₦airaland Forum

Glowrie22:
Hi Everyone,
It's been long since I've been here, I just want to quickly share my testimony
Finally, after much waiting, they contacted me that I have been granted full funding plus a monthly salary.
I just want to appreciate those that created this thread and kept it running, especially Sirridy and happyday. I also want to apologize for not being regular here.

Thank you very much.

PS: The school is University of Arkansas and my course is Agricultural Economics (MS).

Congrats Glowrie22!

BTW, where are Scholastica16 and Time2smile? You two should not give high blood pressure oh! Any update?

akin3102:
wrong comment again from you.#justkidding.Who told you people aren't thinking about that option?.Lol.you mean a Nigerian American Abbi..make dem dey look now..who F2 eep??

So you mean after all that 'syking' , U won't marry me because I be F2? Guy, u no try oh. It's ok sha. Dia ris God!

Scholastica16:
You madam, are a confirmed Efiko@ Mat Eng.

I know the 4-lettered Pharmacist you are referring to in the 'Ole' state that houses a capital similar to one late famous entertainer's surname.

Spot on on the pharmacist with that moniker! Lol.

BTW, it's April 15! Can't wait to hear your good news!

SlowlybtSurely:
It depends on the officer reviewing your case. It does matter to some.

One Naija applicant didn't get PPR 8 months post AOR, he decided to order his GCMS notes. There, his reviewing officer made a comment that the occupation he chose was different from what was on his marriage certificate. He concluded that his employment information wasn't consistent and couldn't be trusted.

He wrote to them and explained the issue. Last time I checked, he still hasn't gotten his PPR.

My suggestion is that you attach a convincing letter of explanation and all documents to prove your employment, especially salary statement of account.

Thanks so much. I could have sworn it did not matter. Those guys just write what they wish irrespective of the input data given to them. It's really annoying. Have same issues with name change on passport. Glaring mistake but no remorse shown whatsoever.

Spatz81:
Anyone has an idea as to how to correct a little mistake on Marriage Certificate? I just figured they put Civil Servant as professions for my wife and I.

advice anyone? We have never been civil servants.

Thanks for your advice.

I don't think it matters oh. Seems to be their template. I have that in mine too, and my spouse and I have never been civil servants.

TheGreat342:
How much in Naria did you pay for SEVIS?

Sorry I don't understand. It's paid in USD and a friend in the US did a money order. I then transferred naira to his Naija bank account - equivalent of $215.

Scholastica16:
I read this back to front and front to back like 10 times. I am deeply touched by your story. Yours just typifies the statement that true and lasting wealth is of the mind. So forget low class or poor, you are loaded Dr. and we have a lot to learn from you. All the best in your, what-is-sure-to-be success-laden journey into proper research in Virginia.

I have some experience with IPS myself but it is a negative one. So I took the entrance test, passed it and got invited for the panel interview. After having answered their barrage of questions for what felt like the whole day, many people were convinced I would definitely be taken.

They were wrong. I didn't even make the reserve list. Pained me for like 1 full day but I moved on.

@the moniker, yea you sure do know him. They have attacked him alot so he is always hyper-defensive or even paranoid but I learn alot from him.

Edit: so Petroleum engineering, how and why did you transition to materials engineering?

Thanks Scholastica16. So sorry about IPS. @the moniker, I get where he comes from, albeit, too acerbic. There is another one that is now missing in action - four letter moniker that starts with small 'b' . @ the field transition, I applied for MS Pet, them say them no dey offer am again but would not let me go. So I was offered Mat, and I decided to try it out, oblivious of the fact that it was a blessing in disguise. Mat is a very boring and tough subject but somehow I fell in love with it.

