1.) MOE Teaching Scholarship (Local) for Mathematics and minor in English

I have to say that the MOE scholarship is one of the fastest scholarship providers around in terms of their timeline and response. The application and interviews are all earlier than the other scholarships that I've applied to, and so is the result. Anyway, I think that the best way to secure a MOE scholarship/enhance your chances greatly, is perhaps to participate in the MOE Teaching Internship Programme (TIP). For those who have no idea what TIP is about, it is for students who've graduated to work in a secondary school/jc as a teaching intern. The greatest (and best) difference between this and any other relief teaching job that you can find on your own is in fact the responsibilities and duties - you get to really teach classes assigned to you, and organize events under your assigned department! So it's for you to experience the teaching industry, and for you to find out if teaching is your calling(:

Anyway I've digressed. Since I'm in the A Level track, I participated in the internship after my As from January till March 2011. Before that, we had to submit our prelim results and an essay (our question was something along the lines of 'why do you want to teach and what are some of the qualities you think a good teacher should possess') to get selected...for a group interview (So do treat this seriously like a scholarship application). As for the group interview, basic questions one can think of will be asked, and some other ones I feel should be noted are questions like 'What are some of the recent MOE initiatives that you know', 'Do you know what a teacher's full responsibility is, besides teaching?', 'What is one quality you possess which you think helps in your teaching/sets you different from others?'

I'd go into such details for the TIP selection because this internship really does enhance your chances at the MOE Teaching Scholarship, in fact the HR people actually use this programme as an effective channel to find their possible scholars: After I've been notified that I've been selected for the TIP, I received a follow up email in late December asking if I was interested in applying to the MOE Teaching Award/Scholarship, and I was supposed to send in the relevant documents (including the scholarship essay!) by 5th January. I was rather surprised since it was really early for an application to a scholarship, and it appeared that I was also the only one who had received such an email (I checked with around 3-4 people who are in the TIP too and they did not receive such an email), so I guess do not panic if you had not receive this (I suppose this was a more short-cut process, since this was not the usual PSC application route, but after I've sent in the documents I applied again to PSC at a later date).

Anyway, the MOE Award/Scholarship essay questions were actually same as the PSC ones (I found this out only after I applied to PSC - so I made editions to the same essay), and the question I picked was "What is one event in your life that has changed you as a person?". Other questions (if I'm not wrong) went something along the lines of 'If you met LKY what would you say to him', 'What do you hope Singapore will become in 15 years time', 'Who is your role model and why' etc. After this stage I went happily for my internship, and towards the end of our internship we were actually called upon to meet the Ps and VPs to discuss about our experiences and reflections -- and to see if we were keen on pursuing a teaching career, so that they can recommend us for the teaching award/scholarship. We had two sessions of it too, with the second one involving us travelling to another school and meeting with the other TIP interns. We met with another teaching superior, and after we've related our experiences and expressed our preference for the teaching industry, that is when they would see who to recommend in the reports (our supervisors have to write and submit a report to MOE for each of us interns).

Of course, one could report that he has no intention to apply for the MOE Teaching Award/Scholarship, and will not have to go through the above, but might probably receive a call from the MOE personnel asking why he does not wish to apply to the Award/Scholarship some time after (which happened to my friend). That aside, when I was about to end my internship (ended on March 12), I received an unexpected call from the MOE personnel, asking if I was interested in pursuing a Chinese Lit degree in a China university under the MOE Teaching Scholarship. I was really quite taken aback, and I think they asked me that since I had taken an all arts subject combi in JC (with two being CLL and CSC), but since I am decided on having a local education, I replied that I preferred studying local but might consider the offer. So then there was a waiting gap and after some time I received a call again that I was being provisionally being assigned the MOE Teaching Scholarship to major in Math and minor in English, and the one and only interview was on 11th April.

