Converting Rejections to Scholarships
Every scholar has learnt the secrets to turn rejection letters into love letters
You poured your heart and soul into the scholarship application. Late nights, several essay revisions, gathering documents, and chasing down recommenders... you did the work. When you submitted it, you were really excited. You already pictured yourself on campus taking classes, and you've told some of your friends. You even prayed and fasted about it. You probably showed God your faith by sowing a seed to advance his work. And then?
"We regret to inform you..."
Ouch.
This wasn't what you were expecting. That crushing weight of disappointment hits. A million questions rush through your mind. Was all my effort for nothing? Wasn't I good enough? Was my CGPA too low? Is this a sign from God? Does He want me to do something else?
You are not alone. Trust me. I've been there before.
I got several scholarship rejections before my first Yes. I got 3 visa denials before my first approval.
The truth is, the path to international scholarships is paved with rejections. It's a numbers game, and for every acceptance letter, there are dozens, sometimes hundreds, of rejection letters that were sent. Did you know that some top programs receive thousands of applications for just 100 spots? It's a tough reality, but understanding it is the first step to not letting it break you.
This feeling of defeat, of wanting to just give up—that's a major pain point for so many international applicants.
Almost every day, I speak with more and more students in this situation. They waste valuable time and energy stuck in this cycle of applying, getting rejected, and feeling lost about what to do next. From experience, I know it can take years before, finally, something clicks. Then, they figure out the process.
But what if you didn't have to waste those years? What if you could learn to deal with rejections differently? Learn how to actually use them to your advantage?
That's what we'll be talking about today. We're going to talk about how to convert rejection letters into love letters that clearly show us the right path to our fully funded dream.
The Advantage of Getting a "No"
My tweet: If you are afraid of rejection, you are not ready for scholarships
The mistake I see many applicants make is that they take every rejection personally. They see it as a judgement on their character, their intelligence, their worth, and even their faith. It feels like the university or visa officer just told them, "You are not good enough." Or God is telling them, "This isn't for you."
But that's a lie. A damaging lie that kills dreams.
Think about the scholarship application process from the university's perspective. We all know that they have limited spots and limited funds. They are looking for a specific fit for that specific program at that specific time. All three must happen. Your application might be amazing, you might have incredible potential, but you might not be the perfect piece for the puzzle at that time.
A rejection doesn't mean your world should stop. Hearing a "no" shouldn't take away your confidence. It shouldn't make you give up. It shouldn't make you question if God is still with you. He is always with you (Isaiah 41:10)
“I have not failed. I've just found 10,000 ways that won't work.”
Thomas Edison
Imagine if Thomas Edison gave up after the first attempt and concluded that God was not with him. We won't have light bulbs (or electricity) in our homes today. History tells us that the light bulb invention changed our world. It made electricity available in homes, leading to the invention of many electrical devices we love and use today.
What if you saw every rejection letter as a sealed love letter?
A message showing you what you need to work on to achieve that dream that you want. Realizing this was an "aha" moment for me. I realized that most rejections are not attacks on my CGPA or whether it's good enough. They're just data points. They told me about the fit between my application and what that specific opportunity was looking for.
Let each "no" guide you to the opportunity that is the right fit for you.
The 4-Step Redirection Plan
“Success is not final, failure is not fatal: It is the courage to continue that counts.”
Winston Churchill
Getting a rejection is painful; no one can deny that. However, how you respond at that moment determines if you are a winner or a loser. Dealing with rejection effectively is a muscle you build. With this plan, you can turn every "no" into a stepping stone.
Here's my RALR blueprint for navigating rejections and using them to propel you forward:
Step 1: Reward
It's important to take a break after a rejection. You are allowed to feel that emotion, but give it an escape route. Reward yourself for the effort you put in so your motivation stays intact.
After each of my visas was denied, I went straight to a restaurant from the embassy and I ate large. I ordered jollof and fried rice with chicken, fish, meat, salad, and plantain together on one plate. No jokes. I rewarded myself for the preparations I made for the interview.
Some people's remedy is to sleep, see a movie or go to the gym. Do whatever works best for you. I've always found food as my go-to in times of disappointment.
Step 2: Analyze
This is where you turn a perceived failure into a powerful learning opportunity. Rejection isn't a judgment on your character; it's information. There's a reason why it didn't work out, and your job is to find it.
After my visa denial, I didn't blame it on bad luck or wicked visa officers. I became a detective. I wrote out the transcript of how the visa interview went. I replayed the conversation in my head, line by line, question by question. I was looking for any potential red flags or areas where my answers might not have been as strong as they could be.
For school applications, you can reach out to the program coordinator or the application committee to learn. You can ask them how your application could have been better.
Step 3: Learn
Once you've analyzed the initial data, it's time to fill in the gaps. The mistake a lot of applicants make is that they guess why you were rejected. Don't do that; instead, go find the answers. The knowledge you gain here will help your next attempt.
I actively sought out information. I talked to other applicants who faced rejections and eventually succeeded. I watched YouTube videos and read former interview transcripts. I researched common reasons for student visa denials in Nigeria. This curiosity led me to find out what I did wrong in my interview.
Step 4: Re-strategize
This is where you put everything you've learned into action. Every rejection, every piece of data, and every conversation has equipped you to come back stronger.
I came up with a new visa application strategy based on everything I learned from analyzing the interview and seeking knowledge. I worked on improving my red flags, practiced answering hard questions, and confidently talked about the concerns I noticed. This wasn't just applying again; it was applying better. (This is the same strategy I apply to my visa interview clients)
Now I am writing this from the US.
Putting it all Together
Dealing with rejections is part of the journey. It's not a sign that you should give up, but a signal to adjust your approach.
By following the RALR framework, you turn those rejection letters into love letters that lead you to success.
Rewarding yourself
Analyzing the situation
Learning from your mistakes
Restrategizing
Now, go take a deep breath, enjoy that jollof rice, and get ready to apply better.
That’s it!
As always, thanks for reading.
Hit reply and let me know what you found most helpful this week—I’d love to hear from you!
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Whenever you're ready, there are 2 ways I can help you:
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