tuffpuff:
Drhopeful: I'd begin by saying a mighty congratulations to you on your offers, especially the one from UVA. As I read your post stating the offer from UVA, I was like...'haaaa Drhopeful must jump at this'! But going down and discovering you had obtained I-20 and processed SEVIS payment with respect to Pennstate, I couldn't but exclaim 'Oh no'!!...lol.
I frankly respect your decision. PhD is research intensive. I feel there's nothing as juicy as having an opportunity to travel for conferences and make presentations in the course of doing a PhD. Not only will it enhance building of research skills, it helps build a professional network as well. Infact I've been thinking, when I eventually get a GTA and I develop a good rapport with a Professor in my field, I wouldn't mind switching to an GRA. I feel it gives a student enough time to concentrate on research rather than doing a research and teaching, grading, etc simultaneously.
Moreso, your professor could recommend you to research institutes to do some research work, some of which could eventually pave way for job opportunities in the future. When you amass these skills and become highly productive in the research industry, God can make Trump himself hand you a green card...
Thumps up (both hands and legs thumps!.. ) to you for your decision. You'll recover all you spent processing PennState in manifolds. May God give you more excellence spirit as you lunch out. By the way, please change your moniker to Profhopeful as I envisage that in the nearest future..

PS: Abeg make una no mind my cut & join grammer o....if to say na maths now, the formula for connect the variables logically and coherently..

Thanks tuffpuff! I have rescinded my acceptance. No hard feelings. They wished me well in my endeavors.
Cc Time2smile

happyday:
Hi! First off, congrats on those offers! I can totally relate to your story here, passion counts for a lot in frustrating endeavors like applying to US grad schools from 'Africa'.

I'd also like to chip in a word while you decide which offer to choose (how many so far sef?), sorry I stopped counting after two.

Grad school admissions, esp in the US, is so laid back, that makes it easier to choose which to eventually attend. If you're considering the I-20 and SEVIS fees, you could email the second prof, and tell him about it. You would love to attend, but their decision came late, you already started processing the first, and you'll really like to attend.

Ask him, Is there something y'all could work out?

Further, you could table out the pros and cons for each school, based on advisors, program requirements, living conditions, campus culture and fit. This would help to make an informed choice.

At the end of the day, we all are winging it, and I believe going to God could help you make the best choice.

Cheers!

Thanks happyday. Yes, I spoke to the second Prof after I received their Offer. In fact, he gave me heads up the day before. Actually, he wants me to work with him more than I want to and gave me a crowning speech including how to resign the Penn State offer if I decided to accept theirs. I had told him about the Penn State offer when I received it. He did ask me how much everything amounted to, I just thought that was BTW.

TWoods:
Mistakes are one thing, dumb is another. You are absolutely free to also ignore posts you do not like. The problem with you isn't my perceived "arrogance", rather it is because you are steeped in a culture that celebrates mediocrity, lack of diligence and a recalcitrant attitude to sound advice (especially one that isn't kowtowing to your ego). Like I said, good luck to you.

Tchai! Thank God I studied for the GRE Bros, how far? Long time. Hope you are good.

OluDare01:
Bros it has always been like this o. This time last year, na ontop gradcafe I dey sleep

Na there me too dey sleep since January. Na just recently, I begin relax small. It's quite addictive. I can't still leave it alone.

Time2Smile:
@drhopeful, I think you are making the right decision. Having a Professor that actively recruited you and want you in his/her research team is a no-brainer compared to the alternative. The fact that you are looking at a career in research -that cannot be said of all PhD candidates-even makes it more important. Also, since you have not heard from your POI in Upenn, I suspect it is not guaranteed that you will get the opportunity to work with her. You might have to go through the hassle of securing a supervisor once you get there.

Finally, Please be quick to decline other offers you are not going to accept, quite a number of people are on waitlists hoping for a chance. One only need to read Gradcafe to see touching stories. Admission this season has been brutal, especially for international students.

Thanks and Cool down na. I go resign tomorrow

Thanks Scholastica16. I am so flattered. Working in ExxonMobil or being Akpabio's minion has no role to play when someone is passionate about school (at least for me). For e.g. During NYSC, I spent all my meager corper money applying to schools for MSc (IPS, UK, US) which included registration for GRE and TOEFL and subscribing to expensive internet service at the time. I never had enough left to eat sef. In the end, I had IPS and two international offers of admission. I had to start hustling for scholarship. IPS was funded but we still had to pay 100k for registration/acceptance. I hustled and paid by the deadline given and guess what, the next day I got scholarship to go to U.K. Omo, I forgot about the 100k I dashed IPS, packed my bags and chased the plane to the UK. For me, it's always about the end game! BTW, I am from a poor very low class family.

