If you read my recent post, “5 Tips for Successful Scholarship Interviews,” you already have a

good idea of what to expect during the scholarship selection process, including the common
scholarship interview questions you might receive. But, do you know how to answer those
questions? Some of them may seem rather simple, but your answers could ultimately make or
break your chances of scoring the award. Remember, this is your one and only chance to impress
the scholarship review board or committee chairperson, so you’ll need to have a game plan
before entering the arena. But don’t worry — I have a few tips to help you ace some of the most
frequently used scholarshipinterview questions. Here are five that you are likely to receive
during most of your interviews.

1. “Tell us about yourself.”

This question is often used as an ice-breaker and should give the scholarship committee a better
idea of who you are as an individual. They want to know what sets you apart from the other
scholarship candidates, so don’t waste this opportunity by rehashing your résumé or transcript.
Focus on something that distinguishes you from the other applicants or something that that they
cannot find by reading your application. For example, you may be pursuing
an engineeringdegree, but in your free time you create cartoons just for fun. Perhaps, you have
a Tumblr page filled with crazy food concoctions that were created to illustrate engineering
problems, or maybe you are the direct descendant of the person who invented indoor plumbing.
The idea is to find something that sets you apart from the other applicants, whether that’s a talent
or a strange genealogical fact, and let your enthusiasm shine through.

2. “Give us an example of a time you overcame

adversity.”

Please, whatever you do, don’t use your grades for this interview prompt, unless there were some
extremely rare circumstances that caused your academic marks to slide. Too many students think
that it’s impressive to raise a ‘C’ to a higher grade, when in reality many students have found
themselves in the same situation. Instead, consider using an example that really illustrates a time
where you were placed in an uncomfortable situation; for example, confronting someone who
may have been bullying you or dealing with a difficult teacher. Other potential answers could
include: instances of discrimination (gender, race, sexuality, etc.), being wrongly accused of
something, or a sudden change in your family’s finances. Even working on agroup project with
other students you would not normally associate with would be more interesting than explaining
how you raised your GPA.

3. “Where do you see yourself in five years?”

Don’t let this one throw you. It’s basically the scholarship committee’s way of finding out if you
have a game plan or you're just winging it. Try to envision where you want to be in five years,
and then figure out how to get there. Your plan should include how long you will remain in
college (bachelor’s, master’s, or higher?), internships or other outside activities that will help
improve your chances of accomplishing your goals, as well as a financial strategy to cover all
your expenses. Don’t simply say, “I expect to run my own business and live in New York City.”
Take the committee on a journey and fully explain how the steps you are taking now will place
you on the right path to reach your desired destination.

4. “How do you plan to use the

scholarship money?”

If you were about to give someone $1,000 (or more), wouldn't you want to know that it was
going to be spent on something worthwhile? That’s the same reason why the scholarship
committee is asking you this question. It’s one thing to say you ‘need’ money for college, but it's
quite another to actually show a provider where the proceeds will be put to use. Plan ahead by
creating a budget that spells out all your estimated expenses for obtaining your degree, and don’t
forget to include any anticipated income you may receive from your family or other resources.
Assure the committee that you are applying to other scholarships, as well. It will impress the
committee if they see you are taking an active role in keeping your student debt to a minimum.
Don’t forget to bring along extra copies of your budget, too, just in case the committee wants a
closer look.

5. “Why do you deserve this scholarship?”

I have to admit that this was my least favorite question during scholarship interviews, but it
always came up. And to be quite honest, there really is no perfect answer. There are, however,
some things you should definitely not include in your response. Don’t brag about your GPA or
how many clubs you belong to at school. The majority of finalists will all have similar academic
accomplishments, so it’s not worth repeating. It’s also not a good idea to declare that without the
scholarship you’ll be unable to attend college. In most cases, that will be untrue. Yes, you may
be unable to afford your dream college, but I assure you that there are other less expensive
alternatives to earning your degree. Instead, be honest with the committee and acknowledge that
there are other worthy candidates that probably deserve the award as much as you do, but remind
them that your work ethic and past accomplishments are a good indicator of your future success.

A Few Parting Words

Always conclude the meeting on a positive note. Be sure to shake the hands of everyone who
participated in the interview, looking them in the eye and acknowledging them by name. Thank
them for their time and consideration, and be sure to let them know that you would be happy to
address any follow-up questions, should they arise. Within 24 hours of your interview, send a
hand-written note to the scholarship committee, thanking them once again for considering you as
a recipient. These simple touches will go a long way in distinguishing you from other eligible
applicants. Want to prepare even more for your next interview? Check out this great list of
common scholarship interview questions provided by Eastern Illinois University.

