You seem to have a problem with his age sir. The world is global now thanks to the power of the internet. A few hours on the television per day would make you know so much about America than a man working the streets of Washington. This is a public forum, let's learn to respect one another irrespective of age, sex, ethnic or religious affiliations. I think your tone is disrespectful.
Stop this habit.

nikas0005:
I think a boy like you should know that there is different between truth and reality

Go face your visa interview and after you can come back here and be confusing gullible #lazynigeriayouth

Thanks Baba.

afodam247:

Congratulations. Wish you safe journey.

Smiles... Thanks boss.

aadeyi:


wait fess..... are you in the right thread?cos i dont think this is applicable here

Amen! Thank you mam.

LagosismyHome:


Congrats ... May God bless your new journey

Thank you sir. Mine is much more recent. I graduated 2016.

arilewo:

Congratulations to you my brother. Analytical Chemistry, UI which set? I am 2013 set, same course same school.

Hi guys, I got a lot from this tread and I know it's only natural to give back. Visa approved on the 25th of April and this is how it went.

VO: (with a smile) Good morning.

Me: Good morning sir.

VO: How are you?

Me: I'm fine thank you? How are you?

VO: I'm fine. Thank you. (I have already passed my passport, sevis receipt and i20 to him by now). So, you're here for a student visa.

Me: Yeah.

VO: Tell me about the program you're going for.

Me: I'm going for a chemistry doctoral program at Florida State University. I'd be taking courses in Molecular biology, cell biology, bioinformatics... (he motioned for me to stop).

VO: Tell me about your background.

Me: I have a bachelors degree in Chemistry and Masters degree in analytical chemistry. I currently work at a Pharmaceutical firm as a Medical Sales Representative (motioned me to stop. He was typing all along).

VO: So your 2nd degree is from University of Ibadan?

Me: Yes

VO: And you've being working at a pharmaceutical firm since...

Me: February last year (he nodded).

VO: how many other schools did you apply to?

Me: five others.

VO: five in total?

Me: no. Five others aside FSU.

VO: oh... Six in total. Who's paying?

Me: I got a graduate Assistantship (nods and reaches for white paper).

VO: I have approved your visa. Congratulations and have a good day (I didn't here more than this).

Me: Thank you. Have a good day too.

Thanks to everyone in here whose stories have one time or the other inspired hope.

Thanks a lot sis. Congratulations once again on the breakthrough.

reDazey:


Thank you Time2Smile,kacey007, and dmajor1.

Congratulations reDazey. A perfect motivation.

reDazey:
My Second Experience
I will start by congratulating everyone who has an admission. It is truly an arduous journey. More congratulations to those with funding and all the best to those still awaiting funding. I must add that it is not over till you hear from all your schools. Last year, I can recall a close friend who got an admit with full funding in May. Hope still dey!

I want to encourage someone here today with my story. Never give up on yourself and your dreams. When you plan to retry, find out the actions that failed you and learn to change your strategy for success. Finally, keep trying if you believe so much in a vision till you achieve it.

This is the period where most of us sit and wait with bated breath, hoping and praying that our admission with some sort of financial funding drops into our mailbox. I pray everyone gets their heart desires.

Last year, I was in a similar position. I felt dejected, some of us can relate to this emotion. Lots of admissions with no funding. I applied to combinations of (MSc and Ph.D.) in Statistics/Maths. Got some rejections and some acceptances( without funding). It was a terrible blow because I felt I had a good profile. (GPA 3.6/4(WES), GRE 318, TOEFL 109). However, I learned some important lessons. It is not always about one aspect of your profile. LORs and SOPs are very important.

Having been out of school for a while and working in an IT-intensive organization; I overlooked my IT skills which were going to be advantageous. I got some advice from several persons, I selected the ones I felt will work for me and dropped the rest. So for Fall 2018, I restrategized, applied to CS programs. Also, I realized I did not take some risk on my former school list (Sirriddy and Scholastica16 encouraged me to aim higher).

So this year, I reapplied to 5 Ph.D. programs
1. The University of Massachusetts, Amherst (pending)
2. The University of Utah (rejected)
3. Kansas State University(accepted with full funding)
4. The University of Alabama (accepted, no funding. I did not bother to ask for any.)
5. College of William and Mary(accepted with full funding, being considered for fellowship)

Also, to "avoid stories that touch", I applied to Georgia Southern (MSc Mathematics and I was accepted with a funded GTA position)

I thank God for the courage to try one more time and I pray that everyone finds a reason to believe in themselves and keep pushing.

