<p>So I am an African-American from Indiana who received a finalist letter in the mail yesterday. I was SOOO stoked , but I was wondering how do they decide on the final applicants now? What do they do to go from 2,000 to 1,000? Do they base it on financial circumstances now? Are the essays still a big factor now or are they done now? Also how many kids apply to gates? Please answer ALL the question. Thank you very much :D </p>
<p>Congrats! I am a finalist from Kansas. I am guessing financial reasons and possibly some other factors we as students will never know. Maybe GPA or rigor of classes?</p>
<p>Conrgrats. I’m a finalist as well. I was flipping out when i got the email and opened the mail. From what they want us to send in now, I guess things like amount of financial need and, like Jimbo said GPA and types of classes weigh in towards it. Good Luck</p>
<p>Hey guys. Im a finalist from California (Hispanic). Im wondering the same thing… What is the criteria to move to the next round? GPA? SAT/ACT? Grades? Family Income? </p>
<p>Do the essays still play a big factor now? or are they done with the essays?</p>
<p>From this point, they are trying to sift through the kids who qualify for the Pell Grant and have financial need, those who are actually going to college, and those who really meet the GPA requirement.</p>
<p>Sources: One of the GMSP readers came to my school in the fall and I went to a GMSP workshop sophomore year. :)</p>
<p>So excited! I pray we all get it!</p>
<p>Do SAT scores play a factor for this stage?</p>
<p>^^they never consider standardized tests</p>
<p>Based on information I found online last year, at this point your entire application has been scored. Now it’s a criteria review and a ladder…as one falls off the ladder another moves up. Make sense?</p>
<p>Thanks ScubaMom9026!!</p>