Scholastica16:


TBH, the quality of school and nature of program can influence the H1B. With that in mind, even after having undergone the MBA Program (I presume this is what you are vying for) you can get great jobs outside of the state so you have nothing to be worried about.

Duke is even Ivy whereas MIT is not. Try your hands on NYU Stern's MBA Program as well if you are looking for other solid options. Someone I know got in July 2016 fully-funded with a $5000/month stipend to boot.

Exactly, some of these schools have close to 100% placement rates. I'm applying to the MFin not the MBA - I do not have the experience required for the MBA.
TBH, recruitment is my primary motivating force for applying to these schools; I'm really after the platform that comes with the school.

I registered early July and started preparations at that time; but my July prep was off and on. I ramped up in August.

I used Magoosh videos along with the Princeton's review.

The test today was quite scary; I was not sure I would get a good computer and keyboard (I usually get bad computers for things like this) hence my paranoia.

I was tense at first, but by the second essay I got more relaxed. I enjoyed the first Q and V extremely well; not so much for the second set. Both were brutal, especially the Quant - while I was familiar with most of the questions, they required longer calculations and I couldn't remember all the steps.

By the time the exam was done, I just wanted to get out of the hall.

Scholastica16:


Wow congrats. We have the same composite but different breakdowns.

Can you share with us your preparatory steps and how the tests went for you today? What materials you used and how long you prepared for?

You write like a proper grad student, So I would be surprised if you scored less than a 4.5 in your AWA.

And your scores are very good except MIT and co are involved.

Thanks.
That's where the problem lies. I was looking at MIT's MFin - the programme's online page says the mid-80 range for GRE Q is 163 - 170.

I'm really hoping I can get in as some kind of "diversity" candidate.

dawbbleOuEi:

@emboldened.... I crave for this feeling.
Congratulations, miss!! Would you be kind to share the strategies you hired with us prospective takers?

Plus...
How did you figure out your experimental section?

I used magoosh and Princeton to study, then Manhattan's 5LB book for questions.

You should revise all you have studied before going into the exam. I didn't do that and paid for it; my second section was extremely tough and some of the questions I missed were things that I had come across during study but had failed to revise.

Scholastica16:


Share your GRE experience with us, then we can take it from there.

Oh okay,
I didn't do very good for my choice school.
I got 324 (Q:162 V:162), took the exam today so nothing yet on AWA.

dawbbleOuEi:

While we await the seasoned fathers of the thread to come tend to this, I'd chip a little something in.... That you decided to write a second time shows how pertinacious you are! Keep that up, chief; it's.... sublime.

You sure know your GRE words!

TheZed:
Good evening everyone, I wrote my gre again for the second time today and was only able to add 5 points to my previous scores. Am really devastated at the moment, Don't know what to do. Previous score V 144 Q 150. Recent score V 143 Q156

How do you study? What materials did you use? How much time do you have to study?
These are key areas you may need to look at.

bigfrancis21:


Yes, most likely. Schools that do not require external evaluation often have their own internal evaluation process, so all you need to do is send them your direct transcript.

Great.
Just as a general q, you have any opinion on "diversity" admission in schools like MIT and Columbia; I'm looking at some programs but I'll probably find it tough getting in without being some sort of "diversity" candidate.

DreManuel:


Good one bro. Let's hope PTDF comes of age. Since you already have your application materials intact, are you considering Spring starting in January? Application is ongoing and many schools admit for that Semester. But it depends on your plans sha.

Hello, so I've taken my GRE so I think I can ask questions on here now. I wanted ask about the jobs market in Charlotte-Raleigh-Durham area. I'm seriously looking at Duke's Fuqua School of Business and chances for getting employers that could sponsor the H1B.

Also, any thoughts on diversity considerations when schools hand out admissions?

What a sexist pig!

bigfrancis21:


Lolll....thanks. @nairaland voodooism.

Not really. In fact, WES happens to be the most popular among its peers such as ECE etc. I have seen some schools whereby the only evaluation they accept is WES, due to the fact that WES performs a verification of transcripts and certificates after the school and candidate respectively have sent both to WES, thus ensuring integrity and originality of evaluations, compared to others that do not perform this verification.

