₦airaland Forum

Hi MackyNaija keep up the intel spirit bro!
Please I have some questions/requests:

Kindly post a brief review of some of your courses. Especially prerequisites for someone coming from a different major.
(I understand your program is Industrial Engineering)

Also, how easy/ difficult can it be for one to land a RA/TA/GA after the first semester. And what's the financial implication?(stipend and or tuition waiver?)

BTW, do you know or have you met one of our Nairaland elders with the moniker "icool" abeg help me tell am say his protégé sends greetings.

Scholastica16 and DreManuel. Word. You guys are inspiring!

And DreManuel, I tried looking for a suitable meme for this post to no avail.

MackyNaija:
Done with classes for the day, the next one for 12.30 was cancelled. {One small picture below, tried to avoid snapping faces of people}


The storm matter no be play o... In naija na normal rain na, no matter how e heavy, nobody shuts down anywhere.

School was supposed to be shut from Friday 5pm till Monday - in the last 5minutes, I have received 2 emails, 1 automated voice call and a text message saying school wil be shut from 12noon - that's like now!


These oyinbo people deh take matters seriously o. Not "our" reactive style instead of being proactive.
Corpus Christi will take a direct hit (about 40-60mins from here), TAMU-corpus christi campus has already been evacuated, city council is currently deliberating to decide if evacuations should also happen here.


By the way.... I did an on-campus job interview today, waiting for a feedback though I know the chances of getting it is reduced. Some people got it on the spot.
I wish myself, better days ahead.

Storm? Stay safe bro and good luck with the job search.

fergie001:
Sorry,have been busy for awhile,but ASUU don free us small
...

I wish you all a successful exams next month.
The next 7months ain't gonna be easy but if I can soldier through,Yes U Can.

Thanks for this man! Really appreciate your help.
I reckon it's very likely there will be another test (departmental) after the EPT to prune applicants. Right?

Congrats Tizentos nice one. Welcome to the next stage.

#TeamFall18

MackyNaija:
Why is your WES over 3?

* I do not understand this but everything is available online for your perusal.
When classes start, I'll write about my classes .

Thanks the WES score is actually over 4, I've since edited it.
The bolded is Exactly what I was asking. Thanks, all the best!

MackyNaija:
You are very welcome, same major is what I am doing.

I have met two other guys running same.

Nice! My undergrad was in Petroleum Engineering. Here's my profile:
Undergraduate GPA: (Nigeria uni, Petroleum Engineering)
3.09/5 (2.97/4- WES)
TOEFL: 104 (R 30, L 28, S 24, W 22)
GRE: 309 (Q 157, V 152, A 3.5)
Have you met anyone with a PE background yet?

Please kindly give a review of classes for the benefit of those who may be considering the school.

Was your undergrad also in IE? and can you please give an estimate of the required funds based on your experience so far?
Was the $3,000 you paid the total tuition package for the year or semester?

You once mentioned meeting a spring entrant on almost full funding his he also in IE?

Thanks!

(Apologies for the series of questions)

LagosismyHome:
Also you have an engineering background, you can still continue in that line if you want .......Just make sure which ever line / field you decide , Apply to better schools . Think about life after the 2 years ...

@ sayilousnwa Have you considered industrial engineering? It's a very versatile field. It has business/ management components... All the best!

MackyNaija:
I cannot say what car make but it was pleasant to the eyes.

BTW, What's your major? I'm interested in Industrial Engineering @ tamuk for Fall 2018

ponpon:
CONTD


___________________________________________________________________________________________________

I was already losing hope as UMASSD was the only school left, slowly I started preparing for another GRE. Finished the Manhattan 8 books, moved to Magoosh online premium prep. During the period of wait I actually learnt so many things. I learnt that funding can only be given when available, you have to make your application stand out and match with the interest of the funder.....

