20 scholarship interview questions

Use this list of common scholarship interview questions to help prepare for
your next scholarship interview. 

1. Tell us about yourself

This is an open-ended question that allows you to lead the conversation.

The interviewer wants to know what makes you stand out from others.
They are looking for specifics, not generalities. You can start with
something general about yourself and then narrow it to a specific anecdote
or point. This is also a good opportunity to highlight important and
applicable skill sets.

Example:  “I’m really passionate about animals. That’s why I plan on

majoring in animal husbandry and becoming a veterinarian one day! I’ve
already fostered several small animals and regularly volunteer at the
animal shelter. The traveling veterinarian lets me observe procedures and
learn how to care for injured animals. For instance, I helped him bandage a
dog’s leg after it had been hit by a car. I hate to see an animal suffer!”

2. What do you want to do with your career?

Your response to this question should lay out a plan for your future. Explain
what or who inspired you to pursue a particular field and why. Include how
this scholarship will help you on your career path and what you would like
to do once you have completed college or the program.

Example: “I first realized I wanted to take care of people when my sister

was bedridden four years ago after surgery. My dream is to become a
registered nurse so I can dedicate myself to helping others in an exciting
and challenging environment. After getting my bachelor’s degree in nursing
here at Jackson University, I want to work in the local health care system to
gain experience. Then, I intend to pursue my master’s degree in nursing,
so I can become a nurse practitioner. I see myself working in critical care in
a hospital near my home in Dallas so I can be close to family when they
need me.”

3. Who is your role model?

Your answer to this question can tell your interviewer about what type of
person you hope to become one day. Examples of role models can include
family members, professors, historical figures, politicians, activists and
more. Describe why you admire that individual and which of their qualities
you would like to emulate.

Example: “My role model is my late grandfather, who at age 25 started his

own textile company that grew into a successful enterprise. He was a
brilliant man who built his dream from the ground up and gave back to the
community throughout his life. At times he put the success of his company
over spending time with family, but I admire that he finally found work-life
balance late in his career. He is who inspired me to pursue a business
degree.”

4. Why did you choose this school or program?

Use your response to highlight your passion for the university, industry or
subject. Describe what aspects are most important to you.

Example: “I chose Jackson University because its Young Scientists of

America program is one of only three in the country. Having the opportunity
to work in its state-of-the-art quantum physics lab would allow me to gain
hands-on experience using the same technology and equipment I would
need to use in my career. While I was visiting, the students and professors
were welcoming, and I immediately felt at home.”

5. Why do you deserve this scholarship?

Look at this question as another opportunity for an interviewer to know

more about you. You applied for this particular scholarship for a reason, so
be open and honest. The interviewer wants to see that you have a personal
interest in the scholarship and that it’s not just another bid for college funds.

Example: “My cousin has cystic fibrosis, and I’ve seen pediatricians at

their best. That’s why I want to care for kids with chronic conditions.
Medical school is expensive, and this scholarship will help me accomplish
my goal of becoming a doctor and helping sick kids like my cousin.”

6.  What activities are you involved in?

To answer this question, go beyond simply listing all of your extracurricular

activities. Choose two or three of your activities or organizations that are
most meaningful to you, and include any skills they have helped you
develop.

Example: “I have played on my high school soccer team for four years,
and we finally made it to the state championships last year. In doing so, I
have learned the value of a strong work ethic and gained the ability to work
well with a team. I also volunteer at the local aquarium, which has opened
my eyes to the world of marine biology and conservation. I would like to
pursue a career in this field.”

7. What has been one of your greatest achievements?

Use this opportunity to explain a significant accomplishment or project you

worked on. Explain why it was important to you beyond the achievement
itself.

Example: “I am an editor on my school’s yearbook staff, and last year we

won the Interscholastic Award for Best Yearbook. Earning this award has
been one of my proudest moments because, toward the end of the school
year, we were unsure there would be a yearbook. We battled funding
issues and had to find a new printer in mid-March, but we overcame those
obstacles and maintained our dedication to quality to produce a beautiful
and impactful yearbook.”

Related: Interview Question: “What Is Your Greatest

Accomplishment?”

Other interview questions

If you have been invited to interview for a scholarship, you have probably
already impressed the supporting organization. Use this as an opportunity
to hone your interviewing skills and practice for future job interviews with
these frequently asked interview questions:

1. “How will you spend the scholarship funds?”

