₦airaland Forum

borie4u: Thanks Ojap. ur the Man. I had a 2.2 from O.A.U (3.3/5.0) and projected 4./5 MSc UNILAG all in Applied Geophysics. Will my BSC hinder my chances?

Your undergraduate CGPA on its own won't be a red flag. Grad schools look at several things such as Undergrad + MS CGPA, GRE scores, past researches, SOP and recommendation letters. Your 3.3 CGPA should be up to the minimum 3.0 GPA required for grad admission if converted by WES.

borie4u: [/b][color=#000099][/color]
[b] Dear ojaP, Nice to see that i can actually relate with u. Sent Imag mail but seems he is selective about who he answers. Please i want to know if truely the tution is free for PHD student in USA and what are the chances of one who had his MSc here in Nigeria with a CGPA of 4.00/5.00. Also, will i need to tender GRE or TOEFL result knowing that this two are banned in the country now. Thanks

Most PhD schools in the USA offer free tuition for PhD. You have a very good chance of getting in with your MS CGPA. All you need to do is shortlist schools and identify professors with similar research interests as yours. Most PhD schools would require you to write the GRE as part of the admission. Remember you are competing with promising applicants/geologists all over the world, so you would want to make sure you write the test even if it requires you travelling to Ghana for that.

The link below shows a list of all the Geology schools in the USA by state. You may find it helpful. All the best.

http://geology.com/colleges.htm

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I am so so following this thread...

I am a Petroleum Geologist tooo, I had my first degree in Nigeria and recently graduated with my masters degree in Petroleum Geology from the United States. I presently work for one of the largest oil companies in the state of California, USA.

California oil fields are popular because of its old age and heavy oil. I pretty much work in the development group where I use my geological knowledge to identify by-passed zones and recommend drillings. I have also been trained in heat management since most of our recovery modes in the California basins are from steam injections. I have close to 2 years experience in the US oil sector, and have so far drilled over 30 wells.

I am willing to answer any questions ranging from career path, education etc.


I hail my fellow Geologists!!!!!!

Walspring: Okay if u say so no probs but i always thought STEM consist of all pure science combination..

It also consists of actuarial sciences which includes Economics. But I think the Nigeria V.Os pay more attention to the pure sciences.

davton69: Thanks bro but am not. Going for direct entry to my Msc thou some how expencive but am gonna do a pre masters programe with Navitas UMass lowell before starting up my MSc program with UMass...

So with my statement of account and a study leave letter. From my company will be nice?? Thanks

Please anyone with more advice should throw in cos its needed urgently.... Thanks...

I don't get this. What is direct entry? What is pre-masters? What is your intended major? What is your undergrad GPA? What is your GRE scores?

imperiouxx: Also, a company sponsoring him will attract a big question that needs strong convincing answers.

I need to know what class of degree he graduated with + his GRE scores. Good CGPA and GRE scores should fetch him one form of scholarship or the other from good geological schools, and may end up not paying a dime.

As per self-sponsorship, that is why he is here. He has good people like you to advise him.

davton69: Wow wat a great forum...

I worked with an oil servicing company in Lagos during that time I applied for OTC conference in the US which I wanted to sponsor myself but its quit unfortunate that I was denied. The visa, Reason: no strong ties in Nigeria also am single.....

Now I left the company to another due to some personal reasons, thou where I am now pay less but I have peace of mind...

My issue is this, am applying for my masters program in the US and personally I can sponsor myself cos apart from my salary I still own a company that do handle some projects. (There is enough fund) but I want to seek for the advice. Of the house pls... Should I apply for my student visa as a self sponsor or do I get a sponsorship letter from my company stating that they will sponsor my program even thou we know am gonna sponsor myself....

What's the best way to apply and get my visa approved??

Thanks

Awaits ur response ....

