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The Gates Scholarship is a program with a huge impact. Launched in 2017, the program's mission is to give opportunities to outstanding minority students to reach their highest potential.

In this guide, I'll go through all the details of the scholarship and the application protocols. After that, I'll give you expert tips and strategies for putting together the strongest Gates Scholarship application possible. Read on to learn more!

Note: The Gates Scholarship was established in 2017 as a replacement for the Gates Millennium Scholars Program , which reached its goal of 20,000 scholars in 2016.

What Is the Gates Scholarship?

The primary mission of the Gates Scholarship is to increase the number of underrepresented minorities in all majors. By offering outstanding scholars better educational opportunities, the program aims to develop a diversified group of future leaders for America.

Each year, 300 student leaders are selected for the Gates Scholarship, with each winner receiving funding for the full Cost of Attendance to an accredited four-year US university or college.

Compared with other impressive corporate scholarships, the Gates Scholarship is especially comprehensive and generous. In addition to funding, it offers a wide structure of support, guidance, and mentoring.

Overall, the Gates Scholarship provides the following:

• Renewable educational funding: The scholarship covers any unmet need and self-help aid (in other words, instead of having to take out loans and do a work-study job, the scholarship would cover those Cost of Attendance expenses) for up to five years.
• Online support services: Services offered to scholarship winners include academic support, mentoring, professional advice and guidance, and help with financial literacy.

The total amount of aid you're eligible to get will depend on your amount of unmet need. Unmet need is the difference between your school's Cost of Attendance (room, board, tuition, fees, books, and personal expenses) and the amount you've received in grants and/or scholarships. The larger your unmet need is, the larger your scholarship award will be.

Your total amount of aid will also depend on how long you're able to renew the scholarship. As long as you meet renewal qualifications every year, you can continue to receive funds for up to five years for a bachelor's degree program.

Are You Eligible for the Gates Scholarship?

To be considered for the Gates Scholarship, you must meet all the following criteria:

• Be a high school senior

Be African-American, American Indian/Alaska Native, Asian American/Pacific Islander, and/or Hispanic American

Be a US citizen, legal permanent resident, or national

Have a cumulative 3.3 GPA on an unweighted 4.0 scale

Meet federal Pell Grant eligibility criteria (this means that you must demonstrate significant financial need—check out our Pell Grant eligibility guide to learn more)

• Plan to enroll full-time in a four-year (bachelor's) degree program at an accredited, not-for-profit US college or university

Ideal applicants will also have the following traits, per the Gates Scholarship website :

An ideal candidate will demonstrate:

• Outstanding academic performance (Students in the top 10% of his/her graduating class)
• 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.)

If you meet all the above eligibility criteria, you're on the right track to getting a Gates Scholarship.

What Do You Need to Apply for the Gates Scholarship?

Before you get to work on your Gates Scholarship application, you'll need to gather some important information.

From your guidance counselor, you'll need to get the following:

• Your full academic record
• Your cumulative GPA
• Your class rank
• Your Enrollment Verification

From the college/university you plan to attend, you'll need the following:

• Your college acceptance letter (again, this must be a four-year, accredited, not-for-profit US college or university)
• Your Financial Aid Award letter

You'll also need some family financial information, including the following:

• Your status as either a dependent or independent student
• Your personal gross annual income from the past year

Next, you'll need to prepare names, dates, and descriptions of participation for the following:

• A list of your leadership roles and experiences
• A list of community service experiences
• A list of employment experiences

Finally, you'll need to have your SAT/ACT scores handy.

All applicants must make a MyTGS Profile and apply through their online account.

Note that the Gates Scholarship application process consists of two phases, with each phase having its own application and selection process.

The Phase 1 application consists of a questionnaire—that's it! If you get to Phase 2, you'll need to submit another application that's a bit denser and will take more time; this one includes another questionnaire, essays, updated transcripts, and letters of recommendation.

What Is the Gates Scholarship Application Timeline?

This year, the Gates Scholarship application is expected to open on July 15, 2022; the deadline for submission will be September 15, 2022. Selections will be made in April 2023, with awards given out from July to September.

