Someone you know has left or is planning to leave. 1,000 Ways To Japa will speak to real people and explore the infinite number of reasons and paths they use to get to Japa
Bodunrin never recovered from what #EndSARS did to him, but that trauma led him to accept a scholarship to study at New York University (NYU). In this story, he shares how he got into the world-class university and why he’s missing the most mundane things about Nigeria.
When did you leave Nigeria, and where are you now?
I left Nigeria in August 2024 and live in New Jersey, United States (US), but I’m studying at New York University (NYU).
Nice. What motivated your relocation?
I wasn’t exactly the type of person who prioritised relocation, but I wanted to experience world-class education. I had also been struggling to get over the hopelessness that the #EndSARS protest filled me with, so it made sense to move.
I’m sorry about that. And congratulations on NYU; how did that happen?
A former editor at the publication where I worked had moved to the U.S. on a student visa about a year before me. One day, out of nowhere, she sent me a list of schools in the U.S. and said, “Why don’t you apply?” We hadn’t even talked about it before that. It felt so random, but timely.
I applied to two schools on the list—New York University and the University of Utah. A few months later, I got admitted into NYU with an 80% scholarship. It’s not a full scholarship, but the good thing is that it’s easier to make money here. I also recently got another $4,000 scholarship, and I’m covering my living expenses with income from work.
Please share the step-by-step process of how you got the NYU scholarship
For NYU, you don’t apply separately for funding. You just apply to the program, and they consider you for funding based on the strength of your application.
In my case, I had to write a personal statement of about 2,600 words because the program I applied to is very writing-intensive. I talked about my motivations in that statement and subtly hinted at my financial situation. From what I understand, they assess your application based on your statement and background, which determines how much funding they offer. That’s how it is with most of the schools in the U.S.
I didn’t apply for any extra scholarships at the time, except for the Global Journalist Fellowship. It’s worth about $30,000 and very competitive. Thousands of people apply every year. Unfortunately, I didn’t get it, but I know a Nigerian who did.
What makes an application NYU-worthy?
It helps to have a great CGPA, but it’s not a deal-breaker. My CGPA was 3.6 out of 5, which is about 2.6 on the US 4-point scale. It wasn’t impressive by US standards, but I had solid professional experience– I was already working with news publications from my third year in university.
The personal statement is super important, especially for writing-heavy courses. It needs to show that you’ve thought deeply about why you’re applying, what you plan to get out of the program, how your experiences tie into the course, and what value you’re bringing into the program.
Many people go the sad story route, especially as Nigerians, but you don’t have to. It’s better to focus on a personal experience that genuinely connects to your chosen field. Also, don’t use ChatGPT or AI tools to write it; admissions officers can tell. You need your voice to shine through.
Your CV is almost as important as the statement itself. You need to show what you’ve done (internships, jobs, volunteer work, even student activism) related to your field. Don’t just tell them you have potential; show them you’ve already started doing the work.
Thank you. I’m curious, though; how did you end up in New Jersey?
I moved to New Jersey because the rent in New York is insane. Both cities share a border, and the train ride from my place to school is about 40 minutes. Many students, especially Nigerians and other Africans, move to New Jersey once they settle in.
Insane rent aside, how has life been since you moved?
Education-wise, it’s been great. I can’t say I’m surprised by what I’ve seen, because even though this is my first time in the country, I already knew a lot about the U.S., maybe even more than some Americans.
I’ve spent years reading deeply and widely about the country. I’ve watched documentaries, read books, and done other things to learn about the country, so a lot of what I’m experiencing now are things I have already encountered in theory. For instance, there’s this scene in Chimamanda Adichie’s Americanah where the character, Ifemelu, talks about how the school system encourages you always to say something in class, even when you don’t have anything meaningful to say. Honestly, I’ve seen that play out here.
Class participation is a big deal here. In some of my classes, it counts for up to 35% of your grade. And we are 14 in my class, so it’s impossible to avoid it.
That aside, it’s a very impressive school. My faculty has podcast studios and all kinds of equipment. We are also taught by professors who are major writers in America. I’m talking about New York Times bestseller authors.
Oh, that’s interesting. How about your social life?
I was very individualistic in Nigeria and still enjoy solitude, but I’ve found a community here. There’s an African students’ group at NYU, and they have a WhatsApp group where we connect.
Sometimes, I meet people randomly, and we click. I’ve also been to a Catholic church where they celebrate Mass in Igbo, even though I’m not Igbo. When I was reporting a story there, I discovered the church, and it reminded me of home. Even after the reporting ended, I still went back a few times despite it being a four-hour round trip. It’s always worth it because it’s the biggest gathering of Nigerians I’ve seen since I came to the US.
On a scale of one to ten, how happy are you with your new life?
I’d say seven out of ten. I’m naturally a pessimistic person; even if you put me in Xanadu (the imaginary perfect place from Eastern philosophy), I’d probably still find a reason not to be 10/10 happy.
There’s a lot I miss about Nigeria. The food is available here, but it’s expensive. I miss being able to buy Nigerian food without breaking the bank. I miss the smell of Lagos. I know people say it stinks, and yes, it does, but I still miss it. I miss walking down the street and hearing the okada guy shouting something ridiculous. I miss the market women calling out to me to come and buy things. I miss the energy and the chaos.
People in New York like to say, “If you can make it here, you can make it anywhere”, but I just laugh. This city has about 8 million people, while Lagos has 20 million people in a much smaller space. Times Square is supposed to be the busiest place in NYC, but it feels calm compared to Balogun Market.
So yeah, I’m happy, but a big part of me still misses home.
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