So for the final interview, I have to say that it was the most intensive interview I ever had. Not because they were unfriendly or anything, but because at that time I was deciding between Teaching and Architecture, so I guess it made my interview a little weirder than usual (hence sorry if my interview questions are not of help!). There were five people if I'm not wrong, and questions that I could handle better were questions relating to my internship experience, e.g. 'how do you think your supervisors/colleagues manage to pull through the repeating teaching cycle for so many years' and 'what are some of the difficulties you've experienced for TIP' etc. The others which required more attention and cautiousness began with 'So why architecture?', 'If someone said that architecture is a sunset industry in Singapore, would you agree?', 'If we gave you the scholarship, would you accept it, and not architecture?'....basically I had the feeling that half of the interview was spent on questioning me about Architecture instead of teaching, hence it felt like an architecture interview instead of a teaching one. The whole interview lasted for about 20-30 minutes, walked out of the room thinking that things weren't looking so good, but miracle happened when the scholarship offer turned up in my mailbox days later. (:

2. SUTD Scholarship

It stands for Singapore University of Technology and Design (if you don't already know), the new fourth university (collaborations with MIT and ZheJiang University) that is bound to start in 2012 April. And the good thing is (to some), it's bond free! Anyway I'd say that my experience for this scholarship interview was the best one I ever had. SUTD only conducted one interview for its scholarship applicants, and I'm really lucky to have been deemed as someone who is of the scholarship type -- right after the interview.

So anyway, before getting selected for the interview, a Personal Statement (as well as the other things like A level results, CCA/Leadership portfolio etcetc) is required. I also think that the SUTD has the most exciting selection process, because not only does it require a Personal Statement, we also had to provide a website url (I submitted my blog url) to allow them to know us better (could be facebook url too). Plus, we could create a video showcasing our talents and upload it. But since the video was optional, I decided not to do it and instead spend more time on my Personal Statement. (and trust me, do try to let your Personal Statement stand out, I believe it is one of the deciding factor in the scholarship application process too)

After that stage, I was eventually called up and went for my interview on 23rd April. The interview was the kind which you'd feel that you are almost chatting with the professors (supposed to have three profs, but one went out during my turn), and the questions posted are all those that relate to your specific experiences. For example, I talked about my leadership skills and CCAs, how I overcame difficulties and why Architecture. Then there was showing my design portfolio to them too. The whole interview was actually about an hour long, but most of the talking was in fact done by one of the professors. He kept explaining to me the details of the courses, the difference between SUTD and NUS etc. Hence making the comment of how this was the best interview I ever had, due to the degree of the engagement.

OH and I nearly missed out on the offer part: A SUTD personnel personally made a trip to my house to hand me the offer. It was really a gesture that impressed me. The scholarship offer came in a well-designed transparent plaque too! The personnel then stayed to answer and clear doubts from us...and I guess that's about all for this application process.

3. HDB Undergraduate Scholarship for Architecture (Local)

The first procedure is the same for all scholarship - filling up your application form and writing the important essay. The question was "Why are you keen on obtaining the HDB Scholarship?", and the preliminary interview was on 19th April. The first interview was actually very very short, 5-10 minutes at the most, and basic questions are asked: "So why this course?", "Why HDB?", "Do you know this initiative/project by the HDB?". It was really fast, and I didn't even have time to show the two HR people my portfolio before the whole interview was over! :O But it was kind of expected too, since I had checked forums prior to the interview, and everyone was getting only a 5-10mins interview slot for the preliminary interview (guess there were just too many people).

Hmm and then I was scheduled for the second (as well as final) interview on 5th May. During this interview, there were about 5-6 interviewers of higher positions, and it lasted for about 20-30 minutes too. Received repeated questions of "Why this course/HDB", and they pressed on why did I decide to switch to Architecture when I was studying an all arts stream. I can't really remember much, but afterwards I showed them my portfolio and explained the various competitions and artwork. At the end, I received the question "Although we can see from your portfolio that you have some talent in designing, Architecture isn't really just about designing. If you really became an architect under the HDB, what would be the first thing that you will do?", and I rambled on green initiatives while relating to some of the things that HDB did. I think the last question was what they asked most of the applicants too, since another friend of mine got the same question, but phrased in another way. Anyway, I was ecstatic weeks later when the letter of offer came on 24th May. (:

4. Keppel Group Scholarship for Architecture (Local)

Hahaha finally I've arrived to this! Keppel Scholarship has the most amount of drilling sessions ever (a total of 6), but imo the sessions (of interviews, tea session, bonding etc) are truly effective for the board to choose their applicants wisely (after all the scholarship value is really good), as well as allowing the applicants to know the Group better, hence making informed decisions - after all these sessions, we really do feel kind of attached to the Group, and I also have a better understanding of how things work in the Group (which was different from how HDB conducted their interviews, oops but it is true since HDB did only have two sessions and the first was only a 5 minutes session).