Below is the annual timeline for the Gates Scholarship:

• July: Phase 1 application opens
• September: Phase 1 application deadline
• December: Semi-finalists announced
• December: Phase 2 application opens
• January: Phase 2 application deadline
• March: Finalists announced; interviews for finalists
• April: New class of scholars announced
• Fall: Scholarships disbursed to winners

It's time to get tactical.

Strategies: How to Increase Your Odds of Winning the Gates Scholarship

Every year 300 scholarships are awarded through this program, but that doesn't mean the Gates Scholarship isn't competitive.

If you want a chance at winning this prestigious scholarship, you'll have to dedicate yourself 100% to the application process. Winners come from all over the country, with many scholarship recipients ending up at prestigious colleges.

The strategies I'll present here won't just help you strengthen your application for the Gates Scholarship but will also help you more generally with your college applications.

The best candidates for the Gates Scholarship will be motivated, high-achieving students with strong resumes, transcripts, and test scores —basically, the students who prepare themselves well for college.

As you might expect, the best way to effectively implement the strategies below will be to start the scholarship application process as early as possible. We've divided the strategies into two sections depending on where you're at in school and the application process.

Scenario 1: You're in Your Early Years of High School

If you're still just a freshman or sophomore and want to get a head start on looking good for the Gates Scholarship, here are four important tips to keep in mind.

#1: Demonstrate Academic Excellence

Competition for the Gates scholarship is stiff. In order to be a strong applicant, you should strive for more than the minimum GPA (3.3). Be sure to take advanced, honors, and AP classes when available, and actively seek out extra help from your teachers in any weaker subjects. Take those opportunities to develop strong relationships with teachers, tutors, and/or mentors.

#2: Cultivate Leadership Skills

Many scholarships, including the Gates Scholarship, want to invest in future leaders and innovative pioneers. One of the best ways to prove you have leadership potential is to actively develop your leadership skills as a student.

Here are some ways you can do this:

• Actively participate in your classes. Volunteer to lead discussions or group projects. Help out other classmates who might be struggling with a particular problem or concept.
• Join clubs or extracurricular activities that ignite your passions and interests. Focus on quality over quantity; invest in fewer activities but stick with them. If the opportunity presents itself, move up to team captain or a club officer role. The more your instructors, coaches, and peers respect you, the easier it will be to assume a leadership role.

#3: Commit to Community Service

The Gates Scholarship isn't just for helping individuals achieve their own personal goals; it's also for aiding in the betterment of whole communities. An ideal Gates Scholarship applicant will use opportunities they'll get through the scholarship to give back to their communities.

You can demonstrate your commitment to service by choosing (and sticking with) a community service or volunteer position. Ideally, this should be something you participate in regularly, on a weekly or so basis.

If you're thoughtful about choosing where you volunteer and spend time doing something you're passionate about, it'll definitely pay off when you submit your scholarship application.

#4: Develop Relationships With Educators and Mentors

It's important to have wise people around you who can offer you trusted guidance and advice. It's also important to have good relationships with people who can serve as recommendation writers for any scholarships you apply to.

If you have respect for a particular class or activity, your teacher or mentor will come to respect you—that's Step 1.

To work on further developing these relationships, you can do the following:

• Go to office hours to ask for extra help on tricky problems or concepts
• Actively participate in class, practice, or club meetings
• Go to your teachers, coaches, or mentors with questions that might be outside the scope of your regular curriculum; this demonstrates intellectual curiosity

Scenario 2: You've Made It to Phase 2 of the Gates Scholarship

The following three tips are for high school seniors who've made it past the Phase 1 questionnaire and are ready to get started on the much heavier Phase 2 application for the Gates Scholarship.

#1: Plan Ahead

Recall that you'll need letters of recommendation for this part of the application. It's important to give your recommendation writers as much time to write their letters as possible.

And since you'll only have about a month after you move to Phase 2 before your application is due, it's imperative that you find and secure a recommender as soon as you are told you're a semi-finalist.

#2: Invest in Your Essays

If the Gates Scholarship evaluators only cared about your grades and resume, they wouldn't ask you to write essays. So how can you ensure that your essays are great?