Discussion

Scholarship interview committees will ask questions that are tailored to the
specific scholarship program you’re applying to, so each interview will be
different. Here are just a couple of common questions to help you get started
preparing. Contact us for more in-depth advising and assistance if you are
invited to an interview.

1. Tell me about yourself, your background and interests. How did you come to
be the person you are today?

2. What is your biggest weakness?

3. What do you do for fun? What do you do in your spare time?

4. How adaptable are you? Give an example to demonstrate your answer.

5. Think about stories that illustrate your strengths, weaknesses, times you had
difficulty but overcame (or didn't), times when you had to work with people
who didn't agree with you, etc.
6. Give an example of a time you’ve been thrown into a new, uncomfortable
situation. Why was it uncomfortable? Were you able to be successful in that
experience? If yes, what did you do to ensure your success? If no, why not?

7. What do you envision yourself doing in 10 years?

8. What makes you an ideal candidate for this opportunity?

9. What do you hope to learn from this experience?

The resume and cover letter were perfect. You look great on paper and
you might just be perfect for the job. Time for the next step: The
interview.

While the job interview can be nerve-wracking, there’s a lot you can do
to prepare. Knowing what to expect and planning your answers can help
you make a winning impression. Start by reviewing this list of some
common interview questions.

“Tell me about yourself.”

This is a common question—and sometimes the hardest. It’s a broad,

general question, and the worst thing you can do is give a broad, general
answer.

So how do you make the most of this question? Use it as a springboard

to introduce the topics you want to discuss. Decide in advance what you
want the interviewer to know: Your favorite job experience, your most
valuable activities in college, your goals and dreams. Focus your answer
by picking one or two things and then use specific details to bring the
topic alive.
Example:

I’m a hard worker and I think I generally have good organizational

skills. In college, I led a team of designers to create the Web site
for each of the University’s volunteer organizations …

“Why did you decide to pursue this career?”

Questions like this one do double duty. On the one hand, they allow you
to foreground your most relevant and impressive achievements, such as
honors coursework or special research projects. On the other hand, this
kind of question also allows you to talk more generally about “what
makes you tick”—what motivates you and how you make decisions.

The key, as always, is to focus your answer by picking a few specific

events and providing details so your answer doesn’t become too vague.

Example:

I’ve always been interested in math, but I also wanted a secure

career that had a strong practical bent. I did a little research and
decided to look into accounting. By the time I applied to college, I
was sure accounting was what I wanted. I attended State
University because they have a really strong accounting program. I
also had a great opportunity to serve as president of the
Accounting Club.

“What have you gained from your work experiences?”

Since the employer has already read your resume, avoid simply listing
your past jobs. Instead, pick one or two work experiences and think
about them in detail. What were your duties? What particular activities,
events or crises stick out in your memory? Use these specific details to
think about what you learned while doing that job.
Example:

My work at the community pool really helped me develop my

interpersonal skills and learn how to lead people. When I was
teaching swimming, it was up to me to give my students a sense of
confidence and motivation—and to keep them safe while doing it.

“What difficulties have you faced on the job?”

Even if you’ve had bad work experiences, you should never use the
interview as a chance to lay blame or complain about a past job or
employer. Instead, turn a negative into a positive. Describe problems as
challenges, and focus on solutions rather than the difficulties.

Example:

While working at the daycare center, I had to balance a lot of competing

demands—from the parents, the children, the teachers and the
administration. It really taught me how to view all sides of any situation,
and how to prioritize my time. I found that differences of opinion usually
occur because two people can’t see both sides of the situation. I learned to
see the other person’s side and explain my position.

“What is your greatest weakness?”

The key to answering this question is the same as the last: Turn a
negative into a positive. Don’t try to come up with a character flaw or
personal weakness. Instead, rephrase the question for yourself: “How do
I want to improve to become better in my career?” Identify areas in which
you want more training or guidance.

Example:
 I would like to get more experience as a manager. In the past,
I’ve really enjoyed supervisory roles, but I know there’s so
much more I could learn to make me a better manager. I’d like
to build on that foundation and develop more skills.

Use these questions as a guide as you prepare. But don’t assume every
question will show up, and don’t try to memorize answers. Instead, use
them to help you review your experiences and plan
some possibleanswers. When you get to your interview, relax and draw
upon your preparation as you respond to your interviewer. Hopefully, the
last question you’ll have to answer is “When can you start?”