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Best Answers to Popular Scholarship Interview Questions | PDF Attached

  • February 17, 2023

The availability of scholarships and financial aid considerably influences college applications. For instance, the IU International University of Applied Sciences has already awarded more than 4.000 scholarships to students from all across the globe.

While most students would eagerly apply to schools with many scholarships, it does not guarantee anything.

Some of these scholarships may not be easy, but you can get lucky with the right information and answers to scholarship interview questions.

This post provides scholarship applicants with common scholarship questions and answers and scholarship interview tips.

Table of contents

Popular scholarship Interview Questions | PDF Attached

Even though some schools automatically qualify you for scholarship awards upon gaining admission, some others don’t. You’ll have to apply for scholarships manually in these schools and follow through with the process. Some other scholarships, however, are so competitive that you need to prove beyond a good GPA score that you’re the best candidate for the scholarship.

Meanwhile, you need a good GPA to qualify for scholarships. See how to Make a High GPA at school:6, Effective ways to Increase your Brain Power

You’ll need a lot of preparation for these kinds of scholarships you’re applying for. You must know the questions your interviewers will ask and get answers for them ready. You’ll also need to know how to comport yourself and what to do before, during, and after the interview.

We provide you with this post and a PDF that answers the scholarship interview questions. This is in case you need something to refer to, even offline.

Popular Scholarship Questions and Answers

What are the questions scholarship interviewers ask? How do they need these questions to be answered? What are they checking for by asking these questions? Here are all the answers to your questions.

Question 1: Tell Us About Yourself.

These are the most common scholarship questions. It is also most likely the first question scholarship interviewers ask. When interviewers ask this question, they don’t mean for you to ramble about what you are and what you’re not. No, it’s no life storytime. The interviewer allows you to set yourself apart from the pool of scholarship applicants.

Therefore, this could be a time to hint at your main interest and how it relates to the scholarship objective while giving an overview of other interests.

Answer:

My name is Janice, and I’m currently a freshman at the Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT). I love studying there, especially since I am taking American Studies and Women’s & Gender Studies. Also, I spend much time outside my studies following technological advancements. To this effect, I have a YouTube channel discussing the latest Artificial Intelligence and Robotics trend. I like to spend time with my grandma when I’m not reading or listening to music.

Make sure to list the interesting things about you without taking more than a minute. Here, Janice’s main interest is the Humanities, even though she talks about other interests.

Question 2: What Extracurricular Activities Do You Involve in?

This is another common scholarship interview question. Here, the interviewer is trying to find out your other activities asides from your study. It also gives the interviewer a peek into your personality if you are responsible.

Also, how you blend and interact with others in a team. Here, you’re to tell your key extracurricular activities in school and in your community as well as a couple of accomplishments.

Answer:

I am currently with the school’s Baseball team. I play quarterback and often go with the coach to train the community’s Ivy League team. At home, I visit the gym frequently to train kids who want to become boxers. I love their passion and determination. I also sing with the choir in church on Sunday. I’m an outgoing person, and these three activities help me share my knowledge and learn with others.

See also our No Bull Sports Scholarship Program if you wish to involve in sports and get funding.

You can see from the answer to this question that the scholarship applicant points out that he/she works well in groups and possesses some teaching skills.

Question 3: What is Your Greatest Strength?

This scholarship interview question asks if you know yourself, so don’t mistake it for your greatest interest. What you need to do here is simple: state your greatest strength and give an example that showcases how you applied it. Meanwhile, don’t try to be humble about it.

Answer: 

I think I am good at winning others over an idea. Two months ago, I and a couple of coursemates got a project to take the stock count of a real company. We were to work as a team, and we elected a team lead. However, the team lead couldn’t sway us to take a stock count of a grocery store instead of a cafeteria, which others were suggesting. I could point to everyone on the team that taking stock of a cafeteria would help them realize it’s an effective accounting practice for their business. However, taking a stock count of a grocery store would be more effective, as we won’t only be showing them new stock-taking trends but also saving them the cost of acquiring the knowledge. In the end, they all agreed the grocery store was better.

See Also: 50+ Accounting Scholarships for International Students

You can also see that the applicant supported his/her claim with life experience. This is the best practice.