First off, make sure you're answering every part of the essay prompt in your response. Most essay questions have multiple parts!

You also want to elaborate —don't just provide a list as a response or give a yes/no answer. The evaluators want to see that you're thoughtful and have put time into your application.

Another tip to keep in mind is to make your goals clear. Why do you want the Gates Scholarship? You don't want to worry about paying for college, sure, but how will winning the scholarship affect your long-term and short-term academic and/or career goals? Most importantly, how will it enable you to be the person you want to be?

You'll get brownie points if your future goals include pursuing an underrepresented field (i.e., computer science, education, engineering, library science, mathematics, public health, or science) or serving others in some capacity.

The more thoughtful and clear you are in describing your goals in your essays, the more impressed the scholarship evaluators will be.

You should also craft a narrative with your essays. Make sure that all your essays work together to tell a single unified, logical story.

Before you start writing, come up with two to three points you want to get across about who you are. Maybe you want evaluators to know that you're empathetic, hardworking, and interested in mental health. Or maybe you want them to know that you're focused, ambitious, and passionate about social justice issues. The point is that all of your essays should ultimately serve to elucidate these points.

On that same note, don't be afraid to brag (to an extent). You're allowed to bring up any honors, awards, accolades, promotions, or fancy titles you've received. You earned them—talk about them! It's helpful to make a comprehensive of all these things before you start writing your essays so that you don't forget anything important.

That said, you should also be humble in your essays. Very few people can attribute their success solely to their own hard work. Did your family, friends, teachers, coaches, and/or mentors support you or offer guidance? Don't be afraid to partially attribute your accomplishments to them, as well as to your own efforts. Evaluators won't see this as a weakness but as insightful self-awareness.

Finally, remember to stay positive. Be honest about any struggles you've had but maintain a matter-of-fact tone. It's a smart idea to express optimism and a positive viewpoint about future outcomes and goals after you discuss any difficulties or disappointments.

#3: Choose Your Recommenders Wisely

Your recommenders will be expected to include detailed, glowing anecdotes and accounts of your personal relationships with others in addition to your academic and extracurricular performances.

Therefore, it'd be ideal if you could ask someone who knows you in multiple contexts (e.g., a teacher who serves as a club head, coach, or personal mentor). This should also be an individual with whom you feel very comfortable.

What's Next?

One of the best ways to make yourself a strong Gates Scholarship applicant is to set your goals high by being a strong college applicant. Check out our expert guides to getting perfect SAT scores and ACT scores , and learn how to get into your top-choice colleges .

Got more questions and Pell Grant eligibility since you have to meet these criteria in order to receive the Gates Scholarship? Read all about the Pell Grant and its eligibility criteria .

Francesca graduated magna cum laude from Harvard and scored in the 99th percentile on the SATs. She's worked with many students on SAT prep and college counseling, and loves helping students capitalize on their strengths.

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Gates Millennium Scholarship Essay Examples and Tips for Success

In the US, there is a very famous and competitive scholarship program called the Gates Millennium Scholarship, or GMS for short. Since its beginning, it has awarded 20,000 students with this scholarship. It is a very competitive scholarship program for excellent minority high school seniors from low-income families.

The purpose of GMS is to assist deserving minority students in their pursuit of higher education. In addition to being academically exceptional, applicants must have to write a Gates Millennium Scholarship essay to get this grant. Are you also going through the same phase and looking for some help to write your scholarship essay? Don’t worry at all, as now you are in the right place.

The admission committee checks your essay deeply to know more about your story, goals, and why you are a good fit for this scholarship. So, it is very important to write a perfect essay to showcase your dedication and commitment to academic excellence and other community services.

However, if you need help in writing your essay or want to get essay writing service from a credible platform, consider The Academic Papers UK, as they have professional writers who can assist you in writing a winning Gates Millennium Scholarship essay.

Here, we shall discuss a complete guide with some top-rated tips and examples for writing the Gates Millennium Scholarship 2023 essays.

