₦airaland Forum

GRIMMJOE:
Like I've said, if anyone can see the future they I'll spend the rest of their life sleeping.

I agree with you God may exist, but it can't be the one that failed to establish the world he wanted.

Your words made me change my mind, so let me add to what have been said!
You do not need to see the future, so such sleep is not necessary. Like I said, it is a gift for purposes best known to the One who honoured my life with it.

For the second sentence: my brother, I can feel you and why you have doubts.
And your doubts are genuine, because I am not going to be religious and start saying things that are not true or in agreement with realities in our world today. All the good people who cares about the suffering of humanity and the chaos in this world have asked the same question: Why do this God distance Himself and allow His own creations to suffer. Does He cares? He is concerned at all? So many questions!

Here, the Bible provide some answers, but these are not answers that can be accepted except one is ready to "HOPE" in and "BELIEVE" in things you cannot see at this moment.
The book of Isaiah 65: 17, “For behold, I create new heavens and a new earth, and the former things shall not be remembered or come into mind.

There is no hidden interpretation to that Bible reference. Take it literal. He is creating a new world, new system, new plan. It is like a US government saying they are designing a program that will fix American financial challenges. Or like you saying, "I will build my house before I am 50 years." It is a plan in motion; we cannot see it, but "HOPE" asked us to "BELIEVE" such plan is out there.
I strongly believe the Creator feels our agony and pain. I think He has a plan (Note that I am talking from a mind that has been permeated by belief and hope).

What is He trying to do? Honestly, there is so much misconception and contradictions on this. I advise you not to engage hardcore Christians on this issue, they will confuse you more. Don't engage any denominational Christian; they are divided against themselves. The new heaven is in Heaven, it is a physical world, that and this. These are confused, and will also cause you more confusion.

What you need to do is open yourself, open your mind, be ready to take in new information. Your Creator feels your pain; he knows you are deeply concern that this world is broken and not working. But please, open yourself to Him, not to anybody else. Do independent Bible study if you will and open your heart to occurrences around you, as you go on living your life defending truth about this Creator, supporting humanity in your capacity. In your study, you will find contradictions, words of some Bible writers that conflicts others, but I trust that the Spirit of knowledge will guide you. Amen

HOPE that He is truly creating a new system while you do your best for human race.
HOPE!

GRIMMJOE:
You have a nice body, lovely skin, if you're wise you can enjoy your heaven on earth like the white men do, or chase an illusion wasting hours upon hours talking about what doesn't even exist, not like I really care.

There is God bro! There is a Creator, and I understand you have your reasons for doubting his existence, but there is God. I am not saying this to engage you or start commenting on this thread again, but I want to share a few thought. I have also had moment of my own doubts when I began heavy personal education; I have asked some fundamental questions. It is funny how people run to the Bible looking for prove. Nobody needs the Bible to show proofs that there is God. The irrefutable proof is with and in us. There is a Creator! he planned everything in the beginning, and all creations dance to the tune of His majestic powers!

(Let us use some simple human anatomical sample )
You are the design that proves there's a Creator! Naked yourself in a light-room walled by plain clean mirror, and look at yourself from head to toe? What do you see?

Imagine the male sexual organ, your own penis (suppose you male adult) and and that of the female (for procreation); a womb in the female (to develop the offspring). One is like a straight short stick while the other is a hole that can take in the stick. Do these looks like they are intentionally designed so?

Now to your head: your mouth. Isn't that a hole to take in foods capable of nourishing your body and its organs? Now look at your anus: to pass out waste that result from the things you consume. Look at your tooth, so strong that it can crush plants, meats, fish, and even meats bone, so that you can pass it to your stomach without hurting you. Does it look like design or coincidence?

Look at your ears and your eyes? it is there so that you can use it to take in information for the brain in your skull to process, for communication, and to enjoy the beauty of life. Are they designed or appear by chance?

Look at your legs, your hands. Remember their functions, then imagine how you'd have been if you did not have them with the type of body you have. Were they designed?

During moment of my doubts, the Spirit in me reminds me to look at myself, and ask: Am I a design, or a product of chance, or as you may call it, evolution?

