This list was drawn from my personal experience of applying for so many scholarships, and other things which had interviews. Also listed what I gleaned from other people who went for interviews.
Questions you will likely see
1. Why do you want to apply for this scholarship?
2. What makes you a deserving candidate?
3. How do you think your interests align with the job scope required of you as a scholar?
4. Why should we give you the scholarship?
5. What books, newspaper publications do you read? Tell me what was on the newspaper front page today! Do you read the news on current affairs and politics, or just the life section? (I love the Urban section of the Straits Times, by the way.) Remember that your interviewers were once your age!
6. If you got all the scholarships you applied for, which one will you choose?
7. Tell me about NUS High School. How come you're not going to NUS? I thought NUS High students go there by default! (Almost every stranger with no NUS High connections has asked me this. I'm sure many of you have been on the receiving end of such questions also.)
8. Do you feel you have been given more opportunities than your peers in mainstream schools due to the brand name of 'NUS High School'? Does it mean you are actually not that good, just that you got lucky for going to NUS High?
9. Why do you want to go study in X overseas university? Aren't Singapore universities very good?
10. If you applied for PSC and DSTA - the job description of the PSC and DSTA scholar is very different. Why did you apply for both? Which one do you really want? Or are you just trying your luck? (a.k.a Why did you apply for one which makes you do management and another one which makes you do science?)
11. Tell me about your weaknesses?
12. How did you overcome them?
13. Tell me about your social life. What do you do in your free time? Hobbies? Do you have a lot of friends? How about close friends whom you can share all your secrets with, not just 'regular' friends to chat to?
14. Why do you want to major in Y subject? What made you like it? Why do you see yourself studying it for the next four years?
15. What questions do you have for me? (You can ask about their appraisal system, for one).
16. Why did you ask about your appraisal system? Are you money minded or motivated by other means?
17. Did you ever intern at our organization? If yes, how did you find the experience? If not, why not? How can you say this is the organization for you if you haven't even experiences it for yourself yet? 'I was busy with other activities ... I plan to take an internship at your organization now/ once I have the time.'
18. A lot of people like to go to UK or US to study. Do you want to go to somewhere like China, Taiwan, Korea, Switzerland to study instead? We want diversity as well.
19. What are you doing now that your high school is over? If you have a job, even a part time one, that's good. If you are bumming around, say something like 'Oh, I'm studying for university so I can be familiar with my subjects when I actually go', or 'I'm learning how to drive!' or 'I'm looking for jobs now! Actively hunting everyday, going for interviews...'. Don't like, really bum and play computer games or watch movies all day long haha. I doubt they would be impressed, unless you're representing Singapore in the World Cyber Games. Be prepared to defend your reason for bumming if you bum.
19. Tell me about your research projects. What did you do? How did you pick your topic? What did you learn? Planning to continue?
20. Anything interesting you did that you want to share with us?
21. What will you do if you don't get this scholarship? Turn into a banshee? Get depression? Be determined to work harder than ever in University?
22. What is your impression of our organization? Some interviews might decide to throw questions about specific facts of the organization, like what big project have they recently completed, or what big event is they are doing next. Watch out for these!
23. I never went for it, but everyone says PSC likes to ask about current affairs. So does Defence Merit Scholarship. People who did do for them said they ask a lot about you personal opinion on politics, so prepare for this if you're interested.
24. For guys: How's NS? How's OCS? (They tend to ask questions about NS, but ask a guy about what type and what style).
25. Convince us that you really want the scholarship, and are not taking it just to go overseas. We've seen people reject our offers before, after going through all the selection rounds.
26. How much revenue does our company earn a year?
27. How long have you been preparing for this interview? Some of your answers sound rehearsed. 'Of course I prepared, I'm interested in this scholarship and I really want to get it. Naturally I put in some effort to show my interest. Besides, I've long been checking your website for updates! Blah... Blah...'
28. Do you think scholars have a moral obligation to serve their bond out or its okay to break the bond as long as they pay back the stipulated sum?
29. Did you ever have to work with someone you found irritating? How did you deal with it?
30. Do you view getting a scholarship as prestigious? How important was prestige to you when considering scholarships and colleges to apply to?
More unexpected questions include:
1. What do you see our company in the next ten years?
2. If you were the CEO of this company, what changes will you make?
3. Anything you dislike about our company?
4. And some totally offbeat questions, just to catch you off guard: Should dustbins be square of round? Why?
5. "Any questions for the board?"
'Yes. How many scholars does this organization hope to eventually get? The number of scholars they have increases each year as you offer more scholarships. Is there going to be a cap on the scholars taken once you reach the desired number of people to perform the job optimally?'
"Well, what do you think, from your knowledge?'
(Questions thrown back at you).
6. Can you cook? To check if you have life skills, are a mugger, or just can't be bothered ;)
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