₦airaland Forum

LagosismyHome:
The story was long so i didnt paste all ....

In May 2014, I graduated with my master’s degree. Immediately after, in August 2014, I started my Ph.D. in Information Security at Purdue University, one of the best universities in the world. I worked extremely hard, taking more classes than required per semester. Because of the rigor of the research training I got from my master’s degree program, I was able to work on my dissertation while doing my course work. This enabled me to complete my 90 hours coursework and dissertation in 2 years. This is unusual. Ph.D. education in US universities typically lasts a minimum of 4 years.


Source : Full story http://www.farooqkperogi.com/2016/09/ibrahim-waziri-from-hnd-in-nigeria-to.html?m=1

LagosismyHome:
Ibrahim Waziri: From HND in Nigeria to PhD in America

Getting a Ph.D. from an American university has always been dream. But like many HND graduates, I always wondered if I would be able to continue with my studies in the US with a Nigerian HND. Would the HND be recognized as the equivalent of a bachelor’s degree? I had no clue until I came across Prof. Farooq Kperogi’s Weekly Trust column and blog.

In November 2009, I read Prof. Kperogi’s article titled “Studying in America: What you need to know.” After reading the article, and understanding how the process of getting accepted into an American University was, I emailed him to inquire whether my HND was equivalent to an American bachelor’s degree. He answered my questions, provided in-depth guidance, and later published another article titled “HND and American Universities,” which provided a step-by-step guide on how an HND graduate can continue studying in the US.

Following guidance from Prof. Kperogi’s article, I submitted my OND and HND transcripts to the Word Education Services (WES) for evaluation. (WES is the largest international credential evaluation service in America and Canada). The evaluation results said my HND was equivalent to an American bachelor’s degree.

At the time my transcripts were under evaluation, I prepared for and took my Graduate Records Exams (GRE) and benefitted from the resources Prof. Kperogi generously shared with me. I got impressive scores. I applied for the master’s program at Georgia Tech, Southern Poly State University, and Georgia Southern University. I got accepted into Georgia Southern with a Graduate Assistance

In May 2014, I graduated with my master’s degree. Immediately after, in August 2014, I started my Ph.D. in Information Security at Purdue University, one of the best universities in the world.

I graduated with my Ph.D. in August 2016. My research areas are Network Security, Cloud Computing, and Virtualization Security. I have published and presented papers relating to Firewalls, Phishing Attacks, Cyber Forensics, etc.

I currently work as a Security Research Engineer in Washington, DC. I still consider myself a student and want to gain more in-depth hands-on experience in the ever-changing Cyber Security field. But, ultimately, I want to come back home (Nigeria) to help tackle the Cyber Security issues Nigeria faces. You can look me up on LinkedIn or on my personal page at iiwaziri.com.

LagosismyHome:
Do u really want to take the risk going to Nigeria and be stuck there . Almost every naija student i know go to canada and quickly they are in and out .... . Hardly anyone goes all the way to jaga jaga Nigeria

amanze15:
hello everyone, please has any of you ever had to go back home upon visiting Nigeria to renew F1 Visa. thank you

slimmy2005:
I am going to advice you based on first hand experience. Take it or leave it.

First, don't panic or fret, you are not the first, there are two nairalanders that I personally know who have travelled 33days to resumption, the other was 35days I guess. There is nothing there, tell them you have an orientation which is compulsory for you to attend. That the date on your I-20 is the start of class.

The second advice is just a joke, miss your connecting flight to US, don't worry your money is not gone, you'll be placed on the next flight to US, but you'll have to sleep at the airport if there is no other flight leaves that same day. But seriously if you miss your connecting flight, your money is not gone, you'll get into the next one. I've missed flight on three different occasions here in US cos I wasn't ready, I went to the airport same day and they gave me other options. I didn't pay a dime. My uncles wife's mother missed her connecting flight in instabul (mama say make she catch small sleep), she was placed on another flight the next day to US.

The third thing for you to do is when you arrive US, don't go to the CBP yet, just hang around till the next day before heading to the CBP this is also a joke.

Lastly, search for PCBO on Nairaland and read his post. If you want me to call him to come here and give you hope, then let me know. Nothing is going to happen, they'll allow you enter.

ecaaychukwu:
Brotherly, I'm just confused and scared whether to reapply again or not because I'm loosing it already.

mevisbleek:
Good day,

I'm so sorry about the denial. It's clear that nothing is wrong with your response. I guess the VO graduated from unipen and wants everyone to attend unipen.

Anywayz, please reapply and you will be given a different vo that didn't attend unipen.

