Rejection is not failure: Chevening application and more

I got rejected from Ghana. This is my second attempt from what I've seen so far.

I have observed that:

1. You need to be on top of your game. Whether in academics, social enterprise or volunteerism, find a niche and excel in it.

2. Join a volunteering program or community of volunteers. Chevening wants to see what you're doing now and what you will be capable of doing after the award. You can join international NGOs and volunteering groups to make impact.

3. Learn to network: Networking is key in excelling. That's why there's a whole essay on Networking. If there are UN or International organizations can join or conferences you can attend, don't hesitate. YALI, GIMUN etc are a few.

4. Write: Learn to write articles for publication, in areas related to your application interests and contribute to societies with such focus.
Some people forego the publications but it a great way to make impact. Write about issues affecting your society and country. Write down your successes and failures and the way to go.

5. Learn to solve a societal problem. Join a cause or create one to solve a problem you've identified in your society. It may not be directly linked or related to your application but it is important

6. Be consistent. If you failed to make it to the next round or received a rejection letter (like me), don't give up. Be consistent in passion and persistent with your application. By so doing, you gain much experience which makes your application better each time.

7. Be prayerful and positive. It takes tremendous effort to even make up your mind to apply and further make it to this point. If you grow negative, nothing positive will come out. Learn to be positive and be prayerful. As the years go by, the scholarship is becoming known to more and more fresh graduates from the universities across the world. It is going to increase numbers and thus make the application highly competitive. Without prayer and hard work, it is going to be difficult to get in.

8. Start preparing. It is said that the best preparation for tomorrow is by doing your best today. To turn it an extraordinary application, you need to work towards it now. You have over a year if you are planning of applying for 2021. Write your essays (since you know the areas already). Review. Read. Revise. Research into your essays. Plan your essays for next year now.

9. Have a plan B and C. Though the scholarship is prestigious, don't put all you eggs in a single basket. Look for other scholarship opportunities. There are several similar prestigious scholarship programmes and schemes. Search and apply for some. If you got a conditional or unconditional offer which can be deferred to next year, kindly do so if you don't have the means to fund it now. It will make applying all over again much more easier.

10. Last but not least, improve upon yourself. I've mentioned earlier that make an impact, network among others.  Doing so is geared towards adding more value to yourself. As you await the opening of applications, take an online course, join in an outreach, support a cause, do something. You will be bettered by doing so.

I wish all selected applicants the best of luck, congrats. To those who couldn't make it this year like me, let's do more and better. See you next year.