The Scholarship

If you’ve made it to the interview stage of the scholarship process, it means the selection committee has determined you as a qualified candidate and a worthy recipient of the scholarship. While making it to the interview stage is great because it means you are a finalist and, for the first time, have a realistic and genuine opportunity to win the scholarship, it can also be very stressful. Up until now, you’ve been able to spend time answering application questions with unlimited response time. You’ve been able to modify and revise answers and ask others to review and critique your responses. In the interview, your time for answering is limited, you cannot easily modify your answers, and you have no one there to tell you whether your answer is a good one or whether it needs a few tweaks. Just like the rest of the application process you have already been through, dedicating a lot of time and patience to preparing for the interview greatly raises your chance of success in clinching the win of the scholarship.

Review Everything
Begin your preparations by reviewing your application and all your answers. The interview judging panel will likely have your application and all your responses in front of them and will be able to see quickly whether your written answers and your oral answers are the same. Memorize your responses and know them cold. Your next step should be to research and study the organization sponsoring the scholarship. Often, the judging panel will be comprised of members of the organization and they want to know that the student they are selecting to receive their scholarship knows something about the organization sponsoring it. Read the information provided on the application, and check external sources such as the internet for more details. What is the mission of the organization? Who founded it and why? What service does the organization provide today? Know as much as you can about the organization and be prepared for questions relating to it.

Keeping it Simple
You also want to be prepared for the questions that can have very broad, open-ended answers. Interviewers often ask applicants about awards or honors they have won, hobbies or activities they are involved in, future goals and plans, events and people that have influenced your personality or aspirations and sometimes your financial standing, if the scholarship is awarded based on financial need. While these questions may seem fairly straight forward with answers you could easily give, make sure you have answers to such questions composed beforehand. The last thing you want is to ramble on while giving an answer because you had not first thought about how to phrase the answer.

The Big Day
Once you have prepared yourself for the questions, make sure you are prepared for the actual interview day. It is always a good idea to make a “dry run” to the interview site if you are not already familiar with its location. Know where to go, where to park and what room to meet the judging panel in. Plan on arriving a few minutes early to allow for traffic or other delays. Eat a healthy, nutritious breakfast and dress in clean, appropriate clothing. Smile and address the judging panel confidently. Keep eye contact when answering questions. Take your time, and relax. If there is a question you are unsure how to answer or do not know the correct response, do not try to bluff your way through it or start rambling. Take a breath, compose your thoughts, and respond clearly and simply. Keep your answers short, concise and to the point. Always stay on topic. Remember, the selection committee has already determined you are qualified. Now you just have to prove the person they have selected on paper is the same person they will meet face-to-face.

Source:

http://www.scholarshippreparations.com/youre-a-finalist-how-to-finish-first-in-the-interview