Avoid Mentioning Full-Ride Scholarship in Interviews?
- story removed to protect the innocent -
Is that guy just a dick or should I avoid mentioning my free education because it can piss people off?
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Can you mention it? Sure, if it comes up organically. Should you elaborate on your gratitude (which could be seen as a certain political view re public schools), especially when it's a complex and difficult topic for some American families? Probably not in many instances.
Seriously, just say something like "Big State University has been a good fit for me, and taking the scholarship was the right decision for my family."
Also, you should look people up on LinkedIn and maybe Google before meeting them.
Mention it but try not to brag about it too much. As the poster above said this is a sensitive issue where politics might come into play.
If it's a merit based scholarship definitely mention it as it's just another data point where someone (i.e. the school) evaluated your background and realized you were exceptional enough to give money to and reaffirms the good impression they have of you from a 30 minute interview. I received a scholarship to business school and had near the top of my resume something to the effect "Awarded $xx,000 per year scholarship granted to top x% of class for demonstrated academic excellence"...obviously change it for the actual criteria.
If it's a need based grant...leave it out.
To throw in the comment about being fortunate economically is completely ill advised. It either makes you sound self-conscious about going to a "public" school, and if you don't have confidence in your background why should an interviewer, or, as others said, it makes you seem like you are making a political statement, that may very well touch a nerve with the interviewer, depending on their background. Just avoid it.
As a side note, some people's obsession with public vs private school cracks me up. This is not the same as "target" vs. "semi-target" vs. "non-target" which actually matters. Some people talk like the best public high school or college is worse than the worst private school, which most people know isn't even close to reality. There are plenty of public schools that have more resources than private schools,, at least where I grew up, albeit most of the private schools were religious based, not east coast boarding schools, but still.
If it's merit based, that is a positive datapoint and you should leave it on. If asked about it just explain that it is awarded [insert criteria here, top x% of incoming students or whatever] and then just move on.
It is the "fortunate enough..." comment that killed you here.
Yeah merit based scholarships are definitely positive, but stating that you were "fortunate enough to have paid $0 in tuition for my entire life" seems unnecessary. I wouldn't say that in an interview, regardless of the interviewer's background.
Yes. Mention it when they ask why did you go to the school you did. That kills several birds with one stone.
The interviewer didn't pay for anything, his parents did. Talking about free public school is just stupid. Interview went down hill because you answered the question in the most awkward way I could imagine.
Per above, I think it's worth mentioning merit-based scholarships. At one level, it's an achievement, but beyond that, I think for people who care about "prestige" and school caliber, a scholarship signals that the applicant chose the school for financial reasons and not because they weren't able to get into a better school.
Agree. Like you mention it on your resume because it's an accomplishment, but you let the interviewer mention it. But you also don't mention the fact all your education was free as that isn't an accomplishment.
It's just basic common sense.
Side note, but I think people on this forum would be best served by socializing a lot more with people. Saying odd shit sabotages an interview far more than not knowing the impact of increased depreciation or some valuation question. You can teach technicals. You can't teach not being awkward AF.
You'd be surprised at how much money dating coaches make teaching guys to talk to women.
and you're one awkward AF, whatever your idiotic acronym means!
Just an FYI.. I would avoid posting threads on this site that could easily let people know your identity. You never know if that person would read this thread.
The interviewer didn't identify with you. Someone else will.
Here are my suggestions:
1.) Stay humble. 2.) Make sure your talking points don't take anything away from someone who paid $65K/year for private school at least in their first and second order implications. 3.) Try to stay broad in your commentary. Everyone has worked very hard to get where they are, especially in finance. You got some help paying for school, but you've worked hard to get where you are too. (Also, try to make it clear that for you this is just the beginning of your hard work-- you haven't even started FT yet and the interviewer has worked for some time)
It's a difficult balancing act that's made more challenging by the fact that you are coming from a state school rather than a private school (60% of Wall Street; 75% of IBD). As someone who broke in from UIUC I can empathize with you. But you have to grit your teeth and make the sale.
Be humble. Make your case without bragging. Subtly mention what you had to do to get where you are, and emphasize what you can bring to the table that an Econ major from HYP might not.
You can pull this off.
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