The GMS covers all unmet need and any self-help reported by the student's university. Students must qualify for a federal Pell grant each year to receive aid. The process of qualifying for a Pell grant starts with filing for the FAFSA beginning January 1, 2012. GMS Scholars are selected based on:
Are African American, American Indian/Alaska Native, Asian Pacific Islander American or Hispanic American,
Are a citizen/legal permanent resident or national of the United States,
Have attained a cumulative GPA of 3.3 on a 4.00 scale (unweighted) at the time of nomination,
Will be entering a U.S. accredited college or university as full-time, degree seeking freshmen in the Fall of 2012,
Have demonstrated leadership abilities through participation in community service, extracurricular or other activities, and
Meet the Federal Pell Grant eligibility criteria.
Have all three required forms (Nominee Personal Information Form, Nominator Form, and Recommender Form) completed and submitted by the deadline.
Over 1,000 high school seniors win this scholarship annually. The application is available online and the deadline is January 11, 2012 (11:59 PM EST). Note that the deadline is given in Eastern Standard Time, so that means if you live on the West Coast (say, Los Angeles, your deadline is Jan. 11th at 8:59 PM PST). For more information as well as the scholarship application, visit http://www.gmsp.org.
Ronnie, Sam, Kamal, and Royce | GMS Conference (2006)
The GMS is a one of the most prestigious scholarships available in the nation. Through the GMS, students have been able to study abroad all around the world. Our Scholarship Junkies have studied abroad in Germany, Italy, Greece, Guatemala, China, South Africa, and many more countries. Beyond your undergraduate studies, the GMS may also cover graduate studies in approved fields, so you could potentially get multiple degrees with the GMS.
If you meet the requirements for the GMS and are even remotely interested, we strongly encourage you to apply for the GMS. As always, if you have specific questions, feel free to email us at secrets@scholarshipjunkies.com. We’ve got GMS scholars around the country who have offered to help read essays, so get started today!
Scholarship Junkies' Tips:
When writing your essays, use clear and vivid examples. Show, don't tell. For each of the essay questions, be sure to include an example that fits the topic and tie it into your overall theme.
Complete the application in multiple sittings. There are several required essays in addition to the application information. Remember to give enough time for editing and revising with a teacher, family member, or peer.
Start early. The last thing you want to do is rush to finish your application the morning it is due. In addition to the application, you must have a nomination and a recommendation. We would suggest pinpointing the individuals you want to nominate you and recommend you early.
Choose wisely when asking for a nominator and a recommender. The GMS allows the nominator and recommender to be the same person, but we'd suggest finding two different people so that the judges can see your profile from two sets of eyes. When asking for a recommendation, remember to submit a Personal Data Form well in advance so your recommender/nominator has sufficient time to write you a solid letter.
Tell your story convincingly, but do it in your own style. Everyone has a story; it’s your job to learn how to tell it effectively. When you write your essays, be honest. Tell it in a way that reflects your personality, but still demonstrates sophisticated writing ability. Don't feel like you have to write a novel; write what you feel tells your story adequately and powerfully.
The GMS seeks young leaders who are active in their communities and demonstrate academic achievement. When listing your activities, choose the ones that most describe your personality and reflect your passions. Chances are you'll be able to write about them more effectively.
Give yourself plenty of time. Applicants from previous years will remember the GMS website's servers crashing several times in the final days. The deadline was extended several times, and even so, some students were not able to submit applications because the servers were too busy. Avoid all this by submitting your application at least a week ahead.
Photo Credit | Sam Lim
