₦airaland Forum

eduson002: Thank you.

Bros i check this school no chem eng programme. pls need other suggestion..Thanks

Yvete: I have never posted on this education forum but I feel the need to say a few things to those experiencing difficulties here. I came to the US in 2003, did my undergrad, worked for 2 years and now pursuing my MBA in Texas. *Btw I'm 26 so you know how young I was when I came to the US. Plus, I'm not a nurse nor in the healthcare field.

1. Avoid expensive cities like a plague. (You need a cheap city where you can live comfortably and made excellent grades at school without distractions). For instance, If you like the city of Miami because of its popular beach, take a vacation there. You don't need to reside there permanently. I'm just saying....
Texas is a best friend for new comers. I'll tell you why --- Cheap accommodation. (Roughly about $400 monthly, All bills included plus free transportation to school. I'M NOT ASKING YOU TO MOVE TO TEXAS OH. ITS JUST AN EXAMPLE.

2. On-campus jobs are not provided to help pay your tuition --- Do NOT come to the US broke, Period! Have enough funds to cover at least one semester of your stay, in terms of feeding, transportation, etc. During my 4 years as an undergrad, I worked on campus for $8/hr x 20hrs/weekly (plus a lil' overtime). I USED to take home roughly about $640/monthly, but it was enough. Student housing rent for $385 (which my brother still pays here in 2012) and the change for my personal use.

If you need a job on campus, walk into their office and boldly ask for the supervisor. Don't be scared, this ain't Nigeria. Explain that you're an Intl student in dire need of a job. Make sure you applied on-line and go with a copy of your application. Prepare a resume with part-time experiences in Nigeria (For females, maybe babysitting experience, part-time secretary & for males, part-time Admin Assistant). Basically you need a resume that highlight basic communication skills, computer use, team-player skills and time management). Nigerians are usually timid, i think!

3. Do NOT buy new textbooks. Shop for textbooks on ebay, amazon or craigslist. Wait till a week after school to find out what books your professors need.Some will give you handout and not really care about the books. There is also a book rental service at your schools' bookstore. Take advantage of that as well. PLEASE TRY TO MAKE EXCELLENT GRADES ..C is unacceptable. A's & B's only.

4. You need a laptop. If you don't have one, use the desktop at the library. I didn't buy a laptop till the next semester, but I was ok. November Thanksgiving sale is around the corner, you can get a cheap brand new laptop for about $399. Save for that if you can. That's the only time I purchase electronics.

5. Education is the US is time management! Learn to prioritize. Don't spend money on phone cards calling "Friends" in Nigeria. CUT SPENDING: Avoid eating out as much as possible. Cook noodles, noodles and noodles! Ramen is your best friend. Look for cheap grocery stores and cook! cereals, noodles, rice, chicken...basically, do not spend money eating out. It wont help if you're struggling financially.

6. Look for cheap housing on craigslist.com . You'll find people looking for students to sub-lease a room from their homes (choose wisely), or students looking for roommates, or people that are dropping out of school and need someone to take over the contract for housing. Trust me, you'll find amazingly awesome deals there.

7. BE FREAKING PATIENT! I graduated with Intl. business and it took a whole year for a company to hire/sponsor me to get a work authorization. It was rough but now I'm living comfortably in Houston. If your family struggled to send you here, do NOT equate yourself with children of those that got millions to shut down a nightclub. Be frugal and stingy to yourself, IF NEED BE.

8. A city with a lot of African or Nigerians will help you. You will be able to familiarize yourself with other Nigerians and could get help. They can always hire you ----- you know what i mean----- even without your ------- because many people here run private businesses.

9. If you're in an expensive city, spend one semester and TRANSFER TO A COMMUNITY COLLEGE. Unless you're a dummy. Houston Community College averages about $2000 per semester for 12 hours(4 courses). Who wouldn't take advantage of that? After 2 years, you can transfer to your intended university. I did it and can guide you if you need help.

10. All my 4 siblings live in this city and life is easy for everyone. Its best to go where you know somebody. 5 of us each coming from Nigeria one after the other is a success. Look for an old school friend (they might not help you financially, but guide you and introduce you to other Nigerians).

I'm kinda tired of typing ...lol. If anyone needs any help with finding jobs, school transfer, etc,....holla! THERE ARE OTHER EMPLOYMENT OPTIONS THAT I CANT WRITE HERE. PM me if interested.

Pls can you send me your email.

imperiouxx: @Djunit,

I've never coated yankee with honey and I can't discourage anyone from coming US but always encourage getting funding first. I always say it, if you don't get funding from school and your parents ain't rich, then US isn't for you. The same I tell my intimate friends in Nigeria. I also said it that funding is what poor people like me use in surviving in this place. When I was searching for school, I looked for states with average cost of living and found myself in New Mexico. Why didn't I look in California, Florida, New York, New Jersey, Illinois among others? I also searched for schools that will give me good funding. I got admission in New Mexico and Texas but later dropped Texas for New Mexico because I got all I need here. If I'm living on funding here, why can't I ask another person to get such? I tell people search for schools in south-west (New Mexico, Utah, Arizona and Colorado) + Texas and ask for funding from your schools the moment you start posting your documents to them, is it not to get affordable cost for living.

