yuppy101:


Same here, Am always at ur service

Hi.

Scholastica16:
Yildiz, you owe us your 2nd GRE experience.

Nastydamus, we see you lurking in the shadows.

Bless us with your experience thus far over there and any tips you can give to prospective testtakers and school applicants.

Menh...where do I even start from?

It's been one hell of a roller coaster and it looks like it'll stay that way for a while.

I had a one-month TA training course before the fall quarter. Fall quarter (yes, Drexel runs the quarter system) started last month with me

registering for 9 credits and I've been playing serious catchup here...I guess it's what you get when you take a 5-year hiatus from the school

environment.

Oh, and I am a half-time TA so I teach two classes (two hours each) every week, with close to thirty students in each class; it's a totally new

experience for me but I'll survive.

Winter is coming (literally) and the formerly sunny Philly is starting to wear an overcast look. Sweaters and warm clothing have started coming

out of hiding and people don't roam the streets unless it's really necessary. I'm already mentally preparing for the heating bills I'll be seeing

soon.

On the whole, I'm happy I didn't delay my decision to pursue a PhD as any further delay would have meant even more catching up to do...when

I had my MSc., we were still trying to usher in LTE tech; I'm back to school a few years later and it's like I've been living under a rock...

I've written a quiz (have another tomorrow sef) and turned in a number of assignments.

For test takers, it's really worth the stress. You'll get to work with, and learn from people with patents and world-changing inventions. Education

is a big deal here and they don't hold back where research and the prospect of solving a global problem are concerned. I was shown my desk

which still has a desktop PC that a former student was using, and they showed my a box with my new desktop PC which I'm yet to unpack, my

laptop will do for now.

Prepare well, ace your tests and start pushing out your applications as early as you can (early bird gets the worm).

modath:
....

Hello

pronto543:


Sorry bro for the rejection. I believe there is light at the end of the tunnel. Please, I'll like to know how you got the application fee waived? Also, did you send official transcript to the school or do they honour inofficial copies of transcripts?

I got a mail from their graduate school about the waiver. I made my ets scores/profile accessible to schools so I'm guessing they got my email address from there.

Submitted soft copies of my transcripts.

I'm ok with the other offers I got though.

mfarad:
My GRE experience:.

Congrats bro, and thanks for keeping this thread alive.

I'm hoping you have plans to take the TOEFL test. A little extra might be what distinguishes your application from the others in your chosen department.

Good to know you also don't see any school as 'safe' anymore. I got a rejection letter from Stevens Institute of Technology two days ago and I received it with mixed feelings - they waived the application fee for me (as I'm guessing they did for a lot of other international applicants) but I paid to send my test scores to them and disturbed three referees to send in letters of recommendation.

Good luck in this 'fishing' phase.

Time2Smile:
I guess that is it from me for this application season.

I have been accepted to the Molecular and Cell Biology PhD program of The University of Texas at Dallas with a Graduate Tuition Scholarship that covers all tuition and fees. In addition, I will receive a very generous stipend through Graduate Teaching Assistantship.

I only contacted the Graduate coordinator on April 14 and submitted my application on May 1st when the schools were trying to play cello with my future.

I appreciate everyone that has been asking after my application status. It has been arduous, but the difficulty pales in comparison to the sweet taste of success. For those still expecting a decision, don't lose hope. #TeamFall2017 Yes we can.

Congrats bro... I-20 next. That was some last-minute stunt you pulled there.

towbaynah:


Congrats, pal. Yeah I hear that one's outfit has no influence whatsoever on the VO's decision.

Yes o, but baba, my confidence level never climb reach there o, I'm not a fan of touching stories.

I had my visa interview today and, thanks to the transcripts of others on this thread, I knew what to expect going in.

There was a heavy downpour that kept beating till 06:20am, after which we queued up to be let in.

I was interviewed by a lady on the extreme left hand side (facing the VO's).
I was her second interviewee for the day after she'd dished out a blue paper to the first person.

The interview:

VO: good morning
Me: good morning
VO: pass me your passport, i-20 and sevis receipt
Me: did as she asked
VO: so why Drexel University?
Me: I carried out an extensive research online for schools that would match my test scores and research interests, and two universities were a perfect fit for me - Drexel University and Unl.
VO: so you applied to the two?
Me: yes, and both offered me assistantships (not the full story sha, I'd applied to four schools in the Spring '17 admission window and got rejects from all four, didn't see the need to wake 'sleeping dogs')
VO: so why Drexel?
Me: I'd reached out to a professor at Drexel University who shares similar research interests with me and she was excited about the prospect of having me as her student. She urged me to apply and made me an offer as soon as she received my formal application.
VO: what course are you going there to study?
Me: I'm going to Drexel University to pursue a PhD degree in Electrical & Electronics Engineering, specializing in communications engineering
VO: I see you'll be there for 5 years with stipends?
Me: yes
VO: what was your first degree in?
Me: Electrical Engineering
VO: you also have a master's degree?
Me: yes, in Telecommunications Engineering
VO: what are your plans for after your PhD?
Me: I intend to return to Nigeria to take up a lecturing position whilst providing consultancy services when the opportunity presents itself
VO: congratulations on your funding, you'll be picking up your passport in Port Harcourt right?
Me: Yes

Thanks everyone, the transcripts on this thread are invaluable and I'll keep pointing my friends in this direction.
Goodluck to other Fall '17 F1 hopefuls.