Special thanks to the extraordinary persons that supported me throughout this journey; Sirriddy(you are just too much), divabiola, jaybiz007, Scholastica16, MsNas, dramaka). Thank you guys for being more than friends.

Bro, just listen to advise and chill for fall 19. The top schools that someone like you should aim for had already concluded their admission by now. Besides, if you have to rush through GRE and TOEFL preparation, I doubt if you'd do so well in it. Also, estimated cost for a year in a good program will cost you about $50,000. Unless your sponsor is the federal government or an oil company, I'd advise against it. Physics is a well funded program and it won't be difficult for you to land a good deal with the right approach. For GRE, you should aim for 320 above. Don't waste your GPA. Letters of recommendation are not easy to get in Nigeria. Just chill and build the relationship now. 2019 begins immediately fall 18 peeps resumes this August. Focus on self development. If you ain't working, get a job. Preferably, take up one that'd prepare you for this next step either it's paid or not. Just get the experience by all means. Build your CV!

PS: To really Excel in the GRE, please consider using Manhattan for Quant and the official guides. Also, take as many online full practice test as you can. You can soar like an eagle. Don't be desperate for a "chicken flight". I wish you the best in your endeavors sir.


quote author=STENON post=66434869] 2019 is too far o, I must enter Yankee this year (lol), I have a sponsor that is willing to pay my tuition fees, I am trying my best for the quantitative part of GRE, I should be done with the maths section of the Barron textbook this week but the verbal na die!!. You are right with the above points sir. Please can we chat via whatsapp? I'v sent you a pm my brother[/quote]

Bro, you have had a fantastic experience so far. I personally think whatever we do, we should look at what it'd do for us and how we can use it if/when we eventually return back home. The reality of the Nigerian situation as it is today is that everyone else aside Medical Laboratory Scientists are locked out of clinical diagnostic laboratories. Pharmaceutical microbiology on the other hand doesn't sell so well. I have interned in a pharmaceutical firm before and the reality on ground in the quality assurance department is that the ratio of chemical analysts to microbiologist is like 5:1. Some organizations don't even have microbiologists at all. They let the Chemist's, biochemists or pharmacists do the job. In view of this, I'd run from clinical laboratory science. Pharmacology on another hand is a degree that doesn't sell well in this country. The best jobs that most of them do is medical sales representative for pharmaceutical companies. If you want to know what I'd do if I'm in your shoes, I'd go for that degree in biotechnology. I know you'd ask why. It's simply because of its interdisciplinary nature. With biotechnology, you have many options. It's like chemistry. With it, you can decide to delve into renewable energy, environmental engineering, health care, public health, drug development, food science and many more. I think a masters degree in biotechnology would really open your eyes to limitless possibilities. But then, you're the one that know what you want out of life. The decision still rests on your shoulders.

In respect of your CGPA, it's below the 3.0 that most American schools want for graduate studies but I have seen people in the last few days who got in to their choice programs with a CGPA as low as 2.71. Their secret;

1. They started their preparation early.
2. They aced GRE and TOEFL.
3. They researched many schools and sent alot of mails enquiring about their chances.
4. They packaged their applications well.
5. They were tenacious in their belief.

You can do all these things. It's not always about your grades alone. Your experience can count for alot. Sell yourself well and trust God for the best. I believe that this is not impossible. Good luck with your preparation.

md17:
Here's my profile.

CGPA : 2.85/4
GRE : Preparing
TOEFL: Preparing
Research Experience: 1+ year (in Medical Microbiology/Pharmaceutical Microbiology)
uMajor: Microbiology
Prospective courses for MS: Clinical Laboratory Science or Biotechnology or Pharmacology
Advice and recommendations are highly appreciated!

cc:drhopeful, ponpon, mfarad, kristchinbot116, dmajor1, quoran, justwise, smoothblaise et al

RexCheeng:

I remember that you offered to help someone critique his SOP on the USA student Visa thread. In my head, you became the major with a wealth of SOP review experience. Wanted to contact you eventually but the person who needed help went AWOL.
Congrats once again.

You're right bro. We eventually did work on it together. He didn't get into his first choice school but he got into the second choice and with some scholarship.

Ndawe! Amen!!! Thanks for all the help.

