I knew what I went through when I came in and wish those coming after can have better settling-in than I did.
Me alone searching...it was frustrating

gbaby4live:


Please, all Nairaland members currently in the states, let's help other prospective students with off campus housing headache..
Your contributions is highly important here..

https://www.nairaland.com/4209845/students-housing-accommodation-usa#62900760

Is there a housing thread?

Does it include feeding? Then take it! You wont have any added cost as regards to feeding, transport, internet etc.
Unless you have people to share an apartment with, that will bring down the cost.

Kayme:




Wow this is super helpful. Thanks! I better start reconsidering living on campus then. But then again campus living is like $5800 per annum that's roughly 2.something million naira which is a whole lot to consider lol. Does it help if I have someone I can stay with like a share a house with or something so that bills can be split.

I know someone scheduled for interview soon for VIU, I have spoken all the grammar that she should wait to hear from other schools (she just heard from one this week sef). Oya get i20 from this one instead, she said no. I have wished her well

You know the situation and your interests better than anyone: how much your parents have, how this Masters will help you achieve your goals, if the job is really what you want or for sake of being employed, if you dont mind taking extra year/years to get the experience at the industry, how much you will save from the new job, etc.

Weigh all your options and decide. I know people who were faced with this scenario. No 2 cases are similar. Training abroad.. the job itself nko, na the main thing na.
If you decide to stay, plan on when to get a postgraduate degree, the exposure is great!

Think timing, money matters and long term.

k199192:

Thanks man. But you know how sponsors could be. I would really love to pursue the msc but my parents would like to save money. I am not the owner of the money so I just have to cave to whatever they want at the end. But what would you have me do in this case... and I just paid my i20 express mail.

PrinceDekunle:


Lol! Wake up bro. You are only given a privilege to study in the best and biggest country in the world. US has been existing before you and would still be after you! They don't need us, they giving us the privilege to be better when you can prove yourself as a genuine student!

Na wa for this response.

My POE experience was smooth.

I flew Qatar Airways to Doha (10hours) and to Dulles, Washington (14hours), meal was good. I don't think I want to fly that long again, I kept looking at my wristwatch wishing the time would fly fast. Forced myself to sleep several times and also watched movies.

At Washington airport, the queue was not too long. It got to my turn after 20 mins. The man asked me for my i-20, what I was here for, if I have foodstuffs and I listed about 4 and told him I filled everything on the form given to me in the plane. He stamped me in, just spent 1-2minute with him. I took the bus to an airbnb.

I have been trying to settle in. If you have someone in town, it would make life A LOT easier for you. Housing here is something else, average is $900 -$1200, one room! I had to increase my budget by force, and still searching. If you can arrive a week or 2 weeks earlier, better for you. I am combining settling in + house hunt with classes and assignments, the stress eh..

Please buy converter charger or US charger and some items. The things I forgot to buy, am getting it here x4. Tiny umbrella for $8 - $15. I shock. Wetin I dey buy for lagos island for N400. Sha buy the things you will need ooo. Time didnt permit me to buy jeans in Lagos, the cheapest ones I have seen here are $20. Please please buy important things so you dont start spending on basic things immediately.

I am sorry for the late update

You will surely see joor

Fenix:
Sigh...


All of you have finished buying all the tickets.

I was hoping to get a ticket for this Sunday evening but all are apparently gone.

Hmmm. We all know that people can turn down many top schools for full ride to another school, but when it's Harvard...
I pity her and her massive loan sha.

Fenix:


A friend of mine turned down an offer of a full scholarship from Boston University to attend the Harvard MPH with no scholarship. She even had to take on a loan. Afterwards she did the boards and is now a practicing doctor in the US. I advised her to go for Boston over Harvard but the brand name of Harvard had entered her head too much.

So now she has all that debt on her head and she is not using the degree for anything.

Very short. Congrats!!

