₦airaland Forum

goodemma20:
very correct, I was reading thorough Nigeria's immigration requirements and I saw it there.

k199192:
jus a tip for all spring students. You will need a document called "yellow card" at the poe. You may be charged extra if you don't have it with you.

teepee4Him:
Seasons Greetings!
Please, can anyone help with TOEFL materials? I am applying for a Doctoral program and the school insists I submit an English proficiency test - TOEFL, IELTS, PTE, CAE, CPE ....... (because I have not completed four consecutive semesters in the U.S). Likewise, which of the test would you likely recommend as I have about 28 days to prepare? I plan to write the exam immediately the new semester begins (before class work and other commitment sets in).

Advice, tips, and materials would be highly appreciated.

Thanks!

Mstrsheikh:
Hi Everyone I am an extremely silent follower, so I got my student visa approved yesterday. I have been following this blog sparingly and just read through different transcript briefly. I have learnt so many things whilst reading and even observed more things at the interview yesterday. Without exaggerating more than 15 student blue rejection papers I saw flying all over the place, that I was having a slight scare on my own interview BUT then again even as someone seeking interview and trying to be NEUTRAL as possible I was extremely, extremely and extremely disappointed at the lack of articulation, confidence, preparedness, lukewarm and how unintelligent SOME graduates from Nigeria are. I was embarrassed for many students in front of the VO. Every one was standing in close proximity with each other so you could hear what questions that were being asked and answers potential students were giving. Without being too negative some students actually tried but fell short of sweet lies and ideas when asked very tricky questions. A case study of the a guy, 4 persons ahead of me, you could see the VO which is a guy trying his best to help this guy with answers to his question about parallel data which he claims to do a project on at work, but the boy just dey fumble. quite sad.

Anyways I will give tips on people intending to refire as y'all call it here or for first timers'

AA - PRAYERFUL - Only God gives grace and speaks through you (this was my prayer at every point in time)

1. Ensure you are with all Documents (I-20 signed by you, Study leave signed and stamped by your company, sponsor statement, confirmation appointment, gtb receipt (I was almost exploited 3000 naira for this for just a page printout behind the embassy water side), admission letter, DS-160 confirmation page, SEVIS FEE, sponsor statement, proof of relevant work experience, proof of projects executed at your undergraduate or work done at your employment)

2. Look the part and Look clean! well starched shirt and trousers, with a fine fitted blazer (important), I wouldnt advise anyone to go with native. two guys in front of me were denied and they wore native... I could be wrong but then dressing is a strong determinant of first impressions), tie again might make you look too desperate (again my personal opinion, someone was given who wore a tie)

3. CONFIDENCE CONFIDENCE CONFIDENCE - if your visa is in 3days, 1 week whatever time you have before your interview, watch cnn, bbc aljazeera not NTA lol, hear how their reporters speak fluently with articulation, if possible record and repeat after them, trust me this speaks volume about your person. same way I would enjoy speaking my local dialet with a fellow state indigene, the consulate also will enjoy speaking English with someone that speaks well and communicate on the same level not forming fake accent but speak clearly loud with articulation and confidence. Have you heard HNN speak, Kemi Olunloyo, you would want to listen to her even if its mostly rubbish. Articulation of course only comes when you know what you wan to say.

4. KNOW YOUR STUFF : Read on what makes the school attractive and thats why you are applying (PLEASE DONT MENTION SCHOOL IS CHEAP!!), Read on list of professors that will be teaching you and the courses to be taught, Read on an executive summary of the course you intend to study. Read and if possible cram and prepare well. Read on everything you put when filling your DS-160 form.

5. SPONSOR : Have a cogent reason why your sponsor is sponsoring you. If not your parents. then anybody else should have a valued reason for sponsoring you not because for example, he saw value in me, my mother helped her when she was small. Reasons like I was amongst the best staff in the office so selected for sponsirship( with a company letter to back it up), my uncle in oil and gas, real estate, shipping, export sponsors each member of the family every two years for a masters abroad and its my turn as part of his personal contribution to the family ( you are showing continuity). Things like that. not based on emotions.