Ndawe:


Congrats bro, I'm so happy for you. Now, go ye forth to the embassy and prosper

thanks mhen. Curiosity ehen... If nothing changes, it'd be FSU for many reasons. Advisor choice been the most important. So, out of curiosity...how did you remember my moniker?

RexCheeng:


Hearty cheers to you!!! I remember your moniker.
Just out of curiousity, which are you going for? Alabama or FSU?

Lol... thank you. More and more we desire for everyone. #fall18

Jumybecks:
Congrats to you. This is huge! More good news to follow

Thank you bro.

ponpon:
Power move congrats sir

Yeah yeah... #Fall18

mfarad:


Congratulations! #TeamFall2018

thanks!

tescoman90:


9ice 1

CONGRAT!!

Thanks, buddy. Congratulations to you as well.

TheGrandChemist:

Awesome. Congratulations

awww thank you

Sherlock5577:

That's wonderful!! Congratulations!!!
Wishing you success in your future endeavours

Good morning house. I'm back in here to give back after taking so much from this platform since last year. I came here a novice and I got the needed help here especially from Ndawe and oludare01. I havr since taken all the standardised test, submitted applications and received decisions. In all, I applied to six schools. Submitted four of those applications in early December and the other two before 8th January. All the decisions that I've gotten till date came in January. Saying this to emphasize the benefits of early application. I apologize for not coming here early enough. My profile is Summarised below

GPA: 3.67/5 (UG) and 5.8/7.0 (PG)
WES: 3.25 and 3.51
GRE: 305
TOEFL: 105
UG Course: Chemistry
PG Course: Analytical Chemistry
School Applied: Vanderbilt, FSU, Alabama, SIT, Nebraska-Lincoln, Pennsylvania State University.
School Admitted: Florida State University and University of Alabama (both with assistantship)
Schools Rejected: Penn state
Schools Unresponsive: Vanderbilt, Nebraska-Lincoln, Steven's institute of technology.


It was a long walk. It still is for there are still many hurdles ahead. I appreciate everyone here for helping me out to make this a reality. Information is power.

I got to the end of this after reading through for weeks. I'd be hewer more often now. Hopefully.

knoph2007:
Not experienced about the whole process but did gre yesterday and had this qt 161 verbal 143.. I have hnd in accounting 3.25/4 Bsc in Accounting 4.19/5 Msc in Finance 3.93/5. More than 8 years working exp. What are my chances with the gre result

With your work experience and your grades, you can get into top business schools in America. All you'd need are excellent SOP, resume, LOR, etc. If you can sell yourself well, the sky is the starting point.

30watts:
Guys I am applying to the University of Iowa, Tippie school of Business M.S Business Analytics program and I am required to submit a SOP. I have a draft and will appreciate if someone here that has an idea of the points to touch help review.

Thanks

Hopeful for a positive response...

HI, I really do not know about Business Analytics as such but I've done some nice job writing my own SOP and reviewing a few for my friends. I'd be more than pleased to help out. Send me a DM.

Good evening everyone. Please I need to talk to someone who has experience in oil and gas analysis. It's urgent. Please send me a mail on adeoyeibukunolu@gmail.com

OluDare01:

You know Adesuyi Emmanuel?

Yes I do. We shared the same room and reading platform several times.

OluDare01:

What year did you finish your MSc?

October 2016.

Ndawe:

Update: Also full funding has come in from Tennessee Tech and I have the luxury of making a choice now. For those still awaiting decisions, please do not give up just yet; that's why I'm providing these updates. Delay is not denial. I wish us all the best

Ndawe, congratulations on the feats God has helped you to accomplish. I am looking forward to putting in my applications for fall 2018 PhD program in chemistry. I have a masters degree in analytical chemistry from university of Ibadan with a WES GPA of 3.51. I'd be writing GRE and TOEFL by September. I'd like to chat with you on Whatsapp with regards to your Chemistry application processes. Please send me a message.

Pls help oh... I need info on hostel accommodation.

wow

I tire oh... I can't remember submitting any such application only for me to be invited for an interview. wetin dey oh?

temibobo8:
ur sister lucky jare...hu will na console me na

i am sure you wud be fine

temibobo8:
none oo..buh if u gat share...

i dont. just tired of the loooooooooooooooooooonnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnggggggggggggggggggggggggg wait myself. i am getting tired of calling to console my sister everyday. the wait is quite frustrating