₦airaland Forum

^what program did u apply for?

At MIT, Masters in TPP. At the others, a mix of MS and PhD in Electrical Engineering (or whatever they call their department). Sefago, I thought you had retired from this forum o! What's up with you these days?

nice, I actually know a nigerian girl who did the program then headed to do a PhD at Columbia.

But that type of program will be expensive sha.

me just chillin man just chillin

Old soldiers never die as they say

nice, I actually know a nigerian girl who did the program then headed to do a PhD at Columbia.

You are referring to the TPP right? What is she doing a PhD in now?

But that type of program will be expensive sha.

I'm seriously hoping for financial aid sha but we'll see. Abi MIT claims it does not let any student decline attending for financial reasons or is the promise just for undergrads.

me just chillin man just chillin

So you are chilling, ? Where? Grad school?

for undergrads , they use their masters sometimes for cash cow to milk money from people. She is doing a PHd in something that has to do with technology policy or something like that

It seems they do give funding but it will be every limited. However since you are from NIgeria you will likely be on top since MIT is obsessed with diversity and crap like that. Assuming of course that you are qualified sha. WIth the caliber of schools you applied to, I hope you had first class

depends on you. Some people have good luck and some people not so great luck with F1. The US embassy is nie to NIgerian students for now though, and its not that bad. If u get into those tippy top schools then it would not be that hard. You would have satisfied half of it, they not have to be sure you are not planning to run away from naija at the moments.

Its kind of weird the law they use to grant student visas

Nice scores but research experience is supreme compared to anything else. However, I would point out that lots of people from Nigerian universities make it to Stanford and all these big named schools without research experience. I just dont know how.

I think u have a shot at Stanford, but you should have added more public schools. UIUC, Washington are very nice to international students, and are better than some schools on your list and they dont do university snubbing. All those johns hopkins and columbia like people from American undergraduates first then others later. That's why you rarely would find someone straight from Nigeria at Columbia doing a PhD but people from OAU and Unilag get into MIT, Stanford, UIUC e.tc

I personally think you might get into one of them. But good luck though. I remember when I applied for undergrad in the US straight from Nigeria, how apprehensive I was because I did not have the mega requirements of most schools.

I applied to UIUC.

nice, i think u shuld be fine though it seems you applied only to the top top schools

Agreed. I figured if it wasn't in a "top top" school, it wasn't worth the effort. There's a huge opportunity cost to this activity, it has to be worthwhile.

fair enough. However, those schools are competitive and it is possible to get a full rejection especially with lack of research credentials. Graduate school committees dont care about GRE scores (trust me I had a high one too) but more about what you bring to the table in terms of research experience. However, they might be nicer on people from certain places with few research opportunities.

Did you not write a dissertation/thesis at TU Delft?

This should give you an idea of the competition: http://talk.collegeconfidential.com/graduate-school/771815-official-2010-engineering-graduate-school-results.html

Also Michigan is a good option, these schools take lots of international students and fund them, then after that you have to hustle for an advisor for the following years

I totally believe you. As a matter of fact, its a little frustrating reading all those results in college confidential etc.

I think there's a little misunderstanding here I did not attend TU Delft; I attended University of Nigeria, Nsukka. The lecturer I referred to earlier taught me at UNN before going on to TU Delft for his PhD. I did a final year project at UNN which was complex enough by local standards but does not amount to much internationally. I also worked with a couple of lecturers on their research projects, did a few personal ones and I currently do a bit of that at my workplace (but you know how little R & D we do in Nigeria). In any case I mentioned all this stuff on various parts of my applications.

About Michigan, I'm doing no more. I'm out of cash and have exhausted all my reco debts too. I'll keep my fingers crossed and knees bent in prayer. If things don't work, maybe I'll do a masters in unilag or something and gain formal research experience there.

haha true apps cost money

How much did u spend? Do you know anyone from Nsukka that went to those schools? Just curious.

Nice, I did not know Nigerian professors ran labs.

How much did u spend?

Its hard to estimate, transcripts probably cost about 40k, application fees over $1000, GRE and TOEFL over $400. On the whole, I've probably spent over 300k.

Do you know anyone from Nsukka that went to those schools?

I have a friend rounding up his Masters at MIT and that's the much I know from Nsukka.

