sirRiddy:
Centrix thanks for the contribution and your score is really admirable.

Make other guys no hold anything back at all.

Thanks man

DanjaNinja:


Baba there are no words that can accurately express the depth of my gratitude to you for posting your experience on this thread. God bless you abundantly as you have shared with us. Thanks alot bro. Infact, take one Orijin

lol anytime bruh

So Danjaninja has asked that I contribute to this thread. I wrote the GREs in January of this year, started preparing a few months prior to my test date.

Quant Section:
The Barron’s GRE book was everything and more. The author assumes you have little to no knowledge of the actual GRE test material so it introduces the test taker to basic principles of fundamental mathematics. I started off by taking the Practice test at the back of the book to identify my weak areas after which I read the entire math section paying close attention to my not-too-strong areas.

The next stage of my quant practice was downloading and taking the first practice test on the GRE powerprep software provided by ETS on its website. I scored a 160! Danjaninja may not agree with me on this, but I feel that how well you do on those powerprep tests reflects how you’d perform on the actual test give or take a mark or two. So you can imagine my excitement. Lol

Next, I downloaded Princeton Review’s “1014 practice questions”. I started off by taking the skills test at the beginning of the book. I got scared because I didn’t perform as well as I thought I would given my performance on the ETS powerprep tests. So I got practicing again. Solved as many questions as I could section by section. It didn’t matter whether I was comfortable with the topic I was spending time on, I simply did as much as I could.

Later, I moved on to Manhatan’s “ 5lb book of GRE Practice Problems”. At this point, I must mention that if you want to ace the quant section, you HAVE to solve as many practice problems as you possibly can. It boosts your confidence on test day.

Anyway, about two weeks to my test date, I took the second powerprep test. Scored a 162!.

NOTE: It’s always important you time yourself whenever you solve practice questions. Give yourself a minute and a half or two minutes max to solve each question. If you’re experiencing difficulties solving any question, move on to the next. You can always come back later.



Verbal:
The first step to acing the verbal section is expanding your vocabulary. Again, the Barron’s book comes in handy. There are hundreds of GRE- type words listed at the end of the verbal section. Learn (or memorize, which ever suits you best) as many as you can, paying special attention to those that frequently appear on the test.

After about a month of intensive cramming (lol), I took the first powerprep practice, scored an abysmal 153! lol

What I’ve learnt is that it’s not about the number of words you know, but how well you can use them in the right contexts. That’s where Manhattan’s “5lb book of GRE Practice Problems” comes in. You have enough Reading Comprehension and Sentence Completion questions to practice with and because Manhattan’s problems are a lot more difficult than any question you’d encounter on the actual test, it’s a good way to beef up your skills.

About two weeks to the actual test, I took the second ETS powerprep test and scored 159 which to be honest was good enough for me as my intended graduate program is more quant-based.



Essays:
To be honest, I never practiced writing essays not because I was confident in my essay writing abilities but because I simply had no time. This is where a good private secondary education comes in handy(lol..i kid). Anyway, a night before the test, I read a few Manhattan sample essays while trying to imagine possible topics.

If you’re drawing a blank on any topic on test day, just think of as many examples as you can on the topic and get writing. Anything is better than nothing!



I hope this helps someone out there. Feel free to contact me should you have any questions. Peace

Mystiqme:


Dude, ask for the name of the street and google it. If all the news you are seeing about that street and it's surroundings are drugs, gunshots and gangs wahala, you know what to do. Also check out the route you'll walk between that street and your school.

Alright thanks. It would be an experience though..Dodging bullets on your way home from school

imperiouxx:


This is not about the area but the house itself.

Mind you, those slumlords won't return your last month rent and deposit if you default.

Well, as a student, you should be able to cope for some time.

Yeah I know. I don't plan on moving into any apartment I haven't seen personally.

imperiouxx:


And how much is this less. What part of Bronx..... Yonkers side or low parts? You can't say it's decent until you actually see it yourself in person. Not to discourage you, Bronx is the most terrible of the 5 boroughs of NY

I know bro. Dunno where in the bronx exactly..I really don't mind staying in a rough neighborhood as long as my apartment is comfy.

DanjaNinja..I replied your PM but you never got back. Just discovered this group..I can help out with providing answers to prospective test-takers on this forum

imperiouxx:


Where is your school in NY? With that $750/mo, I'm afraid to tell you may not like the place when you move in.

Actually, I've found pretty decent places for less in the bronx. I'm not in NY at the moment so I've had someone contact the agent to schedule a tour. If its anything like what it looks like in the photos, I'm taking it. Btw, bronx is about the cheapeast borough in New York City

kessel:

I will really aprc8 it as am planning on writing in a month time

Alright..PM me I'll respond to you tomorrow

LagosNIV:


Jus because dis VO is oyibo don mean he cannot hear de pidgin. i jus don feel jokes about oloshi is to laff.