Are you going for MS in Petroleum Engineering or Petroleum Geology? In any case, you have a good chance of getting the visa if you are going for one of the STEM majors.

conyema12: Wow master i settled for u of houston. Although west Virginia and Oklahoma are yet to get back to me.
And this one has always been my first choice.
What do you think ?

I-20 will be sent through USPS express mail with tracking number.

Great school!! Great Nigerian Community!!

I don't need to tell you about Houston again. You already know it's the world's oil hub. Congratulations on your acceptance, maximize your potential when you get there.

You are good with express mail. You should get it within 7 working days.

conyema12: Hi guy I just got a mail from my school that my I-20 is ready be mailed.
Am I the one to pay for an express mail or the school. I will not like to risk using the Nipost system.
Pls guys how do I go about it.

[s]These questions should be directed to your school. Ask them how they plan on sending it and you can talk them into sending it via express mail if you are not comfortable with the regular post.[/s] BTW, which of the geology schools did you eventually choose?

Post edited after seeing Ricky's post above

kunlebal: Sup house, how can I file for my fiancée, I want her to join me next year in california but I didn't include her in my DS 160 Oº°˚˚°ºo

In addition to what BigFrancis said, she can apply for a F-2 visa if you guys are "legally married". You have to show proof that you will be able to sponsor/take care of her while here. This means she would have no recourse to public funds all through her stay in the US. Many people do that, and you can go through that route if you can defend yourself.

However, I should warn you that this category of visa lists your wife/child as your dependent, so you have to be responsible for them while here. I don't know how this would be possible if you don't have a job to support them. Most of us who go to the embassy paint a picture of a decent job and income. I am so sure your wife would paint that kind of picture too if going for an interview. But does it really make sense to abandon your high-paying job to relocate to the USA where you can't work and depend on a graduate student? These are few of the loop holes you have to close before letting her go to the embassy.

If I were you, I would come here first, study the system for like 6 months, calculate my income, and determine if that is what I really want to do. Unless you plan to leave the USA after your education, getting a green card for your wife would be so difficult. She may be bored to death in this country because she won't be working. And for you, your surest option of getting a green card would be through job. You have to go through the H-1B to green card route if you are lucky to get a company file for you. Since you are married, green card through marriage won't be possible again unless you divorce your wife and marry a citizen - I won't even advise you to do this. It is very risky. But if you do, what would be the fate of your wife? Well, she can re-marry and get a citizen file for her too. And would you end your marriage with your wife because of green card? This is tough to do if you truly love your wife. These processes may take a long time and in most cases could be so frustrating.

This is not to diminish your joy in anyway but just for you to plan very well before bringing your wife here. And like I said earlier, unless both of you plan to go back home after your studies, this may not be the best thing to do. I assume your wife is educated, if YES, let her apply to grad schools and go for a F-1 visa. With that, both of you have good chances of getting a H-1B or even a green card later in life.

Again, congratulations and welcome to the land of the free home of the brave.

nomso27: thanks bro, been long i saw u on here. . . .tot u took a break.

My last post here was on NOV. 5.

Congrats Nomso and Babsharon.

I'm happy you guys made it. Pursue your dream!!

vivysparkles: My visa expires July 2015. I intend to go home and apply for a renewal in 2016 as I intend to go onto a PhD program in fall 2016. Are there are cons of applying for a renewal one year after expiry date??

You can renew even after 10years expiration provided you maintain your F-1 status while in the US. Your I-20 must be valid all through this period.

eucharia64: Haaaaaaahaaaa OjAp o serious. Leave ma skul mate alone o. Omo bakersfield

Last I checked, you said you don't want male friends in California. Remember that post?

Congrats Kunle, I am so happy for you. Will you be attending the Anaheim campus too?

imperiouxx: Cheap not monetary. I mean long processing and waiting.

If you go to the Canadian embassy in the morning, you get your visa in the afternoon. If in the afternoon, you get it the following morning stamped.

imperiouxx: Mexican visa can be obtained at the border in Elpaso, TX. Myforumid in Texas tech did the same for his PhD. I don't think Canadian visa is cheap for students like that.