Question 4: What is Your Greatest Weakness?

For this interview question, your interviewer is trying to assess whether you examine yourself for flaws from time to time. Of course, we are all not perfect, so you’ll need to specify one of your weaknesses that may hinder your success at college. However, you’ll have to show that you’re attempting to completely improve or overcome this weakness. Again, like your strength, give examples.

Answer:

I can’t express myself well in a crowd. However, I am constantly looking for ways to be more outspoken. Throughout high school, all my teachers commented that I hardly spoke up in class, even though I had an opinion on the subject matter. I joined the theatre club in college to face a crowd and speak. Surprisingly, I began to conquer my fear of the crowd and express myself better with my act. I feature in more plays now, and my teachers are beginning to comment on my progress.

Here, the scholarship applicant explains their weakness while showing positive action to conquer it.

SEE ALSO:   Get up to 75% scholarship at Germany’s largest university IU International University of Applied Sciences

Question 5: What is the Biggest Mistake You’ve Ever Made?

This may not be a pervasive scholarship interview question, but like your greatest weakness, this question also tests your ability to recognize a flaw. But unlike your weakness, the interviewer wants to see how you learn from experience. Therefore, to answer this, you’ll acknowledge that you did something wrong at a point in time but also show that you’re better now.

Answer:

Last year, I slammed shut a text in my little brother’s face. He was too slow in picking up the basic algebra I was teaching him. He made a sad face about it and said I made him look dumb, but he didn’t have a problem that I stopped giving him extra algebra classes. I didn’t know how wrong I was until a friend teaching me a dance routine did the same to me three months ago. Now, when I teach someone who is not picking up quickly, I smile and ask them to take a break, then continue when they are refreshed. I haven’t been impatient with anyone since.

You’ll notice that the applicant explained how they have moved on. This is very vital when answering this type of scholarship interview question.

Question 6: Tell Us About Your Leadership Experience

Some scholarships require you to possess leadership skills. This is a common interview question for those kinds of scholarships. The interviewer wants to know how much responsibility you can take for the welfare of others. When answering this kind of question, don’t restrict yourself to leadership roles informal settings. You should explain how you could lead people positively, which may not be easy for someone else to do.

Answer:

I didn’t know I had the leadership trait until I became the president of a Book Club I belonged to three years ago. We were able to make many changes in how we operated, and through the community outreaches we carried out, I realized that I like to involve others in solving societal problems. Presently, I am the president of a Fundraising Community, and I get to involve people in solving community problems on a bigger scale.

You can also check out our 15 Undergraduate Leadership Scholarships.

Here, not only did the scholarship applicants state their leadership roles but also their leadership styles.

Question 7: Who is Your Role Model?

This is another pretty common scholarship interview question. Here, the interviewer wants to know the traits you admire and whether they are positive. You know the people you admire speak volumes about your person. Meanwhile, to answer this question, you’ll have to state who your role model is. It doesn’t matter whether the person is a family member, teacher, or celebrity. You’ll point out the traits they have that you admire, as well as their flaws, because no human is flawless. Your answer will be richer if you show how your role model tries to overcome their flaws.

Answer:

I look up to my dad, who manages his printing press. He started the business using the basement at home. This was after he lost his job. Nobody thought the business would thrive or grow, not even my mom. Although he divorced my mom, I admire my dad for his strong self-belief and sheer doggedness. If I eventually attain the height he attained, however, I’ll discipline myself to be faithful in my marriage.

You’ll notice here that the applicant chose his dad, and even though this figure didn’t keep his marriage, the applicant is clear about the trait of his dad he would emulate.

Question 8: Where Do You See Yourself in Five Years?

This interview question is not only common for scholarship interviews but also for job interviews. The interviewer here assesses how visionary you are, probably to see how your vision blends with theirs. Even though it is okay to project a picture of yourself you aren’t so certain about, try to focus on service and career accomplishments. They may not be keen on personal accomplishments.

Answer:

I love technology, so I’ll try to intern with Dell during the fall Internship. I want to become a Robotics engineer, so I’ll be living in Silicon Valley by then. However, I am excited that this scholarship is also available for Master’s degree students. I have started purchasing parts for my robot. I can utilize the scholarship funding and research opportunity to build the world’s most intelligent robot in the next five years.