Nice, I did not know Nigerian professors ran labs.

I've seen the thing about American professors running labs on various university sites. I'm not very sure what it means but does that imply that the lecturer have some space called "Professor X Lab" or "System Y Lab". Anyways, in most good-enough departments in Nigerian universities, there's usually a departmental lab or labs like the ones we had at the EE Dept, UNN and lecturers typically work with the equipments in those labs. Sometimes their work is also purely theoretical thus precluding the need for a lab.

tabarity:
Hey guys, why the hiatus? Is everyone tired?
Pls let the comments and the news keep flowing, i guess you are not aware of how much your comments are tremoendously benefitting a bunch of ambitious people (lurkers) out there. I am an example.

I just received an offer of admission to TU Delft to study petroleum engineering and geosciences. I got the information from this group and I applied and now I have something to show for it. Thanks guys.

But I still need more (esp from 2good and other Delft guys). I need to get a full scholarship . I haven't got any professional work experience in petroleum engineering, so I don't think the NFP is for me. What do you think my chances are for clinching some other forms of scholarships there? what do you think I should start doing now?

Hope to hear from u soon.

Congrats to Us, I am sure you got ur Adm mail on the 13th dec, Hoping to join 2good and others at Delft with scholarship offers like huygen,bp,npf and co.
Write me at da.ghost at yahoo dot com so we can communicate about the scholarship options as we await our already sent adm letters, perhaps whats ur profile? GPA,1st degree,sch,etc

cezeozue:
Its hard to estimate, transcripts probably cost about 40k, application fees over $1000, GRE and TOEFL over $400. On the whole, I've probably spent over 300k.

I have a friend rounding up his Masters at MIT and that's the much I know from Nsukka.

I've seen the thing about American professors running labs on various university sites. I'm not very sure what it means but does that imply that the lecturer have some space called "Professor X Lab" or "System Y Lab". Anyways, in most good-enough departments in Nigerian universities, there's usually a departmental lab or labs like the ones we had at the EE Dept, UNN and lecturers typically work with the equipments in those labs. Sometimes their work is also purely theoretical thus precluding the need for a lab.

whats ur profile?

Everytime I post my stats on nl, it disappears. Anyway, here goes nothing:

GPA: 4.83/5.00 at a Nigerian Federal University
GRE: Q=800, V=730, AW=4.5
Academic Research Experience: Minimal. Computer programs for 2 lecturers' research projects
Work Experience: 2 Years in a local software company
LORs: 1 PhD Holder, 2 PhD students, 2 current employers (I mixed and matched them for the various schools)
Applied to: MIT, Stanford, Princeton, Harvard, Caltech, UPenn, Penn State, Johns Hopkins, Univ. of Wisconsin-Madison, UIUC and Columbia (mix of Masters and PhD)

Anything else?

cezeozue:
Everytime I post my stats on nl, it disappears. Anyway, here goes nothing:

GPA: 4.83/5.00 at a Nigerian Federal University
GRE: Q=800, V=730, AW=4.5
Academic Research Experience: Minimal. Computer programs for 2 lecturers' research projects
Work Experience: 2 Years in a local software company
LORs: 1 PhD Holder, 2 PhD students, 2 current employers (I mixed and matched them for the various schools)
Applied to: MIT, Stanford, Princeton, Harvard, Caltech, UPenn, Penn State, Johns Hopkins, Univ. of Wisconsin-Madison, UIUC and Columbia (mix of Masters and PhD)

Anything else?

That's a lovely profile you've got man.
You will definitely get into one of the big names; trust me you will.
Your work experience with your nice academic profile will cover up for your slight weakness in research experience.
That's good man. Please keep us informed o when the funded offers start flowing in in their droves as from Jan 2011.
Congrats

myforumid3:
Congrats to Us, I am sure you got your Adm mail on the 13th dec, Hoping to join 2good and others at Delft with scholarship offers like huygen,bp,npf and co.
Write me at da.ghost at yahoo dot com so we can communicate about the scholarship options as we await our already sent adm letters, perhaps whats your profile? GPA,1st degree,sch,etc

Hey i don't seem to get your email add. I tried mailing your but i got a delivery error. U could send me a mail to tabarity [at] gmail [dot] com.

