AFRICA | A young Nigerian man named Temidayo Falade who suffered scholarship rejections for 10 has finally succeeded. He secured admission to the University of California, Berkeley, fully funded by the World Bank.
Temidayo’s academic journey began in 2016, when he earned a Bachelor’s degree in Business Administration from Babcock University, Nigeria. After graduation, he set his sights on pursuing a graduate degree abroad.
However, the application period was challenging. “Getting a scholarship is hard, but it is possible,” Temidayo reflected.
Despite his relentless efforts, Temidayo faced multiple rejections from prestigious institutions. The Chevening Scholarship denied him twice, in 2018 and 2020, while the Mastercard Scholarship at the University of Edinburgh turned him down for both admission and funding.
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He also received rejections from the Commonwealth Scholarship and Commonwealth Shared Scholarship. Still determined, he applied for the Knight-Hennessy Scholarship at Stanford, only to receive another rejection for both admission and funding.
Oxford University’s Weidenfeld-Hoffmann Scholarship and the University of California Berkeley’s Mastercard Scholarship followed the same pattern, with the latter delivering an especially emotional blow—one that left him in tears on an “Okada” ride to work.
The University of East Anglia and the University of Pennsylvania also declined his scholarship applications, making the journey feel even more uncertain. With each rejection, Temidayo said the dream seemed further out of reach, yet he refused to give up.
Instead of letting the disappointments break him, he used them as fuel to push forward. Every “no” only strengthened his resolve, proving that perseverance and resilience would ultimately lead him to success.
In 2023, after years of relentless applications, Temidayo’s resilience paid off—he had been accepted into the University of California Berkeley, fully funded by the World Bank.
The World Bank scholarship is for Development Specialists with at least 3 years of experience—this limits the competition and increases your chances
Temidayo hopes his story inspires others who are still searching for scholarships. He shared some key lessons from his experience.
Temidayo described scholarships as a game of numbers. He said the more widely accessible a scholarship is, the more competitive it becomes. Instead of applying for general scholarships, focus on niche ones related to your degree or experience.
He also said they should expect rejections. Getting rejected does not mean you are not good enough—it just means there are limited spots so it is advisable to apply to multiple opportunities instead of putting all your hope in one application.
Before applying, Temidayo said it is advisable to seek guidance from people who have successfully obtained scholarships. Ask them to review your essays, share insights, and guide you through the process.
At the University of California Berkley, Temidayo is currently studying for a Masters in Development Practice.
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