DinwenduThere is always a special joy that comes with winning or being awarded a scholarship to help further your studies.
Meanwhile, meeting all the requirements and passing the necessary exams like SAT and GPA as the case may be is the base for the whole scholarship process.
Nevertheless, there is an interview session that comes after you may have been shortlisted for a scholarship. It is a very important stage that tells if you’re a perfect fit for the scholarship.
To combat the anxiety that accompanies the session, you must familiarize yourself with common scholarship interview questions before beginning the interview.
Moreover, it is the desire of every student to raise their current level of education, especially in a standard learning environment with all the necessary materials provided. Unfortunately, not everyone can afford regular school fees, which has fueled the need for scholarships.
Therefore, this article has been written to enlighten you about the common scholarship interview questions that you should expect in your scholarship interview session.
Check: How to Write a Graduate School Resume: 6 Expert Tips
What is a Scholarship?
A scholarship is a form of a grant given to a student based on certain qualities like academic excellence or disabilities.
This grant is given mainly to enable a student to attain a standard education. However, scholarships differ and could be partial or full scholarships, as the case may be.
You Should Check Out: Best Answers to Popular Scholarship Interview Questions
Top 20 Common Scholarship Interview Questions
1. Tell Us About Yourself?
This is an inevitable question to expect at every scholarship interview session. Your interviewers desire to know more about you about the scholarship that was given to you.
Unfortunately, those who go to such interviews with no preparation are often confused about what to say and what not to say. However, this question simply asks you to highlight your accomplishments, personal qualities, and experiences in a concise manner.
Example: I have an outspoken personality, always wanting to socialize and learn more about others. This trait has propelled me into engaging in social services for the community such as creating awareness about waterborne diseases during health workshops.
2. What Are Your Greatest Strengths?
Your strengths are those inherent abilities that distinguish you from the crowd. Therefore, if you must stand out, you must be willing to tell your interviewers about your greatest strength and how it has influenced your life.
Example: I’m keen on technology and find it so easy to operate virtually all tech devices and software applications. This ability, which I have grown to love, has made researching for my academic works and projects much easier and more detailed.
3. How Would You Describe Yourself in Three Words?
Most scholarship interview questions require students to describe themselves in a few sentences as possible.
Your answer to this question tells if you will be concise and straightforward when given an assignment. Hence, don’t drift out of the content of the questions that say three words.
Example: I’m creative, an introvert, and a book lover.
Check: Top Cisco CCNA Certification Learning Materials.
4. Tell Us About Your Weaknesses and Plans To Overcome It?
This common scholarship interview question is simply the opposite of your strength. Besides, denying the fact that you have weaknesses isn’t going to make you a perfect fit.
In response to this, come out sincere, state those areas you struggle with and how you plan to improve them.
Example: Time management is one of those skills I’m yet to learn. Although I’ve come to realize the benefits of these skills to my studies and my life in general.
In response to this, I’m currently undergoing a practical class on how to manage my time judiciously.
5. What’s Your Biggest Achievement?
You may be wondering what your biggest achievement has to do with your scholarship. Interestingly, your response to this question tells a lot about your personality. Are you a mediocre or a goal chaser or innovative or a team player among others?
Example: The day I emerged as the winner of the premium essay writing competition is forever new in my memory. Beyond the accolades, medals, and gifts received, my school was also opportune to receive free books for her library.
6. What’s Your Biggest Mistake and Lesson Learned?
Nobody is above mistakes. Mistakes don’t make us weak but give us the room to learn valuable lessons to avert future recurrences of such events.
Therefore, your interviewer isn’t interested in the mistakes you made in the past nor are you judged based on them, rather they want to know the lessons you have been able to learn from such experience.
Example: I used to be a crammer when it comes to studying for my tests and exams. I had thought this was a better way to scale through school, but I was wrong. There was a test I sat for and unfortunately I went all blank. This led to my poor grades for that term. However, I’ve come to realize that there are no shortcuts to success other than hard work.
Check: TOP 5 Places In The World to Study Abroad In 2022
7. What’s Your Favorite Book and Why?
As a student questions regarding reading are one of those common scholarship interview questions asked. This is because reading and education are intertwined.
However, you must be creative to provide productive book titles that have impacted your life positively.
Example: One of my favorite books is X which was written by X. This is because I can relate to the storyline and it made me develop more empathy towards my fellow humans.
8. What’s Your Favorite Subject in School?
Irrespective of how you excel in all your school courses, there is a high chance of having a favorite. This is that one subject you prefer to every other subject, in other words, that one subject you can’t get tired of reading or bored of in class.
Example: I enjoyed my history classes, this is because it allows me to learn about notable past heroes, events, and sites.
9. What’s Your Dream Job?
Don’t be puzzled when asked about your dream job. Yes, you may still be a student seeking to further his/her education. However, it shows how thoughtful you’re about your future when you’re able to tell your interviewer what your dream job is and the reason why you love such a job.
Example: My dream job is to become an accountant in a prestigious finance institution. This is basically due to my passion for balancing money accounts and ensuring money is spent on the needful.
