U IDE ns

at
G ti o
PLE
s
M 0 que
SA ith
14
lleg d
e!
I S IS A ew
uid ia.sg | co
te
TH e g s ily Q ugges ur
pag acha ,D a s yo
f ull 75 ww.re *** rvice on and ay in sg
e sti Fri d
ual w s
tter w que y and achas
ia.
e act s l e
t th ie
new interv dnesd www.
a re
Ge ee t
r n ,W e .
to f ere rge
cribe a diff onday of cha
s
o , sub eceive very M ly free
s r e
Al
u will oints e mplet
o
Y ing p x, c o
talk ail bo
em

college
University Admissions/
Scholarship Interview Guide
16 commonly asked questions and
suggested talking points
By Tony K Tan

DISCOVERING THE UNIQUE YOU

From an Asia Perspective

Copyright © 2009 TKT Consulting Pte Ltd. All Rights Reserved.

Notice of Rights: No part of this book may be reproduced or transmitted in any form or by any means, electronic,
mechanical, photocopying, recording, or otherwise, without the prior written permission of the publisher.
 “ To break into the elite tier of US colleges, students have to distinguish
themselves as renaissance individuals. Or in Oprah terms, demonstrate
emotional and social intelligences beyond the usual IQ which Asian
students are good in. Tony K Tan's book provides practical advice to
develop the communication skills needed to carry this off. As a graduate of
two prestigious universities and having led corporate recruiting at these
institutions, I found his approach relevant and practical. Asian students
need the finishing skills which their American peers naturally tend to
develop in a more extroverted and reflective society. A worthwhile
investment for those wanting to break into the Ivy League club.”

P. Khoo, BA Stanford, MBA University of Chicago, Credit Analyst

"Insightful, useful and practical for any university or scholarship applicant

preparing for interviews. A must read!"

C.S. Tan, SB, SM, Massachusetts Institute of Technology '99,

Scholarship Winner, Banker

“The principles in this guide apply not only to college, but also to first time
job recruiting. Highly recommended”

H. W. Hee, B.S. Columbia University ’02, Investment Professional

www.reachasia.sg college
2
Content

Chapter 1
Interview Preparations 4
– Section 1.1: Overview
– Section 1.2: Top 10 Interview Tips

Chapter 2
Interview Questions 8
– Chapter 2.1: Personal
– Chapter 2.2: High school related
– Chapter 2.3: College/university related
– Chapter 2.4: “Well roundedness” related
– Chapter 2.5: Interviewer related (available in full
guide only)

Chapter 3
Conclusion 17

college
3
 college
Chapter 1: Interview Preparations

DISCOVERING THE UNIQUE YOU

From an Asia Perspective
 Interview Preparations
Chapter 1.1: Overview
So this is how it works…If you have been invited for university/ scholarship
interviews, congratulations! You are one step ahead of the rest of the application
pool! But do not get too excited yet…hold your horses! You still have a little
more to go to GET ACCEPTED or win that COVETED SCHOLARSHIP! The
good news is you are reading this guide, and it will teach you on how to STAND
OUT, how to DRAW the interviewers’ attention, and how to WIN the GAME!

To be invited to an interview simply means “Hmm, I like this candidate, he/she

looks great on paper, but I wonder if he/she is as good in real life…let’s find out!”
University interviews, particularly for schools in the United States are usually
conducted by an alumni while scholarship interviews may be conducted by a
panel of interviewers. In both cases, they are conducted with the following broad
objectives:

To ascertain how genuinely interested you are of their institution

~ Is our school/ scholarship application just application number 25 on your list?

Are we back up schools/ scholarship applications? How badly do you really want
this?~

To assess your “soft” skills and determine how interpersonal and intellectually
curious you are

~ Can you be one of us and fit into our institution/organization? Can you really
contribute to the academic and professional surroundings? Are you a nice
person and do I like you? ~

To confirm claims in your admissions/scholarship application and/or reinforce

the existing assessment of your candidacy

~Are you telling us nothing but the truth? Are you as good as you sound on
paper?~

www.reachasia.sg college
5
 Interview Preparations
Chapter 1.1: Overview
Interviews should not be stressful or intimidating! Instead, interviews are
supposed to be exciting, engaging, and definitely not a one way street
discussion. Bear in mind that the best interviews are just like your conversations
with your friends or classmates, stress-free but insightful.

