Cooke Young Scholars Program vs Gates Millennium Scholars Program (GMS) - Get Involved
Comparing two highly competitive interdisciplinary opportunities. Both are scholarships for high school students.
| Cooke Young Scholars Program | Gates Millennium Scholars Program (GMS) - Get Involved | |
|---|---|---|
| Prestige Tier | Tier 2 — Highly Competitive | Tier 1 — Elite |
| Type | Scholarship | Scholarship |
| Organization | Jack Kent Cooke Foundation | Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation / Gates Millennium Scholars Program |
| Acceptance Rate | Highly competitive; specific acceptance rate not publicly stated, but highly selective. In 2025, 65 new scholars were selected nationally. | Approximately 3-5% (extremely competitive) |
| Applicants | Not publicly disclosed, but given 65 winners and highly selective nature, estimated to be in thousands nationally | Estimated 50,000-80,000+ applications annually |
| Deadline | — | — |
| Cost to Apply | Free | Free |
| US Only | Yes | Yes |
| Grades | Currently in 7th grade and/or entering 8th grade in fall 2027 (timing varies by application cycle) | High school seniors and current college freshmen/sophomores (varies by year) |
| College Impact | The Cooke Young Scholars Program is highly regarded in college admissions. Being a Cooke Scholar signals to admissions officers that a student was identified as 'exceptionally promising' by a national... | Gates Millennium Scholars is viewed as ONE OF THE MOST PRESTIGIOUS scholarships by college admissions officers and employers. Being named a GMS Scholar significantly enhances college applications (tho... |