I know you want to say evolution, but if evolution is what is responsible for the way we are, the planned design we represent, then I want to tell you today: Evolution must have been the Creator's agent. All were planned from the beginning.

A little spirituality here: I am known by people who are close to me for my ability to see things in my dream before they happen. If I see in my dream that something happen to you, it is going to happen; if I dream that something is going to happen to someone or myself, it is going to happen, except steps are taken by the person I dreamt about or myself to avert it. I grew up realizing I have this gift, and it has baffled me for several years now: Where did my ability to see future occurrences come from? Is it product of spirituality? Well, but non-God science, like the one you follow, don't believe in Spirituality. Science, till today, cannot explain where people get the ability to foresee future occurrences from.

That leave you with a question: are we spiritual being? If No, then why do we exhibit spiritual quality? Why do I dream of things that I did not have pre-knowledge of? If you say Yes to the question above, then that leaves us with another question: where do we get our spiritual qualities from? Evolution? If it is from evolution, then evolution must have been God's natural agent.

If you are still in your 20s, don't worry, you will arrive at belief in God. if you are in your middle age, don't worry, you will find a personal answer from your future experiences that will begin from the moment you finish reading this comment (I say that with authority!).
My advise for you is allow yourself to evolve. You don't even need religion to arrive at the belief in God. Religion will distort your view. Open yourself to new experience and new answer, because they will come to you.

There is God. He is powerful, majestic, loving, kind, but He is a mysterious Being.
May that Being whose Power reveal things to come to me at nights in my sleep reveals Himself to you from now on. AMEN!
(I'll not reply to any mention)

Eniolakiite:
Yes to other options. That is what I keep preaching.

If and when Trump wins in November, he can and will likely change as many things as possible. Maybe this period is for everyone to reflect and decide what they want. It doesn’t have to be a particular country. One should be open to options. No amount of curse or anything can change things to your favor all the time.

UK in the past didn’t want students to stay back after studying, now they want them. Other countries want what they want. Nigeria wants what it wants Policies change from time to time. Don’t be rigid and insist it must be a particular country so that frustration doesn’t set in. This advice is particularly for those yet to come in to the US.
By the way, saw that attached image somewhere and feel like putting it here

It is nice you're advising them to consider these options--and that is chiefly because you're in yourself. If you are still in Nigeria and grappling with the uncertainties, and other frustrating stuffs, you'd have seen things differently. First, the focus on the US is because of its generosity in aids to international students. We have been on this road before, and I think we settled the matter once and for all. None of those countries you mention support international students as US invest in them. None!

You mentioned Germany. How many people were getting German study visas before the pandemic set in? I have students who could not get appointment due to "crowd or too many application"--which is a systemic way of saying: "We are not giving more visas, do not apply!" How many Nigerians will Australia give full funding as you got from Austin Peay (maybe with minor deficit, cause I remember you contacted me before you get your visa). Check those countries you listed and see the difference compare to the US.

Policies always change, and true, people must not be rigid in their pursuit. What makes you think Germany, Australia, UK, Canada, and others cannot change their own policies, too? Also, the funds required to process things can be heavy and burdensome. The US, in my view and based on experience, is still one of the most affordable countries, with better opportunities--which is why you chose to go there yourself.

What I am saying? Time changes, Nations change, politicians come and go, pandemic came and will leave, but your dream must remain solid--or else, you will miss fulfillment later in life, and regret for not shooting at your ideal target.

If anybody here wants US, I would like to advise them to keep US as option A , and if they can afford to process other countries, they should put that as option B. There's nothing wrong with the present US in the sense that the world itself is experiencing shakes and era of uncertainties, I also do not see Trump as a threat to dreamers who wish to study and work in the US. He's a politician, and it is in the nature of politicians to be temperamental and fickles. The politicians now making policy that students who study in the UK can now stay and get work permit, can change tomorrow, reversing the policy. You see? That is life for us when our own Homeland has refused to grow, and neither you, myself and other Nigerian youths are ready to demand for change that hinges on making this decisive demand.

It is well. I strongly believe the US is going through a transitional phase; things may get better or worse--and we must say that for those countries you mention. Nowhere is certain my dear! But no matter what, one must hold unto his/her dream!
I hope your school is not going 100% online in fall, or else, Nigeria is waiting for you

AdoChel:
Okay
Can we still use form I-20s received by email?