@ cezeozue ,
Dont waste your credentials on just the big schools but also try to apply to some of the good medium schools. the website www.usnews.com can be of help. Sometimes, all your qualifications is just not enough to get an admit into the likes of MIT, Stanford, Princeton, etc because you dont know what they look out for. And about going to Unilag, dont also waste your credentials because I had my first degree in Chemical Engineering there and I dont see why one would prefer a Unilag to say Purdue University or University of Texas Austin, because they are not in the highest leagues of Universities in the US but way better than all the Universities in Africa

@2good: Purdue and UT Austin are both ranked higher than Columbia, Johns Hopkins, Wisconsin-Madison, UPenn, Penn State and are at about the same level of competitiveness too (if not higher). I just chose not to apply to them. I cannot remember why now. So how far down the list do you suggest I go?

I'm very well aware that there are several medium-difficulty schools that are better than Unilag or any Nigerian university for that matter. But remember I mentioned an opportunity cost. Being in Unilag lessens that opportunity cost greatly so in a way I settle for less so I can win more in other things. Asides that, I believe a Nigerian education is largely what we make of it. Granted, there are obstacles to having a meaningful learning experience in a Nigerian university but if I knew in my undergraduate days what I know now. I doubt I would be having problem providing better research qualifications to the admissions committees. If push gets to shove (inasmuch as I really do not wish for that) and I have to attend Unilag or some local university to gain research experience and a master's degree, it will not be your average, run-of-the-mill, Nigerian masters degree.

But I pray things don't get to that. I am highly optimistic. How is your program at TU Delft going? I applied there too; really late though (after the November 1 deadline) so I'm not sure about getting a scholarship but we'll see. Did you have any difficulty getting a visa?

2good:
@ cezeozue ,
Dont waste your credentials on just the big schools but also try to apply to some of the good medium schools. the website www.usnews.com can be of help. Sometimes, all your qualifications is just not enough to get an admit into the likes of MIT, Stanford, Princeton, etc because you dont know what they look out for. And about going to Unilag, dont also waste your credentials because I had my first degree in Chemical Engineering there and I dont see why one would prefer a Unilag to say Purdue University or University of Texas Austin, because they are not in the highest leagues of Universities in the US but way better than all the Universities in Africa

guy, put in for lower-medium schs b4 you go start to catch witch next yr if non of these top sch look ur face or give u $$$(TA\RA) after spending 300k+,
2good is right, forget 9ja schs for anything like graduate studies. Or are u not even regretting wasting spending 5yrs +2yr nysc here. Imagine if you'd make this 1st class profile in USA.
U stand a good chance tho, but stil a chance. Convert ur chance into certainty by borrowing money and putting in for medium schs that wud even beg u.

So 2good, u are stil around, tot u'd forgotten us as life must be thrilling at Delft.
W'Sup now, your advice has paid off as some of us that applied have been offered Adm and are now hoping to get nominations for scholarship. Waiting to get the hard copy adm letter in 3wks time, Thnk for ur advice.
Wanted to ask you some vital ??s wrt Delft and wud be grateful if you'd send me ur mail address, mine is da.ghost63 at yahoo dot com.

tabarity:
Hey i don't seem to get your email add. I tried mailing your but i got a delivery error. U could send me a mail to tabarity [at] gmail [dot] com.

I ve sent you a mail. Sorry for my wrong yh id.

lol @ catching witch. Its not just about extra money my friend. There's also the stress of having to call and constantly remind all my recommenders. I'm through and out.

As for going lower, the question is how low? Which school do you know will give me automatic admission? Faith has to come in at some point or we'll constantly settle for the dregs. Afterall, why did you apply to TU Delft instead of LEIDEN University.

Even the TAMU you are applying to is higher ranked than Wisconsin-Madison, UPenn and Penn State (schools I applied to). CSM is not higher ranked than any of my schools in technology as a whole but I understand they have quite a reputation in oil and gas things (your interests, I believe). Everybody has stuff they want for themselves in this life. I guess I've made my choices (however uninformed and naive), counted the costs and I'll see how things turn out. Hopefully you'll still be on nairaland to rejoice (or cry) with me, whatever the outcome.

And if things turn out good, I may just have encouraged someone on nairaland like 2good encouraged you.