2. “How would you describe a good college environment?”\
3. “How did you decide on a major?”
4. “What is your greatest strength or weakness?”
5. “Tell me about a mistake you’ve made.”
6. “How would you describe yourself?”
7. “Tell us about a time when you were a leader.”
8. “What is your favorite book and why?”
9. “What was your favorite subject in school?”
10. “Describe a meaningful experience or class you had in high
school.”
11. “How do you define failure?”
12. “What motivates you?”
13. “Do you consider yourself a leader or a doer, and why.”

How to answer scholarship interview questions

Here are five steps to help you prepare impressive answers to scholarship
interview questions:

1. Practice

You want to appear comfortable and composed when you meet with the
interviewer. If you’re feeling nervous ahead of the interview, try practicing
what you will say with a friend, teacher or family member. Ask for feedback
so you can plan effective responses. Also, practice good posture and
open body language as you speak. Instead of memorizing your answers,
try to start with talking points that you can expand upon. Doing so can help
your answers feel more natural and less rehearsed.

2. Do your research

Visit the program or institution’s website to learn about its background,

mission and recent announcements to better understand its values and
goals. If you know who will be conducting your interview, you might
research their professional networking profile to review their background
and any connections or interests you might share. Also, take time to review
the scholarship requirements and your scholarship essay, so, you can
easily refer to important points.

3. Stay relaxed

Answering scholarship interview questions is typically easier when you are

calm. Practice relaxation exercises, such as deep breathing, before going
into the interview. Smile, shake the interviewer’s hand firmly and be
yourself. Act confident and deserving of the scholarship.

4. Be clear and concise

Take a few seconds to think about your responses before you begin
talking. Don’t rush to answer without carefully thinking through what you
want to say. Then, try to respond succinctly. Speak clearly and maintain
eye contact with your interviewer. 

5. Use the STAR method

The most effective way to answer an interview question is with the STAR
method, which combines examples with concrete, qualitative information.
STAR stands for Situation (a specific occurrence or issue), Task (your role
in the situation), Action (any steps you took to resolve or improve the
situation) and Result (the impact of your action). Prepare answers based
on real-life examples, so they are both compelling yet concise.
10 Most Common
Scholarship Interview
Questions
By Ellen AndersenLast updated on February 18, 2022

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.

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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:

 Read up about the funding organization and get an insight into

their vision, mission, and goals.
  Go through your scholarship application thoroughly so if you’re
asked any questions about something you’ve said or an
experience you’ve mentioned, you’ll be better prepared to
answer.
 Stay updated on current affairs.
 Practice your answers in the mirror or better still, record
yourself so you can play it back and adjust your tone and speed
of talking if need be.
 Make sure you have a set of smart clothes and shoes ironed
and ready to go before the interview day.

Here are ten of the most common

scholarship interview questions.
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1. Tell us about yourself.

This open-ended question allows you  to direct the conversation.

Because it is so broad, your first instinct might be to also answer
broadly. Don’t. Plan out what you might want to say as if it were a
college prompt. Like a good essay, you can start with something
general about yourself and then narrow to a specific anecdote or point.
This is also a good opportunity to highlight a set of skills you have.

Example: I’m someone who is really passionate about the ocean. That’s
why I plan on majoring in marine biology and becoming an NOAA
scientist one day! I’ve already earned my scuba certification and have
gone on a number of dives. When I’m not in the water, I really enjoy
reading poetry or volunteering at our local library’s summer literacy
program for kids.

Why it Works: This response covers a lot of things in a small amount of

time. It highlights that the student is thoughtful when it comes to their
academics and future plans, and also that they’re willing to go the extra
mile.

 Long-term goal: Become a scientist.

 Short-term goal: Major in marine biology.
 Accomplishments relating to the goals: Earned scuba
certification.
 Values: Volunteers time to help others.
 Personality: Enjoys poetry.

2. What is your greatest strength/weakness?

This shows that you are a self-aware person. When talking about your
strength, don’t be humble. Give examples so that it’s not just you
talking yourself up. For the weakness, try to paint it as something about
yourself that you are attempting to improve, or an obstacle you want to
overcome. Again, give examples.