A Comprehensive Overview of the Gates Millennium Scholarship

The Gates Millennium Scholarship Program was founded in 1999 with funding from the Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation, starting with 1 million USD funding. Their goal was to encourage diversity in higher education by offering financial help to minority students who demonstrate exceptional achievement. It covers full tuition fees and other educational costs that most of the other scholarships do not cover.

Thousands of gifted students compete for a small number of scholarships in the tough and fiercely competitive Scholarship application process. Each year, 300 students get the Gates Millennium Scholarship. Although your academic record is a major consideration in the selection process, your Gates Millennium Scholarship essays are just as significant because they provide insight into your intentions, character, and aspirations.

All things considered, the Gates Millennium Scholarship also serves as a platform for developing future leaders who will favourably impact their communities and society at large. Each of the eight essay questions on the Gates Millennium Scholarship application comes with a set of guidelines. You have the chance to highlight your special experiences and credentials in these writings.

Top 10 Tips for Gates Millennium Scholarship Essays

Here are a few tips on how to write a strong Gates Millennium Scholarship essay:

1. Read the Essay Prompts Carefully

Read and understand the application’s essay prompts thoroughly before you start writing. These questions often focus on your past experiences, future objectives, and how the scholarship will help you get there. To guarantee that your essay is on topic, make sure your comments specifically address the essay prompts.

2. Share Your Special Story

Your essay needs to demonstrate your uniqueness and the life experiences that have made you to this point. Don’t write it in the general blog form. Instead, add your personal stories and concrete examples that reveal your character, tenacity, and drive.

3. Display Your Successes

The selection committee for the Gates Millennium Scholarship is seeking applicants who can stand out from the competition. Don’t be afraid to talk about your accomplishments, both within and outside the classroom. To show your versatility, emphasise your leadership responsibilities, academic success, and community involvement.

In the book Cool Colleges 2013 by Peterson, the author explained that you must discuss your achievements loud and proud in your scholarship essay, such as:

4. Your Commitment to Service Should Be Stressed

Gates Millennium Scholarship highly promotes community services and people making a difference in the community. Tell us about your volunteer, community service, or initiative-leading experiences. Talk about the impact you’ve had on your neighbourhood and your plans to keep doing so.

5. Align with the Gates Millennium Scholarship Essay Requirements

The promotion of equity, open access to education, and global health are the foundation’s three main goals. Make sure that your essay covers all the essential requirements of the scholarship. Discuss how your goals for your schooling and job affect these issues.

6. Keep Your Response Brief and Within Word Count

Usually, there are word limits on the scholarship application for each essay question. Like the Gates Millennium Scholarship essay, word count is 500 to 1000. Follow these restrictions, and be sure to express yourself clearly and briefly. Stay on topic and avoid giving too many details.

7. Carefully Edit and Proofread

Your writing should be unambiguous, well-structured, and error-free. Make sure to edit and revise your essay after you’ve finished writing it. Think about contacting a mentor, instructor, or counsellor to assess your work and provide feedback.

8. Keep Yourself Pure

Being genuine in your essay is crucial. Write what you believe the selection committee wants to read, but don’t try to force it. Instead, express yourself honestly and allow your words to reflect who you truly are. Authenticity has the power to make an impact.

9. Begin Early and Revise Frequently

It takes time and several draughts to write a captivating article. You should begin writing your essays well before the application deadline. Give yourself enough time to thoroughly plan, write, edit, and revise your essays.

10. Ask for Advice and Feedback

Never be afraid to ask teachers or mentors for advice. They can offer insightful advice and help you in the improvement of your essays. Including a variety of viewpoints helps strengthen your writing. According to the book Scholarships, Grants & Prizes 2012, seeking feedback from others is crucial to some extent, but don’t ignore your editing and proofreading process.

Gates Millennium Scholarship Essay Examples

Here are a few examples of Gates-winning essays along with their Gates Millennium Scholarship essay prompts and samples:

Essay Example 1: Leadership and Community Involvement

Essay Prompt: Discuss a case when you showed leadership and how it benefited your neighbourhood.

