₦airaland Forum

House, Is there a section for GRE and TOEFL test takers? I need to warn those folks about First Logic (especially the Oba Akran and Abuja office) and the crookery (BABA fraud) going on there. I've told them I will report them to ETS if they don't refund my TOEFL test fees. I never got my refund that time the exam was suspended in naija. Learn from me and pls warn people you know. If the First Logic people are reading this, tell your Oga he has crossed the wrong person, he should pay back all the money he has collected from candidates who never wrote their tests with them. It will be a year in Oct. They shall hear about First Logic in naija and Amrika because I go shout.

Mystiqme: OK I have been following the funding argument and based on my experience and interaction with people (I'm a PhD student myself), my input here is: it depends.
Funding depends on a lot of factors : course, school, department, etc.
In most science courses, you should get funding. For humanities and social sciences, it is more difficult and there will probably be more conditions attached. In my school, economics students do not have funding in their first year. On the other hand, applied mathematics students have funding for the first two years, then it becomes dicey.
You cannot use a 'one size fits all approach' and it's nothing to argue about. Just know the specifications of the school you are going, and if you are not guaranteed funding, carry plenty money come!!!

Yes, you're right. Funding decisions vary between schools. Are you also doing a PhD in Economics? What school?

slimmy05: I am not heading in that direction. I am heading towards Illinois or Tennessee, not decided yet I've not booked appointment yet, pray for me godG, am waiting for you o

Aww. I'll pray, don't worry it will go well.

Graviton v.2.0.:
Please don't start.

I'm clearing the air.

Please don't argue because of something I said o, biko.

slimmy05: Enjoy your stay bro

I'll try. Have you done your interview? Are we going in the same direction?

stevecrun: Congrats@Olumide.

Thank you Stevecrun.

Graviton v.2.0.:
Congratulations, Olumide14. PhDs rarely get denied.

Thank you Graviton. Oh...thank God I chose to do a PhD

Mystiqme: Congratulations. Is there usually funding for PhD Economics?

Thank you Mystiqme. Yes, there is funding for PhD Economics. I think funding decisions depend on the school/department. If the department (or professors in that department) receive(s) enough grants then they'll fund students (maybe not all students though). What do I know? I'm still waiting to hear from my school about that marra sef (they mailed to ask me if I wanted to be considered for funding).

domex007: Congrats Olumide, enjoy your stay in the US.

Tnks all for all your inputs,
Turned out that the error was from my bank GT bank, I am just coming out of the bank where I went to para for them (customer care) they assured me that I can mail my school and ask them to charge the card again but unfortunately schools don't open in the US today, looks like today is a public holiday in the US or something, but I have mailed my school telling that to charge the card again.
I am so confused, I don't know if I can still meet up with school resumption date which is aug 19..
I have not received my i-20 yet by this time..
Advice please

Thank you Domex. I sincerely pray things turn out well for you. I'm sure others are also praying, if they haven't started already, they'll start now because they're reading this. You're right, today is a public holiday in the US, their independence day (I neva reach there before o, na news I hear am).

unnamdi79: congrats sir

Thank you Unnamdi.

slimmy05: Congratz. I think the name "olumide"is synomous with visa approval

I just added olumide to my middle name

Lol...Slimmy thanks. Olumide - Oluwamide (My Lord has come). Na so our big GOD and his small Olumide waka go Walter Carrington, dem go fear na.

Hello House, I'd like to share my interview transcript and experience with y'all because this forum was the best and only preparation I got. May God bless you guys real good. My appointment was for 7am, got there 6:30ish and there was already an almighty crowd outside.

ADVICE
Warning inserted: please don't forget your DS-160, a girl 2/3 places ahead of me did, mehn...I felt for her. I think she sorted it out eventually because I saw her inside the interview hall. You shouldn't choose the day of your interview to give your heart unnecessary trouble by forgetting any *important* document because thinking of the interview alone is enough stress for your nerves. I'll skip some details (security check, biometrics, etc) and go straight to the interview. Hint: Be alert! Especially when you're in the interview hall. The moment you see your number flash at a counter go straight to that counter... Don't get carried away. You're not there to stare at people's shoes or dilly-dally. Don't let them start looking for you biko.

INTERVIEW

ME: Hello, good morning.
VO: Hello. So you're going to the US for your doctorate. That's about 4 or 5 years right? (Looks at me and then back at his computer)
ME: Yes (That's what my I-20 says)
VO: Why did you choose this school?
ME: I chose Texas Tech because of the availability of expertise in the areas of research I'm interested in working on.
VO: Exper...what? (Starts typing furiously!)
ME: Expertise
VO: What does it mean?
ME: Can't remember exactly what I said but it went along the lines of "It means there are seasoned faculty members in my department..."
VO: Oh...I'm not familiar with that word. I thought you said 'expatriate'.
ME: Oh ok
VO: So how did you get admitted into this school? What procedure did you follow?
ME: First, I completed an online application on the 'Apply Texas' website, then I sent in my documents - by documents I mean transcripts. Lastly, I wrote standardized tests and had my scores sent to the school.
VO: What tests did you write?
ME: GRE and TOEFL
VO: Cuts me short. Can I see your test scores?
ME: Just a moment please (passed the docs to him)
VO: Okay. Looks at them and types something into his computer
VO: Are you working?
ME: No I'm not. I recently completed my Master's and because I plan to further my education, I've been busy preparing for the standardized tests that I was required to write.
VO: Nods and types again
VO: So you have a Master's degree, where did you study?
ME: United Kingdom
VO: What school?
ME: Univ of .... (privacy reasons)
VO: What course?
ME: Economics
VO: When did you return to Nigeria?
ME: January 2013
VO: Who is your sponsor?
ME: My Dad
VO: Do you have his statement with you?
ME: Yes
VO: Let me take a look at it.
ME: Sure, let me get that out for you (I had all my stuff in my clear bag)
VO: Looks at it and nods. Later on says something about something on the statement. (I didn't hear him and I had no idea what he could have seen on that statement...my brain started working sharp sharp).
ME: Sorry I didn't get that, could you say that again?
VO: Oh...there's something about closure proceeds on the statement that I can't figure out, do you know where it's from? (He holds it up to the window and points it out to me)
ME: It's a savings account and that's the interest that was accrued from the money being in fixed deposit.
VO: Okay, that clears it up (returns the statement to me). What does you dad do?
ME: He's a lecturer
VO: Where?
ME: Told him. Sorry guys, can't say that openly here
VO: What does he lecture? (He has been typing endlessly all this while)
ME: Told him. Ditto the reasons above.
VO: Types for some secs then gets a white paper. Looks at me and says "pick it up next week at Isolo" and points to the address before passing the paper to me.
ME: I smile and say thank you. Put my things back into my clear bag and waka comot

Lol...mehn, I'm exhausted from typing this transcript! Apparently my interview was quite lengthy. Most of the time, the VO's cut you short so keep your answers short and straight to the point. Meanwhile, while I was seated (hope I spelt it correctly, make I no gbagaun o) and awaiting my turn, one VO was seriously tackling one guy. So be ready for any question and please be honest. If you're honest, you won't fear being caught in a lie. Now, I understand circumstances are different, if for any reason you can't come out and say the truth ask God for wisdom...lol

This is my first time posting here. I figured that since I'd learnt from the experience of others it would be unfair not to share mine and help prepare those getting ready for their interviews. It's my prayer that yours will also be a success story IJN (Amen). So march on in God's confidence. Above all, it has been GOD. Before I went for my interview, I told God that YOU who started it will be the ONE to complete it. He will do the same for you.