Interview questions can be quite predictable and very often, questions within a
broad category are more or less the same. That said, there are subtle
differences that you need to note and tweak your responses accordingly.

But please, please do not memorize the suggested answers in Chapter 2! Your
life experiences are different from mine and from the person sitting next to you in
class. Everyone of you is a unique individual with interesting life stories to tell.
Instead, you should use this guide for the following:

Identify what the most commonly asked interview questions are.

Know how these questions are phrased differently in different scenarios.

Distinguish the subtle differences of the commonly asked questions and know
how to respond accordingly.

Understand the mindsets of the interviewer and what they are looking for.

Recognize potential talking points/signposts that you can adapt and tweak to
make it your very own answer.

Put on your thinking caps to come up with the best responses based on your
very own unique experiences.

So, how do you be stress free in the interview process? There is no magic
formula except to really just do your homework! Approach your interview with a
clear strategy. The following page gives you the top 10 interview tips!

www.reachasia.sg college
6
 Interview Preparations
Chapter 1.2: Top 10 Interview Tips

1. Preparation is key and you need to know your application inside out.

2. Research, research and more research on the school/scholarship

organization! Talk to alumni.

3. Do not try to be someone you are not.

4. Elaborate and illustrate but be brief and succinct.

5. Listen carefully to the question.

6. Ask the right questions.

7. Be humble, but do not be shy.

8. Mind your language!

9. Mind your body language!!

10. Be relaxed.

www.reachasia.sg college
7
 college
Chapter 2: Interview Questions
Chapter 2.1: Personal
Chapter 2.2: High school related
Chapter 2.3: College/university related
Chapter 2.4: “Well roundedness” related
Chapter 2.5: Interviewer related (available in full
guide only)

DISCOVERING THE UNIQUE YOU

From an Asia Perspective
 Interview Questions
Chapter 2.1: Personal

Which
Which three
three words
words best
best describe
describe you?
you?

Be

Be positive
positive and
and upbeat.
upbeat. DoDo not
not mention
mention adjectives
adjectives that
that are
are negative.
negative.

Make

Make sure
sure you
you provide
provide solid
solid evidences
evidences to to back
back up
up your
your claims.
claims. Interviewers
Interviewers have
have
heard
heard of
of many
many similar
similar and
and sometimes
sometimes clichécliché adjectives/words
adjectives/words in in the
the course
course ofof their
their
interviewing.
interviewing. But
But they
they probably
probably have have notnot heard
heard "tenacity"
"tenacity" told
told in
in your
your own
own personal
personal
story
story of
of how
how you
you went
went from
from aa “C”
“C” student
student to to an
an “A”
“A” student
student byby working
working twice
twice as
as hard
hard
as
as your
your peers,
peers, taking
taking on
on extra
extra assignments,
assignments, and and most
most importantly,
importantly, refusing
refusing toto give
give
up
up on
on yourself.
yourself.

Your

Your choice
choice of
of adjectives
adjectives is is important
important butbut your
your personal
personal stories
stories that
that bring
bring alive
alive each
each
adjective are what the interviewer will remember
adjective are what the interviewer will remember you by. you by.

Are
Are you
you aa good
good leader?
leader? Why?
Why?

This

This question
question does
does notnot just
just ask
ask about
about your
your leadership
leadership experience
experience but
but also
also how
how you
you
have
have excelled in that experience. Good leaders are humble, recognize strength in
excelled in that experience. Good leaders are humble, recognize strength in
diversity by co-opting the different opinions and views within the group
diversity by co-opting the different opinions and views within the group to reach ato reach a
sound
sound conclusion.
conclusion.

A good leader

A good leader is
is inclusive,
inclusive, not
not authoritative,
authoritative, decisive
decisive yet
yet not
not overly
overly opinionated.
opinionated.
Remember
Remember to always include a "result" with your experience. How was your
to always include a "result" with your experience. How was your
leadership recognized and do the closest people around
leadership recognized and do the closest people around you concur? you concur?

www.reachasia.sg college
9
 Interview Questions
Chapter 2.1: Personal (cont’d)

Tell
Tell me
me about
about aa failure,
failure, either
either academic
academic or
or personal,
personal, that
that you
you encountered
encountered and
and
how you overcome it?
how you overcome it?