You should notice that the applicant links his passion to a future achievement they have already started working on. The applicant also hints at how the scholarship will benefit them, which is good.

Question 9: Tell Us a Meaningful Experience or Class You had in School

This is not a very common scholarship interview question. When scholarship interviewers ask this question, they want to know how you appreciate new knowledge. They also want to see how you express yourself, so go ahead and be funny if you won’t suck at it. Otherwise, tell a school experience in your voice.

Answer:

The best moment in class I had was when I was in 9th grade. We were learning poetry, but it was just reading books. Our teacher then introduced us to spoken-word poetry. He rolled up his sleeves, put his teaching manual aside, and began to perform poetry. It was entertaining as well as educational. I was able to see the elements of poetry take shape in performance. That day, poetry became easy for me. I realized it was merely expressing your deepest feelings in words.

It is obvious here that the applicant got a teaching that enhanced their understanding of a particular subject and still impacted them to remember it in detail.

Question 10: What is Your Favorite Subject in School?

This particular scholarship interview question seeks to know how much you love learning. You may not need to state how you excelled in that particular subject. All you need to tell the interviewer is what you like about the subject.

Answer:

Biology is my best subject. I love studying it because it teaches about all kinds of life forms. I also enjoy that it shows me how animals adapt to their environment. This year, I learned that several kinds of fish could switch from male to female if the circumstance is right. It is the most interesting thing I’ve learned this year, and interesting things like this happen in the wild most of the time.

For the applicant to give an example of the subject they like, it is obvious that they enjoy that subject.

Also, see: Pert Practice Test 2023: Tips & Tricks, Study Guide & Sample Questions

Question 11: What is Your Favorite Book/Movie/Song?

This may not be a common scholarship interview question, but your interviewers will ask it depending on the kind of scholarship. Your interviewers aren’t asking this because they want to confirm if the book, movie, or song you like is worth liking. No, they want to know why you like what you like. It gives them a sneak peek into your personality. Therefore, to answer this, you’ll have to back your favorite book/movie/song with reasons.

Answer:

My favorite music is ‘Heal the World’ by Michael Jackson. The late pop king in that song admonishes us all to be more sensitive to the sufferings of others. Being a Black American who rose to fame after his plastic surgery, the song echoes the inequality and unfairness in the world. I like the song because it has a strong moral, and I would love to run a charitable home. Like Michael, I can encourage people to care for others, not through music but through actual deeds.

This is a good response because the student connects the music to their personality and career aspiration.

Questions About the Scholarship Opportunity

You may have noticed that the popular scholarship questions above are quite personal. In this section, however, we’ll share questions about your interest in the scholarship.

Question 12: Why Did You Choose This College?

This is a pervasive scholarship interview question for scholarship applicants. The interviewer here wants to know if you have enough interest in their college. You must pick something exciting but uncommon about the college to answer this question. You have to spare out general features of the school, like its diverse student body.

Answer:

I love the “Peace, War, and Defense” program at UNC Chapel Hill. It’s arguably the best in the country. The people of Chapel Hill were so kind and friendly to me when I visited. I couldn’t stop thinking of their kindness long after my visit. Also, the school’s honor code implies that my things are safe without me having to employ extra security measures. Also, I would be close to my family in Cary, schooling here.

Interestingly, this applicant spoke of his interest in the school based on criteria that praise the school and benefit him. This is a smart answer.

Question 13: Why Do You Deserve this Scholarship?

This is a common scholarship interview question that you must come well prepared for. It is so common that there is almost no chance of your interviewer skipping this question. Here, the interviewer wants to be sure you know what the scholarship you’re applying for entails. However, you have to show them that you possess the traits they listed in the scholarship advert. Thus, to effectively answer this, you’ll have to be conversant with the scholarship description and the traits they are looking for.

Answer:

My focus throughout high school has been service, academic excellence, and citizenship, which a Jefferson Scholar should demonstrate. I have had the opportunity to serve around the county and have provided service and leadership since the founding of the Student Service League. Also, as a member of the School Board, I have begun to implement strategic policy changes in my hometown. The Jefferson scholarship will assist my study at UVA and help me grow to be a policy-maker.

