How to Overcome Scholarship Rejection: My Story of 23+ Nos Before a Yes
If you’re searching for how to overcome scholarship rejection, I want to start with this: even after 100 nos, your one yes can still happen. I know because I lived it. Scholarship rejection is a hard pill to swallow, especially after you’ve poured your heart into an application, spent hours on the essays, and prayed with everything you had, only for a “We regret to inform you that…” email to land instead. It can feel like your whole world just collapsed.
This is my journey — 23+ scholarship rejections, the lessons that came with each one, and how I learned how to overcome scholarship rejection to finally get the yes that changed my life.
From a Low-Income Background to Studying Abroad
I come from a humble background. Studying abroad felt impossible for a long time, and even my parents believed it was something reserved for the children of the rich. I held onto the goal anyway, and with time, hard work, and grace, it happened. It didn’t just change my own story — it changed my family’s story too. If you’re reading this and wondering whether your income background rules you out, it doesn’t.
My Long Journey Through Scholarship Rejection
I graduated from university in 2016 with one strict goal: a fully funded Master’s abroad, no compromise. From 2017 to 2021, what I mostly got back was rejection, from some of the most competitive scholarships available:
- PTDF, 2017–2019
- NDDC, 2018–2019
- Chevening UK, 2018–2020
- Mastercard Foundation (McGill University, Canada), 2019–2020
- Türkiye Scholarships, 2019
- Mastercard Foundation (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 more beyond this list — in total, over 23 applications, some abandoned partway through because of how complex or draining they were. I also reached out to more than 35 professors across different countries seeking research opportunities or nomination support. None of it landed.
How to Overcome Scholarship Rejection Emotionally
The rejection emails messed with me emotionally. Some days I cried. Some nights I wanted to give up entirely, asking why none of it was working. Over time, I understood something important about learning how to overcome scholarship rejection: it doesn’t mean you’re unqualified, and it doesn’t mean your dreams are too big. Most of the time, it comes down to timing, positioning, or a selection committee’s preferences, factors that often have nothing to do with you personally.
What I Got Wrong at First
Early on, I reused the same essay across every application instead of tailoring each one. I delayed asking for feedback. I underestimated how much research and intentionality each scholarship actually needed. If you’re just starting, don’t rush it. Every scholarship has its own goal and its own audience, and understanding that changes everything about how you write for it.
What I Did Differently After the Rejections
I rewrote my essays completely, researched each scholarship more carefully, got real feedback, and kept going. Dr. Rita Orji encouraged me not to give up, and people like Tolulope Owajoba Adeyemo, Loveth Olanma Imo, and Dr. Unoma Ndili Okorafor supported me in ways I still carry with me. Don’t walk this journey alone — having people who understand what you’re going through, who can push you when it’s hard, makes a real difference. That’s part of why I always point people toward a community like ScholarWaka.
The One Yes That Made Every Rejection Worth It
Then, after years of rejection, an email arrived that began with: “Congratulations…” It was from the Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office. I’d been selected for the Commonwealth Scholarship to study Advanced Chemical Engineering with Energy at the University of Birmingham, UK.
That one, yes, made every no worth it.
Where I Am Now
After completing my Commonwealth Scholarship at Birmingham, I served as Scholarship Program Manager at the WAAW Foundation, leading the selection and awarding of scholarships to African university girls across more than 25 institutions. That work, combined with everything since, has reached over 20,000 students, teachers, and young people across 17 countries. Founding ScholarWaka came directly out of that experience — I wanted a space to share scholarship updates, tips, and guidance with the people going through exactly what I went through, and I still do that through the ScholarWaka community, my YouTube channel, and free consultations for anyone trying to avoid the mistakes I made.
How to Overcome Scholarship Rejection: What I’d Tell You Right Now
Don’t give up. Scholarship rejection doesn’t mean you’re not good enough — it’s part of the process. Use every no to make your next application better than the last. Keep applying, keep improving, keep believing. Your yes is closer than it feels right now.
— Lucy Ikpesu-Ewhubare, Founder, ScholarWaka
Good idea — yes, this piece is a natural funnel straight into the Commonwealth Scholarship application post. Let me find the actual URL for that page. I haven’t been able to pull the exact URL for that specific standalone post yet — it keeps showing up as anchor text linking out from other ScholarWaka pages, but not as a result itself. Rather than guess at a slug, here’s the FAQ built with a placeholder link you can swap in once you confirm the real URL from your own dashboard:
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ)
Which Commonwealth Scholarship did Lucy Ikpesu-Ewhubare win?
She was selected for the Commonwealth Scholarship to study Advanced Chemical Engineering with Energy at the University of Birmingham, UK, funded by the UK Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office. See the full Commonwealth Scholarship breakdown on ScholarWaka for current eligibility, benefits, and how to apply.
How many scholarships did Lucy apply for before winning?
She applied to more than 23 scholarships between 2017 and 2021, including Chevening, Mastercard Foundation, PTDF, and the Türkiye Scholarships, before her Commonwealth Scholarship application succeeded.
Does the Commonwealth Scholarship require a specific field of study?
No single field — eligible applicants can apply across a wide range of subjects and postgraduate courses, provided they meet the Commonwealth Scholarship Commission’s standard eligibility criteria. Check the full Commonwealth Scholarship post for the current list of eligible countries and requirements.
What made Lucy’s application succeed after so many rejections?
She rewrote her essays entirely instead of reusing the same draft across applications, sought direct feedback before submitting, and researched each scholarship’s specific goals rather than applying generically.
Where can Nigerian students find current, verified Commonwealth Scholarship opportunities?
ScholarWaka tracks current Commonwealth Scholarship cycles, including the main Commonwealth Scholarship programme and the Commonwealth Distance Learning Scholarships for those who want to study without leaving home.
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