Interviewers

Interviewers are are trying
trying toto determine
determine aa few few things
things here.
here. First,
First, are
are you
you able
able to
to
succinctly
succinctly frame
frame and and communicate
communicate the the failure.
failure. Second,
Second, can can you
you convince
convince the
the
interviewer
interviewer that
that you
you have
have thethe abilities
abilities toto pick
pick yourself
yourself up up from
from this
this particular
particular failure,
failure,
learn
learn from
from it,
it, and
and move
move on.on.

Essentially,

Essentially, interviewers
interviewers wantwant to to know
know youyou possess
possess the the finesse
finesse to to overcome
overcome
potential
potential failures
failures in in university
university life.
life. You
You can
can keep
keep this
this thought
thought process
process in in mind
mind asas you
you
think
think about
about thisthis question:
question: what what was was that
that failure,
failure, what
what happened,
happened, how how you
you learnt
learnt from
from
it,
it, what
what you
you diddid differently,
differently, andand whatwhat were
were the
the positive
positive changes
changes thereafter.
thereafter.

Was

Was there
there someone
someone in in your
your life
life that
that influenced
influenced you you to
to take
take that
that academic
academic failure
failure
seriously by encouraging you along the way? If so, talk
seriously by encouraging you along the way? If so, talk about this person. about this person.

What
What do
do you
you see
see yourself
yourself doing
doing 10
10 years
years from
from now?
now?

Interviewers

Interviewers are are not
not expecting
expecting youyou to
to have
have your
your entire
entire future
future mapped
mapped out.
out. In
In fact,
fact,
they
they areare aware
aware thatthat university
university experience
experience is is every
every bit
bit an
an exploratory
exploratory one
one that
that allows
allows
you
you to to think
think more
more about
about your
your future.
future.

IfIf there

there are
are aa few
few career
career paths
paths that
that you
you are
are contemplating,
contemplating, talktalk about
about what
what they
they are.
are.
Then discuss how you intend to use your university experience
Then discuss how you intend to use your university experience to narrow down to narrow down
these
these choices.
choices.

This approach tells

This approach tells the
the interviewer
interviewer that
that you
you have
have given
given your
your future
future some
some thoughts,
thoughts,
and
and that you will be sensible enough to make full use of the next few years to
that you will be sensible enough to make full use of the next few years to
prepare yourself post university.
prepare yourself post university.

IfIf you

you are
are interviewing
interviewing for for scholarships,
scholarships, youyou should
should see
see yourself
yourself in
in an
an impactful,
impactful,
enthusiastic
enthusiastic and and contributing
contributing role
role given
given the
the nurturing
nurturing opportunities
opportunities that
that exist
exist inin that
that
interviewing
interviewing organization.
organization.

www.reachasia.sg college
10
 Interview Questions
Chapter 2.2: High school related

What
What would
would you
you change
change about
about your
your high
high school
school ifif you
you had
had the
the power
power to
to do
do so?
so?

ItIt will

will be
be tempting
tempting to to tell
tell the
the interviewer
interviewer all all the
the horrible
horrible experiences
experiences you you went
went through
through
in
in high
high school.
school. Remember
Remember that that schools/
schools/ scholarship
scholarship organizations
organizations want want students
students
who
who will will make
make thethe best
best ofof their
their university
university experiences,
experiences, including
including the the bad
bad ones.
ones.

AA better

better wayway toto answer
answer this this is
is to
to start
start the
the conversation
conversation by by telling
telling thethe interviewer
interviewer howhow
much
much you you have
have benefited
benefited from from your
your high
high school
school experience.
experience. But But ifif there
there is
is one
one thing
thing
you
you would
would likelike the
the school
school to to improve
improve on. on. itit will
will be
be X,Y,
X,Y, Z.
Z.

Always

Always be be diplomatic
diplomatic whenwhen talking
talking about
about youryour high
high school
school as as itit could
could bebe telling
telling in
in
terms of the kind of alumni you will become. Universities
terms of the kind of alumni you will become. Universities want students who will want students who will
become
become fruitful
fruitful alumni.
alumni.

IfIf you
you were
were the
the principal
principal of
of your
your school,
school, what
what would
would you
you change?
change?

This

This isis slightly
slightly different
different from
from questions
questions that
that ask
ask how
how you
you would
would like
like to
to change
change your
your
high
high school. For this question, you need to role play as a principal. You should think
school. For this question, you need to role play as a principal. You should think
about
about the repercussions of your actions to the wider high school community such as
the repercussions of your actions to the wider high school community such as
the teacher and student
the teacher and student bodies. bodies.

