Scholarship interviews - seeking the best of the best

"Is Singapore prepared for war?"

This was a question posed during a scholarship interview and it is definitely not an out of the ordinary question for such interviews. What does one expect to experience during these scholarship interviews? What type of questions will you expect to hear?

What interview formats should I expect?

Depending on the scholarship that you are applying for, it can encompass one or a few of the following formats:

1.        Panel interview

Likely the most common scholarship interview format, a panel interview essentially means that there is more than one interviewer (numbers tend to range between 3 to 5) and just one candidate. The panel usually consist of interviewers that come from a range of departments, for example the scholarship department, the human resource department, the department in charge of the area of expertise you are applying for etc.

2.        Video interview

This is an interview that takes place via video interview software, that can either be a generic software or a proprietary one. Some organizations include a video interview as one of the early rounds before they shortlist for further interviews. A video interview usually involves you logging on to a software and answering a few set questions within a specified duration of time. The answer is recorded and then viewed later after the completion of your video interview.

3.        Group interview

In a group interview, you are placed in a room together with other candidates as well as a few interviewers. The interviewers may choose to play an active role i.e. they provide questions to every candidate, or they can also choose to be an observer, where they provide the group with a topic of discussion or an activity, and they sit back and watch.

What questions should I prepare for?

Questions on current affairs

Our experience has shown that questions on current affairs are increasingly common and are the predominant type of questions used. This is particularly so for public service scholarships.

The importance of being well-versed with what is happening around the world cannot be emphasized enough. When you are applying to not only be part of an organization, but to also have your cost of education borne by them, it is no longer just about academic excellence. Having a deep understanding about the complexities surrounding us and being able to dissect these problems and articulate your thoughts about it is paramount.

It is important to recognize that the questions may not be limited to your area of interest but having said that, having comprehensive knowledge and showcasing a perceptive and discerning mind in your chosen area is particularly important. For example, if you are interested in the area of Law, have there been any recent parliamentary debates on any statutes or controversial cases? If you are interested to join public service, what recent policies have been implemented for the benefit of the public and what are your thoughts about it?

Questions on motivation

It is back to the question of why, why, why? Why do you want to join an organization? Why do you wish to pursue your chosen area of interest?

These questions are well known, highly discussed and would not be a shock to anyone who have made even just preliminary efforts in preparing for their interviews. In fact, the questions may have already been asked in early rounds of essays if the organization you are applying for requested for it.

And yet, being able to communicate your inner thoughts, in a clear and persuasive manner is a challenge that not many people recognize. There is a difference between an answer that is good from a language standpoint, and one that makes a listener sit up and listen, absorb the information and believe in the person who delivered the answer. Authenticity is key – and authenticity is a complex concept. It is the ability to showcase strong self-awareness, be able to tap on personal experiences and values, link it to your thought process, and articulate how it all comes into play with your future intentions.

There are many other question types but the two above would be the key ones that prospective scholars must be ready for. At the end of the day, remember that if the roles were reversed, and you are about to take money out of your own bank account to fund someone else’s education, you would also likely be more discerning than usual and would use the interview to find the best of the best.

Written by Siew Ling Hwang, Founder, Discovering Potential Pte Ltd

www.discoveringpotential.com.sg

Siew Ling is the founder of Discovering Potential and she specialises in providing Interview Skills Coaching and Communication Skills Coaching to youths and adults. Her experience includes both 1-on-1 coaching and workshop coaching for clients that come from a wide range of industries and age groups. Siew Ling has coached students for scholarship interviews including PSC scholarships, SAF scholarships, MOH scholarships, MOE scholarships and others. ​

In addition, Siew Ling coaches students for their Primary 6 and JC DSA, as well as EAE interviews and university entrance interviews in many areas including medicine, dentistry, physiotherapy, law, business, accounting, renaissance engineering and more for both local Singapore universities and overseas universities. She has also coached students for internship opportunities in several of the large consulting firms and financial institutions.

Her 5 star Google reviews can be seen on the homepage www.discoveringpotential.com.sg