₦airaland Forum

Daodudavid:
Its not been easy but trust me its better than our home (Nigeria), No strike, free food, free WiF[/b]i, [b]free white chicks, plenty of jobs, exposures, money etc.. Don't give up your dream of coming to Amelika, If you have been denied ones or twice use this write up as a source of inspiration to keep pushing, Read more transcript and amend your mistakes You Shall Get your White slip.

jimzy4u:
Hello guys, I have an issue at hand. I need to submit a statement of account with the certificate of financial support i printed online of which my sponsor doesn't have up to the required amount that is suppose to be on the statement but he has 12 million on his treasury bill investment certificate. Please can i upload that in place of the bank statement of account?

TWoods:
No offense but that isn't true. Many people i went to grad school with already had 1 or more publications before applying to the phd program. Some had even completed highly competitive masters programs.

Also, while research experience and publications are a plus, the quality is also important. Frankly, a kid who worked a year doing research at johns Hopkins or Harvard, is far more desirable than someone with 5 years research experience in Nigeria, especially if that kid scores in the 90th percentile on his GRE.

While i don't necessarily disagree with your point, i don't think things like this should be rushed. I'd rather take time to prepare very well. Perhaps that's just me. Speed isn't as important to me as well done.

cojunior:
I would love to send the name of schools to you, but I would love to do that privately.

TWoods:
I think the admissions contact just indirectly told him to take time out to improve his scores and try for next year. While i agree that what works for me is different from what works for you, the limiting factor is that you do not control how many people are applying for a limited set of places. The admissions contact made that quite clear. If 20 people applied for a position that needs only 5 (phd positions don't take a lot of folks every year), then it doesn't matter how good your GPA was, especially if everyone else has equally good GPAs and excellent GRE scores. It is always best to make sure you're putting your best foot forward at all times. It simply improves your chances.

As an international applicant, you are always going to be at a disadvantage. The best way to overcome that disadvantage is to simply be better than the rest that your application cannot be ignored.

cojunior:
Thanks for this! I am actually applying to four schools and I got good responses from most them. I don't have anything to lose. If I don't get in this year, I will retake TOEfl and GRE next year and apply again next year. Two applications submitted and two to go!

TWoods:
If you notice in the email he copied here, this is what the admisssions officer had to say - "If you wait a year, you would have the opportunity to conduct a systematic and thorough GRE and even TOEFL preparation to improve your scores." If i were, i would take this advice. Take a year to study thoroughly for the GRE... gain a good score (>310). For his major, verbal is of more importance than the quant. Not all admissions contacts take the time to compose a detailed email advising you specifically on how to improve your admission/funding chances. Too often, people are more interested in the NOW than in the how well.

cojunior:
Ph. d in educational reforms at the university of Arkansas

My latest profile is summarized below:

jerrypeacelinks:
Please is a TOEFL Score of 89 and a GRE score of 299 poor for an M.Sc student? Recall that I shared my transcript here and still in shock I was denied as I can't really hold on to something concrete to say this was why I was denied. Am now beginning to think the VO denied me cos of my GRE score after seeing responses here bothering on GRE score for a PhD candidate who got 297. Please kindly advise as I have already rescheduled or another interview for next week.

Lastruct:
Hello House, Its been a while here. I sincerely need your advice on my issue, not minding any criticism. After much researching and taking advice from a brother (femi321). I have taken GRE amidst all difficulties and little or no time to study harder. I need to know if I have a chance of getting admission with funding (and possible suggested schools), though already preparing to send mails to grad coord. of some schools using schools list on msinus.com with the low GRE scores, I just need some advice considering the short time I have to start applications. Meanwhile, I do not intend to write another GRE, as the chance of being able to fully prepare for GRE again is too slim. My Profile below;

GRE Score: 297 (Q147, V150) as seen on the screen after the exam, waiting for AWA
MSc Civil & Environmental (Structures, Unilag): 4.48/5.00
BTech Civil Engr'g : 4.16/5.00
TOEFL: writing on 16th December
7 years work experience
Have 2 Kids (LOL)

I intend going for a PhD in Civil Engineering (Structures)
I will appeciate any kind suggestions here my people, will also like to know if there is hope or I just forget about it since I dont intend to re-write GRE.

cc:

Thanks for your anticipated frank responses guys.

Scholastica16:
Gokuu's reply is enough but let me just add. What if wearing a shirt is what would save your life and you were only being finicky by specifying the color you wanted?

What if, the blue shirt was completely sold on the day you asked for it and if they did not buy the red shirt on that very day, it too, would have completely sold out?

I have no personal issues with the guy whatsoever. I know he is a petulant old man with the temperament of a child.