In doing

In doing the the above
above demonstrates
demonstrates someone
someone who who displays
displays good
good leadership
leadership qualities
qualities
and adopts an inclusive attitude in decision making. This necessarily
and adopts an inclusive attitude in decision making. This necessarily also means also means
that
that the
the candidate
candidate possesses
possesses aa maturity
maturity that
that is
is likely
likely to
to bode
bode well
well for
for him
him in
in
university life or within the scholarship organization.
university life or within the scholarship organization.

www.reachasia.sg college
11
 Interview Questions
Chapter 2.2: High school related (cont’d)

Who
Who is
is your
your favorite
favorite teacher?
teacher? Why?
Why?

Make

Make suresure this
this particular
particular person
person hashas left
left an
an impression
impression and and aa positive
positive impact
impact in in your
your
life.
life. This
This teacher
teacher cancan bebe someone
someone outside
outside of of your
your high
high school,
school, or
or even
even someone
someone
from
from earlier
earlier years
years of
of your
your life.
life.

AA couple

couple of of things
things to
to remember
remember as as you
you answer
answer thisthis question.
question. Describe
Describe this
this teacher
teacher
such
such that
that the
the interviewer
interviewer will
will be
be able
able to
to form
form an an image
image of of him
him oror her.
her. Keep
Keep itit short
short
but
but descriptive.
descriptive. Remember
Remember you you want
want toto keep
keep thethe interview
interview asas personal
personal asas possible
possible
and
and trytry to
to connect
connect with
with the
the interviewer.
interviewer. Imageries
Imageries help.help.

You

You need
need to to of
of course
course talk
talk about
about how
how this
this teacher
teacher hashas impacted
impacted you.you. Remember
Remember to to
also chat about how you plan to keep in touch
also chat about how you plan to keep in touch with this teacher! with this teacher!

IfIf you
you could
could do
do so,
so, how
how would
would you
you plan
plan your
your academic
academic studies
studies differently?
differently?

The

The keykey isis not
not to
to demonstrate
demonstrate any any traces
traces of
of regret
regret when
when responding
responding to to this
this question.
question.
This
This isis aa good
good chance
chance to to address
address any
any academic
academic weakness
weakness or or lack
lack of
of academic
academic rigor
rigor
in
in your
your application.
application.

Take

Take aa step
step back
back and
and think
think about
about which
which academic
academic weaknesses
weaknesses exist exist in
in your
your
application
application and use them as a guide to how you would plan your academic studies
and use them as a guide to how you would plan your academic studies
differently. This new "plan" should, as far as possible, address
differently. This new "plan" should, as far as possible, address these weaknesses. these weaknesses.

Although

Although aa very very theoretical
theoretical exercise,
exercise, answering
answering thisthis question
question wellwell tells
tells the
the
interviewer
interviewer that that you
you have
have given
given much
much thoughts
thoughts into
into your
your existing
existing academic
academic progress.
progress.
ItIt also
also gives
gives insights
insights to
to the
the steps
steps that
that you
you are
are likely
likely to
to take
take to
to improve
improve yourself.
yourself.

www.reachasia.sg college
12
 Interview Questions
Chapter 2.3: College/university related

IfIf you
you were
were accepted
accepted by
by five
five universities,
universities, how
how will
will you
you decide
decide which
which one
one to
to go?
go?

Interviewers

Interviewers ask
ask this
this cheekily
cheekily to
to find
find out
out which
which other
other universities
universities youyou have
have applied
applied to.
to.
Never forget that you should continue to communicate why you
Never forget that you should continue to communicate why you want to enter the want to enter the
said
said university.
university.

Any

Any suggestion
suggestion that
that another
another university
university is is better
better oror that
that the
the said
said university
university isis not
not your
your
top
top choice
choice will
will most
most definitely
definitely affect
affect your
your candidacy.
candidacy.

That

That said,
said, you
you can
can bebe candid
candid in
in terms
terms ofof your
your own
own university
university selection
selection criteria
criteria and
and
how these criteria came about. Are these criteria based on family
how these criteria came about. Are these criteria based on family influences? Class influences? Class
offerings?
offerings? Diversity
Diversity of of campus
campus life?
life? Always
Always endend with
with how
how youyou think
think the
the said
said
university will be ideal for you based on your
university will be ideal for you based on your criteria. criteria.

