$26,200

dreambound:

What's your net cost?

I think you are very correct. I've contacted my school immediately. I hope they do something about it fast otherwise I'll have to do anoda GRE. At least there is an approved transcript of a guy here who has full funding for PhD-water resources and environmental engineering. I believe I can also achieve that. Thank you.

Americanpizza:
@gbeje, Since I've been here, I have not seen anyone going for PH.D in the US without funding got visa. I might be wrong tho but its always slim. PhD is really expensive hence the need for funding. Your answers are not bad. Not having funding for PhD is the problem

Visa delayed today at Abuja embassy
I was interviewed at the first window to the left by a slim young lady.
Transcript:
Me: Good morning
VO: pass your passport & I-20
Me: I did
VO: How did find out about the school
Me: I used usnews.com to search for the school...
VO: (cut in) and then?
Me: I discovered the school website, entered into the site and checked through the program's curriculum and faculty program which I foumd out to be suitable for my research goals.
VO: Did apply to other schools
Me: Yes I did
VO: which school:
Me: I applied to Louisiana State University, West Virginia University, Morgantown and University of Texas El paso
VO: Why did u choose this one?
Me: Apart from the fact that New Mexico State University hosts one of the 54 Water research institute in United States and as such the institute provide grants for all water related researches in the school which hopefully I am a potential beneficiary (Cuts in)
VO: I can see your uncle is sponsoring you
Me: Yes, my uncle
VO: Why is he sponsoring u?
Me: He has always been supportive of my education especially during my masters program when I related the limitations in.my research results due to nonavailability of required facilities. In fact, he encouraged me most of the time and and advised me to travel abroad for my doctoral research which he also promised to fund.
I EXPECTED HER TO ASK FOR HIS STATEMENT BUT SHE DIDN'T. INSTEAD SHE STARTED ANODA ROUND OF QUESTIONING THUS:
VO: Why do you want a doctorate degree?
Me: the doctorate degree is expected to raise my educational capabilities in research and teaching. Before now I've taught mathematics. Further mathematics, Physics and Chemistry at A level and pre-varsity centres. Such a profound program with will enable me(cut in)
VO: You are not eligible for visa now.
I WONDER WHY SHE ENGAGED ME IN A SUCH A LONG CONVERSATION AND STILL ENDED UP WITH REJECTION
I THINK I NEED FUNDING B4 GOING BACK O! ALTHOUGH MY FACULTY SAID I'M IN THE LIST OF POTENTIAL STUDENTS TO BE GIVEN FUNDING BUT THEY'VE NOT MATCHED THAT WITH ACTION.
PLS HOUSE, WHICH SCHOOL GUARANTEES PHD FUNDING WITH GRE SCORE OF 295 IN WATER RESOURCES OR/AND ENVIRONMEMTAL SCIENCE ENGINEERING?

Tears of joy flowed thru my eyes as I read ur vote of thanks and transcript - you deserve the success story dear. Congratulations!

sharwama:
SHARWAMA'S APPROVED VISA TRANSCRIPT.
Date: June 7, 2019
Venue: Lagos Consulate
Time:6:30 a.m
Gender of VO: Male
Window: I Didn't notice, I was blown away by his cuteness and jerry curl
Ok it was the second to last window, before the exit door.
I: (Smiling) Good morning sir
V.O: Good morning, please pass me your passport and your I-20.
I did and he was like "please push your passport a little bit further". I pushed it and asked, "is it okay now sir?"
VO: Yes it is. Why are you going to the US
I: (deep breath + killer smile) To uhm, pursue a masters degree in Biology, Biomedical Science Concentration at East Tennessee State University, Johnson City Tennessee.
V.O: Why this degree?
I: I really want to work as a research scientist at a renowned biomedical research Institute here in Nigeria. Unfortunately, a masters degree in Biology or a closely related field is the minimum requirement for such a position. So this degree would not just help me hone my research skills or build my critical thinking, it would qualify me for the position I really want, when I return.
V.O: So why did you pick this school?
I: (Gesticulating with magical hands) For me, it wasn't just about the generous funding I received, which I am extremely grateful for by the way, it had a lot more to do with the student-faculty relationship I have built with my potential supervisor, professor Burna boy. We Skyped a couple of times and we have chosen a thesis topic I am super excited about.
V.O: What other schools did you apply to?
I: I applied at Texas A&M University, Commerce
VO: uhum(while typing)
I: Cleveland State University Ohio and Kansas State University Manhattan Kansas.
VO: Have you travelled out of the country before?
I: I have not had the need to sir.
VO: Are you married
I: No sir
V.O: You said you have funding, let me see the evidence
I: My school did not give me an official letter but it's on the I-20(I pointed at the document so he looked at it)
V.O: Ok I see $9590 to be payed by someone ,who is this?
I: That's my mum sir
V.O: What does she do?
I: My mum is a business woman, she sells African fabrics and traditional bridal attires
V.O: Yes do you have any proof, I want to see evidence.
I was confused and he mentioned "or bank statement"
I: (Killer smile)Yes, with all pleasure. Just a moment please.
So I got the bank statement
V.O(while looking at the statement) Doesn't your mum have other children to sponsor in school?
I: (I never expected that question, so my English technically failed me, so I looked at him and answered) All of us have finished school, it remainder two of us.
I was so embarrassed about my grammatical blunder but I was glad he understood the point, we were all done with school except two of my siblings.
V.O: Ok, I will be approving your Visa. He hands me the white paper. Talked about pick up in three working days, gave me back my SOA and I-20, asked me to keep it carefully and I would need the latter at the port of entry... Told me to have a wonderful day
I: (Killer smile) Thank you and have a wonderful rest of the day too.
Yup, I bounced out of the building
THE END

Hello,
Pls my I-20 is being held by Government Regulatory Agency in Lagos as indicated on UPS tracker since yesterday. What do I need to do?

Please, if a company's SOA is submitted for I-20 processing but the sponsor's letter/promissory letter states the name and relationship (uncle) of the sole owner/signatory of the business, what fund provider name is the school likely to write on the I-20? Company's name or account owner's name?
Also, which selection is appropriate in this case while filling the ds-160 under "who is paying for your trip?" Organization or other relative?
Thank you.

Thank you Brown2Green.
Meanwhile, can I use a corporate account to process anoda I-20 and present same for my interview? Or is corporate account a red flag for interview?

Brown2Green:

Not advisable

Gurus in the house,
I have just recently received my I-20 and booked my visa appointment though I have not submitted the DS-160. However, I discovered that my sponsor's account is no longer as funded as at when I submitted it for I-20 processing. I intend to use another sponsor but my previous sponsor is boldly written on my I-20. Is it OK to input a different sponsor whose statement I'll be taking fir interview in my DS-160?

Greetings to the house. I appreciate the great job you guys are doing. May God continue to support your own work too.
Please, I have 2 PhD admissions to start summer 2019-NMSU and LSU. However, I've not been able to secure funding for both. LSU says I can only get funding for my kind of program after enrollment/registration. NMSU says they're still looking for funding for me since most fundings are available in fall semester.
My questions/enquiries are:
1. Which of the schools is better, not in term of ranking but such factors like ease of securing assistantship, friendliness, cost of living and such like
2. Does choosing abuja embassy for interview despite residing in Lagos has any negative implication?
3.Does going to embassy without Phd funding has any serious consequence?
4.I will appreciate further assistance/information from a current student/alumnus of either school.
Thank you