Preparing for a Scholarship Interview

Here are some things to consider when preparing for a Scholarship Interview! 

• Practice introducing yourself in front of a mirror. It'll feel weird but it's worth doing!
• Perfect your handshake! It should be firm- no flopping fish hands OR painful grips. 
• Choose your outfit AT LATEST the night before...dress professionally and make sure you are comfortable too. 
• If the interview is with an organization (like Daniels Fund) or a particular college, be sure to be well informed about the organization or school. Be able to talk about what the organization means to you or why you want to attend THAT school very specifically. Remember, you have to convince the committee that you are invested in their work as they are seeking to invest in you! 
• Make a BRAG SHEET in advance. What accomplishments are you most proud of thus far in your life? Be prepared to talk about them! 
• Also have a few failures in mind AND be able to describe what you learned from these. 
• Have a teacher, friend, or family member interview you. Even if this feels silly, it gets some of the nerves out. 
• Take your time. If you need to pause before answering a question to organize your thoughts, just do it! 
• Be sure to have a few questions in mind for the committee
• BE YOUR SUPER AWESOME SELF! 

Some common interview questions:

Tell us about yourself.

What are your greatest strengths?

What are your greatest weaknesses?

How has this organization impacted you?

Why do you want to attend this college/university?

Why should we give you this scholarship?

Where do you see yourself in 5 years? 10?

Who is your role model? Why?

Do you have any questions for us?