@ cezeozue
First you must know that ranking does not reflect how competitive a university trully is. The Ivy League and those highly ranked University(including Darthmouth and Brown that appears not to be so highly ranked) are far more difficult to get in because they admit very few people and people just want to go there because they are Ivy League and they have very strong Alumni network.
Dont ever think of doing a masters in Nigeria with the hope of coming here for a PhD because the educational system is just uncomparable and you'll make your PhD education more difficult for yourself. Here you must be very very sound in programming and the level of research is just something you cant imagine at all if you are in Nigeria and you get so much exposure and opportunities if you study in the west. The Nigerian standard is nothing compared to what you'll see here and you'll most likely have problem in some areas especially programming which you need for a research work. So the masters period will reduce most of those deficiencies as you try to stabilze yourself before you start the real research work.
@ All Admitted to TUDFelft,
Congract on your admission as TUDelft definitely is one of the best technology university in the world but what I want to let you know is that the applied earth science programme is so intensive that you need to be far above average to be able to cope and also go and start learning matlab no matter the course you want to do because you can't escape it. There are several scholarships available here but the number of admit is generally few like we are abt 14 in my class from like 9 different countries with myself being the only black.
Once your finance is guaranteed, TUDelft applies for your visa from the Netherlands and you just go to the embassy to pick it up when its ready, so visa is the least problem. Just try and get the funding sorted out.

2good you said my mind!!!

Engineering at Harvard and Yale is insanely competitive but their engineering departments are crap. TAMU might be higher ranked but its less competitive. This is not hearsay but actual truth. Moreover, the schools you selected have a policy of first looking at the applications of Americans, then the second batch would be foreigners who studied in America. The final batch would be those like you. You would have to be exceptional because space would have gone primarily to Americans, then batch 2.

State schools dont have these policies.

@2good: we could go back and forth about this all evening so I'll say my last on this matter now. I see your point of view about rankings and competitiveness. I guess I didn't look at it that way previously. Unfortunately, the deed is done. There's no going back. And it will take some convincing to make me apply to even one more school. Well, suppose I did agree, which ONE school will you advise me to apply to?

About programming, as Tuface once sang, no be today. I may not be Donald Knuth but I know my onions as far as programming is concerned. From C for small devices to MATLAB and Java (that I work with everyday) so I don't believe that programming will be a problem.

Concerning masters in Nigeria, like I said earlier, education in Nigeria is what you make of it. I have a former lecturer doing his PhD in TU Delft and he did his masters in UNN. (Ok, I admit, I don't know if he was required to do a masters there first but I don't think so). The research areas that have caught my interest (mostly information theory) don't require much expensive equipment asides a computer, books and research papers. If I spent about 300k on applications, I can spend that much on books. And reading has never been a problem (I'm growing a little old these days though   ).

Truth be told, people abroad may not think much of a Nigerian university but what is undeniable is substantial contribution to a field of study. And why are we seriously discussing the unilag option, its an option C or something like that. I have other non-academic interests that I could choose to pursue. In fact, now that I type this, I'm thinking marriage may not even be a bad idea   .

However like I love to say, we'll see. I really don't wish to discuss this further since we seem to be dwelling on the more pessimistic outcome of my efforts. On the other hand, if anybody here knows that ONE school that I would apply to in January that would guarantee me admission and full funding, I'll be glad to consider it.

2good:
@ cezeozue
There are several scholarships available here but the number of admit is generally few like we are abt 14 in my class from like 9 different countries with myself being the only black.

That seems to me a good news
The less the number of admits, and the more the availablity of scholarships; the higher the probability that the funds will go round everyone.
Or you actually meant something else by this statement?

Your ability to get funding depends strongly on the strength of your credentials. I cant really comment on your chances but usually they give reasonable level of funding to atleast one Nigerian on a yearly basis.

2good:
Your ability to get funding depends strongly on the strength of your credentials. I cant really comment on your chances but usually they give reasonable level of funding to atleast one Nigerian on a yearly basis.

Thanks for your reply.
Wanted to ask you if you applied for the NPF scholarship through the Netherlands Embassy in lag? if yes, what was the requirement as employment experience seems to matter here? and Around what time this year did you get the offer of NPF Scholarship or any other you won? May,June or earlier?