How to Give a Great Scholarship Interview
If you’ve made it past the application phase and have been invited to an interview, it means you’ve been selected as a qualified candidate and scholarship recipient – you’re a finalist! You’re that much closer to reaching your goal and actually winning the scholarship you’ve worked so hard for! But in order to move from finalist to recipient, you have to get through the interview with flying colors, and do it better than the other finalists!
Prepare – As with every other stage of your scholarship application, take a lot of time to prepare. Review your application, read over your essay question and response and look into the background of the organization sponsoring the scholarship. You should know all the information you’ve provided on your application and should be prepared to answer a few questions about the organization itself.
Write Down Questions – Spend a few minutes writing down as many questions as you can think of that an interviewer could ask you. Popular questions tend to be those about your future goals and aspirations, events or people that have influenced your life or personality and questions about your education and eventual career.
Practice – Once you have a good number of questions, ask a friend or parent to practice with you. Have someone ask you questions without prepared responses and get used to the process. It can be stressful being asked questions you don’t have memorized answers for, but with some practice, you will feel more comfortable with the situation.
Character – While practicing your interview questions, don’t forget your composure and personality. The selection committee wants to see if the person they’ve viewed on paper is the same individual they meet in person. You’ve been selected as a finalist, be confident! Maintain eye contact, smile, and speak clearly. Address the judging panel when you first arrive at the interview, and sit up straight for its duration. Take your time answering questions by first taking a moment to analyze your answer.
The Day Before – You should have everything prepared the day before the interview. Have your clothes cleaned and pressed and ready for the next morning. Make sure you know how to get to the interview site, where to park and which room or building to meet your interviewer in. If necessary, do a “dry run” so you don’t get lost the next morning.
The Big Day – Get up early enough to prepare yourself. Eat a healthy breakfast. Make sure you are clean and presentable. Do not wear ripped, ragged or wrinkled clothing. Leave yourself plenty of time to arrive and leave time for traffic or other delays. Try to arrive ten to fifteen minutes early. Do not bring drinks, food, or cigarettes with you.
A Few Final Words – Don’t forget your confidence. You’ve been chosen as a finalist, you’re close to the end, and this interview could clinch that extra tuition money! Good luck!