Question: For Essay 8 is it possible to supplement the Common App essay “Some students have a background story…” It seems to be about the same question or is that too much? Thank you
Hi there, I have a question. Say if I won the GM Scholarship and I want to go to Stanford, does the scholarship guarantee I can get in? I did not apply for Stanford this year due to financial problem and the fact that I’m not confident I’ll get accepted just my academics & ACT/SAT scores alone. But if I did get the scholarship and want to attend Stanford, can I wait until the application is available and apply? Will I get accepted?
@bakarina The GMS does not guarantee that you go anywhere. It is all up to you to get into a college.
There are some excellent (and not so excellent) YouTube videos on Gates essay advice. Here’s one of the best I’ve found so far. Well worth 18 minutes of your time. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=YBG-voam6M4
I just decided to apply last minute. Hope I can push through the essays this weekend. 
@ fairyfantasy, remember that your recommender and nominator have to do their part by the deadline as well. If you application is incomplete, it will not be considered. Just a heads up as the deadline is next Weds.
All essays are done and just waiting on my teacher to proofread them. Nominator is in but Recommender is having difficulties getting it in. I hope it can be done on time or I’m legit pestering them this weekend.
I’ve focused on these essays more than I did my college ones…
@Flexibility, focusing on GMS is not a bad thing. These essays can be used in the future for other scholar opportunities or for internship opportunities. Make sure you save them. 
it really doesn’t matter when you start your essay because I heard people started writing really late but still won.
@fairyfantasy I’m doing the same and its been hard :(( but one more essay to go for me (plus revisions)! And the rest of my app needs some work too. But I’m almost there!
I wonder what will happen if people get selected to finalist but don’t qualify therefore it won’t be a 1000 winners. What’s going to happen if they needed to fill 1000 people. Go by people with gpa then pell grant?
They select about 2,000 finalists and then narrow that down to 1,000 winners. Some of the 2,000 finalists are eliminated because they do not qualify for a Pell Grant based on most recent FAFSA. Others are eliminated because they fail to submit certain additional required documents. Some finalists are simply not selected as winners even though they are Pell eligible and have submitted all required paperwork. Last year my local high school had 6 finalists but only 3 winners.
when we report our grades, do we report what’s on the final transcript even if it’s “inflated” with the extra AP points?
I have a similar question^ My school grades based on semester, so do I put my grades in twice? How does that work?
I just submitted my application! Please everyone pray for me and hope that I become a Scholar… Good luck to all of you that are in the same process! I hope and pray that you all become Scholars as well!
Hello everyone! I have a question about the community service section. I have over 1000 hours of volunteering, but they only allow us to pick specifics dates. So, where it says Total Number of Hours, should I really list my complete total( I have been involved in some community service activities since freshman year) or should I just put in the total for that time period? Sorry if this is a confusing post lol.
Also, good luck everyone!
@ jjangjjang & cardinalgold - you just submit you transcript. Generally, your transcript will have both your weighted and unweighted GPA on it (at least my son’s did).
so what if it was 990 winners. How will they fit in 10 more winners?
@noodbsallowed stop with the hypothetical situations lmao
@scubamom9026 I meant the self- reported 11th and 12th grades… Because on my transcript, it has the inflated class grade (with the additional AP points) AND the unweighed GPA