If jimtosam and webstradamus can come forward to confirm schools with full funding and we tell other people such....is that what you called sugar coating? I never said it here that you won't pay to get food stuffs in Walmart or you get salary from social security every month or your school will give you brand new car the moment you register with them.

The case of going back home, if I can spend thousands of dollar to finish my studies and home isn't promising me millions of Naira but unemployment or epileptic salary, then nobody has to tell me where I belong after studies.

Imperouxxx baba, pls can i have the list of schools that gives full tuition for chemical or petroleum engineering. omo men ebi like say man go change base oh. pls i need it asap. thanks.

[quote author=king1_00]Jimtosam, please kindly email me. I need to ask you an urgent question. loretta_001@yahoo.com

Thanks man.[/quote]bros how u dey......

kpolli: Amen and thanks

bros wetin i do ypou now i don send my phone to your mail pls call me. in short send ur phone no and i will call you.

[quote author=king1_00]Boss i dey , you suppose do enter na. try email me your phone number so we fit dey talk wella.

Cheers[/quote]sent
bros i don enter o. Trying to settle down. we are having a career fair today as well as a quiz in class just to tell how my day could be. i sent you my phone no. How your ends now. pls email me your phone no so as to call you.
@ I hope to see some nairalanders at the spe conference in san antonio......

[quote author=king1_00]I attend TU. If you are coming for masters program, then your best bet is MBA cause its a professional school, if undergraduate, i think they have a couple of programs that might interest you. I could help you a great deal, and alot of people have funding if you can play a particular sports and also have a good test score and transcript. email me loretta_001@yahoo.com.

cheers![/quote]Bros how you dey

DEJAY1: Pls house i got a new i-20 stating my resumption for october 17th while the former states august 22nd which i fill in my DS160.Pls i've been trying to retrieve my application to make corrections about this new development but its telling me application submitted else i want to fill a new one. Pls should i fill a new one or wat should i do? Urgent replies needed pls

use the previous ds160 number to upload a new form. This will make you have a consistent data and u can then change the relevant details as you like thanks

@Lanre how far. I trust u had a lovely nite. I have prayed for you, just relax. Instead of worrying i would advice that you escalate this anomaly. Send mail and call the embassy and GSS to lay your complain. Then you go to the GSS both at lekki and ikeja, let those pretty ladies check for ur visa. If it is not available pally them to take ur details and contact you when it is available. Also contact your graduate adviser and international student service so that they can be informed, give u advice that will assist you in case the visa comes out late. But my advice WAIT PATIENTLY thanks and appreciates.

[quote author=king1_00]@Gboyega i have searched for that royal air maroc to no avail. Pls post a link, or if you know how we can make the booking please say. Thanks a lot.[/quote]go to their office located at tetrazzinni building adeola odeku street VI lagos

@ehimare congrats go javalinas when are u leaving. Am going for Ngen too.

@square65 i have just send a mail. I will be grateful for a prompt response. Thanks and appreciates.

@Square Bros i don send you ofline message tire. Thanks for your response and i beg pls reply me. @All i want to say that the forum has lived to its expectation. I want to thank you guys for the support, help and encouragement. Some of the contributors here went as far as paying sevis fee and admission fee for people they have never met. Indeed all the enquiries a novice needs as regards study in usa is embeded in this forum, that is why am suggesting that we look into building a website or blog where we can archive these invaluable infos for future references. Thanks and appreciates.

Praise God my nairaland friend was given visa. He was there for me when i was denied. @ imperi baba Pls i heard the power rating in us is 110 V pls will it affect my laptop and clipper if i decide to bring it along. Thanks and appreciates

biofem2000: Almost everything is allowed so long as its not liquid and you declare them. The ones you cannot bring with you will be available at an African store. Do not go to the African Store with your calculator though.
Oh... for those who cannot do withoug egusi soup, I found a substitute, its sunflower seed or pumpkin seed. Yum.......

@ bio fem thanks pls can i bring palm oil noodles and amala. I hope u know u have to book the appointmrnt first. It takes 3 to 5 days and make sure u upload ur I20 and receipt of payment. Thanks and appreciates

@ All pleease i will like to know what food stuff is permissible at houston international airport. Thanks and appreciates

bypassit: Dear house,I have little issues that has been bothering my brain and though of posting it and see if any one has an advise at least.
My interview is scheduled for next week but my dad has travelled and there is no way i could get his bank statement because he is not coming home like soonest but he had already printed a bank statement for me like earlier last month when i thought i was suppose to get an early date but i failed so i just thought if its possible i get hold of the old bank statement which was the one i printed early last month and present it to the VO otherwise,i cant get another bank statement until my dad gets back.

Secondly,i already filled the DS 160 form since last month and i just got another updated i-20 because the first one already got expired due to the fact that i couldn't get an early date.Is it possible for me to re fill another DS 160 for online since the initial travel date i filled wouldn't be possible.


Please house i need an help @ this time.

