Chances for Banneker Scholarship

<p>Apparently there is a scholarship for UMD that gives a full ride (tuition, room and board, allowance). However, the selection process involves an interview which I'm really bad at. I really want to get this scholarship so UMD is my first choice. What are my chances? Is it:
1. I'll get it no sweat
2. I'll have to have a great interview
3. I have no chance</p>

<p>I live in state. </p>

<p>Student:</p>

<p>User Name: a778999
College Class Year: 2011</p>

<p>Academics:</p>

<p>GPA - Unweighted: 3.93
GPA - Weighted: 4.74
Class Rank: top 10%</p>

<p>Scores:</p>

<p>SAT I Math: 800
SAT I Critical Reading: 740
SAT I Writing: 760
SAT II World History: 580
SAT II Math Level 2 (IIC): 800
SAT II Chemistry: 770
SAT II French: 670</p>

<p>Extracurriculars:</p>

<p>Significant Extracurriculars: Math Team
Junior State of America
Concert Band
Robotics Team
Summer research internship at UMD
Leadership positions: Treasurer for Junior State of America
National Honor Society
Athletic Status - list sport and your level: Volleyball: Recreational Clinic
Volunteer/Service Work: counselor-in-training
teaching assistant at saturday school
Weekend/Evening Kids Action Network
Honors and Awards: AP Scholar with Distinction
National Merit Semifinalist
Maryland Distinguished Scholar
American Regions Math League second place team
UMD Chemathon fourth place team
UMD High School Mathematics Competition Honorable Mention
USAMTS Honorable Mention
College Summer programs: JHU Center for Talented Youth Study of Exceptional Talent</p>

<p>Colleges of Interest:</p>

<p>College: University of Maryland - College Park, Choice #: 1, ED/EA: Yes, Athlete: No, Legacy: No, Status: Will Apply
College: Massachusetts Institute of Technology, Choice #: 2, ED/EA: No, Athlete: No, Legacy: No, Status: Will Apply
College: California Institute of Technology, Choice #: 3, ED/EA: No, Athlete: No, Legacy: No, Status: Will Apply
College: Washington University in St. Louis, Choice #: 4, ED/EA: No, Athlete: No, Legacy: No, Status: Will Apply
College: Duke University, Choice #: 5, ED/EA: No, Athlete: No, Legacy: No, Status: Will Apply</p>

<p>Desired College Characteristics:</p>

<p>Location type: Urban, Small City
Size: </p>

<p>Area: East Coast, West Coast
Importance of cost: Extremely important</p>

<p>Were you a MD Distinguished Scholar finalist or semi? From what I understand, it makes a difference in that finalists can count on it a little more than semi's</p>

<p>I am a finalist</p>

<p>i would think you have a very good chance of at least getting an interview.</p>

<p>You'll most likely get an interview; just make sure your essay is solid--the majority of my interview involved discussing the experience I wrote about, but it really depends on the interviewers...I heard extremely varied experiences with the B/K interviews.</p>

<p>I had the B/K scholarship and I would be willing to say that you probably have a good chance of at least getting a interview. I was a MD Distinguished Scholar finalist, and everyone I know who was older than me that got the scholarship was a finalist as well. </p>

<p>And don't worry about the interview. I went to mine half awake, on 3 hours of sleep and it went very well. We didn't even really talk about my essay or activities that much in particular. I think it makes a big difference if you try to go in relaxed and natural, instead of trying too hard to impress the interviewers.</p>

<p>Echo ^ about the interview. I have that scholarship (decided not going to UMD, though). Nothing stressing; they ask very casual questions. </p>

<p>pt. of curiosity: you put UMD ahead of MIT, CalTech, etc..? Wow</p>

<p>Yeah I put UMD as my first choice b/c if I get into MIT but also have UMD full ride, I'd probably go to UMD. Caltech is just too small for me. </p>

<p>What kinds specific of questions do they ask for the interview? How can I prepare? I don't know if I can act relaxed since I am very shy and nervous in real life.</p>

<p>I don't think that anyone can tell you the specific questions that they ask in the interviews. It really depends on who your interviewers are. When I went for my interview you were assigned a room to go to and there were 3 interviewers per room. So all in all it's a pretty random process. I also don't know that you can prepare for an interview like that. I heard some people say that their interviewers asked specific questions based on their applications and others talked about everything but their applications. </p>

<p>I know the one thing they asked me about my application had nothing to do with my academics or activities. It was about what I had written under the question on my parents' careers. My father has an unusual occupation and we mostly talked about that. </p>

<p>So I hate to say it but I don't think anyone can tell you how to prepare for your interview or what kind of specific questions they will ask. It's one of those things where you just have to be able to go with the flow, which I think is the whole point of the interview. It shows them who you are beyond the numbers and statistics.</p>