<p>If anything, they probably chose more finalists this year.</p>
<p>Looking back at the other thread, there were 25 posters who were finalists by this date. So far, we have 41 finalists. Don’t rely on these ratios too much.</p>
<p>Yes, I know I have no life. But his should soothe (well, not really, since the competition is probably going to be cut-throat) all you paranoid OCD people out there.</p>
<p>And for GMS, there is a ~4.3% you will be a scholar. For finalists, ~50%.</p>
<p>My friend was a scholar last year and she told me that there were 100,000 applicants last year. Compare to last year, the number of applicants this year decreased a lot! This year there were only 23,500 applicants :)</p>
<p>100,000? Where is she getting this from? GMS stated they’ve had a record number of applicants this year. For the past few years, they’ve had 20k+ applicants. The number has been steadily increasing. Darn population growth!</p>
<p>I am not sure myself… Maybe she got that number from the letter they sent her friends who didn’t get the scholarship? I told her the number of applicants there were this year and she told me that it’s not as big as the # of applicants they received last year. Did the GMS really have a record # of applicants this year? O.O</p>
<p>I’m from Nebraska and I’ve been hearing about other people receiving their notifications but I haven’t heard anything yet. Has anybody from Nebraska gotten a notification?</p>
<p>Rejected, got my letter in the mail. 
Oh well, life goes on as usual. I’m hispanic from CA (los angeles).</p>
<p>SO what do you believe, is it a better chance if someone’s EFC is 0 and they receive alot of aid from their grant ( which if they have to support them selves isnt going to be enough alone… compared to someone whose efc is about 5000 and they receive like 500 from pell?..what is your opinion?</p>
<p>I guess it all depends on the school you attend. Some are more generous than others.</p>
<p>SHSRebel21 I really hope that’s the case because my EFC is 0 and I’m planning on going to one of the UCs which are NOT generous at all. I really need this -.-</p>
<p>Purepecha9510 …im in ur samee position…im planning on going to either ucsb or ucd. and my efc is 0</p>
<p>My EFC is 0 as well and I sent in my acceptance letter for UCD. I still need to hear back from UCSD, UCB, and Rice though.</p>
<p>^^ Oh how cool! Yeah I going to Davis. That is unless I get into Cal, which I doubt since I got rejected from UCLA for the same reason that my EFC is 0 and state colleges need money in, not money out.</p>
<p>Gates is not going to award you based on what school you attend, They don’t know where you will matriculate. You only have to submit any letter of acceptance for your finalist materials. That school is not binding, so the amount of need is not a factor in your status. A finalist could send in an acceptance to a full need based school, then change their mind and need $50,000. That doesn’t change your acceptance.</p>
<p>^ Thanks, GA2012MOM. What about income and financial need in general? Do they prefer poorer families over wealthier ones?</p>
<p>LOL ^^^ We are all applying for this scholarship for a reason. I think you mean do they prefer poorer over poor?</p>
<p>I’m just seeing this in a humorous fashion, although I know many of us need help affording college. Good Luck everybody!</p>
<p>@ Purepecha9510 I got rejected by UCLA too 
I believe it is because their school of engineering is very difficult to be accepted into. At least I have this scholarship going for me. Makes me have a sense of confidence in my accomplishments. :)</p>
<p>Rejected letter came yesterday</p>
<p>JenniferL…agreed ( about the accomplishment parts.)</p>
<p>@JenniferL I applied for engineering too. I have a friend who got in while I was rejected. I was shocked when she told me since her SAT score is 1800 and has a way lower GPA than me and does almost no community service. She applied for an engineering major as well. So why did she get it? I think it’s because she doesn’t qualify for any financial aid and she would have to pay for everything out of her pocket. So as far as the whole “you have to be smart and have good ECs to get in” thing is complete Bull****, well at least for the UC’s.</p>
<p>GA2012MOM: So is the second phase a first-reply-first-serve deal? or is it an eveluation all over again?</p>