I dont really think you have a any problem. All you have to do is to tell your dad to write an instruction to his Bank and follow it up with a call to his account officer. Let him send it through expressmail, you will get it in 3 days time. Take it to the Bank and u are good to go. Otherwise take the old statement. As per ur DSI60, u can always make changes by retrieving the previous form(by following the third option on the form's home page). This will make ur infos consistent reduce time typing all over gain. And make sure that u update the new form number on your appointment page online. Thanks and appreciates.

WARYZ: thanks my 2 bros,I went 2 Air marocs office 2day,and it was kinda vry cheap,N185,550(1way,which dey said its vry well acceptable)thanks yall

so will one link up with once final destination, how do u book and pay for the flight

[quote author=Chi-town Base][/quote]pls how did u book it which airline and where is ur destination. Pls i want to key in it is very cheap. Pls respond asap thanks

[quote author=Chi-town Base][/quote]@Chi-town Base pls which airline and where is ur destination. Am looking for a better deal. Please respond asap. Thanks.

WARYZ: pls can I buy a 1 way ticket or should it be a round ticket?am sorry 4 being such a pest,Thanks *wink*

you can buy one way and all u need is ur money either in dollars or naira and ur dob. Made enquiries at there office at adeola odeku tetrazinni building beside kia motors victoria island. Flight is mostly wed and fridays not really sure but the flight leaves for 6:50am

@Gboyega and square d pls help me check flight from jfk to kingsville. Thanks

WARYZ: 4 all the pple that av bought their tickets or that wants 2 buy it very soon,pls where can I get a very cheap affordable ticket 2 new york?or rather where did u guys buy urs(4 does who bought cheap tickets oo).went to the airport yesterday and went straight to ARIKs office on the second floor and they called their ticket to new york a whooping #385,000(1 way),and my dads which is return #597,000(return ticket).pls reply me fast cuz I av to touch down JF kennedy next week.thanks.I stay in lagos so pls the office should be in lagouz.leggo

royal air moroc

GboyegaD: Why not join Royal Airmaroc to JFK for N184k on the 8th of August and then connect Kingsville. That way, you save more. Find the link to the wakanow page below:
http://www.wakanow.com/ng/flights/listing.aspx?searchId=h5lzgauxj0wauwi4201nd0ck1563236288
SquareD, help him get cheaper tickets to Kingsville from JFK.

@gboyega God bless u i will go and pay @ adeola odeku right away thannks once again @squareD pls help me find that cheap flight from jfk asap pls ejo

Square65: Congrats! I must have missed your story. I had since responded to your offline msg. Lemme have a yahoo id so I can contact u directly from mine. When are u coming in to town?

@Gboyega, are u in Houston? Pls txt me your address pls.
@Imperiouxx, when are u coming?

@square i did not receive any mail from you. I am coming to town a day to the compulsory orientaion which i am yet to confirm the date. please send me a mail from ur main email to kinspin2000 at gmail dot com. I will be expecting ur mail urgently. @All i need the cheapest of the cheapest flight to christ corpus texas, i want to book now. Thanks in anticipation of a prompt response

Square65: Baiyewu, I did not get to hear from you anymore. Have u gone for your interview? I provided my real email addy ...

i did not get the mail o. Pls i still need to chat with u oh. My visa interview was very successful. I photocpy ur response since na de same sch and course we dey do

phy: @deevick246, it's painful that some VOs take the GRE thing too far, unfortunately, appeal process is a long route. If you still have time, I'll advise you write your school asking for a waiver letter for GRE, however, we don't know who the next VO is but I'm sure it's not going to be the same VO. I just feel you deserve the visa. Imperiouxx got it the second time because of the initial GRE stuff, you may want to borrow from his audacity.

i just want re-emphasize this gre stufff. Everybody that want a fail proof VI should do it irrespective. The Vo asked for the name, location of the test and the structure of the quant. Reasonin. So my advice is that pple should take gre very serious more xpecially those with one form of scholarship or the other

@square65 or impe baba i will like to have a mock VI with any of u to fine tune my prepared answers to possible questions. Thanks and appreciates

Square65: First, again, I must commend GboyegaD, Imperiouxx et al for their relentless support offered in this forum unlike some of us who just went AWOL.

Baiyewu what specific info do u require? What program were u admitted into? do u have ur visa now?

Cheers everyone!

@Square65 Thanks for coming by. My program is NGEN. I observed some anomalies on my i-20. Despite sending my dad's statement, the funding as stated on it was 'Student' instead of my dad's name. Also the program state was 'Engineering General. Then i remember that u said the IO made mistake on ur I-20 which made u defer ur admision. Please is this a mistake or i should ignore them. I will also like to chat you as regards study in Tamuk and more specifically ur course. Thanks in anticipation of ur prompt response.

GboyegaD: I have sent him a text. I want to believe he would assist soonest.

thanks

GboyegaD: Yes I know one doing Masters in Chemical Engineering at Texas A&M Kingsville. Do you need any information? I can talk to him and ask him to catch up with you on the forum.

@GboyegaD please i need info kindly hoook me up with the guy. Thanks and appreciates.

@House Please is there any NLander in Kingsville Tx