Scholarship Interview Weekend

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Welcome 2022 finalists, and congratulations! We look forward to welcoming you and your family to campus for our Chancellor’s and University Excellence Scholarship Interview Weekend dates are to be determined. Our goal is to get to know you and provide you with plenty of opportunities for you to get to know us.

To confirm your participation and receive an interview time, your next step is to complete the Scholarship Weekend RSVP. Please refer back to your original finalist email notification to connect to the weekend RSVP link. Your Scholarship Weekend RSVP must be completed by TBD. Below you will find detailed information about the event in order to help you complete your RSVP and better plan your trip to Carbondale.

View last year's Scholarship Interview Weekend Schedule 

Interviews

Your interview will be held on either Friday afternoon, February 5 or Saturday, February 6, and will be determined by the preferred interview block you chose in your registration form. The interview is the only requirement you must attend throughout the weekend events. All other activities are optional, but strongly encouraged.

  • Your official interview time will be emailed no later than TBD to the email account you have provided to us in your application. Please be sure to check your account for this important information.

You do not need to bring any additional resources or documentation with you to the interview, which will focus on your past experiences, aspirations and other topics. We recommend 'business casual' attire for your interview. However, you may want to bring walking shoes for other activities throughout the day.

Event Activities

In addition to your interview, you will be able to tour our campus and residence halls, attend a unique event with your college of interest called 'Connect With Your College' on Friday, meet SIU faculty, deans and current scholars, and learn more about our University Honors program, Chancellor’s Scholars Program, student life, undergraduate research and much more.

FRIDAY EVENTS

Campus and Housing Tours

Students are able to participate in both campus and housing tours on Friday. Two campus tours are available on Friday: 10 a.m. and 2:30 p.m. Tours start at the Undergraduate Admission's Office in the Student Services Building. Housing tours will be held from noon to 3 p.m. See the official weekend schedule you receive at registration for tour locations.

Connect With Your College

Each of our eight colleges will provide a unique showcase for our applicants called "Connect With Your College' on Friday afternoon. At the showcase students will have the opportunity to connect one-on-one with our current faculty, staff and students within their college or planned major, visit research labs and classrooms, and experience their college from a unique high-achieving perspective, allowing you to explore all we have to offer our students.

Parent and Student Receptions

For our Friday arrivals, we will be providing both a parent and student reception at the SIU Student Center. These are social events that will allow parents to discuss important topics about SIU, making sure you feel safe and confident in sending your child to our campus, and the students to participate in fun activities, relax and unwind while engaging with other SIU students and scholars. Dinner will be provided to you and your guests at both events. Again, these events are optional, but please be sure to RSVP if you are interested in attending.

Stay On Campus With A Student Host

Students who arrive on campus Friday have the option of staying overnight on campus in a residence hall to learn first-hand about on-campus living, but space may be limited. If you are interested in staying overnight in a residence hall, please indicate in your RSVP and submit the following form to the Academic Scholarship Office by January 20. The Assumption of Risk Form must be received to confirm your reservation. 

When you arrive Friday afternoon/evening you may check your luggage in at the holding area located in the International lounge, located on the second floor of the SIU Student Center. Once the event ends at 8 p.m., please return back to the luggage area to pick up your luggage and meet your overnight host if you haven't already. Your host will reach out to you prior to Scholarship Weekend so they can introduce themselves and learn more about you. A mattress, sheets, blanket, pillow, wash cloth and towel will be provided in your room when you arrive Friday night. You are, of course, welcome to bring any additional bedding items you wish to bring with you. Additional programming will be available at the residence halls that evening from 9-10 p.m. for those overnight guests who wish to participate in them.

Parents of overnight guests – if you need to reach our housing facilities that evening, our overnight housing phone number can be found on the back of the weekend brochure for your convenience.

SATURDAY EVENTS

Insight Sessions

Interested in hearing from current students? Would you like to learn more about student life or what it's like to be a Chancellor's Scholar? Our insight sessions on Saturday will provide you that opportunity.

Campus Expo

Learn more about our campus services at SIU and get acquainted with your college of choice. You'll also have the opportunity to speak with representatives from our student health center, career development center, ROTC offices, registered student organizations, and many more.

Research Expo

See first-hand what our students are experiencing and accomplishing through undergraduate research. Opportunities can start as early as your freshmen year.

Other

Campus and housing tours will be ongoing until 3 p.m. on Saturday. Our Student Recreation Center will also be open and available for use throughout both Friday and Saturday. Just show the front desk your nametags from the event and they will be happy to show you around the facilities, or you can get a quick workout in before you head back on the road. You will have the opportunity to dine at our many student center locations (free meal cards will be provided), meet our moonbuggy team after lunch, pick up your SIU gear at the Saluki Bookstore, or even beat your parents in a game of bowling. 

Schedule

We have included a link to our preliminary Scholarship Weekend Program. All events, activities and on-your-own opportunities are optional, but we encourage you to participate in as many as possible so you get to know SIU and everything we have to offer.  Families and guests are welcome to participate in all activities except the scholarship interview. Locations not listed will be available when you check in on-site.

Sample Scholarship Weekend Program

Hotel Information

Those planning to stay in the Carbondale area overnight may also take advantage of the room blocks we have available for our guests. Please click below for a list of local hotel accommodations available scholarship interview weekend.

Hotel and overnight accommodations (pdf)

We look forward to seeing you on campus February 7 and 8, 2020!  If at any point you have questions, please feel free to call the Scholarship Office at (618)453-4628.