Good luck.

hi2chuxy:
Thanks for your concern, let me give u the transcript

Vo: good morning
me: good morning
vo: your pasport and i20
me: i gave him
vo: organizational communication in MSU,..... unipen has a better coursework in that field, why not unipen?
Me: MSU has one of the best course work in biz and mgt science. And MSU is affiliated to Arthur J.b college of business where our top executives go for certifications.
Vo: i am telling you that unipen has a better coursework in this particular course.
Me: i have testimonies from people i have worked with in recent time who are HR consultants with PHD in this course and from MSU and with my research, MSU stands out.

He typed for a while before the denial..

upon my findings, unipen offers organizational dynamics and not organizational communication.

pls advice moreso, can i reapply to establish my case becos the school resumes Aug 10th. (3 to 4weeks time)

folkvangr:
Pls anyone with Microsoft paint that can erase personal details and leave just her name visible, holla at me let's settle this once and for all. I'm using my phone I can't do it but I have tons of screenshots here. If you are interested in 'evidence' quote me I will send it you. Angelapinkytoes I'm like the Philistines to your Ahab I will not depart till you perish. On my last breath you will not take a dime from this thread. If this derailment bothers you I'm truly sorry but this girl must not scam.

purplesummer:
Yes it's for international graduate students.

dicapino:
Lolz. How far please can expand this plagiarism. My thoughts are if I do a write-up and put references at the end. I am good

LUCAS99:
Easier said than done. Hopefully when you arrive you will understand how the system is structured. From my observation only a very few people make it. Many more end up with just maybe a greencard and a United states passport to boast of after spending 10 years to 20 years abroad and only live paycheck to paycheck and are even ashamed to go back home.

biikeys:
I disagree with the bolded. You need to move around and meet people.

Fortissimo:
I'm thinking of doing a PhD in chemical biology after masters. Naija pharma industry is coming up and I'd really be excited to work with indigenous firms to develop / test new drugs. There's also this naija Govt pharma R & D institute that I'm eyeing. It looks like they're doing some real work. Do you have any plans on entering the naija pharma space?

OjaP:
cuteconnec:
To be honest with you, I think you are so lucky today (no fighting or blaming or people cursing you out) and something tells me that whatever info you get from here today would be so beneficial to you. As a matter of fact, all of the comments here are valid and I would advice you make good use of them. As it has been said by others, there's no magic to funding; just research well and have good credentials.
In addition to what others have said, here are my suggestions:
- Find a list of all the schools that offer your course at PhD level in the USA.
- Email the grad coordinators of each of them (even if they are up to 20,000). At least half would respond and quarter would be positive about funding
- Apply to all of the schools that think you may qualify for scholarships or would give funding (even if they are 100 in number).
- At least one out of the over 100 schools that you applied to would give funding.
This is your last chance and I think it's a risk worth taking. So, spend all of your remaining money in paying for the application fees for these schools. The guy that WON the LOTTO recently in California played with over $10,000.
Simply, not only do you have to play the lotto to even dream of winning, you have to put in more money and permutate well to increase your chances.
N:B - Your first email to each of these professors would give the first impression. You don't want to get it wrong at all.
Good luck!!!

alhajiwasiu55:
the name of the community college and state?
I do not think so. Even USCIS website stated clearly that B2 visa can be changed to f1 provided the conditions are met.....
Besides, I wonder why she will stress herself coming back to Nigeria with a baby for the sake of changing a visa to f1, something that can be done right in the US, provided all conditions are satisfied.
Check very well on USCIS website, u will see where it is stated that a visitor visa can be changed to student visa right there in the US.
However, my wife wasn't travelling to the US for the first time. It was her third trip now, and she never over stayed in any of her trips.
I also know thousands of illegal immigrants who are in the US for years, a lot of illegal immigrants families without papers, and they are living averagely much better than us in Nigeria. They drive around right in the US, they work ( even without papers) and their kids even attends schools. They even rent houses from private home owners while some shares apartment.
US are not that keen on looking for who are legal or illegal immigrants. So far u stay out of trouble.
Even, the VO"s that are issuing visas knows many people /families who are issued visas won't come back to nigeria. I have a friend who relocated to the US few months ago in Texas and he earns 10$/hour tax free. So this thing is not as hard as people are taking it here. Many of you that are contributing here went to the US to study, and knowing within u that even after your studies, u won't return home, many of u will look for a way to manouver and change status and eventually acquire the GreenCard, otherwise, why don't u all stay back home and do your Masters programme here in Nigeria. We got good universities here too.
In summary, US is a land of opportunities, and u can be sure that even if u re there, u might not be rich, but u will be comfortable, u can rent a house, drive a car (in some states) and earn as little as 500 dollars a week.
Above is my view......let's not see US as if its heaven where one cant find its ways.