American PhD will earn me much more than N300k

Oh! And I know that moniker that starts with capital 't'. It ends with small 's'.

Scholastica16:
Yea, I see your points and they are valid. Someone told me the environment around Penn State is boring but you must understand that he is a jaiye jaiye kinda guy. Another reason I asked is because UVa appears to be offering more moola (as per fellowship +RA) but I am sure money is not a motivation for you.

Who am I kidding Penn State is too big a school for anyone to turn them down and I am almost certain I would have come to the same decision.

I emboldened that last part to shout a big amen. It really means alot to me when I get all these support from you guys. I sound like I have strong faith (and yes I do) and I am certain to share my experiences with the house soonest.

Haba, you are still waiting for Ohio? But you don already accept Penn state na? What will you do if Ohio accepts you with full-funding as well?

Besides, I thought you applied to 6 schools - why aren't you waiting on the decisions of Carnegie Mellon and what's the last one?

I might sound crazy but after 2 sleepless nights of thorough contemplation, I think I will have to resign the Penn State appointment. Yes, I have spent about 300k to send transcripts, ship I-20 and paid reservation on an apartment lease but it's really about what I want out of the PhD program. The stipend Virginia is offering is actually a little less than Penn but it's a GRA that is guaranteed till I finish my program so long as I maintain 3.0GPA, and the research fellowship covers all tuition fees and health insurance. On top of that, my POI guarantees funding for travel for conferences, and pushes his students to deliver poster presentations and publish papers every year. He seems to invest a lot of time in his students and I really like that. And in that department, there are 3 other Profs in the same research area. That encourages sharing of information and the students can always assist and encourage each other.

On the Other hand, Penn State offers a GTA for the first year and you are supposed to explore research areas within your first year and hopefully match a Prof that can offer you GRA. If that fails, then you are stuck with GTA till you find GRA or maybe till the end of your program. In my case, there is only 1 Prof in my research area. So the big question is ...what if she does not have funding? And I remember her telling me last 2 years when I was just exploring that she had no funding and that if I were to apply and be accepted, my only hope would be the departmental GTA which is what is happening now. I tried to contact her again during this application process but she never responded. So I don't know if situations have changed.

My main objective of studying for a PhD is build research skills and I want to start developing that from day 1. That will even facilitate an early completion of the program. I don't want to be stuck 'building communication skills' and at the end of the first year, I can't even set up a simple experiment and no headway on how to start my research. The other good thing about Virginia is that in my 3rd/4th year, I will be required to serve partly as a TA to build communication skills. That way, it's like getting the best of both worlds.

Whilst Carnegie Mellon rejected me, I was never going to go there because they are not strong in my research area. In fact, they don't even offer it. I know I might sound silly but I just wanted to test it because Nastydamus was going to apply there and he had my same GRE scores, LOL. The last school is UPitt, no news from that end at all and frankly, I can't be bothered.

No, I am not waiting for Ohio. I spent my money and time to apply and I want to know what they eventually decide. It's also a fully funded program through strictly GRAs.

In the end, Penn State is higher ranked than UVA but I don't think the difference is so significant. I don't want to join a program that I am not really happy with just because of a 'little bit more name' . And I really hope that I am making the right decision. It's the immensity of my contribution to knowledge that will give me Green Card (if Trump go gree) and a rewarding career in research.

Sorry for my long speech this hot Sunday afternoon!

Scholastica16:
First and foremost, Shame on UConn again. LOL

I am trying to pretend I am surprised but I am not. It is very well deserved also. Would you have taken UVA's offer over Penn state's had they come the same time?

You have one leg in the US already. Congrats again.

As per me, nothing positive yet but I am still optimistic. I know something would come through next week unfailingly. Thanks for asking.

You can say that again!!!! Shame on UConn.... I would never go there anyways. Maybe they knew that. At least, it gives another person a great chance. So no hard feelings.

Honestly, barring the convincing pitches from the Virginia POI, if both offers came at the same time, it would be a no-brainer. Penn State all the way, based on rankings. With the current situation, if Virginia came first, then that would be it especially that I had no hope for Penn State since no one spoke to me. If both came at the same time, and with the crowning pitch I got yesterday, I would have been swayed towards Virginia. It's actually quite interesting that both POIs schooled together through their PhDs and know each other very well. So the Virginia Prof had nothing but very nice things to say about the Penn State POI. His speech ended with 'Whatever you decide, trust me, you won't be making a bad decision', LOL.

