You’ve gotten to The Interview for your scholarship. That in and of itself is a huge accomplishment. Now it’s time to prepare for that biggest moment of all – the scholarship interview questions.
SCHOLARSHIP Interview Questions And Answers! (How to prepare for a Scholarship Interview!)
I just got a letter saying Im a presidential scholarship finalist. I have to go interview in March and I was wondering if anyone could offer any advice or answer questions regarding the interview, along with whether or not they actually got the scholarship they interviewed for. What kind of questions do the interviewers ask? What do they look for in order to determine who they give the scholarship to amongst the finalists? Would they feel more compelled to offer scholarships to those who are more enthusiastic about USC or perhaps those who theyre afraid may choose to go to a higher ranking university?
Any strong college application should present a narrative about who you are and what you might like to become. In many ways, the college application process boils down to storytelling: your ability to tell a cohesive and genuine story about yourself. Your essays, extracurriculars, test scores, and transcripts are all plot points in this story describing who you are.
As a result, your essays should highlight meaningful and substantive experiences you had while participating in your extracurricular activities. They should explain why you are interested in these activities and how they might shape your future endeavors. In addition, describe how you will continue these activities at USC. Naming specific programs, departments, clubs, and faculty that you plan to take advantage of will help demonstrate your sincere interest in what USC has to offer.
The vast majority (about 90%) of the 2% of selected applicants will receive one of these merit scholarships. Submitting a strong written portion of the USC application is crucial for your chances of winning a scholarship. As a recipient of the USC Trustee scholarship, I’ll offer some guidance on making your USC application as competitive as possible!
This is especially true for the “short questions” essay section of the USC application. Questions like “what is your favorite snack?” or “what TV show do you want to binge-watch next?” might seem silly or difficult to answer well, but they’re meant to elicit an authentic snapshot of your personality and character. In your response, it’s important to be distinctive and true to yourself. If a friend were to read your responses to these short answer questions, would they be able to tell that you wrote them? Your authenticity will always shine through to the committee reading your college application.
Congratulations! You have demonstrated that you are exceptional candidate among a large pool of applicants. If you are selected as a merit scholarship finalist, you will then have a 30-45 minute interview with three or four people. The interviewers will include a faculty member, an admission officer, and a current USC merit scholarship recipient.
PRESIDENTIAL SCHOLARSHIPS
Amount Awarded: Half-tuition
Number of Awards: Varies
Selection Criteria: Open to incoming freshmen. All Fall 2022 freshman applicants who submit a complete application for admission to USC by December 1, 2021 will automatically be considered. Selection criteria include academic excellence, leadership, and community service. An interview is required for scholarship finalists. Interviews will take place as part of the Explore USC programs offered in late February and early March. Finalists will be contacted by the USC Office of Admission in late January or early February.
How to Apply: Submit a complete application for admission to USC by December 1, 2021.
Notification: April 2022
“The Explore Program isnt just about the interview. Even though it is important, its much more important to enjoy your experience on campus and see if USC is a right fit for you! I know it can be nerve racking, but just be yourself – the interviewers are just trying to get to know you.” – Philipp Hultsch
How To Prepare for a Scholarship Interview
The most important thing to do is to practice your answers to some of the common questions that get asked at most scholarship interviews.
Doing these things can also help:
FAQ
What kind of questions are asked in a scholarship interview?
- Tell us about yourself.
- What do you want to do with your career?
- Who is your role model?
- Why did you choose this school or program?
- Why do you deserve this scholarship?
- What activities are you involved in?
- What has been one of your greatest achievements?
- Practice.
Does USC do interviews for scholarships?
An interview is required for Trustee and Presidential Scholarship finalists. If you are selected as a finalist, you will be contacted by the USC Office of Undergraduate Admission in late January or early February.
How hard is it to get a scholarship to USC?