Imagine
Imagine you
you are
are in
in an
an auditorium
auditorium as as aa representative
representative of
of [name
[name of
of university],
university], what
what
will
will you
you tell
tell the
the audience
audience about
about the
the school?
school?

This

This isis aa question
question to to test
test how
how much
much you
you knowknow about
about the the school
school and
and the
the profile
profile ofof
students
students the school admits. Above all, this is an indirect question to ascertain if you
the school admits. Above all, this is an indirect question to ascertain if you
are a good
are a good fit. fit.

A creative

A creative way way to to answer
answer thisthis question
question is is to
to think
think about
about the
the various
various goals
goals you
you intend
intend
to accomplish in university. For example, you may want
to accomplish in university. For example, you may want to major in Art History to major in Art History
because
because the the school
school is is top
top ranked
ranked inin the
the nation,
nation, andand you you want
want to
to study
study under
under
Professor ABC because she is well known in
Professor ABC because she is well known in her field of study. her field of study.

You

You can
can then
then answer
answer thisthis question
question asas ifif you
you havehave already
already accomplished
accomplished the the above,
above, ""
II am
am anan Art
Art History
History major
major from
from [name
[name of of university],
university], whichwhich has
has the
the best
best faculty
faculty in in my
my
field
field of
of study.
study. II studied
studied under
under Professor
Professor ABC ABC for for the
the past
past two
two years
years and
and here
here are
are aa
few unique things about the Art History
few unique things about the Art History program...” program...”

www.reachasia.sg college
13
 Interview Questions
Chapter 2.3: College/university related (cont’d)

What
What are
are your
your other
other plans
plans ifif you
you do
do not
not get
get into
into [name
[name of
of university]?
university]?

You

You should
should start
start by
by reiterating
reiterating (briefly)
(briefly) why
why the the said
said university
university is is ideal
ideal for
for you,
you, but
but
you
you also
also recognize
recognize that that there
there are
are aa few
few other
other universities
universities that
that are
are justjust as
as strong
strong inin
your
your intended
intended field
field ofof study.
study.

Talk

Talk about
about why
why itit is
is important
important to to be
be optimistic
optimistic yetyet at
at the
the same
same time
time pragmatic
pragmatic in in the
the
university
university application
application process.
process. Highlight
Highlight your
your earnestness
earnestness and and enthusiasm
enthusiasm in in
furthering
furthering your
your intellectual
intellectual development
development in in the
the next
next phase
phase of of your
your life,
life, which
which can
can bebe
accomplished
accomplished ideally
ideally at at the
the said
said school,
school, failing
failing which
which itit can
can be
be done
done in in other
other
institutions
institutions as
as well.
well.

Refocus

Refocus back
back to
to why
why the the said
said school
school is is your
your toptop choice.
choice.

What
What do
do you
you think
think aa [name
[name of
of university/scholarship
university/scholarship organization]
organization] student
student is
is like?
like?

Look

Look at at the
the admissions
admissions statistics,
statistics, admissions
admissions brochures
brochures and
and university
university website
website for
for
clues.
clues. Where
Where do do the
the students
students come
come from?
from? Is Is the
the university
university an
an extremely
extremely international
international
school?
school? WhatWhat sort
sort of
of careers
careers dodo the
the graduates
graduates pursue?
pursue?

Please

Please do do not
not cite
cite word
word for
for word
word the the content
content ofof the
the admissions
admissions marketing
marketing materials.
materials.
IfIf you
you have talked to alumni or contacts from the school, bring it up. All the better
have talked to alumni or contacts from the school, bring it up. All the better ifif
you
you have
have been
been toto the
the university
university andand talked
talked toto the
the students.
students.

Perhaps someone you know is from the same school. Is

Perhaps someone you know is from the same school. Is this
this person
person aa role
role model
model or or
someone whom you look up to? Perhaps he embodies the
someone whom you look up to? Perhaps he embodies the qualities of this school? qualities of this school?
What
What areare these
these qualities?
qualities?

To

To adapt
adapt the
the above
above responses
responses for for scholarship
scholarship applications,
applications, students
students should
should replace
replace
references
references to to university
university with
with scholarship
scholarship organizations.
organizations.

www.reachasia.sg college
14
 Interview Questions
Chapter 2.4: Well roundedness

What
What would
would you
you do
do ifif you
you can
can take
take aa one
one year
year sabbatical
sabbatical before
before commencing
commencing
university?
university?