So anyway, the first barrier was the same - to be screened by our A level results as well as our written essay. "Career Objectives" was the topic, and after we've passed this first barrier (ha ha) we were invited to go down for a tea session on 1st April...which lasted for 9 whole hours. HEH frankly speaking, I felt the tea session more useful to those who were going to study engineering, since we visited the shipyards to see oil rigs, as well as many more such as Keppel Logistics (it was fun we had the chance to enter the place where they kept all brands of ice creams under -20 Degree Celsius!) and Keppel DHCS (Biopolis) etc. Afterwards, we had presentations from the various subsidiaries under Keppel Corp (Keppel T&T, Keppel Logistics, Keppel Integrated Engineering, KeppelLand, Keppel Offshore & Marine), and altogether the day allowed us to gain a better insight to Keppel Corp's various divisions and their workings. During the tea break we talked with the various HR personnel and also got to know about the corporation culture etc :D At the end of the day, we were given a form to rank our preference for which subsidiaries were we interested to join if we were offered the scholarship. I indicated Keppel Land (and the only one possible too, since I was doing Architecture), and the future interviews would be based on this form of ours (conducted by which subsidiaries' personnel etc). Oh and the tea session was not part of the selection process, so no worries there(:

After the tea session, we had our first interview. Strangely enough, a friend (whom I've met during the tea session) and I actually got grouped up with the other applicants who applied through the BCA-Industry Built Environment Scholarship. In other words, the two of us who applied directly to Keppel Corp and went for the tea session turned up for a group interview with the rest (altogether we made a group of six) who didn't go for the tea session earlier on. I got to know afterwards that the JC group of applicants actually had their interview one week before us, and theirs weren't a group interview (i.e. one-to-one/one-to-a few). Here I have to take special note, since what I've heard from the other people was that the interview questions were different too (since theirs was conducted alone and not in a group), and questions relating to their personal experiences were asked (instead of ours which is narrated as below).

Anyway, for our first interview (group), it was on 3rd May (yes one month actually passed after our tea session!), and we were told in the email previously to prepare a short verbal presentation (5 mins) of a key project/assignment that we've been involved in. The presentation should clearly showcase 1.)How we've overcame a challenge 2.)Our leadership role in the assignment 3.)How we have challenged existing practices to bring about greater effectiveness or to introduce new ideas. So clearly six people with 5 mins each = around 30minutes were spent for the group interview. I chose to ramble on my experience in being a teaching intern.

Oh before we started our interview, we had been given an article each on property cooling measures, and we were informed on the spot that we will be discussing about the article later on. So we spent some time looking and analyzing the article before the interview commenced, and sadly I had zero knowledge on the area, and I have not studied Econs, hence I really did struggle to try and understand the article (lest say discussion). Nevertheless, after our various verbal presentation, we spent around twenty minutes (or more) discussing the article, and I'd say I forgot most of the things we've discussed (oops probably too traumatized hahaha). Some of them circled around 'what do you all think of this measure that the government enforced', 'what will be possible impacts' etc. Finally after that was over, we were given two questions: 'What do you think should be improved on our website?' and 'What is the one quality you have that would make us pick you?'.

After the first interview, I was informed on a later time (but same day) that I was invited for the next stage of the scholarship selection process - Keppel Group Team Building & Core Values Alignment Immersion - on 10th May. This next selection session lasted for around four hours, and basically I thought it to be a rather fun and insightful session, because we got to know more about ourselves and others in general (but do keep in mind that there were a panel of HR personnels from the different subsidiaries seated at the back of the room observing us while we interacted, so although it's not an interview it is still a selection procedure?). Ha ha so we introduced ourselves to each other, and as the name suggests, we learnt about Keppel Corp's Core Values, and afterwards we completed the Myers-Briggs Personality test and found out which type of person we were (generally separated into the "I" and "E" categories). After our emcee has explained to us the characteristics of the different types of personalities (as well as how we should interact with them), we were separated into our I and E groups, and we ensued to ask the other group 3 questions to know each other better. (Since the 'I's were generally considered the introverts and 'E's the extrovert, you could guess that we had a lot of fun knowing each other through this) Basically there is nothing much to worry about, we just voiced our truthful feelings (:

After this section, we were again broken up into smaller groups, and started to play two team building games. There was the traditional get-the-hula-hoop-down-with-one-finger game, and another one which involved switching puzzle pieces with each other so that we can complete all the puzzles. After each game, we were debriefed and asked to align the lessons learnt to Keppel's Core Values. And that was the end of the whole session.