On a side note, I saw a guy who came for his interview in shorts and sneakers, his interview was brief and he didn't leave with his passport. He was brimming with confidence and it worked for him, just saying.

Hello house,

I've uploaded a combo of GRE & TOEFL files for those who might be interested, it's quite large though (about 5GB).

The compressed file contains .pdf files and videos (magoosh and notefull).

https://drive.google.com/file/d/0B-BuT7EAdZgoa3pmOERwNENIUHM/view?usp=sharing

Cheers!

Please o, this 'broad daylight' everyone's using here, is it in the literal sense to connote the time of the day it happened or is there a deeper meaning?

Coz it's sounding like rape that happens outside of the 'broad daylight' time is permissible.

Those boys should be brought to book and dealt with as adults, as should the school's management.

Sariahogbe11:
To anyone it may concern, you can now pay your SEVIS fee through quick pay in selected first bank branches.

This piece of information is timely. Could you help us with info on their rate (if you know ie)?

I got the official offer (Tuition waiver + monthly stipends + 79% health insurance) from UNL yesterday but I'll be turning it down.

Already decided to go with Drexel and UNL's tardiness only strengthened my decision.

Didn't bring this up to make other expectant applicants feel bad. On the contrary, brought it up to show that schools are still typing and sending out admission offers so just hang in there guys, yours will reach you.

Stanbic gave me 17.15% today for 330 days. I guess the figures dip when you're buying from the secondary market.

Scholastica16:


I am guessing you would prefer UNL to Drexel except Drexel's offer far out-trumps UNL's. Congrats. It is always encouraging to know that people who take their time out to help others get rewarded somehow.

Thanks bro.
These schools can be very erratic. A Prof. from one of the four schools I applied to last year sent me a mail last week stating he was looking for my application packet in Fall '17 files as he's trying to pick his students; I simply told him I didn't re-apply to the school, unless there was a way to retrieve my Spring application.

I'm leaning towards Drexel (better national and ECE rankings) but Philadelphia is more expensive to live in than Omaha.

I think the UNL funding will influence my decision when it comes.

What I said about your profile is true na, no laundry service...lol.

Yeah, we should be able to help each other like the Indians do.

Scholastica16:


Are you already in US or are you waiting for decisions in this cycle with us?

I am asking because I know I read your report on your GRE and TOEFL pages back, maybe even 2015, and your standardized test scores were very strong.

My scores no near una own na.

I wrote my tests last year and all four Spring '17 applications I made were rejected, still can't say if it was the 'Spring Factor' or my overambitious selection or a combination of the two.

For this fall, I had to change tactics; I decided I would reach out to POIs for some form of green light before applying to any school (see exchange rate, application fee, anxiety).

I succeeded in 'spamming' quite a few mailboxes and very few got back to me with something positive. Of the replies I got, the professors in Drexel and UNL were the most eager to have me so I applied to just those two.

Drexel has offered me a PhD admission with an RA/TA position (I'll work as a TA when needed) while UNL is wrapping up something similar (I should hear from them before the week runs out).

Thought I'd leave my tales till both offers had been formally received but there you have it.

I'm very sure yours is/are coming (you really need just one), your profile is a head turner.

234ng44uk:
For those who used memrise, which learning course would you recommend?

1. 'Barron & Kaplan GRE Words'
2. 'Magoosh GRE Vocab'

Good luck.

tuffpuff:
Update!
Got a second decision and second rejection!
This time from University of Rochester
I sent them an email, requesting to know the part(s) of my application that wasn't competitive enough to secure me an offer. Their reply was that the decision does not necessarily reflect a significant shortcoming in my application. They had over 100 applications for only 5 slots!

It is well is all I can say right now. But its hurting at the same time

Don't let it get to you man, you'll get offers from other schools (here's hoping you still have some applications under review).

Trying to bump this up.

.

.

.

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guchi120:
I need some some people to help me verify this brother NAIRA2USD2NAIRA. Please if you have dealt with him before please say something.

You're in safe hands bro.

doziej84:

pls who has written toefl & sent scores to institutions?

I thought you could send to 4 schools free of charge. I've tried to do it & the system wants to charge me


who has an idea on how to go around it?

Are you trying to send to the schools after writing the test and leaving the test hall?
If yes, prepare $19 per test, per school bro.
Also, I think TOEFL allows for selection of four schools until a day before your test date.

chidi2pus:
for sale is two visa prepaid cards dominated in 500 AUD
the total of the card is 763 USD when converted.
this card can be used on any website where visa cards are accepted. very useful especially now that nigerian banks are limited in making online payments in naira dominated debit cards.

Rate is 420 usd per dollar.
call or whatsapp 08151666880.
hurry up before i change my mind and use the card for online shopping.

Thanks for the $185 you sold to me, and the patience.

akinswaggs:
Femcruz is Tested and Trusted, Instant funding!!

I agree.

StrafordSTONES:
There is no defeating them, they are here stay

no strategy topples them

always lying in calm while enemies struggle violently

rejoice oh thee thy lucky one


run away Mr unfortunate

only those whose place is here have tasted periodical victory

the only thing that avails is flight

Na Alabi dey teach you this kind poetry?

naira2usd2naira:


Thanks Bro!!

Just bought 1.005Btc from you, it was a swift transaction...thanks.