I am also optimistic that by April 15, you will receive offers. You sound like you even have something already and just waiting for it to be official. Congrats in advance!!!! I am still waitlisted in Ohio State which was even one of my top choices; waiting till April 15 to hear what they have to say.

Time2Smile:
@drhopeful, I am just curious, Were you in contact with your POI before the admission offer?

Yes, since I submitted my app in November. He saw my app and contacted me. Since then, we have been talking. As for Penn State, there has been no contact whatsoever, even till now. So I was shocked to see an offer.

iCool:
PhD sweet sha!!!

Congratulations! Now funding is chasing you

Lol @ funding chasing me. My dear, no be small something. Thanks!

Time2Smile:
Whao Congratulations, How about throwing one of your offers to my side.

@tescoman90 I have replied your mail

Thanks! Honestly, I really wish I could. Those test scores of yours....Na die! I really wish you success.

Topiipii:
Congrats, lucky you! This is the kind of fix many of us here wish to have.

Thanks Topiipii. I pray for you all to get into this kind of fix. You know, God just said this is my time. I have been in this process since 2014. I first tried Canada, no headway. Tried UK, no show. Then I decided to try US. It will be well with us all. We just need to keep trying.

Second offer from University of Virginia. Fully funded with a research fellowship + RAship. Rather late because I already accepted Penn State after waiting on Virginia for soooooo long. Spoke with my super nice POI from Virginia and he really wants to work with me and putting me in a big fix. Lol. Oh! And I already have my I-20 from Penn and paid SEVIS. Ah well... I don't know.


Scholastica16, how far for your end?

tuffpuff:
Update!
Got a second decision and second rejection!
This time from University of Rochester
I sent them an email, requesting to know the part(s) of my application that wasn't competitive enough to secure me an offer. Their reply was that the decision does not necessarily reflect a significant shortcoming in my application. They had over 100 applications for only 5 slots!

It is well is all I can say right now. But its hurting at the same time

I am so sorry. Chin up! All will be well.

OluDare01:

I don faint o

My brother, abeg no faint oh! Na so we see am oh. God go help us.

234ng44uk:
That recommender must be from your UK school, perhaps your MSc supervisor. Can one ever get letters of recommendation from UK lecturers in good time?

May be hard to get through to them. But when you eventually do and they agree, the letters are sent with speed of light. Unlike the Naija counterpart that you need to buy goat for, call and beg for eternity.

Scholastica16:
I feel for UConn: They lost out big time. Even though I don't even know if anyone bar you can look at Uconn as a safe school

It is always good to hear from you on this thread and thank you so much for the prayers- I need it. Very soon, I'd be sharing my own success story as you have done and will still do. Goodnight.

Amen!!!! And may it be sooner than expected!

Lol@ your UConn comment. I considered it safe as it was the lowest ranked amongst the schools I applied to. The rest were top 50 and UConn was top 100. Anyway, their loss.

iCool:
Lmao @ Safe schools are not safe anymore!

I did 2 non-academic out of 3 recommendations and got away with it.

BGSU has gone gangster on you. That kinda wait list isn't a beautiful one coupled with the subtle hints asking you to have more faith in your other options.

Talking about safe schools not safe anymore! UConn just sent me a rejection!!! So much for a safe school. Anyway, no hard feelings. Going somewhere much better!

On recommendations, I mixed and matched 2 academic and 2 non-academic. For my successful school, it will surprise everyone that I used 1 academic and 2 non-academic. It was the first app I submitted and at that point, I had no feedback on my request from my 2nd academic which was supposed to be my strongest recommender. I guess God works in mysterious ways. I am totally grateful!!! My prayers for scholastica16 and the rest of us waiting. Good news must surely come!

Cephas0009:
Good day Family... I got rejected by UH today. Checked through applyweb anyways.


I wish others a positive outcome in the end

Thanks for staying through...

I am so sorry bro. How many schools are still pending? It's well.