Yes sure! That new rule is still intact. You don't need to get a hard-copy of the i-20; once schools get the idea that have to state which teaching format they are adopting for fall 2020 on the i-20, they will certainly issue another i-20 to you. It can be done within 2-3 days, and you can use electronic copy to apply for your visa.

Eniolakiite:
Well, I didn’t see the information about new I20 on ICE website
That’s why i shared that link...
My school is resuming on campus in the fall.
I hope other schools adjust and resume too so that international students don’t have to leave the US or transfer out of their school
And I wish those waiting for embassy to open the best

It is there.
" Nonimmigrant F-1 students attending schools adopting a hybrid model—that is, a mixture of online and in person classes—will be allowed to take more than one class or three credit hours online. These schools must certify to SEVP, through the Form I-20, “Certificate of Eligibility for Nonimmigrant Student Status,” certifying that the program is not entirely online, that the student is not taking an entirely online course load this semester, and that the student is taking the minimum number of online classes required to make normal progress in their degree program. "

Eniolakiite:
Yes about the new I-20....
https://www.instagram.com/p/CCUQy0wlBhz/?igshid=uy98pg83d1jk

The information at the link you shared is also on the ICE site.
I am sure schools will update their SEVIS system and do the needful.
I expect new information before weekend.

All requests for GRE materials honoured.
So check your emails

Exactly! With this new rule, new i-20s will have to be issued to students whose schools will be having hybrid and in-person classes. Or else, no visa interview or even entry to the U.S. But it is too early to determine when a student should ask for the new i-20 since embassy is still closed.

AdoChel:
Thank you for sharing.

As regards item number 3; does this mean that students would have to receive new I-20s stating that they would be having in-person classes this fall?

Also, is the permission to use I-20s received by email still valid?

Put Brandeis and Pepperdine University on the list, too. They offer full ride to students like you, but you must destroy the SAT
Nice profile.

Phenomenalopeye:
Ok thanks

So I've narrowed my list of universities for undergraduate admissions

MIT
Harvard University
Princeton University
Yale University
Stanford University

Gpa: 4.95/5.0
WASSCE 7B's and 2 A's
Great essays
Great letters of recommendations
I've not taken SAT/ TOEFL
Due to the pandemic, but I've been emailed by each institution that I can submit my application without test scores

Pls what's my chances of admission
I'll be using the coailation app

And your questions and contributions are highly appreciated

Thanks!

Tolex4real9:
There is no food that can solve hunger forever bro.
They are only responding to the basic human instinct which is survival (at least for the moment). Don't blame them for it.

Actually, there's food that can solve human hunger--generation from generation.
What makes food scarce is human mismanagement. If you see the rate of food mismanagement going around the world, in homes, restaurants, you'll weep for this planet. It is so pathetic that France now recycles waste foods from restaurants to aid agricultural growth.
There is nearly 700 million hungry people in our world today. Now consider this: An estimated 1.3 billion tonnes of food is wasted globally each year.

If you want to confirm the above statement, try visit the backroom restaurants in your city or town, and do some research online on food waste and mismanagement. I make sure that when I eat at home, my plate is clean when I am done eating. When there is abundance, I make sure I give to those who need it. If you visit me and I am entertaining you with a delicious meal, don't waste my food. Take what you can eat and leave the rest. I still sometimes have waste especially on days I'm not able to eat at home, but it is limited.
Humanity is just so helpless.

Kriss216:
Wildlife preservation when there's hunger in the land? Na person wey dey alive dey preserve things.

Are you a graduate or undergraduate student?

Phenomenalopeye:
Guys! Pls I've been following this thread for a while, but I'm not learning anything just talks on GRE
Pls educate us!
Also can someone pls create a thread for
"Undergraduate admissions to study in USA"
I don't really know alot concerning it thanks I appreciate you in advance!

If you did not post a question, I wouldn't have bothered trying to answer.
When you said "of course, everyone knows," to authentication of SOA before i-20 can be issued, you're generalizing what is only known to your suppose school. You didn't know that until we asked you which school you are going to, or else you'd wouldn't have used the statement quoted above.

