Here at Haberdashers’ Monmouth School, we love to celebrate unique, individual talents and the outstanding abilities of our students. That’s why we offer various scholarships for subjects like sport, music and dance as well as academic scholarships.
As the future Year 7 scholarship assessments are just around the corner (Monday 13th – Saturday 18th November 2023), here are our 5 top tips to guide our young applicants through this exciting process:
- Remember your passions
Think about what truly excites you academically; what do you love to learn about the most? Think about the books that you love to read, the important people that inspire you, and the things that ignite your passions – no matter how small. Our team here would love to hear about these during your interview – it helps us get to know you better and what makes you unique!
- Create a practice plan:
Practice, practice, practice! You have been invited for assessment because you have a special talent in a certain subject. The assessment is your chance to show us your skills, so it’s important that you are well prepared. We don’t want you to become overwhelmed with endless practice before the day, so why not try scheduling short and regular practice times from now until your assessment? That way, you can stay organised, keep on track and allow yourself enough time to practice everything you want to show and tell us. You could try 20 minutes every evening or one hour every couple of days.
- Prioritise sleep:
Plenty of sleep allows your brain to stay alert, focussed and is a fantastic mood booster, which is exactly what we need on assessment day. In the run up to the assessment, try to practise a good sleep routine. We recommend 11 and 12 year olds aim for 8-10 hours of sleep a night. Some actions you can take to help you get good sleep include:
- Creating a relaxing bedtime routine.
- Staying away from bright TV, computer, or phone screens right before bed.
- Making sure your bedroom is nice and dark and a cool, comfortable temperature.
- Stay Hydrated:
Our brains are made up of mostly water, so we need to keep them topped up for optimal thinking function! Drinking 5-6 cups of water a day (or a nice big bottle) is just enough to keep your brain working at its best, improves your mental clarity, reduces headaches and can improve your mood.
- Embrace any nerves:
Being nervous is very normal and something that every person experiences at some point. To help tackle nerves or butterflies if they arrive, try taking some long, deep breaths which may calm down and jittery feelings. Good preparation (like following our steps above) will also help control your nerves, knowing that you have practised well, and you are energised for the challenge ahead.
However, it is incredibly important to remember that our scholarship assessments and interviews are just about us getting to know you, your personality, your interests and your talent. Our team are not there to make you nervous or ‘out to get you’, they are not judging in any negative ways. Our friendly team really want you to do well, and you should see this as a wonderful, exciting opportunity to showcase yourself and reach for your goals.
In conclusion, the scholarship assessment and interview process is not something to fear. Embrace the opportunity, stay focused, and enjoy the process. We’re looking forward to meeting you and seeing all the incredible talents and abilities you have to offer. Good luck!
