Undergrad - The Gates Millennium Scholarship Program (GMS)

Bill Gates Announces 2012 Scholarship Program For Low-Income Minority Students


The Gates Millennium Scholarship Program (GMS) will select 1,000 talented students next year to receive a good-through-graduation scholarship to use at any college or university of their choice.

THE GATES MILLENNIUM SCHOLARS PROGRAM
http://www.gmsp.org/

For students entering college for the first time in the fall 2012, the GMS 2012 Scholarship Application online process is now open. The deadline for all submissions is Wednesday, January 11, 2012 at 11:59 p.m

Free Tuition Colleges

15 Free Tuition College Options
There are 15 or so colleges in the country that offer free tuition. That’s right – students pay $0 for the education. Most of these schools offer free tuition due to large endowments, or a little creativity, like requiring students to work 15 hours a week to sustain campus operations.

1. Cooper Union—New York, New York
2. College of the Ozarks—Hollister, MO
3. Berea College – Berea, KY
4. Deep Springs College – Big Pine, CA
5. Franklin W. Olin College of Engineering – Needham, MA
6. Saint Louis Christian College – Florissant, MO
7. Macaulay Honors College at CUNY – New York, NY
8. Curtis Institute of Music – Philadelphia, PA
9. Alice Lloyd College – Pippa Passes, KY
10. Barclay College – Haviland, KS
11. Webb Institute – Glen Cove, NY
12. University of the People – Online College
Armed Forces Colleges – There are three armed forces colleges that offer full-tuition scholarships to students:
13. U.S. Military Academy in West Point
14. U.S. Naval Academy in Annapolis
15. U.S. Merchant Marine Academy in Kings Point

*Free tuition means more competition and stricted guidelines, but the extra work would be well worth the return.

Why I do what I do...

This is my passion area...

It is my mission to increase access, enrollment, and retention in colleges and universities for underrepresented students.


I beleive that financial aid and scholarships are vital to this mission.  Students must prepare to apply. Guidance in this are is my way to "Pay it Forward".

Letters of recommendation

Letters of Recommendation Tips... 
What are you waiting for? ;o)

• Mail a written request for a letter of recommendation. It shows that you are serious and professional about your request. An email is for reminders and verbal requests will probably not get a response.

• Ask the writer to address the letter generally to: "The Scholarship Committee".  So you can use the letter for several different applications.  Genius!!!!

• Be very accommodating to the people you are requesting a letter from. For example, send a resume or list of accomplishments with your written request. This way they have the information they need to write your letter of recommendation. If they have to work too hard they probably won’t write it. Remember, you know more about yourself than they do.

• Request (in writing) 3-5 original copies of the letters. Make 10-20 copies of each for each scholarship application you will submit. Some applications will ask for originals and some will accept copies. Be prepared!

• Provide your written requests well in advance. The writer is doing you a favor and good letters take time.

• You will need at least 3 letters of recommendation….so send out 9 written requests! You might actually get 3. Remember this is optional for the writer, so be very humble about reminders.

Who to ask:

• Past professors and current professors

• Work: Manager, supervisor, co-worker, etc. Some scholarship applications specifically request a letter from your employer.

• Church: If so, ask your pastor, a minister, Sunday school teacher, etc...

• Community Service: Always request a letter when you do community service and add it to your binder/portfolio (see Prepare tab). These letters will be worth their weight in gold.

• Organizations: If you are involved with extra-curricular activities these letters will be worth their weight in gold!

Tricks of the trade: Be prepared to ask for an updated Letter of Recommendation (in writing) in November/December. You will want it to be dated for Jan. 1st or later. Most scholarship committee’s want current letters. You will be one step ahead of the game!!

Tricks of the trade: Ask for 3-4 envelopes with the original letters. Use them when the application requires a signed & sealed letter of recommendation. But black white envelopes are acceptable too.

More to Come...

Do not be afraid of the Essay...

"The Essay" is what scares people away from applying for scholarships.
I tell my clients all the time:  Don't be afraid of the essay...

• The Essay or Personal Statemant is your opportunity to tell YOUR story
• Who can tell your story better than you?

The essay is also a wonderful opportunity to brainstorm and outline your goals and aspirations. My first Personal Statement took me over a month to write.  There was no pressure because I had started months in advance of the deadline.  It may not take other people that long, but the "process" really made me think and ask myself questions like:

• Why am I returning to college?
• Where am I coming from? Where do I want to go?
• Why do I want to study in this particular field?
• What are my goals and aspiration?

Putting these things in writing is an important step.  The essay is your way of introducing yourself to the scholarship committee, the college admissions department, foundations, corporations, etc...  You are telling them WHY they should invest in you.

Great Tips  (Hint: Example of a Header)

• Follow Directions:  Stay within the word count
• Make it easy for the readers:  Use headings and cover each subject the ask you to discuss
• Save Time: Keep a copy to use and re-use for other applications
• Always place you name in the header
• New!! Use Nice paper.  This sets your essay apart from the other 300 essays to be read.
• Say Thank you!

Start Early

Start preparing for college a year in advance. 
I repeat...Starting this process a year in advance is not too early!  Starting early will give you the following advantages:

• Less Pressure!...you can take your time and not feel rushed
• You can get prepared and GET ORGANIZED
• You won't enter into the wrong program because you have all the information
• You can prepare to meet deadlines
• You won't miss out on great opportunities
• You will have time to request letters of recommendation
• You can tweek and re-tweek your essay (your story)
• You can order all your transcripts and wait patiently

Check the tabs above for more info...