₦airaland Forum

fregkay:
Congrats bigsteve,na God save you o that she gave you more mintues to actually give her what she wanted to hear about why you choose the school.

Visa approved at Lagos embassy earlier this week.
Firstly, I just want to thank God almighty, who made this possible. Work hard ,pray harder is the key. And I must say nairaland contributed immensely to my success. Even though, I was at the us embassy for the first time. Nothing was new to me from the security checks to the biometrics due to the fact that I read this thread from part 4 to 8 ( wasn't easy but worth it) . After waiting for about 25 mins the consular officers started arriving one after the other (in my mind, oyinbo sef sabi use African time chai) . I also noticed the lady at window 7 as @busysammy07 mentioned earlier, She was quite friendly and I also wish she interviewed me but I was directed to window 9 with 3 guys. While waiting for my interview, I noticed my friendly window 7 VO denied her first applicant . The first two guys at my front too were also denied and a girl at window 10 at my side. . In my mind I was like denial everywhere(today na today). But I didn't panic, instead I was thanking God in my mind and still maintained my confidence. The first question the VOs were asking was "why did you chose this school' and to be honest the first applicants before me answers were not impressive enough, I guess that majorly contributed to their denials. I wish I could link them up to this thread.
Sorry for my story here comes my transcript:
VO: Good morning, please pass me your documents (she was busy typing)
Me: Good morning (I didn't remember to smile lol )
VO: Why do you want to study in the united states?
Me: I want to study in the united states because of the good quality of education . And mental health counseling is not offered in any of the schools here both at undergraduate and post graduate level (looking straight into her eye, while she kept nodding)
VO: So why did you chose this school
Me: I chose the school, because it's one of the few schools that student irrespective of their majors belongs to a social intellectual community that builds that foundation for success ( actually, I didn't plan to mention this first but I was just nervous all of a sudden)
VO: Cut in...you mean that is why you chose the school ( frowning)
Me: oh (pretended as if I didn't understand the question earlier) I chose the school because it has a well structured curriculum that aligns to my career goals (I was still yet to balance)
VO: cuts in (still frowning) oh well others schools has a well structured curriculum
Me: I smiled (now I got my confidence back, devil is a liar)yea, the school is very affordable for my mother and it is located in a pretty safe town to study. It also has a faculty to student ratio of 16 : 1 which will enable me to have the personal attention i need from my lecturers to excel in my profession (now she stopped frowning)
VO: (looking at my I20) why mental health counseling?
Me: While working in a NGO. I realized how unfairly mentally ill people get treated and I think studying about mental health helps to remove that stigma. Our society needs a better understanding of mental health issues.
VO: Mental health issues like?
Me: Depression, anxiety, addiction and substance abuse, suicidal impulses, stress, problems with self-esteem, and grief. And, also job and career concerns, educational decisions, issues related to family, parenting, marital, or other relationship problems.
VO: what is the name of the NGO u work for?
ME: I mentioned it
VO: Where is it located?
ME: In oyo state
VO: How many people do u normally see in a day
ME: you mean staffs or clients? ( I know what she meant, but just trying to think)
VO: clients
ME: 4 to 6
VO: you have your degree in what? (didn't hear her well tho)
ME: Psychology
VO: Did you do any international exam like Gmaths?
ME: yes, I did GRE and TOEFL
VO: your scores?
ME: Gre 292 , Toefl 86
VO: what do you plan to do after the program?
ME: I plan to come back to Nigeria and change the mental health world, the discipline is behind in Nigeria. I would be helping people manage and live with health conditions such as HIV, cancer or chronic pain, assisting people who have difficulties in maintaining relationships or providing advice about how to care for a child who has been abused.
VO: (while I was still busy talking, she cuts in and said the golden words) She returned my I-20 saying I would be needing it at P.O.E plus the white sheet and blah blah.
ME: Thank you ( my expression was....just like that)
Once again, Glory be to the capital GOD. my advice to others expecting their visas. Put God first , Be well prepared and again put God first. No documents was asked for. Abeg ,Nigerians students in Mississippi kindly hook up. I need some infos.