Example: I’d say that my greatest strength is my tenacity. When I do

something, I want to do it right, so I’m willing to put in the time and
effort to see it through. Once, for a school project, we had to build a
model of an atom and we chose to build the element hafnium.
Hafnium has an atomic number of 72, which meant the model was
going to be huge. The teacher offered to let us switch, but I decided not
to. So I stayed after school for an hour each day for a week to finish it.
I’m happy to say I got an A+ on the project.

Why it Works:  A specific example is key here. Not only did this student
pick a positive attribute to highlight (tenacity), they also backed-up their
claim with a story about how their tenacity benefited them.

Example: Frustration is definitely something I’m trying to work on. If

something doesn’t click with me right away, I can get irritated with
myself. I understand that it takes time to get good at something, so I’m
trying to learn to be more patient. For example, I’ve been taking up
watercolors as a hobby, but since it’s a new skill, I’m not really good yet
and tend to dislike whatever I create. To counterbalance that, I’ve been
watching tutorials and trying to repaint things and make them better.

Why it Works:  Again, a specific example helps show the interviewer

that this student isn’t just saying things. Recognizing their fault
(frustration), and taking lengths to work on it (watching tutorials to
improve their skills), shows that the student is introspective and willing
to better themselves.

3. Why do you deserve this scholarship?

This one’s a toughy. Be honest and open. You applied for this
scholarship for a reason, and now you also need to put it into words.
(For a more involved answer, read our guide on what to say when you
are asked why do you deserve this scholarship.)

Example: Ever since my cousin was diagnosed with cystic fibrosis, I’ve
wanted to become a pediatrician. Medical school is expensive, and this
scholarship will help me accomplish my goal of becoming a doctor and
helping sick kids like Maise.

Why it Works:  Not only did this student outline a noble goal (becoming
a pediatrician), they also acknowledge how the scholarship will help
them in their goals. The personal touch of the cousin helps cement the
story in the interviewer’s mind.

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4. What are your career goals?

For this question, they are looking to see if you also have a plan. What
are you going to do after college? If you can showcase how this
scholarship will also get you closer to your career goals, that’s a good
move.

Example: My ultimate goal is to own a farming operation. My

grandparents had a small farm, and I always loved visiting when I was a
kid. Through that, I learned the importance of growing food for a
community. I want to study agricultural science at Iowa State University
since its ag science program is nationally renowned. Once I graduate, I
plan to work at a local farm and earn enough to start fields of my own. I
even have plans to donate some of the crops to homeless shelters in
honor of my grandpa.

Why it Works: The student has clearly outlined their long term goals
and detailed what short term goals are necessary to accomplish their
dream. Many scholarship sponsors value community, and this student
mentioned appreciating community as well–and backed that claim up
with plans to donate food to the needy.

5. Who has been a role model for you?

Make sure you consider this one beforehand. The people you admire
says a lot about you, and you need to be able to explain that. Is it a
famous person? Is it a family member? A teacher? It’s important to
remember your role model’s character flaws as well, and how they are
also inspiring in spite of them (or maybe because of the way they’ve
overcome them).

Example: My camp counselor Kai was always someone I looked up to.

He was always incredibly positive and friendly; he had a talent for
making people smile and feel welcome. One summer, I got stung by a
bee and Kai got me to stop crying by telling corny jokes while he
bandaged me up. He was always the first person to offer to help out,
and really went above and beyond the call of duty. He’s even a
volunteer firefighter! Kai’s enthusiasm and positivity made a huge
impact on my childhood, and I hope I emulate that to the people
around me.

Why it Works:  Describing a person you admire shows what traits you
yourself value. In this case, the student clearly was affected by
positivity, altruism, and friendliness, so much so they desired to be
more like Kai. It shows interviewers what that student will strive to
embody. Scholarship sponsors want to award students who are
deserving, after all, and who will act as a good ambassador of the
sponsor’s mission or ideals.
6. Tell me about a mistake you made.

Like naming a weakness about yourself, they’re looking for self-

awareness of your flaws. No human is perfect. More importantly, they’ll
also want you to explain what you’ve learned from your failures. How
have you also grown as a person because of that experience?

Example:  In seventh grade, I vandalized our rival school by

spraypainting our logo on the windows. In retrospect, I’m glad I got
caught, even though I got in so much trouble at the time. In addition to
being grounded and forced to clean the windows on a Saturday, I was
suspended from extracurricular activities, which meant I couldn’t go to
baseball competitions with my team. My coaches and teammates were
really disappointed; I knew I’d let them down. I learned a valuable
lesson from that mistake: that not only will my actions have
consequences, but they can have a negative impact on the people I
care about. Ever since then, I’ve definitely thought things through
before doing them.

