Less than 3 hours from now, 30 ambitious and talented high school seniors will be heading into their first of an entire weekend of interviews that will ultimately determine the McConnell Scholar Class of 2017. The interview process for the McConnell Scholars Program is a rigorous two-day schedule during which each applicant participates in approximately 13 interviews that emphasize critical thinking and communication skills. These are not your typical “get to know you” interviews, because all of the selected applicants have already demonstrated academic achievement and leadership throughout their high school careers. Instead, interviews generally cover a wide range of topics such as, current events, historical significance, and today’s top political issues. In each interview, regardless of topic, the key is for applicants to take a stance and defend it well, in response to questions from the interviewers.
The interview process to become a McConnell Scholar is not easy. You have to be able to come up with creative arguments on the spot, and communicate them effectively with confidence and poise, no matter what questions are thrown at you. However, for those who are able to accomplish this, interview weekend is also an exciting insight into the kinds of debates and discussions that are a regular part of being a McConnell Scholar.
It is crazy for me to think that three years ago, I was one of those nervous high school seniors, unsure of what interview weekend would have in store for me. No matter which applicants are selected to be McConnell Scholars, interview weekend is just the beginning, just a taste of one of the amazing possibilities undergraduate education has to offer. And I wish all of the applicants best of luck with interviews, the rest of their high school careers, and their bright futures ahead.
The interview process to become a McConnell Scholar is not easy. You have to be able to come up with creative arguments on the spot, and communicate them effectively with confidence and poise, no matter what questions are thrown at you. However, for those who are able to accomplish this, interview weekend is also an exciting insight into the kinds of debates and discussions that are a regular part of being a McConnell Scholar.
It is crazy for me to think that three years ago, I was one of those nervous high school seniors, unsure of what interview weekend would have in store for me. No matter which applicants are selected to be McConnell Scholars, interview weekend is just the beginning, just a taste of one of the amazing possibilities undergraduate education has to offer. And I wish all of the applicants best of luck with interviews, the rest of their high school careers, and their bright futures ahead.