Interview at UK Embassy for Chevenning March 2016

The aim of this post is to share the experience of having an interview that is required to qualify for a Chevenning Scholarship in Mexico. I want to mention that this is the second step after submitting the application through the website http://www.chevening.org/mexico/ and after being qualified to the next step of this process.

First, I arrive early, about 1 hour before my scheduled time, I show my passport to the receptionist in order to check my appointment. Then a passed to a waiting room, there was another person waiting for his turn to be interviewed. He told me that he had some time waiting as well. Then a girl from the Chevenning program arrived and explain us what and how was going to be the interview. Basically, we were going to be in front a committee of three people who were going to ask questions about our application. Essentially, why we are good candidates to get the Scholarship. Fortunately, she spoke to us in Spanish, she asked us if we have any questions at this time due to the interview it was going to be conducted in English. I just asked what happen if I do not meet the requirements to complete the application in the deadline (July 2016), she told me that my application will be refused and I should apply up to the next period, which is in October-November.

Although my appointment it was at 12:30, I waited up until 1:00. I was really nervous, but I had enough time to read my application, which I printed before going to the embassy, and write some important points to highlight. At 1:05 the girl appeared again and took me to the interview room. Indeed, there was a table with 3 people and a chair in front of them to sit down. At my back, another person, perhaps taking notes about the reunion.

To start the session, they spoke in Spanish, which was a relief, they say their names and explained what they do. I remember one of them was something like a headhunter or a talent searcher working for a private institution, but for the British Embassy as well. The other two were almost the same. The important point was they were Mexico nationals. Nevertheless, they point out that the interview it was going to be conducted in English and they expected I answered in the same way.

Then we started the interview. One of them had a set of questions to me. However, the questions were almost the same that were in the application form, the difference was that I had to explain speaking. Basically, why you are going to study in the UK, why those universities, explain leadership and influencing aspects, how the UK and Mexico will benefit, examples of networking that demonstrates where to apply leadership aspects, how I will apply the knowledge in my country. I think one of the most important questions was about the master plan at my come back to my country. How I will the knowledge immediately and in within 5 years. I must acknowledge that I did my best trying to explain these topics in English. Although I felt comfortable talking, I had some hesitates with my spoken English. Despite of this, they were taking notes about what a was talking. I think it was a good interview for me. Good experience.

In this part, I want to mention that in the online application people must write down and explain points over four topics:
- Leadership and influence
- Networking
- Studying in the UK
- Career Plan
Then, the interview was almost the same, nothing difficult.

The interview lasted about 30 minutes. Including a short time at the end to ask some questions, both in English and Spanish. I also asked how many scholarships are given each year, they told me that it was about 18, and 120 applicants. However, this number of scholarships changes every year, could be less, could be more.

Finally, the results will be in early June. The person who was previously in the interview told me that I should take as soon as possible the IELTS for immigrants or UKVI in order to apply for a UK Tier 4 Visa (Student). My concern at the moment is that I am going to take TOEFL IBT. I will have to pay again for the IELTS. Anyway, the TOEFL test is good for some UK universities, however, not for applying for a UK VISA.

I hope this post would help someone to break the ice and encourage to apply for a Chevenning Scholarship.