6. SENSIBLE EXPLANATION ON WHAT YOU ARE GOING TO DO WHEN YOU ARE BACK : THIS was the deal breaker for so many VOs, I observed lack of depth in student explanation, even me i know sey this bros and sister dey lie. One thing we should note, VOs are trained like every three months on tricks, new development and new tactics student use to get visa so they even know better than us. THEY ARE NOT FOOOOOLS!!!!.
possible answers to this questions below:

i - if you are working, get a study leave by hook or by crook, lobby with your HR,
AnsWER- The opportunity of returning to workin my current place is open for me, the VO will ask your proof, bring out your study leave letter, their wings will be clipped.

I also intend to float my own Bleep business in this sector because there is a huge gap and opportunities in Nigeria in this sector and it will thrive seriously ( You are now providing insights to the VO as opposed to answering his / her questions). THIS IS WHAT THEY WANT!. Psychology is key!!.

ii. Establish ties to Nigeria, I and my siblings are managing the family business xxxx (you can get a CAC document of your own business or friend and tell them). you are an integral member of management and you cant afford to stay too long away.

7. NEVER MENTION YOU HAVE ANY RELATIVE ABROAD YOU ARE GONNA STAY WITH WHILST SCHOOLING. YOU ARE ON YOUR OWN!
8. ALL SCHOOLS GAVE YOU ADMISSION even if you just have admission for one
9. know your GRE scores and ILETS result by heart, and print it out
10. BE POLITE AND SMILE

11. THIS IS VERY IMPORTANT - If you are working, give in FINE DETAILS your job description when asked, that the VO will nod their head and ask you to stop. They know 90% of students will not return but even if you dont return.....DO YOU HAVE A SKILL TO MAKE YOU USEFUL TO THEIR ECONOMY THAN BEING A NUISANCE AND GETTING INVOLVED IN CRIME TO SURVIVE? IF YOU ARE SELLING BITCOIN SEF, say it in a way that your job description sounds like that of central bank governor!!! - (This is what helped me )

if you dont have work experience this might be very tough for you but not solely a determinant of your approval.




I WILL remember other things to write in dUE TIME, for now got preparations to handle. HOPE THIS HELPS

DISCLAIMER: This are from my personal thoughts and observation, I do not expect everyone to accept it, read it and take whatever points you seem useful and leave out the ones you deem as rubbish.

damiebukie:
Hi guys,

Please help I need some list of US Universities​ that do not require GRE for admission for
Masters in chemistry.

kekenation:
Fellas, please I need schools that do accept unofficial transcript for admission decision in USA?

ekiee:
Thank you so much sire, I have a co signer with good credit for student loan though, but what are my chances for been granted loan?
The banks issuing this loans for my school are citizen and discovery bank?
Has anyone here used international student loan? What's your experience?
Thanks fam

americaninja1:
House please I need urgent help.. I knew nothing about this emergency booking, until now.. somebody told me he is going to do it for me.. He didn't make mention of any fees and he never hinted me dat I will be paying a dime.. but just yesterday morning, he called me dat he was able to get a closer date.. Plus he is telling me to pay 200k, just for d emergency booking, cos I did all d booking myself only dat I could not find a date within my school resumption time.. And now he is threatening me dat he will cancel d appointment if I don't pay up

Olamsanj:
Good day house! This question is for a friend who was denied an F1 visa thrice last year when he wanted to go for his Masters. Now his brother in the US which is a green card holder is filing an H1b visa for him which would be done with the processing in few weeks time. Please what are his chances of getting an H1b visa approved or there’s no problem?