Your

Your response
response should
should reflect
reflect aspirations
aspirations andand interests
interests that
that are
are important
important enough
enough for for
you
you to
to want
want toto take
take aa year
year off.
off. You
You should
should answer
answer this
this question
question as as though
though money
money is is
not
not an
an issue.
issue.

The

The common
common mistake
mistake students
students makemake when
when answering
answering thisthis question
question is is to
to only
only talk
talk
about
about going
going toto some
some farfar flung
flung place
place toto help
help the
the poor
poor or
or build
build schools,
schools, thinking
thinking that
that isis
what
what the
the interviewers
interviewers wantwant to to hear.
hear. Nothing
Nothing is is wrong
wrong with
with community
community service,
service, ifif you
you
really
really mean
mean itit and
and have
have aa track
track record
record ofof community
community giving
giving to
to substantiate
substantiate this this point.
point.

Maybe

Maybe you you want
want to to spend
spend aa year
year "getting
"getting back"
back" toto your
your cultural
cultural roots
roots to
to learn
learn about
about
your ethnicity? Maybe you are excited about a certain industry,
your ethnicity? Maybe you are excited about a certain industry, and you think by and you think by
having
having real
real hands
hands on on experience
experience can can shed
shed more
more light
light on
on the
the classes
classes youyou want
want toto
take in university? Talk about these
take in university? Talk about these instead. instead.

IfIf you
you can
can go
go back
back in
in time
time and
and change
change history,
history, what
what time
time period
period will
will you
you go
go to
to and
and
what
what will
will you
you do?
do?

Remember

Remember to to do
do research
research on
on this
this question
question and
and know
know your
your history.
history.

One of the best responses that I have heard of this question came

One of the best responses that I have heard of this question came from
from aa student
student
who
who studied Southeast Asian history. He picked the Second World War and added
studied Southeast Asian history. He picked the Second World War and added
that
that he would ensure the British Army more than sufficiently deploy their forces and
he would ensure the British Army more than sufficiently deploy their forces and
weaponry at the northern part of Singapore as Singapore was
weaponry at the northern part of Singapore as Singapore was attacked by the attacked by the
Japanese
Japanese army
army from
from the
the north.
north. InIn doing
doing so,
so, he
he hoped
hoped to to potentially
potentially avoid
avoid the
the
Japanese Occupation of Singapore.
Japanese Occupation of Singapore.

You

You can
can be
be as
as imaginative
imaginative as
as you
you want
want to
to be
be in
in terms
terms ofof how
how you
you want
want history
history to
to be
be
rewritten.
rewritten.

www.reachasia.sg college
15
 Interview Questions
Chapter 2.4: Well roundedness (cont’d)

What
What personal
personal or
or professional
professional characteristics
characteristics would
would you
you like
like to
to see
see yourself
yourself build
build
up in the next four years?
up in the next four years?

Address

Address this
this question
question fromfrom knowledge
knowledge of of your
your strengths
strengths andand weaknesses.
weaknesses. For For
example,
example, ifif you
you are
are aa strong
strong student
student leader,
leader, talk
talk about
about how
how you
you intend
intend toto continue
continue
building
building your
your leadership
leadership skills
skills by
by getting
getting involved
involved in in certain
certain organizations
organizations suchsuch as
as the
the
university
university student
student government.
government.

Maybe

Maybe you
you areare aa budding
budding banker
banker but but you
you dodo not
not have
have finance
finance knowledge.
knowledge. You You can
can
talk
talk about
about how
how you
you intend
intend toto take
take the
the relevant
relevant finance
finance classes
classes and
and liaise
liaise with
with alumni
alumni
from
from that
that sector
sector to to get
get more
more information.
information.

Answering

Answering thisthis question
question by by referencing
referencing your
your strengths
strengths and
and weaknesses
weaknesses show show aa
candidate
candidate whowho has
has aa good
good idea
idea of
of who
who hehe or
or she
she is,
is, and
and how
how he
he or
or she
she intends
intends to
to
maximize the upcoming university experience for personal and
maximize the upcoming university experience for personal and academic growth. academic growth.

Can
Can you
you tell
tell me
me about
about aa cross-cultural
cross-cultural experience?
experience?