The applicant here gives a balanced response, listing past success with knowledge of the scholarship as well as their benefit from the scholarship.

Question 14: How Do You Plan on Spending the Money?

This question is pretty straightforward. The interviewer merely wants to know how you hope to achieve your academic or important financial goals with the award money. So, you’ll explain just that to them without attaching any trivial expenditure.

Answer:

With the scholarship money, I’ll be able to visit France in the summer before I matriculate. I’ve always wished to go back to Nantes to learn the culture of the place my family comes from. I would use the opportunity to visit the family’s carrot farm and learn how to grow the famous Scarlet Nantes Carrot. I will also be able to decide whether I want to take up a career in agriculture. 

It is clear from the above response that the applicant wishes to use the money wisely, linking it to their career and family. This is a cool answer.

Questions to Ask in a Scholarship Interview

The next set of questions you’re about to read is the closing questions of the scholarship interview. Even though these questions are for scholarship applicants, they allow them to ask the interviewers some questions. This section is very important, and you should utilize it.

Question 15: Do You Have any Questions for Us?

The interviewer this question wants to see if you are excited about the scholarship. They also want to know if you are robotic, answering only questions they ask you. Prepare yourself for this stage even while the interview is ongoing. Take note of the questions the interviewer asked you and ask up to four questions based on what you learned from the interview.

Answer:

Yes, is there something you wish you had known when you were in my shoes?

What advice would you give someone about attending Concordia University?

As a former recipient of this scholarship, did you get to find out what made this experience special?

Are there things you think are the biggest challenge for people looking to enter this field?

You’ll notice that these questions show how futuristic the scholarship applicant is. They are already thinking and making plans for their study and not merely sitting through the interview process.

Question 16: Is there anything else you’d like to add?

Although this is not a question that demands you to ask questions, it is a platform for you to still interact with the interviewer. This is a time to review everything you have discussed and see if you have neglected anything. If you think you had given a wrong impression at some point, this is a time to switch the impression to good. The most important at this stage is to thank the interviewer.

You can also say Thank You to the interviewer in a letter. See How to write a Scholarship Thank you Letter (Best Samples)

Answer:

I think we covered everything concerning this opportunity. Thank you so much for taking the time to speak with me. I appreciate it.

This student thinks the interview was satisfactory and made it even more so by thanking the interviewer. This gesture makes the interviewer feel respected.

So, the answers to these questions for scholarship applicants are simply guides to structure your answers. We don’t expect you to respond in the same words we used here. Remember that every scholarship opportunity is specific.

Good luck with your interviews.

Scholarship Interview Questions and Answers PDF

Do you enjoy reading our tips for answering scholarship interview questions? If yes, feel free to download the PDF from the link below. We have compiled it into a PDF document so you can always have it handy for reference or view it offline at any time.

Download PDF

How To Prepare For a Scholarship Interview PDF

Of course, you don’t only have to prepare for answering scholarship interview questions. Your answers to the questions they ask you in the interview take up most of the interview grade. But there are also things the scholarship interviewer looks for aside from how you answer their questions.

There is a way you should dress for interviews. You must also do things before, during, and after the interview.

Massey University Graduate Research school has compiled a wonderful document of scholarship interview Tips. We have made them available for you to download here.

Follow the link below to download Massey University’s Scholarship Interview Tips.

The interviewer allows you to set yourself apart from the pool of scholarship applicants. Therefore, this could be a time to hint at your main interest and how it relates to the scholarship objective while giving an overview of other interests.

Make sure to list the interesting things about you without taking more than a minute.

Here, the interviewer is trying to find out your other activities asides from your study. It also gives the interviewer a peek into your personality if you are responsible. Also, how you blend and interact with others in a team.

Here, you’re to tell your key extracurricular activities in school and in your community as well as a couple of accomplishments.

This scholarship interview question asks if you know yourself, so don’t mistake it for your greatest interest.

What you need to do here is simple: state your greatest strength and give an example that showcases how you applied it. Meanwhile, don’t try to be humble about it.

For this interview question, your interviewer is trying to assess whether you examine yourself for flaws from time to time.