Most US schools do not include F grades in GPA calculation, except only in the year it was passed, though the failed course is indicated in the session it was failed. Inclusion of F grades in GPA calculation is a Nigerian thing. The reason 1.75/5.00 seems too low is because the GPA includes failed courses, whereas US GPA calculations do not, and her GPA would probably be 2.2/5.0 or 2.3/5.00 if calculated without the failed courses like the US does, which explains why when evaluated to the US scale, 2.5/4.0 (or 2.2/5.0 or 2.3/5.0 Nigerian scale without the failed courses included) seems plausible. WES is a life saver for many people. Even people with ND (2 years) and HND (2 years), who hitherto were disqualified from applying directly to masters courses in most US schools, will evaluate their WES into an equivalent 4-year US bachelors degree and apply for masters admission directly with their WES bachelors evaluation.

Oh now I see; it's much clearer now.

But the schools I'm applying to have not asked for any conversion. Could it be that they have their own internal evaluation process?

Emexnairaland:
I see! Learn to be kind to people, that's all.

Pardon me for taking a moment of levity. It wasn't meant as a slight, I was just being realistic.

I think it's important to also consider the career prospects when applying to graduate programs; you want to know about graduate recruitment and the possibility of getting an employer that can sponsor you for the H1B especially if you want to stay over in America and garner work experience.

This is even more important because republicans have total control of the US government and have vowed a very muscular immigration policy.

I guess I just think there are other considerations that we want to look at.

bigfrancis21:


How old are you? Are you over 25? If no I would have recommended going for another bachelors degree (applying to both a community college and a university, obtaining your visa with the university and transferring to the CC upon entry into the US and starting school there), however one's chances of getting the US student visa for an undergraduate student over 22/23 are slimmer. If you were to go for a graduate program, then your best bet would be to convert your transcript using WES (the most favorable conversion tool ever). Someone I know recently converted and his GPA on the Nigerian scale is 1.99/5.0, which came out to be approximately 2.6/4.0, thus making him eligible to apply to US schools with 2.5/4.0 minimum GPA requirement, schools such as Bowie State University, Morgan State University, etc. Your 1.75/5.0 may come out to be at around 2.5/4.0 but you can be sure if you use WES conversion tool online to confirm that and if it does reach 2.5/4.0 then thank your lucky stars that you do have a chance at graduate studies here in the US. You need to have a copy of your transcript for this. I strongly recommend taking the GRE exam to boost your academic profile as your very low GPA isn't helping you at all. Goodluck.

I'm trying to understand your figures here.
How is it possible that as your reduce the base, the GPA rises? Shouldn't they move in tandem?

From your estimation, 1.75/5.0 will equal a perfect 3.0 on a 3.0 scale.

folmus:


The name funny o. Like[b] Point Kill [/b]pepper soup in Lagos. Why not schools with better names.

Haha...it appears people no longer consider job prospects in applying to universities anymore, some just want to cross border. Which one is point and kill university again!!

