How To Prepare For A Graduate Scholarship Interview
Getting invited for a scholarship interview comes with a lot of excitement as well as fears. You might just be worried about a whole lot of things, especially how to answer questions correctly. Your fears are valid, but before attending that interview, you must kill your fears. This advice has nothing to do with motivation but preparation. A graduate scholarship interview is more difficult than an undergraduate interview. Your interviewer expects a whole lot from you. Your composure, experience, command of English and articulation are graded. This helps to determine your competence for the scholarship award. Are you still applying for a scholarship? Avoid these mistakes during your application.
In this post, I will list common and uncommon graduate scholarship interview questions, tips to on how to answer these questions confidently and how to prepare generally.
How To Prepare For A Graduate Scholarship Interview
Do not dive into your interview without preparing extensively. Understand that you have put in much effort and cannot afford failure. Here are some tips to start out your preparation.
Make Extensive Research
Researching about the University, your department, course and University’s location, is a good way to start. Go beyond the basics. This will make your interviewer impressed that you do not only know about the generalities of the school you applied to.
Be Prepared To Answer Questions and Ask Questions
Of course it’s an interview, so you must answer diverse questions about yourself and why you are a good fit for the scholarship. Prepare beforehand to answer questions about yourself and career goals during your interview. Also try to ask your interviewer vital questions about the school and scholarship. This will make the interviewer know that you are interested in your application.
Understand your application
You should be able to talk about why you applied for the scholarship and what your interests are. The interviewer wants to know what motivated you to apply to the university, and why you chose your field of study. Practice how to answer these questions.
Be Punctual
Do not miss your interview by a second or minute. Mark the date and time of your interview and if possible, show up a few minutes before your interviewer logs in or arrives. Additionally, taking note of the day will help you be more organized in your planning.
Check Your Tech
When having a virtual interview, you should check your internet connection to ensure it is stable. Check your microphone and camera to ensure that it is working fine. Also make sure that you are in a lit and serene location before the meeting.
Practice
Allowing your family or friends act like an interviewer while you answer their questions will help your composure and articulation. Practice often before your big day.
Common Graduate Scholarship Interview Questions
Here are some common questions that are asked during a graduate scholarship interview
Tell us about yourself
Do not limit this question to your name and academic background. Talking about yourself involves mention specific areas that are of relevance to the scholarship. This includes: Your name, academic background, relevant work experience, long and short term career goals and motivation.
What are your strengths?
When answering this question, talk about relevant strengths. Avoid gibberish. Mention strengths that you can show evidence for with examples.
What are your weaknesses?
You’re human and of course you have weaknesses. When asked this question, show that you are aware of these weaknesses, and you are willing to improve on them. Do not shy away from these weaknesses or downplay yourself.
What are your career goals?
Just like you did when talking about yourself, mention your relevant long and short term career goals. Talk about them extensively, and how the scholarship will help you achieve them successfully.
Why did you apply to this university specifically?
An in-depth research about the school and what it offers will help you scale through this question. Talk about your interest in the school, it’s academic prowess. Do not forget to include the beauty in the school’s location and how it’s environment and lifestyle will help your academic and social life.
Why should we give you this Scholarship?
This question seeks to evaluate your overall competence for the award. Furthermore, your interviewer wants to know if your goals align with the needs of the school or body offering the scholarship. When answering this question, I advise that you speak extensively on your interest in the scholarship. Show your need for the scholarship to help achieve your goals and how you intend to use the scholarship after your programme.
Uncommon Graduate Scholarship Interview Questions
Your interviewer is an individual you do not know. He/she may decide to route through another angle when asking you questions. This is to test your articulation and composure in tense environments.
Where Else Are You Applying?
This is a very tricky question because you have to show why this particular award is the best for you. It’s okay to let your interviewer know that you applied to other schools. Mention that this particular school/award is the top on your list and you’re elated to be given an interview opportunity.
If you could, would you change anything about your academic experience so far?
Do not mention names of institutions you’ve attended. If you did not have access to quality education due to financial constraints, concentrate on that aspect.
How do you deal with failure/disappointment
This question can be asked to test how you are able to handle negative situations. It is also a test on your perseverance level. To answer this question, you should relate your understanding on seeing failures and disappointments as a path to success. If any, share relevant life experiences and how you were able to overcome these challenges. Talk about the lessons learnt from your experiences and how it has affected you negatively and positively. If you do not have any experience, speak on the understanding of failures/disappointment as a path of life. The positive and negative aspects of failures and how you never give up despite.
What is your most significant accomplishment?
You would have accomplished some academic feats in your academic journey. While sharing your accomplishment, stay humble. Your accomplishments are valid and worthy and you should absolutely be proud of them. However, you’re about to enter an arena where everyone is at least as accomplished as you are. Therefore humility is key.
How do you deal with academic stress?
This question is directed at your composure, reasons why you are expected to maintain a calm composure throughout the interview. Avoid these in your non-verbal communication: folding in on yourself, fidgeting, playing with hair, intense eye contact (be natural about it), rigid posture.
Additional Uncommon Graduate Scholarship Interview Questions
What have you been reading?/What’s the last book you read?
You might be wondering what relationship this question has with your scholarship award. Do not beat yourself on this one. Your interviewer wants to know the depth of your curiosity. It does not mean that you must read academic related books all the time. The interviewer wants to know how balanced you are. However, you have to be strategic in what you disclose in an interview, since you’re making a first impression.
What are your research interests?
Your answer must not only outline what you plan to research in your new program. You should demonstrate the steps you took in your education to get to where you are now. If your interests changed, create a narrative that shows why you are interested in your topic and how you got there.
What is a major opinion on a current issue in your field?
Use this opportunity paved by this question to share an in depth knowledge on your field, while focusing on a single opinion.
Why did you choose this program since you majored in X in your undergraduate degree?
This question can throw you off balance especially if you studied a different discipline in your undergraduate program. All you need to do when faced with this, is to outline why you choose to study your preferred course. Share how your previous degree has prepared you for the program you are about to undertake. Share skills and qualities you have learnt that is beneficial to your chosen field.
Questions To Ask Your Interviewer
Do not run off the interview after answering the questions you were asked. You will be asked if you have any questions, please make use of this opportunity. Below are some questions to ask your interviewer
- What criteria are used for choosing recipients?
- What opportunities are available through the program to gain practical work experience?
- What types of financial aid are offered?
- Where are recent alumni employed?