10 Winning tips to Ace Your Chevening Scholarship Application Processes: Insights from Afeez Olalekan, 2023 Scholar
Posted by Afeez Olalekan | one year ago | 1,260 times
Editor's Note: The Chevening Scholarship is a highly competitive scholarship program that provides funding for outstanding individuals who wish to pursue a master’s degree in the United Kingdom. In this article, Afeez Saka, 2023/2024 Chevening Scholar shares tips that we believe can help you scale through the Chevening scholarship application processes. So sit tight, and let’s dive in.
Start your application process early
Start your application process early to ensure you have enough time to complete all the required details. "I didn't finish my application in a week. I had some stops in between. I followed the instructions I was given and ensured that I did my best before I submitted." Don't be in a hurry to submit. Do what is necessary and give it your best shot. You might have to do a deep research into understanding what Chevening is all about before you commence your application.
Research Universities and Courses you are interested in
Diligently research the universities and courses you are interested in– align them with your academic and career goals. For me, I had the courses I wanted to do in mind before my final decision to apply, and I had to channel my commitment to that cause before, during, and after my application. I studied Health Education in the University, I could have chosen to apply for Masters in Public Health and other related fields, but it took me some reflections to finally make a decision. I had consistently focused more on projects that reflect my purpose. I chose Education - Literacy, Education Technology, Leadership, and other related services.
Eligibility Criteria
Do you meet the eligibility criteria? This should be one of the first things, if not the first, to do. Ensure you meet all the eligibility requirements, including academic qualifications, work experience, and English language proficiency. It saves your time and effort. It helps you know who and where to seek help from when the need arises.
Gather Relevant Professional Experience
Aside from academic records, you need to accumulate relevant work experience. Take on leadership roles that would help you demonstrate your commitment and potential in your field. I think one significant result about CONSISTENCY is CLARITY. When people read or hear about your work, they will be able to connect the dots, even without you explaining too much. Build strong leadership skills and be intentional with why and how you play those roles. This should also guide your career plan.
Know Your Career Path
There is a part of the essays that would require that you share your career plan. You need to seek help in getting the right strategy for writing this. You would also need to talk about how Chevening will help you achieve your goals. I want to believe that there is no one way to do it, but asking for a guide will bring some insight.
Choose the right Referees
Choose referees who can provide strong and detailed references that would highlight your achievements and potential so far. People who are interested in your growth– aware about how passionate you are and understand your work.
Write Compelling Essays
Your essays should be compelling. Tell those stories. Dig deep to find them and select the winning ones– Use the STAR-L Model (Situation, Task, Action, Result and Lessons learnt) to tell your stories. You have them already, and this is one of the best places to use them. My boss will say, "Don't be too humble in telling your impact stories". This happened in cases where I would write "We did this and that" instead of "I did this and that". You should personalize the story where and when necessary. You don't want to sound like someone is not so proud of his or her work.
English language Proficiency
To the best of my knowledge, Chevening does not request for English Language Proficiency but you would need to provide one as required by your school of choice. It could be writing a test or getting a letter of confirmation from your recent institution. In my own case, I had to choose schools that accept a Letter of English Language Proficiency, WAEC/NECO results to avoid writing IELTS, TOEFL, etc. In one of the schools I applied to, it was observed that my academic study in my recent school was about 7 years ago and they requested that I get a letter of English Language Proficiency from my recent organization. So, I got one.
Proofread Your Essays
Proofread your essays and review to avoid errors and ensure clarity. I read my essays a number of times, and I always find something to add or even remove. But then, I had to maintain the required limit. There were some essays that I had to exhaust the word length, and there were some I didn't but was close to. You can also reach out to Chevening scholars to help and I hope you get the support you need.
Prepare Adequately: Don't be caught unawares
I wish you Good luck in your application, and I pray you get selected for the interview stage. Getting to this stage is a testament you are close to winning the scholarship. It also needs enough preparation. I had one of my best moments during this phase. I watched some videos and also had some mock interviews that helped me prepare better. I can still remember how I felt after a 2-hour mock interview a few nights before my official interview. I listened to myself again and again, and I realized that I wasn't prepared enough. I took all the lessons and followed the strategy— Practiced, practiced and practiced till I began to feel like "Yes, I will ace this". I attended my interview virtually and God showed up for me throughout the process. Even with all these, I had my share of a waiting period after the initial announcement of the selected Chevening Scholars. I remained persistent with prayers— hopeful and feeling positive that a miracle could happen and God did it.
Be patient and persistent. Don't be discouraged by rejection. I have read and listened to many successful Chevening scholars who applied multiple times. It's also possible that you apply once and get in. Once again, I wish you good luck with your application.