Ayat1209:
Hello fam., 

my school refused to send an email copy of my i20, but I persuaded them to send me the SEVIS number which they did. My questions are:

1- can I fill ds 160 and book an interview date without my i20 hard copy? 
2- I do I fill request for an expedited appointment at the Abuja consulate office.? 

Note- my i20 should be in Nigeria in the next 4-5 business days. Thanks for your contribution.

gokuu:
Are you kidding me?
So now we’re comparing sexual assault to an examination appointment? This is so horrendous!

Scholastica16:
On the contrary, my aim is spot-on. He is crying foul when he has not been tackled. Of course, I am not excusing their unprofessionalism. But randomly checking the ETS site for Nigeria/Lagos will show which dates are filled and which are still available.

Someone will not wake up any day and select any arbitrary date and expect it to be waiting. Like I said, those dates fill up pretty fast.

I am actually panning his unpreparedness masked with feigned anger as well as the misinformation. Maybe he should have been left to pay 100k for the bad score which the Ivy school he was planning to apply to would have still tossed aside.

Scholastica16:
You are bitter because you are misinformed and you are about to misinform others.

It was on the 20th of this month that you had no clue what BY MAFIT was only to claim today, 9 days after, that you registered with them for 2 weeks.

Secondly, registering with them entails more than just filling a form. It is after you have paid that you are deemed fully registered and then they can book a date for you.

Third, by August, GRE dates in Lagos had filled such that it was hard getting dates for November at JKK. I know someone who got Dec 1 from as far back as August. GRE dates fill pretty quickly in Lagos. I am totally unsurprised that you could not get any dates in Dec except you are outside Lagos.

Instead of talking through the red mist (which you are currently doing), call them ASAP and table your complaints. Sending emails may not be as effective - you are dealing with Nigerians.

And don't be too inflexible about that extended date they gave you. You were still asking if Kaplan would suffice for a robust GRE prep. Those of us who know what the GRE entails, know that you were going to Uber-bang the exams with Kaplan and the short practice time.

So see this delay as a blessing.

PS: any scathing half-assed reply will be ignored.

adedayo66:
hello, i jst joined the thread and hoping to apply anytime soon, pls can u put me through how to go about locatibg and searching fr certified University in the USA , payments and all, if necessary, can we cht in o.thanks

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

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.

bigfrancis21:
Do not be quick to judge. I know Mekurexx personally. Exchange of Dollar/Naira between people who have both is a common and easy

Dancingpotato:
you are wicked

aithusa:
that is not the reason, it's not even a 'small' school at all. Even if the VO told you that, you should have corrected him/her. The school has thousands upon thousands of students. The VOs don't know all. You just have to prove you're a genuine student regardless of whether it's a so called 'small or big ' school & ask for God's favour. Moreover, there is no 'big or small' school as long as you can prove your worth
Stay blessed

denbaba:
thanks for your input bro. can u mention some good schools offering masters in medical lab sci or related courses

ponpon:
My only ish with this their stipend is they collect it back from your blood, Lab work, teaching and field work ain't beans!

denbaba:
Mehn dats crazy. more than 100k for transcript alone.
So schools don't accept applicants to upload their transcripts themselves?

TWoods:
Lol spot on! Here is One who has done his homework. $18,500 stipend was back in 2005. Today the stipend is not less than $28,500.

Jamezy4u:
Bro, which sch and course is that that they could give that much living allowance?
I will appreciate the details pls, maybe I can look around it, especially what qualify you pls

Thanks

TWoods:
A gpa of 1.97 out of 5 now makes a lot of sense. I don’t know you either... thankfully. Good luck.

Yildiz:
should the envelope have school logo or normal envelope will be okay. Cos It wasn't put in a school envelope

Dahyormine:
I have been following this thread for a while but I have a very disturbing question that needs Candid answer.
I'm a graduate of UI and I finished with a class of 2'2, I'm ready to write any exam be it TOEFL, IELT or GRE, pls with this exams, do I have a chance of getting admission in the US? or should I just forget about it? pls I need answers from experienced people in the house.
thanx.

Yildiz:
Good day all. Please I have a question. Can I mail official transcript by myself or my school must do it. Please gurus help out

barackodam:
femi312


please brother, reply your mail....ejowo

Ljason:
Okay thanks ... I'm looking at going to Cotonou and perhaps my interview date is not near so I still got time. . but I don't know what I need to take along and If I need to do anything inline before going

Ljason:
Hello guys I'm new here and I have my I-20 already want to go pay for my Sevis fee tomorrow ... Don't know if there's anything I should fill online before going .. Please put me through thanks