Check: 2022 Harley Davidson Jobs And Opportunities
10. What Other Skills Do You Possess Excluding Academic Works?
Life isn’t all about excellence in academic courses, as good as they are, if you must become exceptional you need to learn other skills. This could be a soft skill or a hard skill as the case may be.
Interestingly, engaging with those skills outside the context of academics boosts creativity, and cognitive ability, which influences every other aspect of a person’s life positively.
This question is one of those important scholarship Interview questions you need to provide answers to before sitting for that scholarship Interview.
Example: I love baking and it’s one of those things I engage in when taking time off from academic work.
11. Who is Your Role Model?
Role models are those we look up to for inspiration to become the way they are today or even better. So, this question helps your interviewers determine the kind of person they desire to be. Therefore, ensure whoever is your role model is impactful and influences you positively.
Examples: My favorite role model is my mom. This is because she is an inseparable element in my life journey thus far. She is that one person who will never leave me and with her advice, I’m walking on the right path.
12. What Inspires You?
Life is filled with ups and downs, therefore there is every tendency for one to get discouraged. However, what matters most is how you’re able to get back on track amidst those discouraging moments. Therefore, expect this as one of the common scholarship interview questions.
Example: I love to spend time admiring nature, especially the beautiful vegetation. It takes my mind off the chaos of life into a state of serenity. Oftentimes, this is my most effective way of getting and staying motivated.
13. How Do You Manage Stress?
Stress management is a skill that lots of students are yet to learn. Therefore, making it one of the most asked scholarship interview questions. This question is asked to see how a student can cope amidst the stress of academic work and their personal life. Hence, give a practical approach to such questions.
Example: I believe a person becomes vulnerable to stress when their activities aren’t well organized and mapped out. Therefore, I don’t allow myself to be overburdened by activities by allocating time slots to all my activities, including time for relaxation.
Check: 21 Best Esthetician Schools Online in 2022: Courses, Fees and Certification
14. How Would You Describe a Good School Environment?
The aim of learning becomes fruitless when the learning environment isn’t conducive, likewise when the needed learning materials aren’t available or sufficient.
Example: I believe learning is only achieved when a student learns in a conducive atmosphere like a comfortable table and desks, a properly ventilated classroom, adequate writing materials, access to the internet, and many more. All these put together ensure a student understands what is being taught.
15. Were You Involved in Any Activity in School or Your Community?
This question is asked to test your activeness, teamwork, and leadership skills. These are valuable attributes a student needs to possess even as they further their education. This is the moment to highlight your abilities.
Also, step further to tell them what you have learned from such activities.
Example: I’ve always been a committed member of the tech club in my school. This club enabled me to put my creativity to work in crafting out tech-related structures as well as working as part of a team.
16. How Do You Cope With Criticism?
Criticism can either be constructive or destructive. In other words, some criticism is said to discourage you by speaking against your weaknesses. In contrast, others are said to correct your weaknesses.
Examples: Oftentimes, when people criticize negatively to discourage me from achieving my goals, I deliberately ignore and choose to focus more on my strength. This may be difficult to achieve but it’s something I’m deliberate about.
17. Why Do You Choose This University or College?
There is always a reason behind the selection of a school when it comes to scholarships. This is because everyone desires the best form of education.
However, this stage is the time to prove to your interviewers that you’re knowledgeable about the school you might have chosen.
Therefore, go ahead and tell them about the distinct qualities of that school that make it the best.
Example: The equipment and laboratory required for my chosen course
of studies are provided and functioning properly here at X University. This is the main reason I chose this university above other universities, in addition to the extracurricular activities offered at the university.
18. Why Should You Be The One to Receive this Scholarship?
Scholarship interview questions always include the above question, as it allows you to convince your interviewer that you’re the perfect fit.
So, other than your excellent performance in the entrance examination, what makes you among the hundreds of applicants think that you are the right person for this scholarship?
Example: I believe I’m the right one for this scholarship because I currently can’t afford my fees. Also, I need it to fuel my dream of attaining higher education to become a teacher shortly.
19. How Will You Use Your Scholarship?
Oftentimes, the allocated grant is enough to cover all academic needs with extra balance. You’re being asked this question to know how you intend to use the extra money judiciously.
Example: I will ensure all that I need about my education is provided. Next, the money left will be invested in a low-risk investment, as this generates more money to cover other personal expenses without taking up a part-time job. In addition, I will support my favorite NGOs organization in my little way to help make our world a better place.
20. What Questions Do You Have For Us?
At the end of every scholarship interview question, you’re being asked if you have any pending questions. This is an opportunity for you to ask about the details of the scholarship you’re unsure about.
However, you must have carried out your research about the scholarship to come up with thoughtful questions.
Summary
You don’t need to worry about upcoming scholarship interviews because the above scholarship interview questions will help you prepare in advance.
Also, don’t be fooled by persuading your interlocutors to give the wrong answers, instead choose to be honest with any questions they ask you.
Also, how you respond is critical, so always keep your response short and to the point.
Dinwendu