I learnt about searching for advertised positions online using associations job posting in my field/area of interest. I sent series of mails to positions I found online, everything 'Unfortunately, Sorry, At this point'. So I started thinking about Spring and this brought everything in order. How I applied for advertised positions changed. I mailed some professors at Oregon State University, generic replies 'Unfortunately, Sorry, At this point', but there was someone I pressed further, I pressed his mumu button, I told him how I felt comfortable contacting him, how he would make a good advisor bla bla bla....na him baba help me change my story.....

He said " Make all your app materials (GRE, CV, ati be be lo) in a single pdf when you mail a prof and name it as your first_name.application_materials so he could always check it easily when anything comes up or if he wants to refer you to someone else, make your cover letter as detailed as possible because some may have just one chance to have an impression about you, make your cover letter show your background, knowledge about field, why you stand out and future plans"

KA BOOM, I sent this to two positions advertised and I got two interviews!!!!

Nicholls State University and Southern Illinois University....


to be contd..

my mail i send out is below

Dear Dr Do Good,

My name is Wizkid, I have a BS in HAHAHA from University of Lagos, Nigeria. I am writing as regards your advertisement on the Texas A&M Wildlife and Fisheries Job board for an MS research assistant position in your lab. I recognize and value the importance that a research graduate assistantship has when it comes to the educational and professional benefits especially one that is intertwined with your academic and professional prospects




Sincerely,

9ice

Ponpon! You really are a fighter. @ bolded, thanks for showing the possible hurdles to securing MS funding.

MY DILEMMA
I understand that proving to POIs that one will be an asset to their research could go a long way in sealing the deal. However, in my case, my undergraduate major is different (Petroleum engineering) from my MS interest (Industrial engineering). I have started reviewing fundamentals in IE by enrolling in online courses. I believe the MS experience will determine my proceeding to PhD.
Anyone overcome a similar challenge? Please will appreciate your inputs.

MackyNaija:
To be a man is not a day's job.


Naija people on F1, abeg make una hold better money for pocket before touching this land.

Make I reach school in peace sha.

Pic1- Boarded.
Pic 2 - Last picture of Houston I got. See the car I would like to drive when I grow up.

Nice one MackyNaija. @ car pic, is that a Tesla model S?

.

Scholastica16:
As most know, I applied to 8 schools. Michigan State and Uni of Houston were my preferred destinations in that order and for obvious reasons: Michigan state was the highest rated of the schools I applied to whilst Uni of Houston posed (In my opinion) the best connections to the oil and gas industry based on its location and proximity to the oil Hub.

5 schools rejected me in this order: LSU, UNM, KSU (which reminds me, has Hirschfelder gotten his visa ?) UUtah, and then UH. UH came in April or May but I would hazard a guess and say mid April. It shook me to my bones especially because some Iranian with this profile (GRE 307 AWA 3.5, TOEFL 94, GPA 3.27/4, no publications) posted on grad cafe that he was accepted and fully funded for the same PhD program I opted for.

I tried to do a bit of research as to why most of my apps had fallen through but a few of the feedbacks I got centered on not finding an advisor or the acceptance process being more holistic than stats. (Absolute hogwash if you ask me) and I would say why.

So a friend of mine in Houston (MSc Chemical Engineering) told me his supervisor is Iranian and those who can count their teeth with their tongues know what I am trying to imply. I am not alone; someone ranted about UCBerkeley and pretty much said nothing thorough was done in selecting the PhDs for a particular program he applied for. So people are advised not to get disillusioned when some schools inexplicably reject their apps.

Anyways, moving on to something more positive. Michigan State accepted me on the 22nd of May but as I type this, they have proferred no word on funding. I had hoped to post here as soon as it was made available but I missed this thread and felt the need to keep you guys in the loop.

My final 2 schools- Mississippi State and USF have said nothing either. No reports on grad cafe as well and historically they respond in July i.e for my program (I figured it out when push came to shove).

Moving forward, I might (and it is a big might) consider a detour to the U.K. and then re-fire to the US with bigger schools in mind just to see if heaven will fall. Since I feel it is not financially expedient to use one's personal resources to go to the U.K., this my plan is hinged on securing a federal govt scholarship I applied and wrote for (PTDF). I am very optimistic about my chances because I am a man of the spirit + I wrote well.

