www.gatesscholar.org

Deadline: early October 2008. Warning: Check the Gates Scholarship website early and frequently for changes to deadlines and procedures.

Fields of study: Any field is acceptable. A student may pursue a second B.A., a master’s, or a Ph.D. and so may be fully funded for anywhere from one to four years of study. While the second B.A. is possible, it is not encouraged. The M.Phil. or Ph.D. route is preferred.

Adviser: Dean Frank Ordiway • ordiway@princeton.edu • Ext. 8-1998

Description:

In October 2000, the Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation of Seattle, Washington, made a donation of $210 million to the University of Cambridge, England, in order to establish the Gates Cambridge Trust.

This magnificent benefaction creates in perpetuity an international scholarship program for outstanding students from outside the United Kingdom who gain admission to the University of Cambridge to pursue graduate study. These individuals will combine academic excellence with leadership potential and a commitment to serving their communities. The scholarships are for people who are intellectually robust and who specifically seek to study at Cambridge.

Criteria for Selection:

It is necessary for a student to undertake significant research about the program, the faculty, and the college in which he/she wishes to study. Contacting faculty at Cambridge and gaining familiarity with their work is appropriate. This will be an important element for consideration.

While leadership skills will help to differentiate candidates and the trust seeks to fund well-rounded individuals, the focus is on a demonstrated intellectual hunger and a sense of future application of the knowledge gained.

There is not a GPA cutoff for the Gates, however, a 3.5 minimum GPA is advised. A poor first year may be redeemed by outstanding work in later years, for instance. The key is that the student demonstrates adequate preparation for the course of study intended.

Most Cambridge M.Phil. programs are for one year and most Ph.D.’s are for three to four years. Students must be self-starters and must not be daunted by the prospect of producing a substantial thesis or dissertation.

Application Procedure:

Students may find the Gates Cambridge Trust application on the Web, where it can be downloaded and submitted as a paper application. Students may apply online for a fee of £25. Information about Cambridge, its colleges, and their applications may be found at www.cam.ac.uk/. It is useful to learn more from the Web about the individual colleges, as each has a distinct personality. There is also a student site that gives a less institutional view of the university and its colleges.

The student submits both the application for the Gates Scholarship and the application to Cambridge simultaneously. They will be considered separately, however. The awarding of the Gates Scholarship is contingent upon the acceptance to Cambridge. Princeton does not need to select or endorse its candidates, but will offer guidance in the application process. In order for Dean Ordiway to best advise, the student is required to submit a copy of all materials (Gates and Cambridge) to 409 West College.

Applications are due by early October 2008, depending on the colleges and degree programs. Three letters of reference are required: two academic for the Cambridge application and one personal for the Gates Scholarship application. Each college and degree program has its own timeline for acceptances. However, students will be notified in December or January as to whether they will be interviewed in Annapolis, Maryland, in early February 2009 for the Gates Scholarship. Approximately 250 applicants will be asked to interview in the U.S. Of these, about 110 will be selected. In March, students will be told if they have won the Gates Scholarship but that it remains contingent on acceptance by the program at Cambridge to which the student has applied. The Gates Trust does not require the GRE; however, certain programs at Cambridge, such as economics, may.

If a student wishes to try for the second B.A., he/she applies earlier than the October 2008 deadline to the college of choice, after which the Gates application is sent. (However, check the Gates website for possible changes in this procedure.) This process should be initiated as early as possible. Some graduate degrees also require an earlier application.

General Guidelines:

While the scholarship is merit-based and generous, it does not allow for a marriage allowance. Married students must seek other subsidies as needed.

An applicant may occasionally defer the Gates for a good and compelling reason; however, it is not possible to hold a Gates along with a Fulbright, Marshall, or Rhodes scholarship.

The Gates Scholarship provides a special opportunity to make global connections and only about 110 students chosen each year are from the U.S. International students at Princeton should apply from their country of citizenship.

Students are urged to read and download all pertinent forms as soon as possible. The process has been described by many students as being complicated and potentially confusing if done too late.