Maybe one of the toughest aspects of the scholarship interview includes knowing what questions will be asked and being put on the spot to answer to a scholarship committee or the admissions office. We will try to break down the possible questions that will be asked and how that can easily influence a student’s decision about how to answer.
After going through many polls that collected the most common scholarship interview questions asked by a committee includes the following:
What can you tell us about yourself? What are your leadership skills that you can share with us?
For this type or question or even a question that is phrased around this, students may feel a sudden impulse of forgetting who they are what they have done academically. With this in mind, it is perfectly okay to be nervous. Why? Because everyone ends up being nervous when they have to explain themselves and their life.
Students can start off with talking about their family, and how their family has influenced them so far. You can stalk about friends, activities, a passionate subject that has easily produced fantastic results. Explaining who you are does not mean giving out test scores or simply stating you do not know. Be honest and forth coming.
Why did you choose this school? Why this program?
This is surely the most common question to be asked by an admissions office. From this standpoint students will need to give a full proof reason, stating that this was the only university to select the student does not qualify as a good answer. It may be difficult to find a general reason outside of ‘this has been the school I have always wanted to attend or this is my back-up school.’ But students will need to find a great response that shows the student researched the programs that would propel their college career further.
What would you describe as your greatest weakness and strength?
Have you heard of this one before? Most likely since this is the same question asked during job interviews and well this questions is also routinely asked during scholarship interviews as well. Understanding what strengths you have been able to show while working on your weakness’ shows a committee that you know yourself. And the one thing a committee looks for in an exceptional student and new addition to the college campus is someone that understands who they are.
Why do you deserve this scholarship? What makes you stand out from the other particpants?
This is a question that can shock a student because how do you define that you deserve this scholarship. Why do you stand out above all the rest? Asking yourself this ahead of time will show determination and the strength to show the university you not only deserve this scholarship but that you will succeed further afterwards.
Determination does not go unnoticed and a student that describes a 5-year plan after they have graduated can easily help them successfully acquire a scholarship after they are asked this exact question.