Sample of the essay: I started a community garden project in my junior year of high school. The area where I grew up experienced food insecurity and had limited access to fresh, wholesome fruit. In order to establish a community garden, I assembled a team of volunteers and obtained a small plot of land from a nearby church. We turned that area into a flourishing garden over the course of a year, giving our neighbourhood access to fresh produce they had never had before.

Essay Example 2: Future Goals and Aspirations

Essay Prompt: Explain your educational and professional objectives and how the Gates Millennium Scholarship will support them.

Sample of the essay: I want to work in the field of environmental engineering to address the critical problems of sustainability and climate change. I may enrol in a top engineering program and acquire the information and skills necessary to have a significant impact thanks to the Gates Millennium Scholarship. I’m dedicated to creating novel solutions that save the environment for upcoming generations.

Students who are qualified and can write captivating essays can change their lives by applying for the Gates Millennium Scholarship. If you are really serious and want to win this scholarship, you must pay attention to writing an exceptional Gates Millennium Scholarship essay.

By following the above tips and getting ideas from the Gates Millennium grant essay samples, you can enhance your chances of winning this lifetime opportunity.

However, most students find it tough to express their feelings in words. If you are also in the same boat, you can get Gates Millennium Scholarship Essay help from The Academic Papers UK . They offer the best essay writing services that guarantee your success.

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How to Start a Scholarship Essay (With Examples)

Will Geiger is the co-founder of Scholarships360 and has a decade of experience in college admissions and financial aid. He is a former Senior Assistant Director of Admissions at Kenyon College where he personally reviewed 10,000 admissions applications and essays. Will also managed the Kenyon College merit scholarship program and served on the financial aid appeals committee. He has also worked as an Associate Director of College Counseling at a high school in New Haven, Connecticut. Will earned his master’s in education from the University of Pennsylvania and received his undergraduate degree in history from Wake Forest University.

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Bill Jack has over a decade of experience in college admissions and financial aid. Since 2008, he has worked at Colby College, Wesleyan University, University of Maine at Farmington, and Bates College.

Maria Geiger is Director of Content at Scholarships360. She is a former online educational technology instructor and adjunct writing instructor. In addition to education reform, Maria’s interests include viewpoint diversity, blended/flipped learning, digital communication, and integrating media/web tools into the curriculum to better facilitate student engagement. Maria earned both a B.A. and an M.A. in English Literature from Monmouth University, an M. Ed. in Education from Monmouth University, and a Virtual Online Teaching Certificate (VOLT) from the University of Pennsylvania.

As an admissions officer, I reviewed thousands of essays for students seeking admission and scholarships. The essay is one of the most important parts of the scholarship application process–a strong essay can go a long way. However, with so much competition, it is important for your scholarship essay to stand out. That’s why it’s important for you to start a scholarship essay off right!

There are some very simple things that you can do to ensure that your essay is engaging from the very first sentence. In fact, beginning your essay with an exciting opening is one of the most important things you can do, because it will immediately distinguish your essay from the others. 

Keep on reading to learn more about how you can nail the very first sentence and start your essay off right!

Engage the reader with the first sentence

No matter what type of essay you are writing, you will want to ensure that the very first line grabs the attention of the reader. One of the biggest mistakes that students make when starting their essay is simply restating the prompt. This is bland and boring. 

Now, you might be wondering, “how do I engage the reader with the very first line of my essay?”. The good news is that there are several ways that you can do this that are very simple to do. 

Related:  How to answer scholarship essay questions about your career goals

Begin with dialogue

First, you could begin your essay with conversation. This can be an interesting and unexpected way to start your scholarship essay. Maybe someone asked you an unexpected question? Perhaps you were having an interesting conversation with a friend or family member? Either way, dialogue can be a powerful tool to start your essay.

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Put the reader in your shoes.

Alternatively, you can choose to start your essay by placing the reader right in your shoes and show them something from your life. Appeal to the senses and show the reader what you see, hear, smell, or taste. These specific details will help your essay come to life and make it even more memorable. 

Also recommended: What’s the best scholarship essay format?

Scholarship essay introduction example

Next,  we’ll look at a specific example of how you can open up your essay. Let’s say you are applying for the Questbridge scholarship program . One of the essays that you will be asked is:

We are interested in learning more about you and the context in which you have grown up, formed your aspirations, and accomplished your academic successes. Please describe the factors and challenges that have most influenced you. How are they shaping your future aspirations?

