Tips to Win Gates Scholarships

Leadership+Academic Excellence+Community Contribution= Success

What is The Gates Scholarship?

The Gates Scholarship Program is one of the largest scholarships available for high school seniors from low-income backgrounds, and it’s known for being highly competitive. This prestigious scholarship program is based on evidence that by eliminating the financial barriers to college, a last-dollar scholarship can enable high-potential, low-income students to excel in their course work, graduate college, and continue to be leaders throughout their lives. In this article, we’ll go over the details about the award, eligibility, and we’ll have a conversation with Gates Scholarship recipient Rogelio Mendoza.

Revised Eligibility

The Gates Scholarship has broadened its eligibility criteria, no longer limiting applicants to minority students and now welcoming students of all racial backgrounds. The program continues to prioritize high school seniors from low-income households who show strong academic performance, leadership potential, and a dedication to community service. To qualify, applicants must be U.S. citizens, nationals, or permanent residents, be eligible for the Pell Grant, and currently enrolled as high school seniors.

Here’s a more detailed breakdown:

• Academic Excellence:
  Applicants must be in the top 10% of their high school class and have a minimum GPA of 3.3 on a 4.0 scale.
• Financial Need:
  The scholarship is designed to support students from low-income families, so applicants must be Pell Grant eligible.
• Leadership and Community Involvement:
  Students must demonstrate leadership through community service, extracurricular activities, or other forms of engagement.
• Diversity and Resilience:
  The program values diversity and seeks applicants who have overcome hardship, showcasing resilience and motivation to succeed.
• S. Residency:
  Applicants must be U.S. citizens, nationals, or permanent residents

Award

Scholars will receive funding for the full cost of attendance* that is not already covered by other financial aid and the Student Aid Index, as determined by the Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA), or the methodology used by a Scholar’s college or university.

*Cost of attendance includes tuition, fees, room, board, books, and transportation, and may include other personal costs.

In addition to funding, The Gates Scholarship will provide further support to Scholars, by engaging with them and their institutions in a variety of ways, to ensure they have access to the resources and services they need, from their first to last day of classes, through graduation and the transition to their chosen careers.

Can The Gates Scholarship be used for any major?

Yes. There are no restrictions on major or fields of study. The program funds the completion of a bachelor’s degree in the Scholar’s choice of major.

An ideal candidate will have:

• An outstanding academic record in high school (in the top 10% of his/her graduating class)
• Demonstrated leadership ability (e.g., as shown through participation in community service, extracurricular, or other activities)
• Exceptional personal success skills (e.g., emotional maturity, motivation, perseverance, etc.)

The Gates Scholarships Program narrows the pool of applications down to 300 students. If you are beginning to feel overwhelmed, remember that you can get help if you need it. Talk to your counselors or a teacher who knows you well, you are not alone. Make sure to stay updated with important dates and deadlines, make a plan, and begin requesting letters of recommendation.

Q&A with Rogelio: From Summer Camps to Engineering—A Journey of Passion and Purpose

Rogelio Mendoza graduated from the University of Texas at Austin with a degree in Mechanical Engineering. During his time there, he served as president of his university’s chapter of the Society of Hispanic Professional Engineers (SHPE), where he worked to increase student association to professional networks. As a proud first-generation engineer, Rogelio is passionate about increasing minority representation in the field. He developed strong leadership skills as a squad leader for The Gates Scholarship Program and through his involvement with the Student Engineering Council. Before graduating, Rogelio gained hands-on industry experience through his internships at Toyota North America in Bodyweld Engineering and at Texas Instruments—where he now works full-time as a Metrology Equipment Engineer.

Q: Why is involvement in extracurricular activities so important?
For Rogelio, extracurriculars played a key role in shaping his passion for STEM. In high school, his interest in engineering grew significantly thanks to his participation in the Advanced Mathematics (pre-engineering) and annual summer engineering camps like TexPrep. These programs exposed him to real-world STEM experiences and trips, on one occasion they visited Texas A&M. Through those opportunities and the guidance he received, Rogelio discovered that engineering wasn’t just something he enjoyed—it was the career path he was meant to pursue.

Q: As a Latino student, what challenges have you faced during your STEM college journey?
One of Rogelio’s biggest challenges was the lack of representation, he didn’t often see classmates or mentors who looked like him or shared his background. This made it difficult to relate to others, however, instead of discouraging him, these challenges became a source of motivation. The sacrifices he made were not just for personal success, but with the hope that his journey might inspire someone else from a similar background to pursue STEM as well.

Q: What advice would you give to students thinking about applying for scholarships?
Rogelio’s first piece of advice is simple: don’t doubt yourself, just apply. He emphasizes that many students from underrepresented backgrounds tend to underestimate the value of their hard work. He believes it’s essential to recognize and communicate your resilience and accomplishments. Your story and effort may not just benefit you, they might uplift your entire community. Scholarships can take a lot of the financial pressure off, which can really help you do better in school so he encourages students to see scholarship applications as an investment in their future, one that can have lasting returns.

Q: If you had $100 million to spend, how would you use it?
For Rogelio, making an impact is more important than wealth. After reaching his goals as an engineer, he dreams of transitioning into nonprofit work. With that kind of funding, he would invest in organizations like IOScholarships or other nonprofits dedicated to supporting students. His hope is that, by giving back, he could help others achieve success, and even if he only changed one life, that would be enough for him.

If you’d like detailed tips on how to write a scholarship essay or for an internship position, check out our short read, How to Write a Winning Scholarship Essay: A Personal Guide. You can also listen to our two minute podcast episode with easy and applicable tips from scholarship recipients.