Welcome to the Gates

Millennium Scholars Workshop

The GMS Scholarship

Assists students in reducing financial
barriers
Promotes academic excellence
Provides outstanding minority students
with an opportunity to pursue post
secondary education

Eligibility Requirements
African American, American Indian/Alaskan
Native, Asian and Pacific Islander American or
Hispanic American
U.S. Citizen, national, or legal permanent
resident of the United States
3.3 unweighted GPA
Demonstrate leadership through community
service and/or extracurricular activities

Continued
Must enroll for the 1st time in a US located
accredited school
Meet Federal Pell Grant eligibility (FAFSA/CalGrant Drive in Jan. @ CUHS)
Submit three required forms:
a) Nominee Personal information form
b) Nominator form
c) Recommender form

Choosing a Recommender
Think carefully of an adult familiar with your
community service, leadership activities, and
background.

Choosing a Nominator
Think of an educator who knows your
academic record, the rigor of the
courses you have taken and your
classroom performance.

Tips for approaching your

Nominator and Recommender
Give them advance notice!
Give them a copy of your resume and/or a
copy of your High School Activities Record
Give them your unique registration
Identification number (99999-1234)

The GMS Application involves the

effort of three people .
You

Nominator

Recommender

Selection Criteria
Submit the complete application by the deadline
Provide a complete picture of YOU in your own
words
Provide information regarding your Academic
achievement
Share the information about your Community
Service & Leadership experience

8 Sample Questions
Discuss the subjects in which you excel or have
excelled. To what factors do you attribute your
success?
Discuss the subjects in which you have had
difficulty. What factors do you believe contributed
to your difficulties? How have you dealt with them
so they will not cause problems for you again? In
what areas have you experienced the greatest
improvement? What problem areas remain?

Continued
Briefly describe a situation in which you felt that
you or others were treated unfairly or were not
given an opportunity you felt you deserved. Why
do you think this happened? How did you
respond? Did this situation improve as a result of
your response?
Discuss your short and long term goals. Are some
of them related? Which are priorities?

Continued
Discuss a leadership experience you have had in any
area of your life: school, work, athletics, family,
church, community, etc. How and why did you become
a leader in this area? How did this experience influence
your goals?
Discuss your involvement in and contributions to a
community near your home, school or elsewhere.
Please select an experience different from the one you
discussed in the previous questions, even if this
experience also involved leadership. What did you
accomplish? How did this experience influence your
goals?

Continued
Other than through classes in school, in what
areas (non-academic or academic) have you
acquired knowledge or skills? How?
Is there anything else you would like to tell
us about that may help us evaluate your
nomination (i.e., personal characteristics,
obstacles you have overcome)?

The GMS Award is Determined by:

Financial Need
Tuition, Fees, Books, Living Expenses
Your Financial Aid Award
Other Scholarships Awarded

Deadlines to remember
Apply to the University
Oct.-Nov., 2015 (CSU)
Nov. 1-30 , 2015 (UC)
GMS application deadline:
January 13, 2016 @ 11:59 p.m. EST
FAFSA (Pell Grant Eligibility)
NOTE: February 14, 2016 is the
recommended date to submit the
FAFSA online for GMS applicants.

GMS is Renewable!

(Undergraduate)

Student must maintain satisfactory academic

progress.
Student must maintain full time status.
Student must submit required documents in
a timely manner.

The Following Graduate Degrees are

supported:
Computer Science
Education
Engineering
Library Science
Mathematics
Public Health
Science
No Restrictions for Undergraduate

Tips for a Successful Application:

1. Get to the point, but take the time to go beyond just
answering the essay questions. This is an opportunity
to tell your story.
2. Be honest, sincere and realistic.
3. Use correct grammar and spelling.
4. Answer each question thoroughly. Remember that
some questions have multiple parts.
5. Keep in mind that anything related to leadership,
honors/awards and community service are not just
school related. What you do at home, in the
community, for your family, at your place of worship is
also acceptable.

6. Pace yourself well. Set a target date for the

completion of each essay. Utilize your
Thanksgiving break and Winter break to complete
the majority of them. Use your weekends wisely
as well!
7. Ask your supporters for assistance. Have
someone proofread your essays and provide
feedback before you enter your responses into the
official GMS application online.
8. Provide your Nominator and Recommender a
resume or school activities record. In addition,
share with them some information regarding your
family background and short/long term goals.

9. Submit your Free Application for Federal Student

Aid (FAFSA) as early as possible. Mid-February
2016 is recommended as a target date to submit
your FAFSA online at www.fafsa.gov
10. Remember the GMS deadline is
January 13, 2016 at 11:59 pm EST.
11. This is no time to be shy. Carefully select the
words you will need to describe yourself.
12. Above all, enjoy the journey. It just may be
worth your while.

The GMS 2016 Application

will open on
August 1, 2015
Your Counselor recommends
that you work on it as soon
as it opens. Meanwhile, work
on the essays over your
summer break!
5/18/2015

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5/18/2015

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