Why it Works:  Admitting fault requires introspection. This student not

only confessed to vandalism but followed it up with the lessons they
learned from it. Additionally, they specified that the mistake and lesson
still have an impact in their daily life–it wasn’t a one-and-done lesson, it
honestly changed their life.

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7. Why did you choose this school?

As it’s highly unlikely you just picked a school at random, you should be
able to answer this pretty easily. Was it because of a certain program
offered? Did a family member also attend? Has this always been your
dream school? Expound a little on your answers – they’re looking for
someone with passion, who is also going to commit to earning a degree
at that institution. They want to know your answer to “why you want to
go to our college”.

Example: My mom, aunt, and two cousins all went to the University of
Iowa, so I’ve basically been a Hawkeye since birth. But what really drew
me to Iowa was its spectacular writing program. I went to a couple of
summer writing camps there and they cemented my dream of wanting
to be an author. When I toured the campus it just felt like home. I also
sat in on an English class and clicked with the professor right away.

Why it Works: Speaking of English, do you remember ethos, logos, and

pathos when it comes to being persuasive? This response has all three.

 Ethos (establishing authority on a topic): They have a long-

standing familiarity with the university through family and the
personal experience of the summer camps.
 Logos (logical points): The student establishing their goal is to
be a writer, that they attending writing camps, and that the
university has a well-known writing program.
 Pathos (an emotional connection): In addition to the family
connection, the student emphasizes that the campus felt like
home and that they connected with the teaching staff.

8. What activities are you involved in?

Like with your college application, you’ll want to demonstrate that you
do more with your time than study. This is a great opportunity to
showcase your willingness to work with other people, show that you
have a good work ethic at your job, and also talk about your
involvement in groups. You shouldn’t list everything; you’ll want to talk
about the groups you’ve contributed to. Be sure to mention the
activities that are also related to the scholarship, if any.

Example: Mock Trial is my main extracurricular activity at school. I’ve

been part of our school’s debate team since 8th grade and loved it so
much I plan to become a lawyer someday. When I’m not studying for
class or a competition, I volunteer at the local animal shelter by walking
the dogs. A few of my debate team friends volunteer with me.

Why it Works: This student showed their dedication to an activity–Mock

Trial–by explaining how long they’ve been involved, and how it affected
their personal goals. The student also added a non-academic activity to
show their personal values and willingness to lend their time to help a
cause they admire.

9. Tell me about a personal achievement that makes you

proud.
If your proudest moment is that time you burped the entirety of the
ABCs forward and  backward, you might want to re-evaluate. Talk about
something you struggled with. Maybe it was when your coach moved
to a starting position. Maybe it was first A on a paper that you worked
hard on.

Example: I’m a naturally shy person with debilitating stage fright. I also
love poetry. Those two parts of me clashed when my English teacher
suggested I enter a poetry recital contest. I really wanted to do it, but I
was so scared I’d freeze or mess up I nearly backed out. To work on my
stage fright, I practiced reading poems out loud to the book club. Over
time, I grew more comfortable standing in front of people, and the
more I practiced the poem, the easier it was to remember. If you’d told
me at the beginning of the year I’d go to nationals and recite a poem in
front of an auditorium of 10,000 people, I wouldn’t believe you. But I
did it. I even got fourth place!

Why it Works: The example highlights the student’s passion (poetry)

and challenge (stage fright). It emphasizes how the student worked to
overcome an obstacle and ultimately accomplish an incredible goal.

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10. Is there anything else you want to add?

Always take this question seriously. They are giving you the opportunity
to talk about anything you feel wasn’t sufficiently covered by the
other interview questions.

Example: Yes! I’d like to say how grateful I am for this scholarship
opportunity. Your organization is all about recycling and keeping our
community clean and green. I’ve loved volunteering during the beach
clean-up days for the past four years. I can’t wait to join our start a
recycling group at college next year.

Why it Works: It’s important to thank the interviewer for their time and
efforts and being grateful for the chance at the scholarship is part of
that. Additionally, this student brought their response back around to
the sponsor’s own goals and values, which shows that the student is an
ideal candidate that matches the organization’s own mission.