Conversely, I could secure the same scholarship and stall till Spring- armed with the scholarship letter, I would apply to a top 15 program in the US for MSc seeing that I could secure it readily because of the letter. The trend in MSc acceptances gives credence to this plan but I am having fits about it because it negates my #TeamFall2017 Mantra.

God will direct my steps.

Thanks to Tescoman90 and a few others. He knows why I am thanking him.

Glad you're back man! Reading your post capped my day.
Nice plan You've got there. Still, while I believe your UK detour is a good move (efficient use of the 1 year wait), I still hope you get the funding package from MSU.

As for me, I've switched majors. I'm now interested in Industrial Engineering (operations research). I'm also considering an MSc in Nigeria to bolster my getting admitted/funded...
Once again, welcome!

lilliesboy:
Alright, try and pay online or print the Invoice and take it to either a GT Bank or Skye Bank for payment. I suggest you pay into Skye Bank; the GT Bank seem to be having technical issues.

Done. Paid into GTB before reading your post. Registration was seamless, took less than 30 mins. (Perhaps the site is now stable)

lilliesboy:
If you have not paid, you cannot apply in the first place. So, what are you generating the Invoice for when you have not/do not want to pay?

Oh. I confused account creation and invoice generation for the actual application. With all due respect, where did I mention not wanting to pay. The bolded is entirely unnecessary. Thanks all the same.

lilliesboy:
Change of Programme/Course after initial registration attracts a FEE, in other words, you have to pay some cash again before you can register. It is NOT free and that is why they take you back to the Invoice page. Read the Prospectus/Guidelines again and you will see the rules.

Thanks. Please note that I have not paid for the initial programme, I only generated the invoice. Does this apply to me?

kinematicguy:
Hi, with the aforementioned profile. I won't advise you to apply to LSU or Tulsa, they are a bit competitive for oily courses. Especially, ur GPA it doesn't cut it.

You can look at moderate schools in Oily states. With this strategy you can get internship faster and from there possibly secure job.

I really appreciate your advice. However, I'm now interested in MSc in Industrial Engineering (operations research). What do you say about an MSc in a different field? Thanks!

Please I want​ to change my programme but each time I log in as an existing applicant, it takes me directly to the invoice page for the previous programme.
How do I revert this? Do I need to start a fresh application?

fergie001:
Since you have not paid,it is editable.
Go back to the site,fill appropriately,fill in the application number and password you were earlier sent,it will take you back to the course page,that is where you can edit,same invoice number will remain,just like application number,password,e-mail add,etc.
Tnx

Please I want​ to change my programme but each time I log in, it takes me directly to the invoice page for the previous programme.
How do I revert this? Do I need to start a fresh application?

sirRiddy:
Thanks bro . What are your research interests?
What research have you done and what advice do you
have neophytes like us? How can one do independent and
impactful research around here?
What are your aspirations too?

SirRiddy please kindly reply my pm. Thanks

Hi folks, trust we're all in good state. Please has anyone heard from scholastica16 of recent?
His absence from the thread is unlike him and is increasingly disturbing.

fergie001:
You will be called up,just on the position of nysc discharge cert,upload your call-up letter.
When you are eventually admitted,your clearance will be delayed until you provide your nysc discharge which hopefully by then you should have had your POP.

PS:For the referees just as lillesboy had said,one of them must be someone who had taught you at any age stage of your education.Primary,Secondary or tertiary.
Again he/she must not necessarily had graduated from the University.Any teacher,the other 2 could be anyone,provide as well their details,phone no,etc.
This will trigger a mail to the recipient with the hope that you sent the right e-mail address.
The following will pop up on the referee's mail:
Name
Designation/Occupation
Phone Number
His/her rship with you(I.e.how did he/she get to know you)
Your qualities:

Just softball ?s.
Hopefully,your referee should bail you out.
Its not like they read it see,its just to fulfill all your righteousness.