@gokuu On a second thought, since you accused me of picking points, the reason I do is that from my experience, I find some of your points amusing. But for the sake of our audience, permit me to set the record straight.
Your assertion that people lack access to required fund is simply laughable. Infact, the Federal republic of Nigeria is one of the fairest countries in the world. And I'll prove it. Just read along. Aliko Dangote started with borrowed funds. Which he later repaid back. Ben Bruce also started with borrowed funds. Anybody can access the needed funds as long as you know what you are doing. All you need to do is to have a clear plan. Show it to the banks, and if it's a good one, they will give you whatever funds you need. Which bank does not want to make money?In addition to that, you will also get tax breaks from the government in most cases to help you to succeed. Well I don't know what is fairer than that. Whereas in the so called advanced economies, the big cooperations will simply lobby the government to tax you excessively to put you down. Most Nigerian billionaires were once poor. If they never got the required funds they needed, how then did they make it. Are they magicians?. The opportunities are just there. But people just don't grab them.
Talking about the U.K. Tax system. One would have hoped that you would have verified and had facts in your response. I stand by my earlier response on that, but I however stand to be corrected whenever you have facts.
How can you tell me that almost 50% of your income is used to provide you with amenities. What kind of amenities is that. It's a complete ripoff my friend(419). Last time I checked, the lines to see a doctor in the U.K. is as long as river niger. Unless you are rich enough to cut the line. Then, one wonders what kind of amenities they are providing. In America, it is almost infact worst. After they tax you so much, you will also have to pay for your own health insurance which is one of the most expensive in the world. And if you don't have it, you are finished.
My claim that most people live on welfare in U.K. is true. I expect you to come out with facts. Please, do. The United Kingdom has one of the highest welfare fraud cases in the world. That is because a lot of people depend on that system to survive. And they do because they know their government taxes them so much and leaves them with almost nothing.
Permit me to also tell you why. Taxation is the only way the U.K. can survive. They do not have natural resources enough to keep them afloat. Therefore, the only way their government can survive is to tax their citizens heavily. Do you know how many people renounce U.K. And U.S citizenship every year? Even the Facebook guy Mark Zukerberg renounced American citizenship because of the heavy taxation. But in Nigeria, there are loopholes purposely designed by the government to make sure everyone one is given a fair shot. Infact, God bless that country with a green with green flag. I rep. Naija!!. Nigeria has enough natural resources to cushion the expenses of the government. This helps to ensure that no citizen is over taxed.
I admit that things might be hard in Nigeria now for some people, but I tell you what. One day, one mad man from somewhere will lead this nation and set it on the right path. And I can assure you that when that time comes, the over hyped advanced economies will be no match for her(naija).
I will also advise you to go to the streets of Lagos or Abuja or even port harcourt. You will see the number of luxurious cars you will find. 95% of those cars were paid for CASH. At least 80% of houses were also paid for CASH!. But in America or U.K, 99.9% are paid for through credit. Which makes me wonder where is the so called American dream. The average American has at least $40,000 worth of debt. That is not life my dear. In the federal republic of Nigeria, we speak cash. Not lines of credit.
And just before I go, we are already friends. Internet friends thou. Thank you very much.

You're comments are really out of touch.

To be suggesting that Nigeria is "one of the fairest countries in the world" is not only disingenuous, but untrue in every sense of the word. Nigeria and "fairness" should not be used in the same sentence.

When you say Dangote started with borrowed funds, you engage in sophistry. Let us not kid ourselves; Dangote has always been a progeny of the powerful Dantata family. No one truly knows how Dangote started his business, but one thing we can all agree is that Dangote, whom I respect so much, has had opportunities the "99.9%" will never have.

It's like comparing Mohammed Indimi's 22-year old nephew to a regular Nigerian graduate; and then arguing that they are on the same footing when that is clearly not case. Say for instance, both submitt the identical business proposals to a bank, we all know that one proposal would be rejected, while the other would be endorsed even before a formal appraisal. Banks want to make money but they do not like risks; and as long as powerful continue to borrow, the banks cannot be bothered to lend to less fortunate people in any substantial way.

I hate to break it to you, but the number of luxurious cars on the streets has nothing to do with the poverty rate or lack of opportunity in the country. Come on, are you really that shallow?

I will not dignify your comments on taxes with a response because I have concluded that you do not have a good grasp of the concept of taxation and a social safety net.

Your comments on natural resources are highly pedestrian and poorly developed. When you talk about any kind of resource, you must be sure to put it in context. Nigeria's natural resources may seem "large" in absolute terms, but when you look at it relative to the population, you will see that trouble is looming especially with our population growth rate.

Citing a few popular business men as "grass-to-grace" exemplars totally misrepresents the Nigerian situation; you are essentially arguing that people make their life's decision based on the "exception" rather than the "rule".

It's good to dream big, but making decisions by thinking "what-would-Dangote-do" will get you in a lot of trouble.

In all, if you think you can juggle the Nigerian system, then do that. But for rank-and-file Nigerians, it may more prudent to seek a society where your handiwork is rewarded more instantaneously as opposed to waiting forever for our Nigerian messiah who has been coming since 1960.

DeeTus:


Gurl, you sound lazy. You better take at least one standardized test before young boys start to ask you out.

