It seems like a life-time ago when I came to the University of Louisville to interview for the McConnell Scholars Program. It was on this weekend a few years ago that I ended up meeting some of my closest friends and most respected mentors(some Scholars and alumni can even say this is where they first met their current or future spouse!).
This weekend we have around thirty new prospective scholars coming to participate in a process that will be virtually the same as when I and all the current scholars went through. The McConnell Scholar interview is an intense two-day process separated by a social on Friday night. Each student will have a number of group and solo interviews that will test their knowledge, personality, and creativity. The interviewers consist of McConnell Center alumni, UofL proffessors, and UofL faculty. The caliber of the interviews can be pretty intimidating for a high school student, but everyone involved in the process is usually very accommodating. There is also a brief orientation about the details of the program put on by the students and Dr. Gregg. Usually, we are very lucky to have special guests like Shirley Willihnganz (UofL Provost) and Senator McConnell himself to speak about the program and the University of Louisville.
My advice to anyone coming to be interviewed would be to above all be yourself, don't try and pretend to be someone that you aren't. Secondly, make sure that the program is right for you - even if you are selected it's your choice to join it. Also, you might want to brush up on your American History and the American Political Processes.
The weekend can be an exhausting one for the students, the staff, and the interviewees, but it serves as a great reminder of how lucky we are to be involved with such a special program. I also enjoy meeting some of the most talented and impressive students from around the state of Kentucky. Even though only ten get it each year, I feel confident that all thirty applicants here this weekend will be significant leaders for our generation.
This weekend we have around thirty new prospective scholars coming to participate in a process that will be virtually the same as when I and all the current scholars went through. The McConnell Scholar interview is an intense two-day process separated by a social on Friday night. Each student will have a number of group and solo interviews that will test their knowledge, personality, and creativity. The interviewers consist of McConnell Center alumni, UofL proffessors, and UofL faculty. The caliber of the interviews can be pretty intimidating for a high school student, but everyone involved in the process is usually very accommodating. There is also a brief orientation about the details of the program put on by the students and Dr. Gregg. Usually, we are very lucky to have special guests like Shirley Willihnganz (UofL Provost) and Senator McConnell himself to speak about the program and the University of Louisville.
My advice to anyone coming to be interviewed would be to above all be yourself, don't try and pretend to be someone that you aren't. Secondly, make sure that the program is right for you - even if you are selected it's your choice to join it. Also, you might want to brush up on your American History and the American Political Processes.
The weekend can be an exhausting one for the students, the staff, and the interviewees, but it serves as a great reminder of how lucky we are to be involved with such a special program. I also enjoy meeting some of the most talented and impressive students from around the state of Kentucky. Even though only ten get it each year, I feel confident that all thirty applicants here this weekend will be significant leaders for our generation.