Friday Outbound Clinic: Ace Your Scholarship Interview with Dr. Putri Gayatri

The International Office (IO) of Hasanuddin University (UNHAS) successfully held another inspiring session of the Friday Outbound Clinic on 7 November 2025, featuring Putri Gayatri, S.Pd., M.Hum., Ph.D. as the guest speaker. The session, titled “Ace Your Scholarship Interview,” attracted around 60 participants, including students and staff from UNHAS, as well as alumni and members of the public. The event was moderated by Khaeruddin, M.Hum., Ph.D., a member of IO Taskforce, who opened the session by highlighting the importance of preparation and storytelling in scholarship interviews.

Dr. Putri, an alumna of an international scholarship program, shared valuable insights under the theme “Tell Your Story, Win Your Dream.” She emphasized that scholarship interviews are not merely about academic scores or resumes, but about authenticity, motivation, and clarity of purpose. “Interviewers don’t read your GPA or your CV during the interview — they read you,” she explained, encouraging participants to show their best self through personal stories, clear goals, and genuine passion.

Throughout the session, Dr. Putri guided participants to reflect on what their “best self” means — being prepared, personal, and positive. She also introduced the STAR framework (Situation, Task, Action, Result) to help participants structure their answers effectively. Using relatable examples, she demonstrated how to turn real-life experiences into compelling narratives that align with scholarship values.

The talk also highlighted how different scholarships, such as Chevening, LPDP (Indonesia Endowment Fund for Education) and Erasmus+, value distinct qualities from leadership and community impact to academic collaboration and global perspective. Understanding these priorities helps applicants tailor their stories accordingly.The session concluded with an encouraging reminder from Dr. Putri: “Every ‘no’ is just a step toward the ‘yes’ that was meant for you.”

Participants left the session inspired and better prepared to face their next scholarship interviews with confidence and authenticity.