2theoptimist:
Ladies and gentlemen, Good morning.
Please i need a good advice. What if my school has resumed before my next interview at the embassy, What do I do?
and If they have resumed, how do I convince the VO that I will cope or meet up.
Thanks.

biikeys:
I wouldn't be surprised if the VO checked went to the university website him/herself and some something contradicting your claim about the school's GRE requirement.

dayoseun70:
Was delayed at the Lagos embassy this morning. And here goes my transcript:
Me:Good morning
VO: Good morning how are you doing today
Me: Fine and you
VO: pass me your passport and I20
VO: why are you going to the US
Me: to obtain a masters degree in environmental studies at point park university (Vo cuts in)
VO: Tell me about this program
Me: environmental studies encompasses not just scientific approach of solving environmental challenges but includes environmental law, environmental communication and most importantly Government policies and environment which is are the major problems that face the Nigeria environment as at now. The ...(VO cuts in)
VO: how many school did you apply to
Me:2 point park university and Marshall university
Vo: why point park over marshall
Me: the program at point park is career oriented which offers opportunity to obtain beyond class experience due to its contribution towards fighting environmental challenge in Pittsburgh, working tirelessly with Allegheny firm to restore and conserve the green land scape which welcomes lots of tourist, also the lectures at point park have both teaching and professional experience and through mentorship would pass this first hand experience to me (Vo cuts in again)
VO: what did you do during your Nysc
Me: worked at the product development department developing green techniques in production aimed at reducing the effect of the industrial process on the environment and... (VP again)
Vo:are you married?
Me:no
Vo:any children
Me:no
Vo: GRE?
Me: wasn't required by the university for my study choice
Started typing like forever
Vo: who is your sponsor
Me: my dad
V(: what does he do
Me: told him
VO started typing for Africa........
Then Ask again did you say point park aren't asking for GRE
Me:was not required for my study program and because I had a GPA above 3.0
This time puts his hand in his mouth and started thinking staring at his system
Vo: what did you say you did after NYSC
Me: was explaining ,in between he asked for salary and I told him I was volunteering. Then he tells me to continue.
Before I could finish the next statement all I heard was I'm sorry this paper explains why I couldn't grant your visa, you're free to reapply. Reaches for the blue paper and gave it to me.

Really I was frustrated though after the interview. I was blank till I got home. I agreed with Twoods on a particular post about the top schools, but still this School has a very good opportunity within and I had scholarship from them too.
But please @Twoods @lagosismyhome and every other person who would constructively criticize me I need your help . I might have said something wrong during my interview please be a light to this path.
Thanks would appreciate your help

sirhamilton:
Maybe I'm not as intelligent as I think or you didn't have your undergrad in a Nigerian State or federal Uni

LagosismyHome:

Funny enough i know one or two who still made a great success in life after that

I dont advocate for poor grades but sometimes it doesn't predict the future

LagosismyHome:
Ehnnn 2.1 is not .... then what about 3rd class.

sirhamilton:
Getting a 2.1 in a public school is a laudable feat as well

EZEIGBO1OFIMO:
I am highly suspicious of some first class from some state and private unis in Nigeria, the overall student environment breeds the one eyed man , king of the blind situation .

noblemann1:
Please tell me the required score for Gre and how to go about preparing for the exams. Also school that I can go for, Thanks

First, you need to decide on the course you want to study, To save you some stress start from this website http://graddecision.org/ to know the application process, So step 1) Decide on the course you want to study 2) Search for schools using a)www.msinus.com (open this website with a laptop, you should see a list of school and ranking for some of the most common courses, you can start from there b)www.gradschools.com c)www.google.com (you can just type 'msc in bla bla in the us in google' d) www.usnews.com e) www.4icu.org . 3) check up the website of the schools you find, to see the requirements. most schools will require GRE and some will require both gre and toefl . 4) Register for standardize exam and take it. You can register for gre as soon as you are ready and prepared to take the exam. Its done online at www.ets.org. You can also get all the information you need about the exam on the website. You will get adequate materials to prepare for the exam in this dropbox I created https://www.dropbox.com/sh/t9ot6d07hp1lkm7/AADL_dTihjEvNBRCBsmAcoXja?dl=0

TOEFL is an English test required by some US universities. though, some schools waive due to the fact that Nigeria is an Anglophone country.
For toefl, all you need are the speaking noteful videos in the link below, the ets toefl guide is enough to ace the exam for other sections. Just download the toefl ETS Guide from there website and the simulation test.
https://www.dropbox.com/sh/45tvc3ifi8wh8sh/AACXR5j6l3nsWK8vZx5P28TVa?dl=0

As for the Tuition, if you have good results (GRE, GPA, Toefl), SOP and LOR; US schools do offer assistanship to graduate students. This can either be Research Assistant, Teaching Assistant or Administrative Assistant. Depending on the school, if you get an assistantship, your Tuition will be waived and you will also be paid a monthly stipend that can take care of your living expenses. One advice, once you shortlist schools, send emails to the grad cord of the schools and ask specific questions relating to that course and funding opportunities, be very explicit.