@ fergie001 Thanks for this info. Please I've just sent you a pm

EZEIGBO1OFIMO:
Thanks for the USnews account.......turns out some big schools aren't big in everything

Can you please share the USnews account?

iCool:
mfarad, a bit of a personal question - why are you sticking to Petroleum eng.? If I do not ask, I will not have peace of mind.

Hmmm. The million dollar question... Will send you a pm sir.

[quote author=Time2Smile post=57950383][/quote]Apt!

drhopeful:
Congrats mfarad!

Thanks drhopeful! Trust preparation for leaving is in top gear.

@ seeker88, nastydamus and others. Thanks for your comments. You guys have really been inspirational...
Any news from scholastics16?

hirschfelder:
Very comprehensive report, and nice scores. Congrats!!! You have done half of the job. Now, try to research your programs well and apply to schools that best match your profile...

Thanks man. I've been trying to get the best match for my profile and research interest...

sirRiddy:
mfarad
Many appreciations for posting your experience and
congratulations. Since you have read the thread,
there is no need saying further cos I trust you are loaded
good luck with admission and funding

Prof sirRiddy, I'm only trying to ​follow the footsteps of yourself​ and the other "elders" in the house. Appreciate​ your continuous contributions to the thread.

@bolded, Sure, I've read the thread but there's no discounting your sage advice whenever the opportunity presents itself.
Here's my profile:

Undergraduate GPA: (Petroleum Engineering, from Nigeria uni, ) 3.09/5 (2.97/3- WES)
TOEFL: 104 (R 30, L 28, S 24, W 22)
GRE: 309 (Q 157, V 152, A 3.5)

Target Schools:
University of Tulsa, Oklahoma
Louisiana state university, Baton rouge.
(No categorisation, since safe schools are no longer safe)
Still searching for others (applying to few schools due to financial constraints, after all it's only one admit one needs )

While I understand that PhDs are the priority when it comes to funding, I'm yet to see how a PhD suits my career projections atm. Hence, I'm looking at an MSc in Petroleum Engineering (despite the downturn)

Will appreciate any intel on the aforementioned schools and others... Respect!

My GRE experience:

Apologies for the delay, I've been extremely busy of late.
I sat for the GRE on the 11th of May.
I stumbled on this excellent thread in the course of running background checks​ on B.Y Mafit (ended up registering for TOEFL and GRE through them)
Back then, I knew nothing about funded grad study in the US and had already set my eyes on some fully funded programmes in the Mid East for Fall 2017...
Weeks later, after reading the entire thread at the time (you don't know what you're missing if you haven't read it all), I started prepping for the GRE towards Fall 2018 admission as the GRE wasn't required for the Mid​ East programme (or so I thought).
Days after submitting my applications, I was contacted by the grad coordinator that following a review, the GRE is now required (minimum of quant-155), and a month extension was given to sit and report scores. Hence, my prep time was cut short from the intended 3 months to about a month of rigourous study (I also reduced​ my expected verbal score from 160 to 155 and from 165 to 160 for quant, had no set expectations for AWA )...

Prep:
I made use of this site : www.greenlighttestprep.com
(when the registration was still free, subscription is still less than magoosh's though)
Interestingly it's the same guy (Brent) who did the magoosh quant videos. Obviously, he now runs his own platform.
For practice, I made use of the famous Manhattan 5lb practice questions, making sure I practice thoroughly immediately after watching the video explanations of the topics (don't fall for the illusion of competency, thinking you've mastered the concept by just watching).
Also used the original GRE guide and the two practice questions books (verbal and Quant)

Since my prep time was limited by the looming deadline, I focused more on quant, especially when I scored a fair 159 in verbal in my diagnostic test. Surprisingly my verbal score was higher than my quant in all my practice tests (Manhattan, Kaplan,powerprep 1 &2, paper test 1), ranging from 157- 159 while my quant was 154 - 156...
Prep Apps:
I downloaded "Ready4gre" (very good app for quick practice, it shows your expected scores based on performance and has leaderboards showing how you rank compared to other candidates. I remember RexCheeng also pointed it out)
Magoosh vocab app (used it sparingly, felt my verbal was good enough for a 155)

For the AWA, I managed to read all the issue topics about two days to the day and skimmed some responses on quora and other forums, I felt the argument was easier since I just had to find the fallacies.