OGreene:
Undergrad degree – Zoology. I majored in Parasitology (the health sciences aspect). CGPA- 3.73/5.0 (3.26/4.0). Research – my final year project. Work experience – 5 years. Ministry of Health and banking. Been to some programs that center on development, knowledge of 2 foreign languages, had proper leadership training.
GRE- 302/4.0 Then re-wrote and got 307/3.5. My Quants was much better in the second one, 63 percentile. Only UMN asked for TOEFL, so I took it, 95 (R26/L25/S23/W21).
LOR: Good Profs who have become my friends plus one non-academic referee, a vast man. I didn’t see the letters. Had to use my supervisor once (emergency situation).
SOP: I wrote about how I grew up surrounded by dev issues and want to do something about them (my life mission), my health and finance knowledge, why the school stands out, where I want to focus on and whom I want to work with, and how I will join UN and work to liberate poorer communities focusing on Sub-Saharan Africa. Optional letter- every other thing I have done that I could relate to dev, some extra-curricular activities. I wrote from the bottom of my heart, nothing bogus, just the way I felt about dev.

Congrats Man! But I have to enter you small... Remember how you REFUSED to divulge your GRE scores despite all the appeals made on the GRE thread. Now shebi because you don get admission to top schools, you just dey display the 'poor' scores anyhow, even the ones we did not know about (I never knew you took it twice). Na real wa for you. Just wondering if revealing your scores earlier on that thread would have marred your chances of admission in any way.... Anyway, I am happy for you.

ecoleco:
Well done everyone for this very informative thread!

Please I will be applying shortly for F-1 Students Visa for PhD study and I want wifey and 2 year old daughter to accompany me. I understand that she will need the F-2 derivative visa. Trip would be in August.
Now, wifey will be 6 months pregnant by August. So I am looking at two options:

F-1 Student Visa and F-2 derivative for her (Plan A) OR
She applies for B-2 medical visa for child delivery and travels ahead of me (Plan B)


I have heard rumours that chances of denial of F-1 Students visa would increase when the entire family accompanies the primary holder. Please is this rumour true? Since I heard this, I have started inclining towards Plan B but once I can confirm that this is not true, I will stick to plan A. Your input would be highly appreciated.
Thanks.

Just wondering who would be expecting you to live apart from your family for 4-5 years. Whether, you go with plan A or B, she would still need to apply F-2 visa now or later anyways. If I were you, I would go with plan A. Just get your story right and package adequate POF for your family.

temitope06:
I stopped working early last year but my sis who helped in creating my profile put there that that's where I still work. Now it won't affect my score if I change dates cos I'll still have 3 years but if I submit my account, there won't be any salary transactions. I have even closed the acct as it was empty and I wasn't using it. 1. If I now change dates, I dunno if that will be an issue and 2. if I submit my other active acct with required POF, gift deed but no salary transactions, won't this be an issue.

Why don't you create another profile with the correct information and hope to get an ITA next time? Afterwards, you can decline your current ITA and withdraw the EE profile.

Scholastica16:
Still apprise us. You are a vet on this thread. Imagine this thread without DanjaNinja and SirRiddy. Your experience and explanations of them will certainly help someone else. I am 99% sure a ton of the K-State applications and admissions are as a result of SirRiddy. And the reason many are not clamoring towards Bridgeport is because of DanjaNinja.

For someone like you who has contributed so much already; writes well and is very expressive, I am a little bit disappointed if I am being honest. I probably don't speak for myself too.

You are definitely not speaking for yourself alone. I am also disappointed but I just decided to be mute. I just wonder what would happen to this thread if we all were to disappear when we got what we wanted.

Scholastica16:
Ok. I asked because a friend of mine got accepted into UIUC (For MSc) but he is yet to receive anything remotely related to an offer of funding. When I queried further, I realized he had that 'accept- decline' part of the portal so I wanted to know if that was the cause of the delay or if the offer could come even without accepting it on the portal.

Ok I see. I guess I am just lucky.

Scholastica16:
Your words of encouragement mean a lot to me. Lest I forget, that PennState funding offer, did it come after you accepted it or it was always going to be sent even if you did not accept it via the portal?

You are welcome. It's the latter and I am yet to accept or reject the offer. Waiting and hoping for some other offers in the next couple of weeks before I make a decision.