How to Apply for Scholarships - Part 3 - Interview

Hello there!~ Hope you are doing well. 😄😄😄

So, you've decided to apply. You finished the application forms and attached all the requirements placed in a portfolio. Sent it to the embassy (embassy track) in your country or directly to the university (uni track). The scholarship committee reviewed your application and tadah. . . you are qualified. You passed the document screening! Congrats! What's next??? - INTERVIEW.

INTERVIEW

*Note: ONLY selected applicants or applicants who passed the document screening will be able to proceed to the interview phase. The university/embassy will be contacting you via email.*

I applied via UNIVERSITY TRACK. So I sent my documents directly to my university. Then, after screening, they contacted me via email for my Skype Interview.

I was really disappointed by the internet connection at that time that I really cried after the interview! My interview was cut actually, and I thought they will never call again. Glad, they called me again after 5 mins. So, I highly suggest, please please make sure that your internet connection is good. I was in a hotel at that time and made sure I was connected to the WiFi, but sometimes unexpected things happen. 😅😅😅😅😅

D-Day. I was scheduled at 10:00am KST (9:00am PST) so I still need to be early. I had two (2) panel interviewers.

Typical Questions Asked:

• Tell me about yourself.
• Why this University?
• Can you live alone in Korea?
• Why Korea?

*TIP: Prepare for questions other than stated above that you think they might ask you, especially the ones you placed or written on the application forms such as Study Plan, among others. They want to evaluate your level of understanding of the program, why GKS is made, what can you do that would benefit Korea and your home country (in my opinion, because that was my own experience).*

My interview lasted 5-7 minutes. Thank God! Others have up to 20 minutes, maybe depending on the number of applicants.

After the interview, another waiting game awaits. They will announce the list of successful candidates in the 1st round (interview).

For University Track: After the 1st Round (interview), there will be a next and final round - the 2nd round. This will be decided by the National Institute of International Education (NIIED). It's 90% sure that once you are selected by NIIED you are already considered a scholar, but not formally announced yet. It will be announced together once the embassy passers in the 3rd round are done. It will be published as GKS for Graduate Degrees Final Round of Successful Candidates.

For Embassy Track: After the 1st Round (interview), there will be 2nd Round wherein NIIED will filter applicants and then, the 3rd Round will be an interview from their chosen universities. Embassy Applicants have three (3) UNI choices compared to University Track Applicants wherein they can only apply to one (1) UNI and once they got rejected, their application stops. Embassy Track Applicants need to make sure that at least 1 out of 3 UNIs they applied to will accept them. If all three (3) UNIs accept them, they need to make a choice and submit to NIIED their preferred UNI.

I was anxious waiting for the result but thankfully, I was included in the list. The competition is very tough though. There are thirty-five (35) applicants who passed in my chosen University. So many! Unfortunately, there is a quota per UNI and per COUNTRY so we cannot all become scholars even though we were recommended by the UNI. The University-Recommended applicants will be further screened by NIIED. Your fate lies with NIIED -  the final decision-maker.

Hope this helps! See you on my next blog.

Join FB Groups such as this: KGSP NIIED Scholars (Up-to-Date)

Be confident. Fight for your scholarship spot! Pray.