grant from Northeastern.
Yes, you do have to be eligible for the Pell Grant to be eligible for GMS.</p>
<p>What type of students usually get this scholarship? Is it usually the perfect 4.0 GPA and 2400 SAT super-involved students? Or do great but not so perfect students like me get this also? I have a 3.8 GPA, 30 ACT, and super involvement.</p>