As

As universities
universities typically
typically admit
admit students
students from
from allall over
over the the world,
world, they
they embrace
embrace cultural
cultural
diversity
diversity and
and want
want students
students who
who can
can appreciate
appreciate diversity.
diversity. This
This is
is aa good
good time
time to
to
bring
bring up
up your
your experiences
experiences in in another
another country,
country, be be itit leisure,
leisure, summer
summer classes,
classes, cultural
cultural
exchanges
exchanges etc.etc. You
You can
can also
also talk
talk about
about that
that foreign
foreign exchange
exchange student
student in in your
your class
class
whom
whom youyou interacted
interacted with.
with.

In

In your
your discussions,
discussions, you you need
need toto display
display enthusiasm
enthusiasm and and curiosity
curiosity inin understanding
understanding
the
the cultures of a different country, and emphasize how such knowledge gives
cultures of a different country, and emphasize how such knowledge gives you
you aa
broader
broader sense
sense ofof the
the world
world that
that you
you live
live in.
in.

Talk about what you learnt from the cross cultural

Talk about what you learnt from the cross cultural friendships
friendships you
you forged
forged and
and the
the eye
eye
opening experiences you came across. Compare and contrast
opening experiences you came across. Compare and contrast what you experienced what you experienced
with
with the
the culture
culture that
that you
you are
are brought
brought up up in.
in.

www.reachasia.sg college
16
 college
Chapter 3: Conclusion

DISCOVERING THE UNIQUE YOU

From an Asia Perspective
 Conclusion
I hope you have found the sample guide helpful. For a more comprehensive
guide, you want to consider buying the complete 75 page REACH’s University
Admissions/ Scholarship Interview Guide, with 140 commonly asked
questions and suggested talking points.

In the comprehensive guide, you will find indepth discussions on the Overview of
the Interview Process as well as the preparation signposts for the Top 10
interview tips and preparation. The comprehensive guide will discuss the 5 core
Interview questions categories, Personal, High school related,
College/university related , “Well roundedness” related and Interviewer related.
Most importantly, you will have 140 practice questions and will be able to know
why the interviewer asks certain questions and what he/she expects in your
responses. Buy it at www.reachasia.sg for only SGD$30.

Subscribe to our free email newsletter service, Daily Q | college! You will
receive a different interview question and suggested talking points every
Monday, Wednesday and Friday in your email box, completely free of charge.
Visit www.reachasia.sg to subscribe.
***
Founded by Tony K Tan, public relations consultant turned investment banker,
REACH is an Asia based college | mba | career advisory & services firm set up
to:

Assist Asia based and Asian university/MBA aspirants differentiate
themselves, navigate through and shine in the admissions process, to gain
entry into the academic institutions of their choice.

Empower investment banking and finance career aspirants with the insights
and skills to prepare and successfully overcome the highly selective summer
or full time recruitment process of top global investment banks.

Utilizing our proprietary three pronged REACH ApproachTM, and tapping into
previous successful admissions, cross border educational and professional
experiences in the top academic institutions and investment banks, REACH
offers the most practical advice to its clients to help them stand out from the
competition, and achieve their academic or career goals.

www.reachasia.sg college
18
 REACH Approach

Goals and
objectives A
A thorough
thorough

Self reflection
Standardized Work
DISCOVERY
DISCOVERY of

& analysis
tests experience of
yourself
yourself
==
Academic You
You Extracurricular
An
An arsenal
arsenal of
of
achievements
activities
anecdotes
anecdotes toto
share
share
Personal Professional
achievements achievements

Crystallizing
Crystallizing your
your
Analysis

positioning
Branding &
differentiating
differentiating
factors
factors ++ value
value
propositions
propositions
==
Your
Your own
own
UNIQUE
UNIQUE brand
brand
Your
Your unique
unique university
university
admissions/recruitment
admissions/recruitment brand
brand

Communication Communication Effective

Effective delivery
delivery
Delivery of
Communication

Channels Channels of
of your
your UNIQUE
UNIQUE
positioning brand
statements
brand
Essay 1 Cover letter Interviews Resume
through
through available
available
&
messages channels
channels
==
Application & Recommendation
Brag Sheet letters
ADMISSIONS/
ADMISSIONS/
RECRUITMENT
RECRUITMENT
SUCCESS
SUCCESS

Admission/Recruitment Committee

www.reachasia.sg college
19