Hi Winky! Just curious, do you remember when your daughter got the news that she was moving on to the interview stage after the first Zoom interview? I was just looking for a timeline because I’m excited about my own response.
I believe it was early to mid January. Good luck!
Thanks!
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Hi again @Winky1 ! I just received news that I will be continuing on in the interview process (to be held in Pittsburgh mid February). First off, thank you for the excellent advice! It definitely helped me advance to the in person round! With that being said, do you have any advice specific to the Interview Day? The process seems quite intense and rigorous, but exciting nonetheless. As far as preparation for in person interviews, was there any unique strategies your daughter used that helped her? Any advice would be greatly appreciated and, once again, thank you for all your help so far!
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Congratulations, @Lasc28 ! Keep cool, stay focused. Everything thing you did to prepare for the Zoom interview, do again. Stay fresh, know who you are, be able to articulate your goals and aspirations. No one can fake this process. Be genuinely you. They want to know you better – everyone is smart, so why you? Best of luck, all preparation is worth it.
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Hi, @Winky1, thank you for your calming words of advice; I ended up advancing to the in-person interviews! I’m very excited and appreciative. I’ve already seen your advice for preparing so I won’t bother you with that. After the conclusion of the in person interviews, what happens? From looking back when your D22 underwent this process, I see that she was a finalist first and then a Stamps Scholar, how many people are chosen for Finalists? I would just like some clarification if you can provide! Thank you!
Congrats @jinxyscarlett !! The students who get the Stamps Scholarship stand on their own accomplishments and who they are as people. It can’t be faked. Sincere congrats to any semi finalists going to the in person round.
At Pitt in my Ds year, they invited 35 to campus as semi finalists. They do not say how many are selected as finalists. Finalists have the last interview with the Stamps Foundation because it is their final decision who gets the scholarship. It is my belief that the Stamps Foundation interview is a formality but should be taken very seriously. Ultimately, 5 will get the Stamps, and 5 will get the Nordenberg, but I think if Pitt wanted to name 6 finalists, they could. But 5 is the advertised number.
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@Winky1 Thank you so very much! Is the finalist interview a separate in person interview? I’m just wondering if I advance, would I have to travel to Pittsburgh again! Thank you so much for your patience and help!
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If you are named a finalist, it is a zoom interview with the Stamps Foundation.
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Thank you so much Winky!! You’ve been a delight!
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Best of luck to you and all semi finalists
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Hi again Winky! I’m fortunately advancing as well (there seems to be a correlation between moving on and your advice haha), and I wanted to thank you for all the information and effort you put into this thread over the years. I appreciate it immensely.
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Congratulations, @Azd1 ! My advice is just putting things into perspective. For the integrity of the process, I wont give exact details or questions. Im so grateful to Mr. Stamps. His generosity in the college arena of scholarships is unmatched. And I’ve said before, you cannot fake who you are for this scholarship. It doesn’t work that way. It is not based on need and not based on having a 36 or a 1600. Good luck to semifinalists, be genuine, and know yourself.
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Hello, I’m not sure if you are still active but I’ve been keeping up with your thread over the past few years. I’m a senior student and recently got selected for the first round of ZOOM interviews for the Stamps/Nordemburgh scholarship at Pittsburgh. I know you may have already said everything you’ve had to say, but I wanted to see if you had any final pieces of advice or words of wisdom. Seeing you’ve helped 2 others win, it seems like you know what you’re talking about. I’d appreciate it as this could be life-changing, hoping for a response soon!
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Hi @JCB_16 , congratulations!!! I was not aware that 2 others got the Stamps with my help. No one ever let me know, so I assumed they didn’t make it, and Im not sure if they really got it??
Any way, you should be thrilled to have gotten to the first interview. I really have said it all. I think i had 2 threads, correct? They want to know more about you – why? What in your application speaks to global and/or domestic leadership potential? Review anything like that. Know why you love Pitt and how you intend on being involved. Why will you do the things you want to do? Know what is important to you and be able to articulate all of it. What are your goals?
Best of luck. The goal right now is not to get a full scholarship. The goal is to get to the 2nd round of interviews!
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@JCB_16 Good luck! My son was selected for the 1st round of Zoom as well. Have you heard anything yet? @Winky1 Thanks for your insight on this thread. I am curious if either of you received any other Pitt scholarship offers prior to finding out about Stamps/Nordenberg.
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My D22 did not receive any other scholarship offer before, after, or during the Stamps process. However, I believe the Admissions Merit Process and the Stamps Process are independent of each other, so I do think its possible to have a regular merit award while interviewing for Stamps. Good luck!
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Thank you.
Fwiw my S19 received very generous merit aid before he was sent the invitation to apply for Stamps and Nordenburg scholarships. He never applied to them as he didn’t think he had what they were looking for. Back then he was emailed the opportunity to apply.
This was pre-2020 so things might have changed.
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My D25 received the Zoom invitation to interview in Oct. She interviewed in late October, and then in November she received a $5,000 merit scholarship. She’s assuming that means she will not move forward to the in person interview round.