Did not get a single scholarship/ summer program I applied to this year

ljfromwarning
Fri, 08 Jun 2012 14:35:18 +0000

I’m going to be a freshman at an Ivy League university. But for some reasons, all my scholarship and summer program applications were denied. I can’t figure out why. My essays are well polished, and my recs are solid. I don’t understand how it could go wrong.

1. What are some of the reasons someone doesn’t manage to get a single scholarship they apply for?

2. Any applications (essay etc) tips?
Thank you

P/s: What funny is when I was a junior, I got almost everything I applied for; some of them are as competitive as 5%. Now it is the opposite. And I do have factors such as life challenges, need, and other stuff. Some of these programs admit as much as 25% of those who apply. So those are the reasons I don’t understand why I got none of 'em.