Not just lazy, but with an inordinate sense of entitlement. The same mentality that has killed Nigeria.

abdulrazat:
US Senators without names?

This is propaganda at its peak. Believe at your own Peril!!!

The Hunt for the Presidential ticket for 2019 is on track for El-Rufia though but even with UK and USA behind him, he won't succeed.

Hehe... there were actually two US senators there; Sen. Michael Bennet (D-Colorado) and Sen. Chris Coons (D-Delaware).
Stop venting, its no big deal.

femi312:
You dont sound like a serious student right now..you want to go do Phd in a one building school? You have your own tuition? Because that is the kind of school that will not require any exam from you. You are not ready, when you are ready, @oludare should be your guy, he is in that field

Haha...Oga you harsh o!

But truth be told, to be talking about PhD requires a high level of commitment and research. How can someone just go and study "chemistry" in a PhD programme? And at the same time is not willing to take the GRE.

Nsogbu1992:
well, to be fair, I agree with you to some extent. But, did you say,"IMPORTED CEOS"? Which of them? Like Tony Elumelu, Aliko Dangote, Temi Otedola, Jim Ovia, Cosmos Maduka, CLetus Ibeto, innoson group? etc. I can go on and on. These guys were made in Nigeria, not imported. You sound like a foreigner. You don't sound like a Nigerian. You said you are a finance major. How many finance majors actually come out of school in America or U.K and get top jobs. Unless you are a white man, your chances are very slim. And if you are a foreigner, it becomes slimmer. I know one of my buddies who studied finance in America. But no job. the ones he could get were offering him peanuts. This guy was smart enough to save and come home. Today, he is making much more than your so called MBA holders over there. I know you need capital to start off. That is why I said, "save up, come home and invest". The chances of becoming a dollar millionaire is much greater in Nigeria than America or U.K. Infact the UNITED KINGDOM is a DYING SUPER POWER. Most people in the U.K. are poor and live on government welfare. Income tax in the U.K. is almost 50%. I have been there and I have seen it. I have also been to America and seen what happens. As for your major(finance) I don't want to discourage you, but, you better start making rich friends now!.

It's good that you have mentioned some few names; while I will big go into details, know that these are exceptions rather than the rule. You have simply picked data points that are favourable to your narrative; if you look at the full picture, you will see that small businesses die faster than they thrive.

On Finance grads, it would seem you are unaware of incomes on Wall Street. Maybe you want to double-check that.

I agree that there is a higher chance of "blowing" in Nigeria; while this may sound good to the ear, truth is most people lack the "access" required to "blow" in Nigeria. At the end of the day, people simply want a fair shot where they are confident that their hard work will come into fruition. This has not been the Nigerian story.

I have not said anything about the UK, but you will know that UK tax rates are progressive and have major major tax deductibles such that the effective tax rate is well below 50%. Again, these taxes are used to provide amenities guaranty decent living standards. in fact, when I calculate my service charges annual basis and healthcare costs, I would rather pay such taxes.

Also, it is misleading you to assume that "most" people in the U.K. live on welfare, that is simply not true! The math does not add up.

Again, this debate is not about me. However, since you're so rich from your Nigerian success story, please be my friend.

Nsogbu1992:
my brother, I know so many folks who make more than that a year and are still complaining. I would rather be my own boss than work for my fellow man. Those guys that stay over there are no match for Nigerian CEOS. They can only deceive you, not me. I know them very well. Most of them are broke. Life is a jungle. If you fail to chase your dreams, someone else will hire you to build theirs. My advice is simple. When you go there, avoid borrowing, save up if you can, then, come home and invest. We need more black ceos, not more black slaves. The black man has served the white man enough. In order words, "Emacipate yourself from mental slavery".

Hehehe...you seem to know everything and everyone. You know how much everyone earns, and all their worries. Nsogbu1992 the benevolent!!!

We're not talking about your visions and imaginations here; we are talking about opportunity and an environment where people can get a fair shot.

To become "your own boss" as you put it; do you not have need capital for that? Or are you simply just going to "dream it" into reality? Last I checked, you need capital to start a business esp. in Nigeria where you massive operational costs. No amount of dreams can change the accounting equation of: ASSETS = LIABILITIES + CAPITAL.

