How I Faced 23+ Scholarship Rejections Before I Finally Got a Yes By Lucy Ikpesu-Ewhubare
Sincerely, I have come to conclude that scholarship rejections are a hard pill to swallow. Especially when you’ve poured your heart into the application, spent hours writing the perfect essays, and prayed with every ounce of faith in you, but then, all of a sudden, the disappointment of getting that “We regret to inform you that…” email hits. Oh dear, it can leave you feeling like your whole world just collapsed. But let me tell you this, even if you’ve faced 100 rejections, your one YES can still happen now.
This is my journey — over 23 scholarship rejections, countless lessons, and the one “yes” that changed my life. I hope you’re ready, because it’s a ride worth sharing.
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From a Low-Income Background to Studying Abroad
I come from a humble background, and studying abroad seemed impossible. Even my parents believed it was only for the children of the rich. But I held onto faith. And with time, hard work, and grace, God did it.
I didn’t just achieve my goal; I changed the story for my family, too. That’s why I am writing this to let you understand that you can win that scholarship no matter your income background.
My Long Journey of Scholarship Rejections
When I graduated from university in 2016, I set a goal for myself:
I wanted to pursue my Master’s degree abroad, and I wanted it to be fully funded without any compromise; that was a very strict goal.
I believed in that dream. But from 2017 to 2021, what I mostly got in return were rejections. I applied for some of the most competitive scholarships out there, and this is how it went:
- ❌ PTDF 2017–2019
- ❌ NDDC 2018–2019
- ❌ Chevening UK 2018–2020
- ❌ MasterCard (McGill University, Canada) 2019–2020
- ❌ Türkiye Scholarships 2019
- ❌ MasterCard (University of Edinburgh, UK) 2019–2020
- ❌ Swedish Institute, Sweden 2021
- ❌ Asian Institute of Technology, Thailand 2021
- ❌ Bangchak Masters Scholarship 2021
- ❌ InnoEnergy Masters School 2021
- ❌ The Joint Japan/World Bank Scholarship 2021
- ❌ Global Sustainable Electricity Partnership 2020
- ❌ Commonwealth Shared Scholarship 2021
There were even more; in total, I applied for over 23 scholarships. Some I couldn’t complete due to how complex or draining they were. On top of that, I reached out to over 35 professors in different countries, seeking research opportunities or nomination support, but I didn’t get any positive responses.
How I Dealt with the Scholarship Rejections
To be honest, the constant rejection emails messed with me emotionally. Some days, I cried, and some nights, I felt like giving up. I asked God, “Why isn’t this working?”
But over time, I began to understand something very important about scholarship rejection:
It doesn’t mean you’re not qualified. It doesn’t mean your dreams are too big. It doesn’t mean you’ve failed.
Most times, rejection is a result of timing, positioning, or simply the selection committee’s preferences, which are sometimes based on factors far beyond your control.
A blog I once read put it perfectly:
“Rejection is not the end of the road; it is merely a detour on the path to success.” – Opportunity Desk
That was true in my case.
What I Got Wrong at First
At the beginning, I made some mistakes that I later had to unlearn. I didn’t tailor my essays to each scholarship; I just reused the same write-up everywhere. I also delayed asking for feedback or reaching out to people who could review my work. And honestly, I underestimated how much research and intentionality each application needed.
If you’re just starting, I’d say: don’t rush it. Each scholarship has its unique goal and audience. Understanding that made a big difference for me.
What I Did Differently After all the Rejections
Rather than letting the scholarship rejection break me, I decided to use it. I rewrote my essays completely and researched more about each scholarship, got feedback, and prayed harder. I trusted God, even when I didn’t understand what was going on.
A very big shout-out to Dr. Rita Orji, who encouraged me not to give up. And to amazing people like Tolulope Owajoba Adeyemo, Loveth Olanma Imo, and Dr. Unoma Ndili Okorafor, who supported me in ways I won’t forget.
The truth I’ll say is: don’t walk this journey alone. You need people around you, people who understand what you’re going through, people who can push you when it gets hard. That’s why I always recommend joining a community like ScholarWaka. Being in a space where others are also applying, sharing tips, encouraging one another, or just saying “I understand” can make a huge difference.
You can join the ScholarWaka community below:
There’s No Perfect Timeline
I also won’t try to give a fixed timeline for how long it’ll take. Everyone’s path is different, and that’s okay. But for me, from when I started applying seriously to the time I finally got one “yes,” it wasn’t instant. It took multiple rejections, rewriting, and months of showing up even when nothing seemed to be working.
So don’t be discouraged if it feels like it’s taking time. Just keep learning, refining, asking for help, and staying consistent. That’s really where the shift started for me.
The One Yes That Made It All Worth It
Then one day, after years of waiting and rejection, I opened an email that began with:
“Congratulations…” Just pause for a second and imagine the joy that came to my heart when I opened the mail, and then you will know that you are just one scholarship step away from getting your own “Congratulations…”
It was from the Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office, and I had been selected for the Chevening Scholarship to study Advanced Chemical Engineering with Energy at the University of Birmingham, UK.
That one, yes, made every no worth it.
To You Facing Scholarship Rejections Right Now!
Let me tell you this plainly: Don’t give up.
Rejection doesn’t mean you’re not good enough, and it’s just part of the process; make sure you use every rejection to learn something. Make your next application better than the last.
Keep applying, keep improving, keep believing, because your “yes” is right around the corner.
I wish you all the best💖
–From Lucy Ikpesu-Ehwubare
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