"Jus because dis VO oyibo no mean he no fit hear pidgin" ..lol You try sha..I'm not perfect at it myself

You are allowed to carry your credentials with a tourist visa just have a good explanation for doing so. However, you may not even need to explain yourself if you're not transiting abu dhabi (i.e their CBP officers are particularly strict). JFK CBP officers dont grill you like that..

I agree with all the responses here regarding the lady turned back at the abu dhabi POE. If her intentions had been to visit prospective schools and talk to program directors, then it would've been perfectly reasonable to carry her academic documents. But she probably told them the purpose of her trip was solely tourism. The CBP officers can use that against her should she decide to sue.

Moving on, if you're a prospective GRE test taker and you need tips on how to crack the GREs (Quant or verbal) let me know, i may be able to give you some pointers (based on my own experience o)

.

jakeharris:
My advice to you all traveling if you can't stand the rigorous interview or not sure of yourself don't go through Etihad. ....yiu can use qatar ....they don't put people through tooo much they just scan your visa and new York is one of the easiest and sweetest port of entry......i hope you all have a good time

Thing is, etihad has its advantages. After 14 hrs of flight from the UAE to nyc, no one has time to start queuing up for another 1-2 hours especially if your flight lands in the afternoon which is rush hour at JFK. After passing through the CBP at abu dhabi, you're technically in the US so you don't have to pass through CBP in new york..

Guys, is it safe to book etihad to the US. All these horror stories I'm hearing about the POE in abu dhabi even from Americans. Some guy even missed his flight because of the long lines and extensive questioning...Any alternatives for ppl travelling in August. Turkish airlines isn't looking bad atm

amanze15:
750 per month chai, standard of living different o

brah no be small ting o...But there are ways one can save money like renting a bicycle rather than using the metro for short distance trips and cooking ones meals

ddbluv:


NEW yORK

Going to NYC too..The cheapest i've found is 750..What site are u using for ur search?

Good read

http://www.bbc.com/news/world-africa-33073000?SThisFB&fb_ref=Default

happney65:


Basket came for an interview?Did you have the chance to talk with him?Crazy dude he is

lol I did but not for long because he came with someone. I didn't want to seem too intrusive

akin3102:
Boss,You havent posted your transcript since u were at the embassy today.. Abi u go take photolol

Walahi bro, i can't remember the whole thing because the VO was having problems with her earpiece. So she asked one or two questions after requesting to see my I-20, excused herself, asked another question before telling me my documents were in order.

I only remember her asking where I did my undergrad, how I found it and who's sponsoring my program. That's it

Note to newbies: Don't pay attention to those agberos that ask to have your passport photos stapled to your DS-120 form because you would be asked to detach them before you're allowed into the embassy. They're only there for your money.

darkola:


Nope...I was the guy on a pink shirt and striped tie, there was a tall cleric man on purple attire 2 persons behind me.

Oh okay. I didn't see you then. I was right behind basketmouth until they called us in

darkola:
Good day house... My Visa was APPROVED today,6.30am @ Window 8. God favoured me after my denial on 8th December 2014.... As i stood in front of the queue, I shivered when I sighted the lady who denied me then (she was in window 9 and still had that hard look). I silently prayed that she should be busy till I get interviewed someone ellse.
HERE IS MY TRANSCRIPT...(not in perfect order pls, forgive me)

VO: Good Morning
Me: Good morning

VO: Please pass me your application documents and put your right four fingers on the scanner.
Me: Passed the docs and scanned.
VO: So why are you going to the US?
Me: For my masters degree program in Indiana University of Pennsylvania
VO: Emmm... You are going for Occupational Safety and Health( reading from my I20), who will be sponsoring your studies?
Me: My dad, my father
VO: what does he do?
Me: I told him where he works and also other businesses
VO: typingggggggg...Do you have anyone in the US?
Me: No I do not have any immediate family in the US.
VO: but do you have any distant relative, cousin or uncle?
Me: yes I do ( I guess he was looking at my DS160)
VO: Where does he stay?
Me: Alabama
VO: Why did you choose this school?
Me: Out of the schools I applied to, IUP is the most affordable ....He intercepted me(I had 2 oda points to give though)
VO: oh tell me which other schools you applied to
Me: Murray State Uni and Uni of Wisconsin, whitewater. (He nods his head)... In my mind I was like , do anything you want but don't return my passport to me)..
VO: when did you finish your undergraduate program
Me: University of Lagos
VO: what year?
Me: 2011
VO: So where do you work now?
Me: Told him where I work and what we do (project management ... Couldn't mention Consulting sef)
VO: pushes my I20 to me... You will be needing this at the port of entry. Pls go pick your passport on Friday. Do have a nice day
Me: Thank you sir( I actually wanted to scream)

He didn't ask for any accompanying document. I believe this was by the grace and favour from God. However, I plead that people should rehearse their responses well cos some applicants before me were stuttering while responding. I thank the whole house and I wish everyone else the best as they go for their interviews. Its our month of GOODNEWS.

Chill o...Where you the lady standing right in front of me (I was wearing white long-sleeved button-down shirt and black trousers)?