The purpose of this interview is to draw a line between deserving students and non-deserving students. It is to see which student is able to present himself in a proper manner, how fluid is his thinking and whether he is fit to take up the scholarship or not. This interview is important because JPA will only sponsor a certain number of students, so the interview will help to determine the best among the best to be given the scholarship.
Do you agree? If you do, keep that in mind, this is what you think.
This is what I think:
Once JPA has listed you for the interview, it only means that they saw that you have a potential to get the scholarship. Otherwise, they wouldn't even have qualified you for the interview. The truth is, they think you deserve the scholarship, now it's just up to you to prove them right.
And not the other way round: JPA holding an interview trying to eliminate you if you're not good enough and you are there to prove them wrong.
But frankly, how many people would look at this interview the same way I did?
That's the reason why students get so tensed up and nervous, afraid and frightened, and eventually lose confidence and will end up most likely failing the interview because the interviewers could see the lack of confidence in them.
We are all told that the interview's purpose is to distinguish the best out of the best. And with that in mind, comes the tension and the fear of not being able to outdo everyone else. Nonsense.
It's all in your mind, those that give you fear and make you nervous. Get rid of all that and be confident and you'll have one less problem to deal with. If you can convince the interviewers that you deserve the scholarship, they wouldn't have a reason not to give you your rightful spot.
For those who are wondering what did the interviewers ask during my interview, here are some highlights of the interview(I don't guarantee that the same thing will come again):
1) Introduce yourself in Malay
The rest was in English.
2) Talk about your family
3) Tell us about your course and why did you choose it?
4) Discuss about the government's effort to distribute free needles.
5) Discuss: "Should a scholarship student return to his country to work after his course overseas?"
6) Why do you think you deserve this scholarship?
Please don't ask me how I answered them, it is YOU who's going to be interviewed after all. And you shall see for yourself if you deserve the scholarship or not.
However, I can only tell you that you need to be confident at all times, have a sharp mind and be able to think and respond correctly. Present yourself in an agreeable manner. Be ready to answer any questions: be frank and stay correct. Basic social skills: Eye contact with the interviewers, sit up straight, don't cross your legs, speak clearly and don't tremble or else your nervousness will show, and of course, be polite and do not interrupt anyone, not the interviewers nor the other candidates. Oh and do wish Good Morning/Afternoon and do not sit until you're told to.
Well I did write about the 6th question some time ago, if you want to know what my answer was: http://leongfm.blogspot.com/2010/03/hope.html
Haha you can prepare yourself in case that question really comes again, but if you're thinking of using my answer... Well go ahead, I just hope that you can be as convincing as I did and not sounding as if you're reading a script from some movie you saw. Good luck.
And for the rest of you, all the best and may God bless you. =)
The biggest mistake a person can make is thinking that a 1% chance of success is a 100% sure failure. No matter how slim the chance can be, you can still put your hopes on that one FINE chance. One FINE chance, that's all you need, if you deserve it. He will make sure of it.
EDIT: And most importantly, SMILE. Don't smile like a pervert can d lah ok.
EDIT: The following entry has been made for motivational purposes only. Don't go muka tembok say, "JPA know that this scholarship is for me! I'm that DAMN GOOD"
7 comments:
Thank you =) You give me much confidence.
thank you so much. i really appreciate it. you make it sound easy to get this scholarship. wish me luck. i took korean engineering.
lala: great. stay confident and correct and you should be fine. you need not necessary to impress the interviewers because many people do fail in their attempts to impress: they often talk too long, sound fake and unnatural, and even sound annoying. the interviewers won't appreciate a candidate's acting, but rather a matured mind. all the best to you. =)
syaza: you're very welcome. i wouldn't say it's easy to get this scholarship but it certainly can be less difficult than what it seems in most students' eyes. sure if there are students getting the scholarship, there will definitely be students not getting it.
but i believe that it would be such a shame if you were to be a perfect fit to get this scholarship, but you blew it all away just because you went nervous and frightened. i believe this is one way i could help many students out there, to see the interview the way i saw it. and i had one less problem, one of the biggest problems among students even, going through this interview. it's not easy, but it could be less difficult.
all the best to you syaza. my 2 ex-classmates will be your senior if you get it. =)
thanks again!It's over already.I don't think i did it well but ..whatever really hope i can get it!
if i applied for a particular course in JPA online application, can i change the course? should i tell the interviewers? or what?
I don't know... no doubt it's going to be complicated. I don't know if you should tell the interviewers or not, but perhaps if you really want to ask, you should ask at the end after the interview.
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