Your idea of liabilities is quite rudimentary and shallow. There is no org. that does not have debt on its books. Even cash-awash Apple has debt on its books.
In fact, as a Finance major, I can tell you for free that the optimal capital structure is 100:0 Debt:Equity ratio. So your "indebtedness" argument is totally ludicrous.

Also, ask yourself, who are Nigerian CEOs? Most top CEOs in Nigeria are actually imported from the US or U.K. and that's a fact.

Can Nigerians be successful in Nigeria? Absolutely!!! What are the chances of such success for an "average" Nigerian? NEAR ZERO!! No society is totally fair, but Nigeria takes LOPSIDED to a whole new level.

People have primary and secondary goals; for most, their primary goal is to have a decent and dignified life. They want to work, earn and provide for their families. Simply having inordinate visions of become a "black CEO" will not pay school fees or set you up for retirement.

It's very easy to talk about "chasing dreams" but you fail to realise that most Nigerians have fairly simple dreams like a nice home, food on the table, good education, security, and a dignified retirement. The current Nigerian system makes this virtually impossible for the vast majority; even if they work their hearts out, their efforts are not valued.

The question you may wanna answer: why should people remain in an environment where their contributions are not recognised?

walexy100:

Guy forget your papers and go acquire skills like carpentry, Truck driving, Fashion designing e.t.c

Hehe...I think I'll leave that to the impassioned artisans.

sonnie10:


Have considered that you are building equity in your mortgage?

Have you considered that at the end of every tax year, with a mortgage, kids and such income you would get up to 10k back?

Have considered that if you are married, she would most likely be making same amout (Likes beget likes).?

Have considered that most houses do increase in value, especially when the economy is strong. That is money you can cash on.

Have you considered that you can sleep with both eyes closed and your doors opened?

On point! We Nigerians have to learn to play the long game. It's myopic to think financial leverage is simply bad.
I even hear that w/o a credit score, you'd find things extremely tough to accomplish cos then you have no footprint that shows your level of financial responsibility.

TWoods:
Why do people get visas with no plans whatsoever on how to survive here?

It's amazing. I understand somewhat tho, people just want out of Naija!

sonnie10:



You got it totally wrong. The student loan is spread over 25 - 30 years but with interest. The interest is about 4% if federal loan.

That means for 100k loan you pay back about 8k a year. That is less than 700 hundred a month

So if you have a job of 120k, your monthly take home should be 10k (less tax) out of which you pay the 700 hundred for loan.. Not bad if you ask me.

Since you mentioned mortgage, even if your monthly payment is 3k, you still have about 6k left.

Another great way to look at it. Not bad at all, especially when considering that promotions and bonuses will come, not to mention benefits.
One could even save up enough to start a business.
It's amazing how low the interest rates are in the US. In Nigeria, the federal government borrows at roughly 22% (which forms the base rate) for Nigerian debt. So an individual with a decent credit history could be looking at say 26% - which is outrageous!!!

bigfrancis21:


It depends on what carrier he's into. I could advise you well. What course did he study/would like to study?

Pls give advise for someone who studied Finance.

Nsogbu1992:
190k-100k =90k. Let's say your mortgage + student loan is 5k a month out of the yearly 90k. Your student loan might take 10years or more to pay off. You have roughly 2500 left per month. Out of that, you will have to feed. Pay your bills(phone, insurance, light and water e.tc). In addition to that, you also have to help those at home every month. Or should I also add that your people will expect you to build a mansion at home. Then, after all these expenses, what's in your pocket? Look, if loan was that good, Steve jobs would have finished school. But he dropped out. He once spoke out against that outrageous cost of higher education. Don't let the suite and tie of those guys deceive you. Most of them have almost nothing in their bank accounts.. get closer to them, you will find out.

Hehe...even if I use your huge estimate of 5k a month for student loans and mortgage, that comes to 60k a year. If your making basic income or 190k (which is probably the lowest you can get for an Elite MBA) you'd have 130k (before taxes). Know that this is first-year associate income exclusive of bonuses. Isn't that great?

At the very least, It's light years ahead of living in penury in Nigeria and deceiving yourself that you are some sort of "first class citizen".

