<p>is there a salary cutoff or something? I'm soo busy, so I don't want to write all those essays if i don't even qualify. Thx!</p>
<p>Have you filed FAFSA. Your EFC has to qualify you for the Pell grant. Last year that was an EFC of below 4042. it may or may not change this year. (last year it actually went down which was strange as the Pell went up).</p>
<p><a href="https://nominations.gmsp.org/GMSP_App/%5B/url%5D">https://nominations.gmsp.org/GMSP_App/</a></p>
<p>Whos Eligible?
Students are eligible to be considered for a GMS scholarship if they:</p>
<pre><code>* Are African American, American Indian/Alaska Native*, Asian Pacific Islander American** or Hispanic American
* Are a citizen, national or legal permanent resident of the United States
* Have attained a cumulative high school GPA of 3.3 on an unweighted 4.0 scale or have earned a GED
* Will be enrolling for the first time at a U.S. accredited***college or university as a full-time, degree-seeking, first-year student in the fall 2009
* Have demonstrated leadership abilities through participation in community service, extracurricular, or other activities
* Meet the Federal Pell Grant eligibility criteria
* Have completed and submitted all three required forms (Nominee Personal Information form, Nominator form, and Recommender form) by the deadline
</code></pre>
<p>*American Indian/Alaska Native Requirements: American Indian/Alaska Natives will be asked to provide proof of tribal enrollment or certificate of descent from a state or federally recognized tribe if selected as a GMS Candidate.</p>
<p>**Asian Pacific Islander American include persons having origins from Asia and/or Pacific Islands. Asian includes persons having origins in any of the original peoples of the Far East, Southeast Asia, or the Indian subcontinent. Pacific Islander includes persons having in any of the original peoples of Hawaii, Guam, Samoa, or other Pacific Islands. Citizens of the republic of the Marshall Islands, Federated States of Micronesia, and the Republic of Palau are eligible to be nominated. This is not an all inclusive list.</p>
<p>***To be eligible for the GMS scholarship, the student must matriculate at a college or university that is accredited by an accrediting agency recognized by the U.S. Secretary on Education. The following are accreditation resources: Accredited Institutions of Postsecondary Education Programs Candidates; American Council of Education published in consultation with the Council for Higher Education Accreditation; Higher Education Directory published by Higher Education Publications, Inc.</p>
<p>Nominees who meet all of the eligibility requirements and who are selected as GMS candidates must include a Federal Pell Grant as part of their financial aid package for the 2009-2010 academic year. To determine their Pell Grant eligibility, Nominees must submit a Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA) to the U.S. Department of Education, Federal Student Aid Programs. Nominees are urged to file a 2009-2010 FAFSA at the earliest opportunity and no later than February 1, 2009. Federal Pell Grants typically are awarded to families that demonstrate significant financial need. Eligibility for a Federal Pell Grant is a function of many factors, including dependency status, family income, family size, and the number of students in the family. To determine your eligibility, you and/or your parent(s)/guardian(s) should meet with your high school counselor or the financial aid officer at the college or university you plan to attend, or use the FAFSA forecaster tool at FAFSA4caster</a> - U.S. Department of Education. For more information visit FAFSA</a> - Free Application for Federal Student Aid.</p>
<p>Note: Please do not submit your FAFSA with your GMS application. If you are selected as a candidate, GMS will request your FAFSA information at that time.</p>
<p>The application process for GMS awards is highly competitive, and we urge students to submit their nomination packets as early as possible.</p>
<p>Materials maybe submitted online or via postal mail by the following deadline:</p>
<p>Nomination materials must be submitted online before Monday, January 12, 2009 11:59 p.m. EST or postmarked on or before January 12, 2009.</p>
<p>Mail Nomination Materials to:</p>
<p>Gates Millennium Scholars
P.O. Box 1434
Alexandria, Virginia 22313
Toll-Free Phone: 1-877-690-GMSP (4677)</p>
<p>We are unable to accept mail that requires a signature for receipt of delivery.</p>