When applying for college or community scholarships you may be required to go through an additional step – the interview process. After you've applied for a scholarship, the selection committee may want to learn more about you through a scholarship interview. This is especially true when it comes to larger or highly competitive scholarships.
The interview component to the scholarship process should be stated in the application itself so you will have time to prepare, if selected to participate. Scholarship interviews usually involve an interview panel of three to four people, so be prepared to meet with a small group and field questions from each person.
First things first: Make a good first impression!
Here are some quick tips.
- Be on time.
- Dress appropriately… conservative to business casual is usually best.
- Don’t go overboard with the perfume or body spray.
- Greet your interview committee with a firm hand shake and eye contact. Score bonus points and memorize names so you can address each person directly in the interview. I know you will be nervous but this will show the committee you are sharp and paying attention.
- Be professional, polite and enthusiastic.
Be Prepared.Do your research about the company, organization or college offering the scholarship before you go in. An interview question may be as simple as to ask you why you are a good fit for the scholarship and how you plan to use the money. It can be helpful to look up past scholarship winners as they may provide helpful information on how to win the scholarship.
Think about questions that may be asked. Below are examples of typical questions. You can also Google scholarship interview questions for more examples.
- Tell us about yourself.
- Give us an example of a time you overcame adversity.
- Why do you think you deserve this scholarship?
- Describe a time when you have been a leader or displayed leadership qualities. (This is a common question but if they don’t ask it find a way to work it into the interview)
- Why did you apply for this scholarship and how will you use the money?
- Where do you see yourself in 5 …10 years? (have an answer for both)
- What is your greatest strength or weakness?
Be Thankful. Make sure you send a thank you note to the committee. Thank them for their time and consideration, and for the opportunity to apply for an award that could help pay for your education.
Our friends at College Raptor have great advice on how to ace the scholarship interview. Go to www.collegeraptor.com for more information.
Jessica - ICAN Ankeny Center
