Scholarship,

I will write this from the point of view of one student, myself, who is currently preparing for an interview with the French Minister of Finance. It all started last year when I had to explain in detail how my family was living in France after many years being based in South Africa due to economic reasons. Now that they have been able to move out here, it is time to start planning a future to look forward to.

I am going to share my story in great detail so you can understand what life in Europe brings to me and, at the same time, what I hope to receive in return when applying for scholarships from EU countries across Europe and beyond. In short, I need to get a job to live comfortably... not the cheapest, but then again, not necessarily the best way to do it. Therefore, I will talk about the salary ranges and what I need to know before applying – especially since a lot depends on my experience.

I know it sounds very general, but I hope that in addition to this information, the person from whom I contact you will be as prepared to answer questions as they are asked. I want to know that I am communicating with someone that genuinely cares but also knows exactly how difficult it is for me to apply to a scholarship program if you do not have answers to these basic questions.

1. What is your name? What country do you come from? Where did you study in high school or college? If you're an international student, where did you study in high school and college? What did you choose to major in in high-school/college? Is your field related to the studies I've mentioned above? Have you studied abroad? How many days do you think I’ll need before I will need to decide whether to leave the US and stay in Europe? How long would it take me to go to Europe every month (in case I wanted to travel around the world)? Can I afford to pay for expenses like food? Do the cost of living in Europe make sense? What part of Europe does my home country fit in with? Why do you think you can come back to South Africa after studying abroad? After finishing schooling and graduation, what type of jobs will you find interesting and profitable? For example, working in real estate, becoming a consultant, working as a teacher, etc.

2. What kind of career are you aiming for, starting or further along your education? Are you interested in a university degree? A graduate degree? What kind of work do you find most enjoyable (in terms of money, comfort level, leisure time and other factors)? Which sectors are most beneficial for me to become involved in?

3. Who do you consider people you admire your potential? Describe their characteristics. Did you know these people? They may be members, teachers or managers of organizations or foundations which you have no relation to? Did you identify any particular names which stood out during discussions with them in the past?

4. Tell us about yourself and why you want to join UNSCO. Let’s call each other by our first names and not by numbers. Also, don't forget to include some details about you in your application. I have already told you what we study (BA). We also know what we have decided to pursue (business administration). So, let's focus on those aspects. Our second choice is Economics. We need to know which fields/areas are most relevant to earn more money. The third choice is Arts; so, let's stick to that. Then, finance is required. But of course, we still want to make sure that everything is done right! At least, that is what we need to remember. To sum up, I want to show that I am open-minded, driven and motivated. My next step on the road to earning more money should always be something that interests me. Not only because I know that, but also because of its relevance for my goals.

5. What skills do you need, both inside and outside of the classroom situation? I suggest you list down the things that you have developed over the years. Please, list all types of activities (work, play, leisure) which develop personal skills. This way, I will be able to use them when I'm ready to go through my training process to see what the most important thing to you is. And I will be able to give me the necessary hints during this process to help me achieve it. In fact, you might even forget about social events of different kinds (birthdays, anniversaries) as you will have something to do every day.

6. Will you need financial support to cover your transport costs? If yes/no, please specify how much. You could be looking forward to traveling back and forth between home and abroad. Or you will need assistance to transfer money from one bank account to another. As for paying rent, you may need additional payments when you first move out of your parent’s house. And finally, on top of monthly bills and maintenance, you may need to bring extra money because you are moving to a new city or country!

7. When will you need to send tuition fees and will they be paid by the educational institution or by the government? What are the average amounts and will each payment need to be written separately? How would you make payments if my parents want it? What will students need to bring to classes? If there is a chance that I won’t attend all the courses, what materials would I need and what will the teacher ask? What about miscellaneous items such as clothes, books, stationery and stationeries, etc.?

8. Once you graduate, what career field should you choose and what is the plan for getting into it? Does it require any special preparation to learn all the knowledge associated with that industry? Do you need certain qualifications? If yes, what certifications would be helpful for me? How does the entry to the profession look like? With regards to salaries, am I prepared for everything before starting my adventure? What are the possible complications like rejection? Will I have any difficulties finding a good organization for work upon leaving the United States after graduating?

9. What are some projects you are working on now or already doing? Would that be useful to anyone within our community?

10. How long will you be in France and how many months? I hope you will take advantage of the opportunity to study here and, once again, the salary range might change depending on the position. Maybe the wage can grow gradually with every year, even though it will depend on individual circumstances only. I expect that the number of people will increase, though it is quite unlikely that the total number of students will grow. However, I do know that one of our majors is International Studies, so it will certainly attract more students.

11. What plans can you have in mind while studying at Oxford University? If this wasn’t an option, what other schools do you have in mind after a few months in Paris and why does it matter to me to choose one? What does your biggest fear mean, considering Paris as a whole and your dream destination?

12. How is your current schedule? For instance, do you always get enough sleep? Do you eat breakfast? Is there a specific restaurant that makes me feel tired and hungry? Since I don't plan to spend too much time in Paris, please, give some examples of ways to keep in shape. All of these questions may seem trivial, but in order to give you an idea, you can ask around some of your friends or classmates. Moreover, you will be glad to hear that at times, I haven't had to do that (I'll tell you later), which has helped a lot!

13. There are a lot of things you can do in Paris, including visiting museums, exploring parks, enjoying gardens, walking and shopping. Even though Paris has several colleges, it doesn’t mean that you can take care of your own courses. Some of my friends have told me that, even though it is true to speak generally, it really does not matter if you have a class or not. On the contrary, one cannot afford it! Because even if you feel like not having anything to do, you still need to get some rest and refreshment in between classes.

So, that’s all the questions I intend to answer. In order to get a deeper understanding of various possibilities, I hope that we will continue to communicate with each other via email or messenger and with video chats. I will update you from time to time. Until late May! Cheers!