Lastly, there are basically 2 admission session in the US, Spring (Jan) and Fall (August). Schools admit more students in Fall, so Its advisable you plan towards Fall 2018. If you plan to resume in fall 2018, make sure you submit all your application documents before ending of Dec 2017. If you don't give it a trial, you will never know.My philosophy in life is to always do my part, with that I don't get to regret later. Above all, if you believe in God,pray to him..if not, good for you.

If you have any question, drop it here and you should get more than one good answer.

For every Engineering graduate school prospect coming here to ask for school suggestions, who does not have access to US news ranking, this spreadsheet might save you some stress. It has all the 2017 ranking of Engineering schools. It wont take you more than a week to start sending emails, perusing each school website to see which one of them you have chances of getting into and which one meets your goals and aspirations.
https://drive.google.com/file/d/0BwKmQy59LeEpUW5tbEZhRHJmR1U/view?usp=sharing

And I cant reply every pms again please, the busy season is here , below you will find a good SOP you can use as guide and ebook
https://drive.google.com/file/d/0BwKmQy59LeEpZ2Y3bnk2Vlh4ekM0dy13VERhWDNpY2FGLVRV/view?usp=sharing
https://drive.google.com/file/d/0BwKmQy59LeEpQ0VGeFVSd0l1eUJyMUJvQ0V3cW1oeDhmZ3J3/view?usp=sharing

noblemann1:
Please tell me the required score for Gre and how to go about preparing for the exams. Also school that I can go for, Thanks

TWoods:
Diplomatic (adjective) - having or showing an ability to deal with people in a sensitive and effective way.
"that was a very diplomatic way of putting it"
synonyms: tactful, sensitive, subtle, delicate, polite, discreet, thoughtful, careful, judicious, nonconfrontational, prudent, politic, clever, skillful

Which of the synonyms above is remotely close to what you are suggesting - i.e. fraud? Tomorrow you'll be blaming your leaders for the swamp that Nigeria has become... you are part of the problem.

denbaba:
OK thanks. what should be the minimum amount of cash in my sponsor's account when I'm going for a program of 6000$ tuition fee?

denbaba:
I appreciate everyone on this thread.
pls a quick question.
MUST the sponsor have the same surname with a student applying for F-1 visa?

aithusa:
Thanks but pls does it mean I will be paying another 64k for d emergency appointment?

TWoods:
“Proper planning” is apparently a phrase many here have never heard before. I’m amused at the number of people panicking over interview dates and how close it is to their resumption date. Obviously these folks have been under a rock since October.

Enyz:
Please house i have a concern, my program start date according to the i20 sent is 10th of January 2018 but i was only able to book my interview for 12th of january at the embassy, i hope this doesnt affect the approval of my Visa.

aithusa:
Hello nairalanders, pls i need your help. I was sent back today at the embassy. It all happened that I book my appointment more than a month ago and I just recently completed the ds 160 form but the barcode on the appointment and ds160 are not the same. So I sent a mail to support-nigeria@ustraveldocs.com for it to be corrected which was done yesterday but when I got there today, I was sent back that I will have to wait till 72 hours to book another appointment but my fear now is my school is resuming early January and I don't know how I'll get a date in december without paying another 64k

Daodudavid:
Bros femo, pardon my ignorance, but sometimes you consider yourself not always right and perfect, I made a statement you contradicted it, not knowing my source was actually true, next time ask question sir lol

Itorobaby:
hello pls i need schools to apply for MBA, that the tuition fee is not more than 20,000 dollars for two years. THANKS

Daodudavid:
You can keep wondering all you like dude, I know my way and I don't have any explanation to make to you dude, get the point and inspire for greatness, end of discussion #free#