How To Prepare for Scholarship Interview:- Campusbeatz offers you a helpful guide on how you can confidently prepare for a scholarship interview without fear.
Most large, and prestigious scholarships in the world, must require an interview before any awards are given out. A face-to-face interview is required so that the scholarship board will have the opportunity to meet with you, and also assess your character, maturity, composure, and performance under pressure.
The interview, which usually lasts for about 15 – 20 minutes, with a small group of people or board of interviewers, gives the interviewers a clue of your personality, which will serve as the major judge to determine if the application suits you, and that you are a prime or perfect candidate for the scholarship that is being awarded.
In most interviews, the interviewers are calm and they’ll also try to put you at ease and make you feel more comfortable, because they all want to evaluate you at your best, and want you to succeed.
Many who fail to perform well during interviews didn’t make the adequate preparations needed, which leaves them in a confused state and unbalanced moment, as they face the interviewers, which at the end of the whole discussion, they hardly scale through.
However, this article will help you with the best guide you need, to scale through a scholarship interview, and have higher chances of getting positive feedback because of your great performance.
What is an Interview?
According to research, an interview is said to be a well-structured conversation where one participant asks questions, and the other provides accurate answers to those questions asked.
Additionally, the word “interview” refers to a one-on-one conversation between an interviewer and an interviewee or a face-to-face conversation between a job seeker and employer, where the core objective of the employee is to find out more about the job seeker, including what the person has to offer.
Why Is an Interview Needed?
An interview is an essential step for the applicant and employee, and if done properly, it helps the employer to properly determine if an applicant’s ability (skill), experience and personality meet the job’s requirements.
Tips on How To Prepare for Scholarship Interview
Below is our best guide on how you can comfortably prepare your whole self for a scholarship interview and make it great.
1. Practice Interview
The first step toward getting ready for a scholarship interview is to have someone interview you, which is a basic and helpful way that will help hone your skills before you face the real board of interviewers.
You can have a friend, teacher, or a family member interview you, by walking you through a mock interview and asking you similar questions that can be asked during the actual interview process.
Examples of questions then you should be asked during the practice interview are:
- Your biggest academic achievement or achievements?
- Your practice interviewer can also ask you about your extracurricular activities.
- What large obstacles have you overcome, and how did you overcome them?
- Some awards that you have won?
- Likes and Dislikes
- Academic posts held during your days of schooling.
- How do you picture yourself using your degree if awarded?
After asking you all the above questions, and you answer them, make sure to be mindful of your confidence, your use of words, outspokenness, and others.
2. Never Be Late
One of the best things to do is to arrive at the interview arena on time and never be late. You should even be 20 minutes earlier than the actual time.
When you are late to an interview, it proves many things, which include your unwillingness to be hardworking, lack of respect, and also not valuing the opportunity given.
3. Put Your Behaviour on Check
When getting ready for any interview, you should and must be conscious of your behavior because interviews can be nerve-wracking, but you must try to appear calm and self-possessed while speaking with the review board, and also speak with boldness.
Be sure you’re confident in your answers, avoid sounding indecisive, and at the same time, try to speak clearly and to the point when answering any question.
4. Dress Smart
The next step toward achieving a perfect interview or scholarship interview is to dress smart or decent.
We have various fashion senses you can try, but make sure you dress in corporate attire that will make you look smart and presentable because your first impressions are essential.
If you are a male, then get a new hair cut, consider wearing slacks and a dress shirt, or you can even wear a suit and tie, but make sure to be well groomed and professional looking because the board of interviewer watches your dress code and scores you for that as well.
If you are a lady, then plait or dress your hair smartly. You might choose to opt for a dress or business style suit when attending the interview and make sure your dress code offers you a smart appearance.
5. Be Confident and Talk with Confidence.
Don’t shake or get frightened by the faces you will see, just be yourself and speak with confidence, and as well be conscious of what you say.
Make sure to speak clearly and concisely in your answers to the interviewer, and avoid any form of wavering from the point or question asked (Keep your answer straight and plain).
Also, make sure to ask for clarity on any question asked if not cleared, so you won’t give out the wrong answers in the process of answering.
6. Picture the Interview as a Conversation.
Most interviews are discussion-based interviews, and more questions about yourself will be asked, including your educational background, hobbies, financial status, and many more.
However, be prepared to answer more questions about yourself before other further questions, and try to decrease your anxiety level and improve your confidence level.
You should also anticipate questions like, what are your career goals, what are your greatest strengths, why do you deserve the scholarship, where do you see yourself in five or ten years and others.
7. Feel Free To Ask A Few Questions
It is much better to ask some questions if necessary or you can ask questions regarding the scholarship itself because being able to engage the interviewer or the board of interviewers with a few meaningful questions of your own proves that you are well prepared.
What To Do When You Can’t Answer A Scholarship Interview Question?
In some situations where a question thrown to you can’t be answered immediately, you can ask politely for a skip in question, and you will answer that question later, which in some cases you might be pardoned.
Typical Scholarship Interview Questions To Expect.
1. Interviewers will want to know about your study program, and they might ask about your preferred courses i.e. the study program (s) on your application form.
2. You might also be asked how your preferred courses will improve the social and economic development of the country and also the importance of that course to you.
3. You might be asked about your commitment to and motivation for improving your country if allowed to do so, and also how.
4. You might also be asked about how you cope with challenges in life and scale through.
5. You might also be asked about your resilience and other personal questions.
Conclusion
A scholarship interview is not something you should be scared of, just prepare yourself using our above helpful guide on how to perfectly get yourself ready for any scholarship interview, and you will make it through.
