₦airaland Forum

OluDare01:
You get work for oak ridge

Lol. I pray. My lab mate's boyfriend works there. We got talking during the week, and he mentioned some cool stuffs about industry research going on there.

OluDare01:
TN is good
Oakridge is 2 hours drive from here
It is closer to University of TN,Knoxville

Oh yeah? Awesome then.

OluDare01:
Congrats man! Hope you're enjoying BTR?

Thanks brotherly. We thank God for BTR o. So far, so good. How's Tennessee? Is your campus close to Oak Ridge?

sirRiddy:
Manhattan is fine.

Cool!

sirRiddy:
Thanks for your experience. You have always been a very helpful guy
and did not just come here for silly questions and demands, so I knew this was not you.
I did not want to disturb you for this cos it is harder settling down
when you come in during the Spring. The only girl/PhD student in my program who
came in this Spring see shege. Both the weather as well as the rigorous classes plus GA work
can make someone's brain reformat. Congratulations again
Good luck in Baton Rouge.

Heheh, thanks. You're so on point. Plus no too much fun for this Spring. I guess I've to wait till Fall. How's Manhattan?

cutemorgan:
Nice one oga happyday... Many more success stories by God grace

Amen my oga! And thanks to my honorable boss here, you still dey come here?

ponpon:
full funding no be small thing. From LSU again and it's Ms. It's really the God hand

You nailed it bro! Thanks!

ponpon:
nice one Boss... Tap from your anointing....

LOL. Ever loyal.

So, after a while of posting here, I would like to share what I've learned and unlearned since coming to America.

First off, if you think I should have been more open and carried everyone along here, you're probably right. But not everything is as they seem. I, personally don't believe I've done something extraordinary, and it has been a dream all this while. I've always felt better applying my experience to help others, and not just tell them what I did. Cos I believe our mileage might vary.

Be that as it may, if you're still excepting admission/funding decisions, the application season for Fall 2017 is (almost gone) or gone for most schools, and the best you can do now is wait. Patiently. Most graduate admission committee members are also professors and lecturers who have classes to take, conferences to attend, presentations to make, proposals to write, and a bunch of other activities not related to research or their field.

Worse still, you can continue to remind them. If you can't settle, keep sending them emails to remind or inquire. They've been there, and would generally understand. Contact them within reason of course. No foul language or desperation. Only make sure it's to the right person (see; grad prog co-ord, or to your proposed advisor, if you have one already).

Moving on to my story, though I've started looking at post-BS options, it was my undergrad thesis advisor who encouraged me to write the GRE, as soon as I can. I took the test during my NYSC. It was a paper-based test in Benin. I went into details here: https://www.nairaland.com/1832477/how-achieve-high-scores-gre/47#40778602

tl;dr: I had 157/157/5.5. I was dissapointed. Let's just say I learnt a key lesson that day to always plan for eventualities. It was in November, and already planned to retake, after NYSC. I selected UArk, Purdue and two others, cos I loved the way they sounded! In short, for all intent and purposes, the first was an attempt. To prepare for the real 'thing'.

Or so I thought. Coming out of NYSC into an already jaded labour market, I grabbed the easiest job I could find. Just to not stay at home. My take-home couldn't take me anywhere. In case you're wondering, it was less than $30 a month. Which would definitely mean re-writing the test was a dream. Or writing the TOEFL. Or sending scores to WES. In short, everything I've always thought goes into a grad school application.

The cash I didn't have, I made up for it in time. Anytime I wasn't at work, I was always online, looking for ways to 'make sense' of my 314 GRE score. With no TOEFL.

Hence, I knew I needed an SoP as awesome as it can get. LORs that took the writers time to write. And a convincing story on why I wanted to do research. Not just 'study' in the US.

And for the next 6 months after my April passing out, I managed to do all of those. Such that by October, I knew I would be coming in the Spring for an MS in Bio Engr with full funding at LSU. I don't know how others do theirs, but God did mine.

Though I practiced with likely visa interview questions, I spent less than 30 secs with the Asian guy, before hearing those 'golden words'. I was more stressed up that day with the endless security checks by the actual interview.

Moving here was another another experience.

Not to talk of settling down here; getting used to the American English, adjusting to the laid-back academic settings here, understanding the nuances of American dating (and possibly getting a girl friend) . . ., opening bank accounts, getting an SSN, and actually starting research.

Damn, I gotta stop here!

Cheers!

Folatush:
thank you. but i was unable to locate your post abt the interview through the search button

Here goes nothing:

https://www.nairaland.com/1832477/how-achieve-high-scores-gre/118#49482005

Folatush:
Please is there a link i can use to get the part 1 of this thread?

Is there anyone who can also give me tips on a Skype interview for Teaching Assistanship from Uni of Idaho. they have offered admission.

Here: https://www.nairaland.com/240241/general-u.s.a-student-visa-enquiries

But, do you really want to do that? You wanna read all the way from part 1, 2, - through 10? Your choice though. I wrote about the interview ish a while ago. Google search here on NL.

andradaeze:
On my application update:
K-State: I sent a mail to Statistics Program Grad Coord asking for admission update. I was
informed I was on the wait-list for funding. The availability of funding will determine admission.

