Congrats to you and your son.Can you share more about the essays? Can you pm me please.Thank you.
Hi tried to DM you but canât figure out how. Would love to get more information from you on the process
Hello, I am so sorry, but I am just checking in the account and I see the two messages I have not responded to. I believe that you need to have written 15 posts in order to be able to PM someone. I am responding too late to your questions because the deadline for the scholarship has passed, but my sonâs essay were non-standard and they would have stood out in a pile of essays. They were very original, eloquent and I would call them even poeticâI do believe that this is what caught the eye of the readers. Please try to reach out again if you have any questions about the interviews.
Thank you so much for offering to help! New user here so not sure how to send DMs.
We got Finalist email for this year (2025) and looking for guidance on interview prep. Would you be so kind to DM and share your sonâs experience going through the interview process as a finalist?
In my experience of having been one of the scholars, the main thing is having something extra that stands out and really good morals. You have to be extremely smart, of course, but the semifinalist round narrows it down to those kids and after that theyâre looking for different. I was incredibly surprised when I got the scholarshipâI knew another kid who was a finalist and seemed so much better than meâbut I think what it comes down to is your personality.
At the time I had been doing Algebra 1 and intro to Biology, although my SAT and ACT scores were high. I hadnât done any science competitions, or math competitions, or robotics competitions, or anything like that. But, I had a lot of community service and a knack for observing. My essays were well-written and focused on things that were generally important to me and my recommendation letters were written by really amazing people which I know definitely helped. One of the most important things is the interview, and I was able to just have a good time with Mallory and Daniel, not worry about it too much, and be myself. I actually enjoyed it. The interview is so important because they have to make sure that youâre the same person or better than you were on paper.
I suppose to classify me into one of the groups Iâd be a musician, although my work sample was about music but not me actually making it. I have a very broad range of interests and literally so many extracurriculars, which can be unusual among gifted kids, but I personally do not find myself that curious about a lot of things, or as having really done anything of note. I think itâs the character and values and heart that really sells it, not so much the brain. In line with IEA values, they want super well-rounded kids.
My advice is absolutely to apply if you think you have a chance, and even if you donât, but try not to fit into what you think theyâre looking for, just be who you are. If you truly are that well-rounded and awesome, youâll be a scholar.