baodium:
VISA INTERVIEW
My F1 visa was approved yesterday (11/12/2015) at the Lagos embassy

MY EXPERIENCE
I got to the US embassy around 6:15am and to my utter dismay I met quite a number of people on the queue . I proceeded to where I did my first security check. While I was being checked, my international passport mistakenly fell on the ground and one of the "Oyinbo" guy looked at me and said "Your visa will be denied" . I was shocked! I just locked up. Fast forward to the biometric center. I gave the woman my i20, sevis fee, passport (international and photograph). The woman looked at me and said " Your i20 is not complete". I tried to respond and she said something like "you want to teach me my job, you are likely to have a problem with the consular officer" . At this point, my confidence is almost close to zilch . I quickly verified with other F1 applicants and I realized that my i20 is actually complete and the supposed missing part is at the back of my i20.

I think all F1 applicants were interviewed by the lady in window 8. After a short while, I concluded that the lady has been programmed to say " Unfortunately, you are not qualified for the US Visa ". She just dey dash out denials like "mama Christmas " . But I think the process is fair.

INTERVIEW
Me: Good morning, how are you doing?
VO: Good morning, so you are going to university of Arkansas at Little Rock
Me: Yes
VO: oh, you are going for a doctorate, what is your research interests?
Me: My primary research interests is in the area of computational medicine and bio-informatics. I am looking at how ICT tools can be used to enhance healthcare delivery in developing countries like Nigeria. I sha talk a lot of rubbish and yes I told her that I worked with the Health Informatics research lab during my NYSC and I was involved in the development of an healthcare solution, I elicited requirements from medical practitioners, modelled the system using UML and developed it using Java. I finished by saying something like " I believe integrating my knowledge with this degree will help me tackle some of the challenges facing healthcare delivery in Nigeria. (You see, I talk a lot of rubbish - me self know )
VO: so what are the challenges facing healthcare delivery in Nigeria using ICT tools
Me (I no expect am): well, I think electricity because erratic power supply will hinder medical practitioners from using healthcare solution. Also, unstable internet because the medical practitioners wont have a timely access in retrieving patients information.
VO: Who will be sponsoring you?
Me: my dad
VO: what does he do?
Me: I told her what he is into and before I could even finish, she said "Your visa has been approved"
Me: thank you
VO: you are welcome, have a nice day

APPRECIATION
Thanks to @sirRiddy and everyone that has contributed on this thread, you have helped so many people without knowing. God bless you!

ADDITIONAL INFORMATION
Well, I didn't fast (I like chow ) neither did I pray (maybe my mama prayer fit dey do the background job sha). I even had fun before the interview (you don't need to know the details, you too like aproko). I really think what the VO is looking for is "purposefulness". At least you should be able to articulate why studying in the US is the best thing for you. I think one lady was denied because when the VO asked her why she chose the school, she responded with "That's the only school that gave me an admission or stuffs like that". Another was talking about groundnut oil and so on (she sounded desperate to me - think she is going for MS in food science).

In sum, be confident.

lonelydora:
So 3 months in lieu and extra one month salary for each year worked is now termed "handsomely" in Nigeria?

If a staff earns 70k/month as I heard, and worked for 5 years, please help me do the maths, and see if it's handsomely.

Please they should visit the MNCs and see what paying-off is called.


End time sack.

Stewee:
Bank of America

Denvan:
Rutgers university

justkaycee1:
I empathise. However you had a role in it. Are your academic, birth and professional certificates cooked? What did your referees say about you? As well as your alma mater and previous employers? See bros, when it comes to a very professional and regulated profession like banking, it goes beyond just your on - the - job activities. Search for the answers. You will find them.

Mystiqme:
Lol. I don't think they are heartless. they may not have funds.
Gsun,
Option 1: Contact professors, tell them you have gotten admission and you want to work in their labs. Express interest and enthusiasm. It is not a display of desperation, but proactiveness- an important quality for a PhD student. This is my preferred option.
Option 2: Contact the Graduate coordinator and ask about the possibility of working as a graduate assistant with another department , unit, etc in your school.
Option 3: In the likelihood, that you do not get funding, it is probable that funding opportunities will turn up after one semester. Do you have personal/parental funds that you are willing to spend for one semester? Weigh the possibilities.
Option 4:Check if a PhD admission can be deferred. If so, defer and contact professors during that time.