Bowling Green State University: Masters in Mathematics. Admitted, funding decision to come later.

Awesome! Very soon, you'll be writing schools to deny and accept offers. But before then honey, I wanna celebrate you specially today on the occasion of your birthday. Today.

Happy birthday sweetpie, may you never know a better last year. I so wish I could make the parry today, but no worry, next year's will be bam!

emmanuel04:
Morning guys, I am a prodigal member of this forum due to my unseriousness and I hope you will celebrate me as I return. I remain as new just like any fresher because I don't follow up on the group. Please kindly support me as I prepare my journey to do my masters in States..... Please, ask me questions that you know I will need to answer as a fresher and I will answer thoroughly. Asking me questions will make it lots easier for me because I believe you all know what is required, which I dont .

What stage are you in the application process?

Scholastica16:
Still apprise us. You are a vet on this thread. Imagine this thread without DanjaNinja and SirRiddy. Your experience and explanations of them will certainly help someone else. I am 99% sure a ton of the K-State applications and admissions are as a result of SirRiddy. And the reason many are not clamoring towards Bridgeport is because of DanjaNinja.

For someone like you who has contributed so much already; writes well and is very expressive, I am a little bit disappointed if I am being honest. I probably don't speak for myself too.

Yes boss. You're right. I'll be doing my best to share my journey so far in the coming days.

Cheers!

Scholastica16:
Baba na your way o. No transcript on the visa thread, no feedback to the house say you dey comot. Covert things I see. I am sure andradaeze knew about it.

It is not fair o. Even the way you were coding it in your replies would have flown past the uninitiated.

My bad. Things happened so fast.

kallowdean:
Hello Experience Gurus in the house.

Hope I've not gone too far by getting this mail below from my Program Coordinator (A Professor)
I bombarded them with fax and email for GA and RA

See mail:
Stop sending e-mail/fax. Your application will be considered in due course and you will be informed accordingly.


I can't even respond with apologies...

Should I just ignore

They understand the tension you're in, and it might be that he was just be distracted by your endless emails. You've done nothing bad so far. Just hold on, and wait it out. Just reply along the lines of "Thanks for the important feedback. It's soothing to know I'd be informed once a decision is made".

Scholastica16:
Great bro. Your recent posts are rather confusing. Are you in TrumpLand?

Yup.

cuspy:
Welcome back happyday! We miss reading from you

Aww, so sweet of you. I miss the family too!

guzzst:
Hello

I submitted on the 9th of January, I am sponsoring my self, paid half of the tuition 7500 can usd, applied for supply chain @ fanshawe college for a one yr course(Graduate certificate program), studied economics (bsc) and graduated 2004, did nysc d following year and since then I have worked in 3 financial institution. Submitted my statement of acct (9m) ..my home tie is my wife and daughter in Niger, included my pensions statement showing almost 5m with stanbic pensions and submitted every other forms for application (paper route) to my surprise I tracked it on d 22nd of february and I was told my passport has been processed and returned back to where I applied.my friend(agent) that assisted me package everything said it's a bad sign, that I'm suppose to get a mail for medical first. I got a letter of introduction from my office, notarized my documents. i didn't do medicals upfront.

I picked my passport today,02/03/2017 and[b] I was denied[/b] ,reasons are below

1-YOUR PROPOSED STUDIES ARE NOT REASONABLE IN LIGHT OF ONE OR MORE OF:YOUR QUALIFICATION,PREVIOUS STUDIES,EMPLOYMENT,LEVEL OF ESTABLISHMENT,YOUR FUTURE PROSPECTS AND PLANS.
2-YOU HAVE NOT SATISFIED ME THAT YOU WOULD LEAVE CANADA AT THE END OF YOUR STAY,PURPOSE OF VISIT.

so please what do I do, intend reapplying [/b]thru online method
I intend doing upfront medicals
I finished with a 2.2 in economics if not would have applied for masters direct, I hope I have given enuf info for you guys to[b] advise me

Tnx

Denied for what? Apply where? Advise you on what?

Ndawe:
Loool. I read your comment in Flavour's voice. Thank you

Ehhyahh, you're welcome!

Ndawe:
Thank you so much!!! I'll still wait, it'll be nice to know that I'd have options but TTU is my top choice though..

That's fine. Please take your time. I wish you God-speed throughout this process.

zeezahd:
Hi, my name is zeezahd. I am MsNas' younger sister. I just graduated and I am looking to do my masters or PhD in the US. My sister introduced me to this thread and suggested I read this thread to gain valuable insights into this process and I hope you guys are able to help. Thanks in anticipation

Your sis is mouthed, MsNas seyan! It would be an honor to help in any way I can. Anything you need, just ask!

yinkaorry:
who says there are no tests.i have an online test to be done. A link has already been sent to me to complete the English test.Besides I have about 2 people that have been there and it's cool.

