The Gates Scholarship awards 300 high school seniors from low income, minority households the full cost of their college attendance every year. This includes tuition, fees, room and board, textbooks, and possibly other personal costs too. 

Applicants need to be eligible for Pell grants through FAFSA, have at least a 3.3 GPA, and belong to one of the following ethnic groups: African American, American Indian/Alaska Native, Asian, Pacific Islander, or Hispanic.

To win, a student should ideally be in the top 10% of their class academically and demonstrate leadership through community service or extracurriculars. 

Winners also need to pass an interview phase, where they should demonstrate that they are mature and driven.