So, it really is a much better opportunity for people who have strong intellectual capabilities to leave Nigeria. When they do decide to come back, they'd be looking at CEO-level Nigerian jobs.

Nsogbu1992:
Firstly, you will hardly get that kind of job as an immigrant with an accent. America's student loan debt is over 1.3 trillion dollars. Do you know how many people default each year? Millions!. Even the so called doctors over there are just getting by because of debt. Did you not hear about the doctor and his wife that committed suicide in ny which was also posted here sometime ago? All that glitters is not gold my friend.

Hehe...first, you can get great jobs as long as you know what you're doing.
When I got to UNILAG in 2012, the graduating class then had some really ambitious students that went on to complete MBAs in the US. One went to the Wharton MBA and had 3 job offers from Mckinsey, Bain and Goldman Sachs (these are jobs with basic pay of $190k exclusive of bonuses), he went with Goldman. Another, went to Darthmouth's Tuck Business schools (borrowed about $100k) and now works with BCG in Chicago.
I know another that went to NYU's Stern and is now at Vice President at American Airlines.
If you're really good and know what you're doing, student debt can really help you achieve your dreams.
Of course, when you borrow, don't go and study drama or liberal arts. You'd only be getting yourself in trouble.
And if you've suffered in Nigeria, trust me, you will use your sense very well.

Nsogbu1992:
Thank you very much for your kind contribution. While I agree with most of what you've said, I beg to disagree on the part that says,"lack of opportunity for a better life.....". History has shown that the most successful Nigerians are the ones that were born, educated and raised in Nigeria. I am yet to see a Nigerian-American who dares come close to the big names we have here in Nigeria. These guys are not demons. They are human. Just like you and I. Nigeria has one of the largest population of youths in the world which no doubt, is good. But the bad side is that these youths believe in becoming a millionaire overnight which is not possible anywhere in the world. There are so many ways one can make it in Nigeria. We the youth cannot continue to blame the government. The government does not create job anywhere in the world. Rather, they can only create enabling environments, thus, enabling investors to come in and create jobs. In this case, the government has failed to create the environment. But that does not mean that we should all run away. We have to become our own governments and stop making excuses. Statistics shows that Nigerians are one of the most successful black race on earth. These guys can go anywhere and make it. Correct me if am wrong. Therefore, this country has a very great future. Let nobody deceive anybody by telling them that once they go to America or Europe, they become rich. That is a blatant lie my friend. For me, I would rather die on my feet than live on my knees. We know what happens to immigrants in America or Europe. Especially Europe. I' chaim!.

While I agree that many Nigerian are naturally gifted, I beg to differ with your conclusion that Nigerian traveling abroad for better opportunities simply want to be rich. That is not the case, Nigerians are simply disenchanted and do not see things improving anytime soon, and time is running out.
It's not just that there are few jobs, the Nigerian ambience is extremely tough for many.
I also don't buy the "second class citizen" thing, because when you look at substance, the vast majority of Nigerians are less than "second class" citizens even in here in Nigeria.

If people believe they have a better shot abroad, then by all means! I know lots of people that have gone, done MBAs, worked in the US for 3 years, and are back in Nigeria; they got really big roles with huge pay that they would not have gotten if they simply sat on their oars hoping for national development. In their cases, id say the American dream is alive in Nigeria.

Nsogbu1992:
haha. What a facetious statement. That is the least of my problems now. Moreover, am a person held in high esteem by a lot of people . I do no such thing sir.... most people over there live on debt. Ask them, they will tell you.

There's nothing wrong with debt, as long as you manage it properly.
You have to borrow to convert your "Human Capital" to "Financial Capital". In Nigeria, the near dearth of access to credit is one of the major reasons for poor human capital development and the poverty that comes with it.
It makes sense to get a loan of $200,000 for a good MBA that can get you to C-suite jobs of up to a $300,000 a year.

Anyone here with insights on Duke and MIT business school admissions?
Will really appreciate.

Who are these UGLY mufungus?

Please what is "Igbo"?

It's amazing how some people are calling on the Nigerian government to do something, when they have all but sworn allegiance to the nnamdi charade.