My dear brother (or sis), na beg I beg you, listen to what the elders are saying. It would have been slightly better if you're going for STEM programs (like Engineering and hard Sciences). You'll still need to work very hard, but then chances are bright. You wanna get an MBA from a school that sends you an online link for an English test?

Truth is, most MBA schools worth the stress of attending have their applicants' pool uber full already. In short, they're not shy to reject the best. Guys with perfect GPA, many years industry experience, and lofty personal statements are not even sure of getting in. Talk of HBS, Stanford GSB, Wharton.

It will shock you that some MBAs from even those highly-selective schools still end up in frustrating jobs afterwards. Nothing in life is assured, but you want to be able to say, you did all you could.

Quick question: Why do you wanna get an MBA anyway? Just curious.

Ndawe:
Hello everyone. I've been an ardent silent follower here. I wrote my GRE sometime in 2012 during my NYSC (first and only attempt). It was this year I decided to further my studies; I didn't require GRE to undertake my MSc. Came here and reported my scores, also asking for where to register for a re-take (geniuses plenty for this thread; I felt so bad with my low scores) and Oludare01 encouraged me to apply with what I had. Though, not so many schools still had their applications open, thus, limiting my choices but he was more than helpful (who says there are no good people left). He took out his time (he even prayed with me sef lol and always had words of encouragement for me) and one would think we go waaay back.
My profile:
GRE: Q 147; V 151; AW 4.0
BSc. Industrial Chemistry 4.58/5
Msc. Energy and Environmental Mgt (Merit)
3 years combined experience in Quality control and QHSE; co-authored one paper and another one currently awaiting publication.
No TOEFL.

I applied to four schools (all the applications were done towards the end of Jan)
1) Mississippi State Uni (PhD Chemistry. Environmental Chemistry Concentration)
2)Michigan Tech Uni (PhD Environmental & Energy Policy)
3)Tennessee Tech Uni (PhD Environmental Science; Chemistry option)
4) Clarkson Uni (PhD Environmental Science & Engineering): Though a private uni but they fund.

I had 3 LORs (2 academic and 1 professional)

So I just received a congratulatory email from Tennessee Tech and they said to expect the official admission/offer letter via email within 5 days. I pray the offer is juicy.

Congratulobia! Plus you're a matured writer. I think TTU is one of the strongest in your list of schools. Don't you wanna wait for the others to see what they got?

Ndawe:
Hahaha; thank you. Which wahala biko?

Lol, don't mind him. Get ready for wahala in 3-D. But I think it's a good wahala though, in trump land. To become a (wo)man is not a day's job.

seeker88:
Welcome back boss! Good to hear from you again. I've been wondering where u have been

Yeah, glad to know you're doing great.

Cephas0009:
Happyday baba... it's been a while, great to hear from u again.

I applied for phd mech. Engr n no decisions yet

Awesome choice, boss. I'm sure you'd be fine. Don't sweat it.

Scholastica16:
I forget the page but she did state 4/4. After I saw it, I understood why she was confident enough to apply to those biggies.

Even the relative minnows wey we apply to still dey do us shakara. I don chop 2 rejects already as I type this. I even went to make sure my GRE scores were what I reported because I am beginning to doubt it.

I don't know where HappyDay is o. Him and ChemEngr01.

Lol, I gentle o. How's it going at your end?

Topiipii:
I remember the 4.3/5 and also knew she got a distinction, but did not know the GPA. In fact, I have to start putting Aunty in front of her name whenever I want to address her.

On a different note, where is happyday ?

Good to be back! Thanks for checking up. How are you doing?

Scholastica16:
I was just thinking about something as I got home today: Did I really need to send all my official documents until the admission decision was out? Musing on it, maybe I didn't.

What I am trying to say is, don't you think just uploading transcript, GRE and IELTS would have sufficed till the admission decision was out? Then if you consider going to the school you only pay for the official copy to be sent to the school.

Different schools with different requirements. I didn't send any official document, except for the GRE scores sent to four schools on test day, till I got my app decision. Then, you would need to send all needed official docs to the school you want to attend.

Aig84:
Thank you so much, I think I will take an independent research work or the voluntary teaching options since I'm not looking at fall of 2017, and I do have about 7 years post NYSC work experience, 2 of which are in a managerial role. Thank you very much.

If you're going for a PhD, don't rely on the managerial role. They want to know how good you'll be in research. Managerial positions can't tell them that. The independent research work would have been awesome, but then, it might be demoralizing trying to get one in Nigeria. All I can recommend is for you to find out how you can make the best use of what you already have. Use this time to learn how faculty members decide acceptances and rejections. Get an account on Quora, and reach out to professors in your desired department. Blow your horn, and let them see why you'll be a great addition to their research labs.

All the best!

drthiery:
Nice One....

Please can you help me with Schools in the USA with application waiver?

Thank You

If a school officially mentions they are waving their app fees, it's most likely they want to attract the best and brightest. So, you really have to work extra hard to convince them that you are. Cos since the app is free, far more students than required will be applying. And it would be your duty to make sure they don't reject your app for seemingly flimsy reasons.