Test Registration (BY Mafit)
I must commend these guys for their excellent service (especially when their fantastic pricing introduced me to this wonderful thread).
However, they almost gave me high BP when the first attempt at registering me for my selected date failed, I received an email from ETS saying "order failure"
For some strange reasons, I felt BY Mafit's "scheme" was busted and was already preparing my argument if asked to pay any extras to the 50k (turned out I was only paranoid).
Also, my test date was almost shifted a week closer by the rep, saying​ the previous date was filled (that would have translated to less than 3 weeks of prep time). A quick check on the the ETS site showed otherwise so I prevailed on her to try the previous date till it was successful
(Morale: Don't leave your affairs to anyone- one of the numerous takeaways from the "Elders" on this thread)...

Test day

I arrived Abuja the evening before the day, I took the train from Kaduna to Abuja (lasted 2 hours, if only we could have the same system across the country)

The morning of the test day, I woke with a pounding headache (I was using the Ready4gre app throughout the train ride)
I also skimmed the qc strategies videos.

I finally arrived Galaxy uniprep centre around 9am (exam was slated for 10). Interestingly, I was the last test taker to arrive. Since I took my TOEFL at the same centre some months before, I was already familiar with the centre, same proctors...

After the AWA (was just meh, got a claim and reason type question for the issue), then the Quant (meaning the experimental would be quant. I was a little ticked. Tip : don't have any preference for the order)...

First quant was GRE "standard"...
then the first verbal!!! Oh boy!!! Had me staring at the screen for long... Is this English? Made me Forget the plan to tackle the RCs last...

Break: Everyone was commenting on the verbal. I took my snack, gulped a lot of water, still hoping for the best...

Second quant, as expected, I was unruffled...
Second verbal, way too easy. Completed and cross checked every question with more than 10 minutes still left... Took the opportunity to use the restroom (drank too much water during the break)...

Third quant... Easy... The fear sets in, is this experimental? Or is this it?
Reported scores...

Quant- 157 (3 points below target of 160)
Verbal- 152 (again, 3 points below the target of 155, lower than all my practice tests. Well, I didn't prep for it, couldn't complain)
AWA- 3.5 (about 15 days later, so my essay was Indian esque)

[Left the centre not knowing what to think, most test takers​ were frowning, others left without saying anything, an elderly lady said she'll try again in 3 months...]

The Beginning.

reDazey:
Update
Ohio State- kind rejection letter.

Oh well, it was a reach school(TAMU included). I would have fainted if I had gotten the admit.

I am waiting for decisions from the other schools.

Sorry about that. All the best in the others. BTW, is this andradeaze?

Scholastica16:
I read this back to front and front to back like 10 times. I am deeply touched by your story. Yours just typifies the statement that true and lasting wealth is of the mind. So forget low class or poor, you are loaded Dr. and we have a lot to learn from you. All the best in your, what-is-sure-to-be success-laden journey into proper research in Virginia.

I have some experience with IPS myself but it is a negative one. So I took the entrance test, passed it and got invited for the panel interview. After having answered their barrage of questions for what felt like the whole day, many people were convinced I would definitely be taken.

They were wrong. I didn't even make the reserve list. Pained me for like 1 full day but I moved on.

@the moniker, yea you sure do know him. They have attacked him alot so he is always hyper-defensive or even paranoid but I learn alot from him.

Edit: so Petroleum engineering, how and why did you transition to materials engineering?

@Scholastica16. Thanks for the insightful comments and probing questions.
@bolded, same question I've been meaning to ask.