Of course, we are all not perfect, so you’ll need to specify one of your weaknesses that may hinder your success at college. However, you’ll have to show that you’re attempting to completely improve or overcome this weakness. Again, like your strength, give examples.

This may not be a ubiquitous scholarship interview question, but like your greatest weakness, this question also tests your ability to recognize a flaw. But unlike your weakness, the interviewer wants to see how you learn from experience.

Therefore, to answer this, you’ll acknowledge that you did something wrong at a point in time, but you’ll also show that you’re better now.

Some scholarships require you to possess leadership skills. This is a common interview question for those kinds of scholarships. The interviewer wants to know how much responsibility you can take for the welfare of others.

When answering this question, don’t restrict yourself to leadership roles in formal settings. You should explain how you could lead people positively, which may not be easy for someone else to do.

This is another pretty common scholarship interview question. Here, the interviewer wants to know the traits you admire and whether they are positive. You know the people you admire speaks volume about your person.

Meanwhile, to answer this question, you’ll have to state who your role model is. It doesn’t matter whether the person is a family member, teacher, or celebrity. You’ll point out the traits they have that you admire, as well as their flaws, because no human is flawless.

Your answer will be richer if you show how your role model tries to overcome their flaws.

This interview question is not only common for scholarship interviews but also for job interviews. The interviewer here assesses how visionary you are, probably to see how your vision blends with theirs.

Even though it is okay to project a picture of yourself you aren’t so certain about, try to focus on service and career accomplishments. They may not be keen on personal accomplishments.

This is not a very common scholarship interview question. When scholarship interviewers ask this question, they want to know how you appreciate new knowledge. They also want to see how you express yourself, so go ahead and be funny if you won’t suck at it.

Otherwise, tell a school experience in your voice.

This particular scholarship interview question seeks to know how much you love learning.

You may not need to state how you excelled in that particular subject. All you need to tell the interviewer is what you like about the subject.

This may not be a common scholarship interview question, but your interviewers will ask it depending on the kind of scholarship.

Your interviewers aren’t asking this because they want to confirm if the book, movie, or song you like is worth liking. No, they want to know why you like what you like. It gives them a sneak peek into your personality.

Therefore, to answer this, you’ll have to back your favorite book/movie/song with reasons.

This is a prevalent scholarship interview question for scholarship applicants. The interviewer here wants to know if you have enough interest in their college.

You must pick something exciting but uncommon about the college to answer this question. You have to spare out general features of the school, like its diverse student body.

This is a common scholarship interview question that you must come well prepared for. It is so common that there is almost no chance of your interviewer skipping this question.

Here, the interviewer wants to be sure you know what the scholarship you’re applying for entails. However, you have to show them that you possess the traits they listed in the scholarship advert. Thus, to effectively answer this, you’ll have to be conversant with the scholarship description and the traits they are looking for.

This question is pretty easy. The interviewer merely wants to know how you hope to achieve your academic or important financial goals with the award money.

So, you’ll explain just that to them without attaching any trivial expenditure.

The interviewer this question wants to see if you are excited about the scholarship. They also want to know if you are robotic, answering only questions they ask you.

Prepare yourself for this stage even while the interview is ongoing. Take note of the questions the interviewer asked you and ask up to four questions based on what you learned from the interview.

Although this is not a question that demands you to ask questions, it is a platform for you to still interact with the interviewer.

This is a time to review everything you have discussed and see if you have neglected anything. If you think you had given a wrong impression at some point, this is a time to switch the impression to good. The most important at this stage is to thank the interviewer.

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Stanford University Scholarships Opportunities for International Students (SHARE)

In Conclusion:

You don’t qualify for all scholarships by applying for a particular college with financial aid. Also, not all scholarships come easy. Some scholarships call you for interviews to assess if you qualify for the award.

You don’t want to qualify for a scholarship academically and flop in the interview. Our list of questions and answers is a guideline to acing scholarship interviews.

These questions also help you succeed in other interviews like job interviews. You’ll find that they have the same structure. Once again, success on your scholarship interview.

Looking to apply for a scholarship? Apply to IU now to secure a scholarship up to 75%. IU offers a wide range of degree programs with practical solid skills focus and a network of 100,000+ international students. Visit the IU International University of Applied Sciences website to learn more about the scholarship offer.

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