You might be tempted to rephrase the question and start your essay with something like:

“I have grown up in a rural context and this has formed my aspirations and allowed me to accomplish academic success…”

This is generic and will not engage your reader at all. 

Instead, what if you started off your essay with something like this:

“I look outside my bedroom window and see Henry, my favorite chicken, pecking at something in the dirt.” 

Makes a big difference, right? As a reader, you are probably wondering: why does this person have chickens outside their bedroom window? Why did they name this particular chicken Henry?

See also: Here are our top writing & essay scholarships for students!

Keep the ending of your essay in mind as you write the opening

While crafting your opening, be open to ideas about how to close your essay. There is no need to stress about the ending now, but being mindful of effective ways to end an essay is always a good idea. Say you are opening your scholarship essay with Henry the chicken. Is there a way for Henry to make an impactful appearance at the end of the essay to close things out in a way that perfectly wraps everything up? The key is for the essay ending to be meaningful and memorable for the reader. 

Don’t miss: Our free scholarship search tool

If you can’t think of a “wow” scholarship essay beginning, keep writing!

Sometimes, we know what we want to say, point by point, but we are not ready to be creative when it comes to opening an essay. In that case, keep writing! There is always the option of going back and crafting an engaging opening after your essay is written. Simply write your main idea where the first paragraph would be to guide you as you write. After, go back when your creative juices are flowing, and craft the amazing opening (and closing) that your scholarship essay deserves!

Final thoughts

As shown, there are many questions that we as readers will have after reading an engaging essay opening such as the one just shared; We want to learn more about the student who is writing this essay. After all, as a writer trying to stand out in a pile of essays, that is our main goal. 

We hope that you have a better understanding of how to start a scholarship essay so you can maximize your chances of winning scholarships!

Additional resources

Scholarships360 is the go-to for all things college admissions and scholarships! Wondering how to write a 250 word essay and how to write a 500 word essay ? Curious how to write an essay about yourself ? Wow, do we have the resources to help! Additionally, check out our free scholarship search tool to help you finance your college education. Best of luck to you and your future endeavors! 

Key Takeaways

• The first sentence of the essay is what makes the reader want to continue reading 
• Engage the reader by appealing to the senses
• Create a sense of wonder in your essay, making the reader want to learn more about you
• Keep the ending of the essay in mind as you craft the beginning

Frequently asked questions about how to start a scholarship essay

What is an essay hook, how long should my scholarship essay be, scholarships360 recommended.

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The GMS Excellence in HR Scholarship

GMS is excited to announce that we have created a $2,500 college scholarship, open to eligible students across the country. The  GMS Excellence in HR scholarship  is an opportunity for the company to provide support to gifted students working towards a career in the fields of Sales and HR.

The registration deadline for this scholarship is August 15, 2021.

Applications should be submitted to: [email protected]

Eligibility Criteria for the Scholarship

To be considered for the scholarship, applicants must meet the following criteria:

• You are currently enrolled at an accredited university.
• Full course load (12 credit hours/semester).
• You have a 3.0 GPA (or higher).
• You will submit an 400-600 word essay explaining your path towards a career in HR and/or sales.
• You can provide an unofficial transcript.
• You accept these terms and conditions (see below).

Applying for the Scholarship

To apply for the   GMS Excellence in HR Scholarship , an eligible applicant must submit an essay (400-600 words) explaining what led you towards a career in Sales or HR and how you see those skills benefiting a business. The applicant must provide their information in the fields provided and upload their essay for review. Additionally, the student must upload their unofficial transcript to (a) prove their enrollment in an accredited university and (b) show a 3.0 grade-point average (GPA) or higher.

Applications should be sent to: [email protected]

Deadline for Submissions

To be considered for the scholarship, student applicants must submit their information by no later than   August 15, 2021 . Due to the high number of submissions anticipated, forms submitted after the due date will not be considered for the scholarship.