Hmm next I was informed to go down for the third selection stage - an Essay and Ability test. This was on 20th May, and it lasted about 3 hours. In the email, the ability test is said to ascertain our cognitive skills, which includes abstract and verbal reasoning. Sounds intimidating at first, but luckily I did a google search for such tests online, and I came across this really effective website which provided the exact types of tests and questions which later came out. For the benefit of anyone who wants the website for practice (practicing is truly important!), here's the link: http://www.kent.ac.uk/careers/psychotests.htm

You'd only need the practices under these topics: Numerical Reasoning (Graphs and Tables), Verbal Reasoning, Logical Reasoning and Non-Verbal Reasoning (the last two are of similar style, but the real test will only come in the Non-Verbal Reasoning style, with diagrams). So for the actual test, we first had the Verbal Reasoning section, which required us to read short passages and rate the statements given (whether it was true, untrue or insufficient information to decide). Next was the Numerical Reasoning section where we had to interpret graphs and tables, and lastly the Non-Verbal Reasoning section where we were asked to pick the next correct diagram for the sequences. The reason why I said practice is extremely important because it enabled me to have an idea of how the tests were like, and I knew which area I had more strength in. Most important of all was that we had insufficient time to complete the questions! So it was a matter of accuracy and speed. Anyway after those tests we had a short break, then we began the final essay test which was very much like a GP paper. The questions that left deeper impressions were 'Some people described the GE 2011 as a watershed election, do you agree?' and 'How can organizations like Keppel counter climate change and sustainable development problems?' (I did this environmental one). I remembered that another question was regarding telecommunications and its impact. Yet we did not need to write entirely like a GP essay too, maybe more like an AQ? But I guess one just have to have a strong opinion and be logical. (:

So there are still two more interviews to say -- Okay then came the fourth interview for me, it was on 27th May, and I faced 4 interviewers, with 3 of them from higher ranks. The interview lasted for around 30minutes, and this time round, I was finally asked questions regarding my personal experience, since it was just me alone. Here are some of the questions I remember: 'Why architecture (when you are an arts student)?', 'Which building (in Singapore) and architect do you admire?', 'From what you know so far, what can you say about this building's structure of ours?', 'Since you are from Taiwan, can you tell me one difference you see between Taiwan students and Singaporean students?' etc. There were questions relating to my CCA and leadership roles too, if I recall correctly. I managed to show them my portfolio too. Luckily for me, I had been preparing for my Architecture course, and the previous studies in JC (what with all those research papers) helped prepare me for those questions, and I managed to answer without much problems.

(Finally) The final interview was on 10th June, and this time round I carried my illness with me. The final interview came in the form of a presentation (10 mins), and upon arrival I was led to a laptop and given my topic - "My Proudest Moment". So we had about 30-40 minutes to plan our presentation and make the powerpoint. During which I chatted a bit to the other person in the room too, another friend whom I met during the Core Values Immersion. During the actual presentation, I found myself facing this huge panel of...audience (I couldn't even remember how many there were, around 7?or8??), but they were all very friendly, and they are ready to laugh heartily at any funny moments they encounter. They asked questions during and after the presentation, and then the whole thing ended. They were truly efficient as well, since at the very same day (again) they informed us that we were selected for the scholarship. (: This was truly an application experience that I'll never forget.

yupp so that's about it. extremely colloquial narrative post (sorry about that) which took me three whole days to complete, but I wish everyone the best in their future endeavors etc. Ask me any questions regarding the interviews if you'd like, just leave me a tag! (: This was solely for recording purposes (and of course hoping it'd benefit others). why? because I did benefit a lot from other unknown blogging seniors, and that's why I could manage to fare better in the above scholarship applications. THANK YOU SO MUCH!! (so now it's my turn to do something too)