Devuchka:
Transcript.....Appointment was for 9am got there a bit earlier n was severely pissed off by the security lady at the entrance but kept my cool make I come out first, got in saw blue denial paper flying up and down I was like God I am not leaving with a blue paper today, got thru all the biometrics n serenre, was on the line for the window and all the students before me were denied like those VOs no dey smile sha, anyways I was finally called to the window

VO : Good morning
ME: Hi
VO: let me have your passport n I 20
ME: ( passes it to him)
VO: ( looks thru my passport )
VO: So you are currently a student in Emory(syc� )
ME: No I am not, I just got admission
VO: congratulations
ME: Thank you
VO: you have been to the US before is that correct?
ME: yes I have
VO: what is the longest you have stayed in the U
US?
ME: 2months
VO: what were you doing in the US for 2months?
ME: vacation
VO: vacation of 2 months?
ME: yes my school gives that long time frame(won't lie I blabbed a lil here)
VO: what will you do after graduation?
ME: I will come and continue my work as xyz in xyz company, I am expected to resume work August 2019
VO: how will you be paying for your trip?
ME: my dad will be paying for it
VO: what does he do?
ME: he is chairman xyz companies
VO: can I see a document to support that like a bank statement?
ME: sure( gives him my dad bank statement, he looks thru n returns it)
VO: Ok madam I will be approving your visa pls pick it up at this address n keep your I 20 on you at the POE
Can't remember if I said thank you sef, happened so fast, wanted to leave before he changes his mind ��
My lil advice tho is cover your bases, have necessary documents, double check your bank statement must have enough funds, then just ask for Favor from God cos the guy had rejected literally everybody that came to his window

GRE and TOEFL

Josh4wod:

Thanks ma
Is there a promo going on also for SAT?

Harvard guy, safe trip!!! Enjoy your stay.

Side eyes to LagosismyHome, your head is too correct abeg

The focus has been on your school.
Check byu in gradcafe dot com and see what your department peeps are saying about it. Then you should know why you didnt pick the other schools.

Emmyirab:

... Actually, I paid immediately I left the consulate. Before I was even told to wait.

Haven't scheduled sha. Will do that next week.

Banks normally stamp to show you have been given PTA. Its per quarter, so you wont collect twice in a quarter. The stamp is the evidence

ovieigho:
boss yeah you are right ,he said I won't be able to get another one till after 4month . The stamping is what I don't understand..make Dem no go deface my Visa with stamp oo...lol

Garri, dried fish, egusi, ogbono, crayfish nko...
I need to carry ooo

seyewest:

Is this your first trip? If yes I will advise you not to carry any food stuffs...

I have some foodstuffs to carry but I can't find a list of contraband items to guide me. What do you suggest?
I cant even finalise as someone told me her aunty's visa was cancelled at POE because she came in with palm oil.
How do I know that what I am packing is allowed

seyewest:

Are you going on a visit visa or business? How long are you staying for?
You can carry anything just declare it and they will decide on which one to take or leave with you. Meanwhile you've to becareful with traveling to U.S with foodstuffs because it will lead to automatic secondary screening.

I was surprised at her response. She didn't even put in her first post about her parents ready to sponsor her.

LagosismyHome:


Whether you like it or not schooling in the USA is expensive so cosade inital comment is a valid one..... so many times people start this eaka

I get PMs, I reply, then no word from the person. Is this a regular stuff on NL? If you don't have anything to discuss, why send PM. If the reply is late and you have gotten the answer already, then just reply that you are ok now.
Na only me waka come?
I find this strange, abi na email address them dey gather...because I am considering not replying any moniker not popular on this thread

Then sponsor yourself to school and beware of free help especially when it's online. You can equally gain admission into a Nig school or take the foreign online education route and still face your business.

sinzui:
but bros calm down, you find it very hard believing because you are in nigeria , and are a nigerian i am not indulging in self pity i am pretty sure if you meet me you wont say such.. and in quote [/b]i have a good life in nigeria, i am just 23, i own my own comfortable apt. own my own business and have my own car[b] so no need for the harsh words sir, nigerians find it hard to believe and understand we are much more than we are taken for.

Please if anyone processes form A at a rate < 360, kindly share.

Then increase your chances by applying to many schools. 5, 7 schools or more.