"People" who jump on comments on this thread are here to help those who needs direction like you, which is why you're here in the first place. It's not all of them that are looking for admission, or on Nairaland to ask questions or uninformed on how the processing works.
You better face your admission processing and get your stuff right. Don't bother mentioning me again.

Schrodinger1:
To all and sundry, before you quote any Poster, Pls, I charge you to read and assimilate the previous comments leading to the most recent that has been made by those you intend to hurriedly "correct". This will preclude you from misinforming and sounding bombastic to others.

I say this because the way some self-acclaimed savvy people here jump on comments without understanding the issue at hand is more than alarming.

Its obvious you did not follow the "chain of discussion" before you made your penultimate post, I initially thought you did otherwise.

Yes, its quite rare but ULL needs a notarized SOA for the issuance of I-20 if there's any deficit (irrespective of the sponsor). This matter has been settled before now and those involved were well inundated.

Geewin69:
Well said chief.
The arguments were good, but became somewhat obnoxious when the parties involved started flexing knowledge muscles.
Each one wanted to prove himself right.
I doubt if a public forum like this is the best place for such.

True, a public forum should stick to its goal, but that is rarely possible when people from different walks of life, of low and high exposure, are on the same forum. Although I didn't see any of the GRE arguments or participated in it, I think what sparked it must have been misinformation by students who didn't really understand how gaining admission in the US works. But maybe not.

People bring their little experiences on "US schools admission" to this thread and assume they are right. I think it's normal to educate them, and in doing so, the subject could create a stretchy thread.

Imagine someone up there quoting me that "everyone knows" that authentication of SOAs are required for issuance of i-20. When you overlook misinformation like this, you put other students (who take such information as fact) in unnecessary pressure and stress. It's one of the reasons someone like me still comes here. Do you know that a friend had to chat me up and ask for clarification, and I had to tell her she shouldn't bother herself. Sometimes, I wish to overlook some comments here, but then, I'd thought: "This needs to be corrected." We are all learning.

Predstan:
You will come back to realise these discussions are necessary. Justwise knows when it is enough and getting too much. But Man, let's keep riding for the Visa, I'm also looking for H1B.

H1B hunter

Schrodinger1:
Of course, everyone knows.

SOA needs authentication for I-20 collection.

Authentication of SOA before issuance of i-20 by US schools is rare, expect you're being sponsored by an organization, government or a body, and the available proof of sponsorship is a letter.
I can't remember the last time I see any student here or any of my students mention it for individual sponsor.
Which school are you going?

Y'all are deceiving yourselves with these "say no to cyber crime" memes.
The cyber criminals and crimes did not just sprout and start scamming out of nowhere; our broken homes, social system, societal chronic poverty, and structure as a Nation, produced them. These guys are fruits of the trees planted over several years ago, even before they were born.

We cannot change a fruit by attacking it; we change the fruit by healing the tree (that produce the fruits) of its infections and by killing the termites eating its trunk and roots.

Until Nigeria begins her journey towards redemption, with good education system, battling chronic poverty in many households, removing evil politicians from public offices, crime will NEVER stop. Do we even know the percentage of Nigerian universities' students online "hustling"? Do we know the number of young people whose Nigeria and being born as a Nigerian had forced into internet scamming? If you like, condemn scammers from now till next year, nothing will change!!

Nigeria is not ready!! Nigeria is a evil country! The rate of scammers has not skyrocketed. We all should wait till 2030, and see how endemic fraud and corruption would have become and associated with Nigeria and being Nigerians.
Goodluck to all of you!

Rozz:
Hes my SD let's live it at that

Not disputing, or have anything against that! I was just asking if you guys have met before.

Rozz:
she just want to trend lol

I've been reading you and your suggar daddy
I think he now feels comfortable with me.
Nairaland is full of both interesting and awful people, especially a few on your topic.
Have you met Max. face to face before?

Schrodinger1:
Guys! Who knows where I can make an affidavit for SOA authentication in Lagos? And the cost of doing such.

Is it the SOA you need to authenticate or your affidavit form filled by your sponsor (if this is to get your i-20).
If you are using the SOA for embassy, it is not necessary or required.
Make sure you get your information right.