Scholarship Finalist Interview: Tips?

[Anonymous]

DC found out they are a finalist for a large private scholarship. This is amazing news. The committee recently asked for some additional information from DC, and DC sent it. They said they’d be back in touch.

DC now has a finalist interview scheduled. It’s a 90-minute (!!) interview. The scholarship would cover a year of tuition, and I am speechless that they are apparently so close to winning this award.

I guided DC to thoroughly research this scholarship, and I have Googled some basic scholarship interview questions. We’re going to work though those before the interview. Anyone have a DC who has been through something like this? Would appreciate any advice on how to assist with preparation — DC had had interviews before, but never one this long with stakes this high.

[Anonymous]

DS made finals for the Jefferson Scholarship. We read everything we could and murder boarded him. He thought he did well (big panel interview) but didn't pass to the next stage. Best of luck!

[Anonymous]

Thanks for the tip! I had to look up murder board, and it sounds like great practice for the real thing.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Thanks for the tip! I had to look up murder board, and it sounds like great practice for the real thing.

And be sure to have family or friends serve as multiple panelists if that's what your kid will be experiencing

[Anonymous]

I'm OP, and DC's scholarship interview earlier this month went well.

DC just heard back from someone on the interview panel on a Sunday afternoon to set up a call for tomorrow afternoon (!)

I don't want to get ahead of myself, but doesn't it seem likely that this is a call to notify DC that they won? I mean, I know they could be calling all finalists and notifying everyone, whether they were selected or not.

Crossing my fingers -- this would mean a lot to DC and our family.

[Anonymous]

Scholarship interviews aren't antagonistic like murder boards. They just want a vibe check. Be really interested in the interviewer's interests, and hope they are interested in yours.

I got one because the interviewer has side business names after the same topic I mentioned an interest in. When I said it, he pulled his business card, and when I saw it I knew I was golden.

[Anonymous]

Smile and tell the truth (easiest thing to remember ). Sorry not more "profound". Congratulations. Good luck!

[Anonymous]

OP— please update when you have more to share. Hoping for your child’s success. It would be fun to get something positive going here on DCUM😃

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:DC found out they are a finalist for a large private scholarship. This is amazing news. The committee recently asked for some additional information from DC, and DC sent it. They said they’d be back in touch.

DC now has a finalist interview scheduled. It’s a 90-minute (!!) interview. The scholarship would cover a year of tuition, and I am speechless that they are apparently so close to winning this award.

I guided DC to thoroughly research this scholarship, and I have Googled some basic scholarship interview questions. We’re going to work though those before the interview. Anyone have a DC who has been through something like this? Would appreciate any advice on how to assist with preparation — DC had had interviews before, but never one this long with stakes this high.

My son won two of these but I have NO idea what the interview was about. I stayed out of it...figured if he was nominated he would know how to prepare.

[Anonymous]

Not sure if it is the same but my DC had to interview for their scholarship. They give only 2 a year. They had to do a presentation about their independent work in their area of choice and answer a lot questions about what they did and why, and motivation. DC spent a lot of time on their presentation, slides and preparing for questions. They also spent significant time researching the school which worked well as they got a lot of questions about why they liked the school, what they would add and contribute to the community etc. We determined the school wanted to make sure the child offered the scholarship would actually go.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I'm OP, and DC's scholarship interview earlier this month went well.

DC just heard back from someone on the interview panel on a Sunday afternoon to set up a call for tomorrow afternoon (!)

I don't want to get ahead of myself, but doesn't it seem likely that this is a call to notify DC that they won? I mean, I know they could be calling all finalists and notifying everyone, whether they were selected or not.

Crossing my fingers -- this would mean a lot to DC and our family.

Good luck! It could just be that they do call like this with all the finalists and maybe give feedback even if they didn’t win, but hopefully it’s good news!

[Anonymous]

Op here -- I am delighted to report that DC won the scholarship! This just tripled scholarships DC has been awarded to date.

We are a donut hole family both prepared and planning to stretch to pay for college.

I am proud of all of the work DC did to get here. DC requested I help with interview prep, so I did (no murder board -- it was intriguing but not the right fit for this). We spent about 45-60 minutes talking interview panel logistics, and I helped DC add some details to their descriptions of senior year accomplishments.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Op here -- I am delighted to report that DC won the scholarship! This just tripled scholarships DC has been awarded to date.

We are a donut hole family both prepared and planning to stretch to pay for college.

I am proud of all of the work DC did to get here. DC requested I help with interview prep, so I did (no murder board -- it was intriguing but not the right fit for this). We spent about 45-60 minutes talking interview panel logistics, and I helped DC add some details to their descriptions of senior year accomplishments.

Congratulations! Was it a school-specific scholarship, or something else?

[Anonymous]

Awesome! How much did they get? This is huge!!

[Anonymous]

Congrats OP!