<p>What's everyone's GPA? I don't think they look at SAT scores right? </p>
<p>My GPA is 4.0 unweighted =] woo! I hope getting straight A's finally pays off!</p>
<p>Naw, they don't like at SAT scores. My unweighted GPA is a 3.9. I've gotten straight A's since sophomore year, but I got a couple of B's my freshman year. Not too bad I guess.</p>
<p>So, how many students from your school applied for the scholarship? My school is around 85% minority and around 65% low income, so after we got our first Gates Scholar last year, a fair amount of the students in the top 10% of our class started applying. I know of 5 students who applied, but I think there are probably a lot more. What about everybody else?</p>
<p>My school only let three people apply, apparently. That's what the principal told me. But one of my friends told me she applied too, regardless.</p>
<p>My school has had a GMS Scholar for the past two years. The first one...god bless her heart, I think she was an A-B student in regular classes, and she was SGA President...and she wanted to go into engineering. Don't get me wrong...very ambitious..but didn't seem like the ultra competitive type to go out of her way. </p>
<p>Then the second one, she was one of those low key people who make straight a's in all of the challenging honors and ap courses, volunteers in 2-3 clubs, works with smaller kids at upward bound, holds a steady job, super hero type (not to mention, she is one of the SWEETEST people I have ever met in my life). She's going to Washington & Lee and wants to come back to start a community center and help the kids in our area...</p>
<p>Don't get me wrong, person 1 def. deserved it, but I dunno if her essays just blew the judges out of the water.</p>
<p>Do you think they really analyze our goals to make sure we will be giving back to society in some way?</p>
<p>My school is 85% AA and 15% other (which includes whites, asians, and latinos). We had a spokes person come talk to minority seniors because my city has a very high percentage of people of color yet we have a very low portion of the state's Gates Scholars. So everyone got hyped up about it, but he failed to mention the pell grant requirement. I think in the end 3 of us applied.</p>
<p>I think the Gates people look at each person individually and see what they can offer. I think it's about more than just grades, leadership, and community service. They want more out of each applicant. I think that's why the essays are so important. </p>
<p>Anyway, this is kinda unrelated, but I noticed that the site is not slow at all this year. I logged in like four times just now just to make sure that everything said "submitted." lol!</p>
<p>it would be awesome if not a lot of people applied this year. I also noticed there was a lot more people on CC last year. Maybe everyone is too busy with the economic situation. haha that'd be great cuz then we would all get the scholarship! woo</p>
<p>Ha, I guess my GPA is pretty low. I have around a 3.7 unweighted, but as long as it gets me through, I honestly don't care. </p>
<p>I believe this is the first year any of our students applied for the Bill Gates. I believe either 2, including myself, or three applied. Still, I am hoping I can be a scholar for the sake of a lot of the students at my school. The majority of them are low income, and minority, also. Our drop-out rate is getting worse each year & I'm sick of the stereotypes people place on me and the students at my high school. It seems a lot of people at my school gave up before they even began. The application process is very, verryy long. I guess it is easy to get discouraged. :/</p>
<p>Yeah, I think a lot of it has to do w/ the essays. I really wish I could have read past essays written by Gates Millennium Scholars. I think it could have helped out, a bit.</p>
<p>I can't believe we have to wait 2 whole months or so. Aghh. </p>
<p>Are schools allowed to only let 3 apply?!?! That's crazy. </p>
<p>Do any of you all think you have a good chance?! I don't even know anymore. So much competition.</p>
<p>Yeah to be honest, I don't even know either.</p>
<p>But look at it this way, we already did all the community service, and leadership we could've done. The only thing that was left was applying and writing it all down.</p>
<p>I personally wish I had done more during the past four years, but then again it seems like I NEver had time to do anything else.</p>
<p>Now we just have to wait and hope that we did enough.. =]</p>
<p>A school can't put a limit on the number of students who apply for a scholarship. If you look at the accountability report on the Gates website, last year, some schools had 3 scholars and one school even had 7 scholars. I really want this scholarship, but I understand that it's really competitive. Our valedictorian is also applying for this scholarship. She is absolutely amazing! She's student body president, a cheerleader, and a volleyball player. She's such a hard worker. I really hope she gets it too. She deserves it.</p>
<p>I think I have a horrible chance. I looked at past stats and only one person from my state got accepted last year. I have an ok GPA, community service, and leadership acticities but anyone else who would write 8 essays does too.</p>
<p>Plus, I have no clue how many people apply but i'm sure there are thousands. Anyone know last years number or acceptance rate?</p>
<p>Don't worry about it. You're unique. Maybe the Gates people will see something special about you and you get selected. My state only had four scholars last year. The essays are the most important part so as long as you put a lot of effort into them, you should be fine. </p>
<p>As far as I know, there was a rumor that 65,000 applicants applied for the scholarship last year, but that rumor was debunked. Around 13,000 applied for it last year and 1000 were selected. I think the number of applicants goes up every year so I'm guessing that there are probably around 15,000 applicants this year.</p>
<p>^I like your optimism. Approximately 6% is tough but i suppose it isn't impossible. Let's hope that we stood out.</p>
<p>You're very right. I just feel pretty lame that I didn't put more achievements down. You know, I feel like we ALL tried our best. That is what matters most. Still, winning would be the icing on the cake, eh?</p>
<p>I don't think you have a HORRIBLE chance, DreamingOutLoud. If you were persistent and tried your best, I def think you have a great shot. Don't count yourself out so early in the game. :) </p>
<p>I heard there were around 13,000 or maybe it was 17,000? Unsure of the exact number, but I think in past threads it says somewhere.</p>
<p>let's not get discouraged =[ its a happy day!!!</p>
<p>were done with all those stupid essays!! lol</p>
<p>15,000.
When you think about it, the odds aren't SO bad compared to other scholarships, esp since they take 1,000 scholars...
Mm...
Yeah, still seems like a crapload. :/</p>
<p>I really like having a community of supporters on here. It makes me feel at ease. :)</p>
<p>haha, thanks! I'll we can do is wait. </p>
<p>On a lighter note (sort of) where is everybody applying? My top two choices are The University of Southern California and the University of Miami. I've been accepted into a couple of other schools already though.</p>
<p>What's really cool is that if we all get selected as Gates Scholars, then we get to see each other at the conferences. How awesome would that be?</p>