jeffreysan

clinton township. (17 / garfield)

vtoodler

jeffreysan,

I also hate interviews. They are so tiring, especially when there's 2 or 3 people interviewing you at the same time. For one of my "scholarship" interviews, I had to drive 40 miles out to the middle of nowhere. For two hours, the lady and her co-interviewer tediously grilled me with questions. It was so exhausting. The worst part was that I didn't even win the scholarship. I did all that for nothing!!

vig180

Scholarship interviews are generally two types and you can tell a lot about the program from the way they conduct the interviews.

The first type is the plain and simple interview. Nothing else involved, other than a tour of the campus and probably a catered lunch and dinner. Maybe even an overnight. The point is, the main thing you are evaluated on is the interview and the rest is entirely for your information. These interviews are usually just for monetary with little or nothing else attatched. Most questions are plain and simple with general topics or random things such as "If you were an animal, what animal would you be?" The key for these is to go beyond what they expect of you and expand your answers as best you can. Also, try to meet the interviewers outside of the interview at lunch perhaps to speak with them about the school since they're usually involved in it in some respect.

The second kind of interviews, though similar, involve usually an entire weekend in which interviewers and interviewees go through a series of tasks such as writing a timed essay, dining together, and participating in discussion groups in addition to the interview itself. In these you have to be careful to look busy at everytime and take the chance to speak with every person you meet. You never know if that person might be the deciding factor in the decision. The interviews themselves tend to focus more on specifics in your essays and topics the interviewers think you might be interested in; much more preparation goes into this kind of interview on the part of the interviewers. Usually, the scholarship involves not only money but perhaps some sort of living-learning arrangement and/or special group.

Of course, many fall into the middle spectrum between the two of these. Some general things to keep in mind:
- Sit up straight, look at each interviewer when he/she speaks, and basically project an air of confidence in your physical presence.
- Be sure to remember every part of your application since on these things, anything you wrote is fair game for contention.
- Be specific. Don't go off into vague generalities. Relate the question back to you and your experiences.
- Show the comittee why you are perfect for this school. Questions such as "What are you looking for in college?" can easily be turned into oppertunities to sell yourself. Mention specific aspects of the school such as programs, teachers, and/or institutes you would want to get involved in.

13351

If the interview wants me to bring a recommendation letter, should I put have the letter sealed in an envelope, in the envelope just not sealed, or in a binder?

Northstarmom

It doesn't matter how you bring the letter. If they wanted it presented in a special way, they'd tell you.

indieice

I had a scholarship interview. They asked stuff like why i wanted to go there, what would I do if i had a million dollars, and how college would effect me. I thought I bombed it, but they gave me 10K (almost a full ride).

vtoodler

What school was this for?

indieice

Old Dominion University

khanhwitch

Sorry if I'm not related to the alumni scholarship but I was offered a high school scholarship for 3 years in senior high school NUS (Nation University of Singapore High School). One day before the interview, i had just found this topics (with the guess's sight) and found the tips you showed. I have done my interview perfectly. I am one of the 10 people in the Southern of Vietnam got this scholarship. It's totally free and I'll have 200$ per month to buy things. I've just thought it was a dream but it's REAL. Thank you all very much.!

khanhwitch

By the way, I though one of the most succesful speech I'd done is
"As I was waiting for my turn, I felt I little bit nervous. But when I stepped in this room (interview room), I have my confidence back again because I know this moment is one of my most important moment and I don't wanna miss it" It seemed to make a deep impression on the interviewers.

Northstarmom

Congrats, khanhwitch! What a fabulous opportunity!

Dru2k5

I just had my interview for a scholarship and I have a couple of more suggestions. Think of your interview as a conversation ...you don't want to appear as if your answers were prepared a week before, written, and memorized. Also, if the interviewer expresses information about his job...throw him back a question or comment to show you are really interested in the interviewer as well. Ex: I was interviewed by a committee of five and as one of the interviewers introduced himself he mentioned that he is retired and works at Pac Bell Park for the Giants. I asked him if he had seen Alex Smith at last night's game and his face lit up with a smile.

So think of questions that you'd would like to ask the organzation or committee that you are going to be interviewed for. Because showing interest in them...will cause them to show more interest in you.

13351

Interview is more like a sanity-check than a test. Come on, think from their perspective: they wouldn't want a deny a large scholarship to a nice hard-working kid, would they? They WANT to give you the scholarship...and just want to make sure you are who you are as evident from your application/essays...not some grade-sucking anti-social, all-nighters.

Dru2k5

this is what my teacher told me:

the interview is for the process of narrowing the selection. therefore, how can you make yourself stand out and deserve the scholarship over the next individual? scholarships with emphasis beyond GPA/SAT are going to want to know who YOU are...because really they have no idea who you are from your GPA/SAT/EC/ESSAY. come on...20 interviews, 1-2 winners. you have to give them more than just a sign of your sanity.

EVERY student selected for the interview is going to be a high-level student. and yes...if the scholarship is selective, they will want to turn down high-level students for the student with the best mindset, lifestyle, goals, and desire.

these are questions that you absolutely must have answered, whether the interviewer asks you or not. what makes you deserve the scholarship? what is your philosophy on life? why do you do the community service that you do? how has your community service changed your philosophy on life? what tragedies have set you back on your high school experience? how did you grow and respond to those tragedies?

it doesn't hurt to just go to an interview and say..."i know i'm on a short time-schedule but i absolutely have to tell you a story" and than let them know what's really behind all those numbers. that will make the difference between a hard-working student and a hard-working student with life experience to boot.

suburbian

I guess most of you are talking about interviews for college sponsored scholarships. If you're interviewing for a scholarship from an organization, they may ask you how you plan to spend the money.