GMS  is a professional employer organization and benefits administrator. The company partners with over 1,800 small to mid-sized businesses across the country, helping them to outsource all of their administrative functions. This scholarship was created in hopes of helping gifted student, alleviate some of the financial burdens that come with earning a degree.

The GMS Excellence in HR Scholarship Terms and Conditions

The GMS Excellence in HR Scholarship  is awarded once per year to a deserving student who meets all of the following eligibility criteria:

• Applicant is a student based in the United States.
• Applicant attends an accredited university.
• Applicant has a cumulative GPA of at least 3.0.
• Applicant submits a persuasive essay.
• Applicant provides an unofficial transcript.
• Applicant follows all submission instructions.

Only applicants who meet these criteria will be considered for the scholarship.

Non-Discrimination Clause

Group Management Services will not discriminate against applicants based on sex, gender, race, national origin, family status, age, or other legally protected classes when making decisions regarding the winning applicant.

Selection of Applicants

Applications for the  GMS Excellence in HR  will be reviewed by committee. The committee will award the scholarship to the student it finds most deserving. Any applications that do not closely follow all requirements will be discarded by GMS. The decisions of the scholarship committee are final.

Notification of the Winner

Due to the high number of applicants, only the winning applicant will be notified. GMS will notify the winner in  August 2021 . Status updates will not be provided to all applicants.

Privacy Disclosure

Application materials submitted to the scholarship committee become the property of GMS. However, the company  will not  engage in the sale, distribution, or sharing of private applicant information with outside parties. By submitting an application, applicants agree to allow Einstein HR to use their name and image for media and marketing purposes, including social media posts, announcements on the Einstein HR website, and any other marketing materials.

Grant of License.  By entering the Contest, Entrant grants Sponsor, its agents, subsidiaries and affiliates (the "Licensees") a non-exclusive, worldwide, perpetual, irrevocable, royalty-free, sub-licensable right to exercise the copyright, publicity, database rights and any other rights Entrant has in the Contest Entry, in any media now known or hereafter devised (including without limitation, the internet), without any compensation. Further, by entering the Contest, Entrant grants Licensees the additional license to modify, adapt, translate, create derivative works from, and distribute the entry (with the understanding that Licensees are under no obligation to do so), or incorporate the entry into any form, medium or technology, including the right, at each Licensee's sole discretion, to publish the entry and to use the entry for advertising and promotional purposes. Licensees shall not be required to designate Entrant as the creator or author of an entry that is distributed or otherwise exploited by Licensees, or include any references to Entrant on, or in connection with, any entry that is distributed or otherwise exploited by Licensees.

Representations and Warranties.  Each Eligible Participant represents and warrants that: (i) the Contest Entry complies with these Official Rules; (ii) the Contest Entry is original and has not previously won any award or Contest; (iii) the Contest Entry does not and will not infringe any third party's copyright, patent, trademark, trade secret or other intellectual property or proprietary rights or rights of publicity or privacy; (iv) that the Contest Entry is not the subject of any actual or threatened litigation or claim; (v) the Contest Entry is not obscene, offensive, libelous, pornographic, threatening, abusive, or otherwise objectionable; (vi) the Contest Entry does not contain illegal content, encourage a criminal offense or otherwise give rise to liability or violate any law.  Entrant acknowledges that nothing herein shall constitute an employment, joint venture, or partnership relationship between Entrant and Sponsor. In no way is Entrant to be construed as the agent or to be acting as the agent of Sponsor in any respect.