Boils down to the question Kunle was asking me. Whether you go to Canada or Mexico, you will definitely need a visa regardless of where you obtained it. You don't think Canada Visa is cheap? Have you checked online to confirm the price and requirements?

Amefrica: I'm kinda confused now. The next SAT is January.. I will look into the spring quarter. Thanks bro!

You don't have to be confused, write the SAT as planned. If possible change to a more popular school and give good reasons on what your career aspirations are. By next year when you go again to the embassy, two things would possibly have changed since the last time you applied. What are they? Getting admission into a highly ranked school and writing the SAT.

Again, you may want to use Canada as a back up. I have visited the country a couple of times, and I must confess it's just like America. They even have a better economy.

Overall, don't relent in your prayers.

kunlebal: How can he enter canada without canadian visa, cos of confuse here bro.

How will he enter Mexico without a Mexican visa, I am confused too.....

Do you get it now?

Amefrica: Ok bro! I'm deferring to fall '14. I hope all work out well this time..

If you defer to fall of 2014, what would you tell the V.O about the gap from now till possibly August of 2014?

If you claim JAMB or ASUU is messing you up, why not go for pre-degree? If ASUU, why not attend a private university, go to UK or Canada to study?

If you gain admission in a Nigerian university and plan on telling the V.O you are switching countries, I am just afraid you may be playing with another denial with that. 98% percent of applicants who say that were always told to complete their studies in Nigeria and apply for graduate studies upon completion of their studies. If in doubt, please go back to part 1 of this thread and check it out.

Honestly, waiting for another year will not do any good to your application because of the reasons above. The only thing you need is to pray hard, write the SAT, and if possible change your school to a more popular one. I wish you are a STEM major - that's like a cheat if you grab.
Nothing stops you from applying for winter or spring quarter/semester as the case may be. And just like Ferdimako suggested, you may want to look into Canada as well.

Good luck!!!

imperiouxx: Canada is another issue.

How and why?

imperiouxx: Yea, I know that for sure. I'm renewing because I need to see home after 2 and half years and for my regular movement in between the two countries.

You don't want to renew it in Canada?

Mario,

I replied you.

Amefrica,

Can you please write the SAT even if your school doesn't need it? That will possibly be the only thing you can show to have changed in your application when next you apply.

You also need to do better on your reasons for choosing that school or what you would plan to do upon receiving your BS. Those positions you said you would be coming back to occupy won't be easy to get in 4 years from now when you have your BS. Stella Oduah and the rest received their masters and PhDs in top schools and have many years of experience working with multinationals before getting those jobs. I would suggest you tell the V.O you wish to go further and get your masters after which you come back home to work for one of the big companies.

I know how you feel bro, but always remember that winners never quit. All the best.

Ms Nas: Oga park well. Wetin concern you? Are you the mod?

Ms Nas: Wetin concern born again with the topic wey we dey talk? You've got a dirty mind abeg!

Don't derail the thread abeg....

Ms Nas: Dammit! You're mean bros

Thank you. I am a born again.

imperiouxx: Greetings from this side sir. I'm not like you. Your check is always 7 figures of course. Don't let me sing Wiz Khalifa phone number again o.

Bros, abeg oooo......no dey carry me join body jare....LOL

Ms Nas: Nawa oo. Its about the immigration of a thing. Can we talk offline?

No, I don't want to talk to you. Leave me alone.

Ms Nas: You never gree reply my PM since abi?

Miss Nas: What do you want from me?

imperiouxx: Really the admission thing sucks. Sending GRE after the free four is $25/one order, WES is $37/one order and application fee starts from $50 to $80. If you're going to do that for at least 8 to 10 schools, then how much that makes? Money isn't easy to find oooo.

Bros, do you have a minor in Economics? See calculation ooooo.

Spend this money abeg......lol