Do your research very well on the schools too

tosinooo:
My people, I greet every body in the house.
Please I want to ask just two questions and would be very glad if I get prompted answers
1) I want to apply to City University of New York for Master's degree but I need to pay my application fee using money order. Can someone explain how this is done?
2) I need suggestions of schools (safest schools) as I will be rewriting my gre next week and applying for Spring 2018 admission. Got 308 before but I was bounced from LSU and TAMU. Studied chemical engineering for BSc and would prefer chemical engineering or any related discipline for masters

PS : I'm not really concerned about getting funding, it's the admission that matters to me.
Thanks

No solid data to back up. I doubt this anyway

EZEIGBO1OFIMO:
Bros, if I get better job, dey travel for work and jollificate, shey person go dey stand for 2minutes disgrace for Walter Carrington ?. [/b]99%[b] of F1 folks are seeking better lives, consular officers know that, data and statistics show that.

Better luck next time. Cmbagwu

Can you try sending me a pm.

Folsy:



nope..

Did you see my msg at all?

Folsy:


applying now

Its best you read past transcripts to give you a better understanding of how the process works. I sent you the link. You should read many pages back, if possible start from May 2017 till date.

"what have you been doing since nysc" you just said "working for your mum", (poor response) AS WHAT NA? and "why the course" threw you off balance. Please just calm down, read deeper and refire.

Seriousbuyer:


Saint Joseph's university Philadelphia Pennsylvania
Pls I would appreciate if you could give instance and yes that's why I took the course to pick up my mum's business and probably build something off that for myself

https://www.dropbox.com/sh/vv0a0sfgaysztiq/AABxTAFQ2LYV8KfdWoVbN2V9a/Part%2010_Visa%20Transcripts_B.rtf?dl=0

Have you checked this link?

Seriousbuyer:


Saint Joseph's university Philadelphia Pennsylvania
Pls I would appreciate if you could give instance and yes that's why I took the course to pick up my mum's business and probably build something off that for myself

You said you searched for schools that 'offer practical learning with great mentorship programs...'. I dont know what this means, didnt you just search for the program itself and select schools?

Is Innoson a multinational?
Also think about why you picked the course, in case you are asked. You have covered most questions.

The part where you said the school offered you a discipline in 2 courses of interest to you...do you mean concentration or specialization?

I want to believe you read past transcripts. Be clear in your responses. You can practice in front of the mirror and make sure you are not stammering. Because cram work dey get as e be, know the key words and expand on them. Be confident that day and mainatin eye-contact.


All the best...

Emmyirab:

okay.. The thing is that I don't get paid. It's something I did voluntarily

If after I graduated, I have been worked in an engineering firm owned by my uncle, do I need to answer that I have been working in my uncle's company or that I worked in an engineering firm or both?

@bolded, is that your plan for going for that program??

I think you could have done better with the first and last questions. Very important questions!

Which school is that?

Seriousbuyer:


Here is how it went at about 8:36 on 8:8:2017 Lagos :

Vo: good morning
Me: good morning sir (with a fake smile)
Vo: can I have your passport and I-20
Me: I passed it to him
Vo: why financial service?
Me: (the guy didn't even look at me he only gave eye contact when he asked after which he got busy typing I can't deniel the fact that It threw me off balance) more of adding more value to my career as a business developer plus my previous major was business administration
Vo: how did you hear about the school
Me: through an older friend and mentor rev father Jude odiaka
Vo: who's sponsoring
Me: my mum, she's taking care of the tuition fee, living expenses and all other expenses
Vo: what does she do?
Me: she's one of the major Distributor of Dangote cement in Lagos and Ogun state, she's also into importation and sales of building materials
Vo: do you have a bank Statement?
Me: yes (showed him my mum's statement)
Vo: (he went through it over and over again) there seem to be much deposits on this account recently?
Me: yes it's a business account
Vo: when did you finish your sec school education?
Me: 2010
Vo: ok what have you been doing since then?
Me: went to the university to study business administration
Vo: when did you finish?
Me: 2015 after which I went for my nysc
Vo: oh ok so what have you been doing since you got done with your nysc?
Me: working with my mum
Vo: what is your plan after your program?
me: [/b]come back to restructure my mum's business[b]
Vo: ( he picked up my passport again and was looking at the system I was thinking I had the visa already) am sorry I can grant you a visa today (gives the blue paper )