No Liability & Indemnification.  ENTRANTS HEREBY AGREE TO RELEASE, INDEMNIFY AND HOLD HARMLESS SPONSOR, MODERATOR AND EACH OF THEIR RESPECTIVE AFFILIATES, SUBSIDIARIES, DIVISIONS, ADVERTISING AND PROMOTION AGENCIES, EMPLOYEES, OFFICERS, DIRECTORS AND SHAREHOLDERS (COLLECTIVELY, THE "RELEASEES") FROM ANY CLAIMS, ACTIONS, INJURY, LOSS OR DAMAGE OF ANY KIND, INCLUDING BUT NOT LIMITED TO, PERSONAL INJURY OR DEATH, RESULTING FROM PARTICIPATING IN THIS CONTEST, OR FROM THE ACCEPTANCE, POSSESSION, OR USE OR MISUSE OF ANY PRIZE AWARDED OR PARTICIPATION IN ANY PRIZE-RELATED ACTIVITY. THIS LIMITATION OF LIABILITY IS A COMPREHENSIVE LIMITATION OF LIABILITY THAT APPLIES TO ALL DAMAGES OF ANY KIND, INCLUDING (WITHOUT LIMITATION) COMPENSATORY, DIRECT, INDIRECT, OR CONSEQUENTIAL DAMAGES; LOSS OF DATA, INCOME, OR PROFIT; LOSS OF DAMAGE TO PROPERTY; AND CLAIMS OF THIRD PARTIES. PARTICIPANTS AGREE THAT SPONSOR HAS NOT MADE NOR IS IN ANY MANNER RESPONSIBLE OR LIABLE FOR ANY WARRANTY, REPRESENTATION, OR GUARANTEE, STATUTORY, EXPRESS OR IMPLIED (INCLUDING BUT NOT LIMITED TO, THE IMPLIED WARRANTIES OF MERCHANTABILITY, TITLE, AND FITNESS FOR A PARTICULAR PURPOSE), IN FACT OR IN LAW, RELATIVE TO THE CONTEST OR ANY PRIZES AWARDED HEREIN. WITHOUT LIMITING THE GENERALITY OF THE FOREGOING, SPONSOR DOES NOT MAKE ANY EXPRESS OR IMPLIED WARRANTIES OR REPRESENTATIONS WITH RESPECT TO SPONSOR'S WEBSITE AND SPONSOR SHALL NOT BE LIABLE FOR THE CONSEQUENCES OF ANY INTERRUPTIONS OR ERRORS RELATED THERETO. THESE TERMS GIVE YOU SPECIFIC LEGAL RIGHTS. THE PROVISIONS REGARDING IMPLIED WARRANTIES ARE VOID IN SOME JURISDICTIONS WHERE IMPLIED WARRANTIES ARE PRESCRIBED BY LAW.

Releasees are not responsible for lost, late, illegible, damaged or stolen entries or submissions, or problems of any kind, whether mechanical, human or electronic. Releasees are not responsible for technical, hardware or software malfunctions, telephone failures of any kind, lost or unavailable network connections, inability to access a website or submit an entry, vote, fraud, incomplete, garbled, or delayed computer transmissions or inaccurate transcription of entry information, whether caused by the Releasees, users or by any of the equipment or programming associated with or utilized in this Contest or by any technical or human error which may occur in the processing of submissions which may damage a user's system or limit a participant's ability to participate in the Contest. Sponsor reserves the right, in its sole discretion, to cancel or suspend part or all of this Contest at any time without notice, if virus, bugs, non-authorized human intervention or other causes corrupt or impair the administration, security, fairness or integrity and proper play of the Contest. In such event, Sponsor may, at its sole discretion, void any entries it suspects are at issue and award prizes from among all eligible entries/votes received up to the date of cancellation.

ANY ATTEMPT BY AN ENTRANT OR ANY OTHER INDIVIDUAL TO DELIBERATELY DAMAGE ANY ONLINE SERVICE RELATED TO THIS CONTEST OR TO UNDERMINE THE LEGITIMATE OPERATION OF THE CONTEST MAY BE A VIOLATION OF CRIMINAL AND CIVIL LAWS AND SHOULD SUCH AN ATTEMPT BE MADE, THE SPONSOR RESERVES THE RIGHT TO SEEK DAMAGES (INCLUDING ATTORNEY'S FEES) FROM ANY SUCH PERSON TO THE FULLEST EXTENT PERMITTED BY LAW AND/OR CRIMINAL PROSECUTION.

Sponsor's failure to enforce any term of these Rules shall not constitute a waiver of that or any other provision. Sponsor reserves the right to disqualify Entrants who violate the Rules or interfere with this Contest in any manner. If an Entrant is disqualified, Sponsor reserves the right to terminate that Entrant's eligibility to participate in this Contest and/or future Contests.