chibertha:
It dose its own evaluation

Ok. Thank you

Dreamsss:
That's how they tell you that the GRE is not a requirement and then they tell you that they encourage students to send anyway and provide an actual code

If you are a prof and you see two students' applications for funding/GA, one with GRE score and the other without, who would you pick?

Think am well.

I will pick the candidate with 5 years experience with no GRE.

Ugochukwu Madu got into 5 fully funded PhD programs in the US without GRE in fall 2022. Search for him on LinkedIn.

WTF is GRE. A 4 hours exam that has been bastardized with the home edition version. Don't be surprised most high scoring result don't even seat for it anymore, they outsource it.

GRE is expensive for the poor brilliant candidate in the 3rd world countries.

Most schools abroad are coming to terms with this new reality, thanks to Covid, now without GRE graduate are even performing better in school, e.g Florida State University has waived it till 2026.

Alot of schools in the US now waived GRE forever.

I can count 100 top schools that waived it already.

Don't waste your money

Transcript not mine.


Visa Approved
1st attempt
Date: 23/01/2023
Lagos embassy
School: Stony Brook University
Program: Mechanical Engineering PhD
Funding: Funded with surplus.

I was scared because I already have valid Canadian Visa which is intended for a master degree in oil and gas engineering but has no funding and the class had begun on the 5th of January.

VO: Good morning.
Me: Good morning, how are you?
VO: I am fine, thank you. Can I have your passport and I20 please?
Me: have it.
She checked every pages of my visa page and shook her head when she saw the Canadian visa stamp. She then scan the visa stamp.
VO: How old are you?
ME: 24 years old. I will 25 by April.
VO: So you are 24.
ME: Yes
VO: When do you finish your master's degree?
ME: I don't have a master degree, I only have a bachelor degree.
VO: Okay, when did you finish your bachelor degree?
ME: 2019.
VO: Why are you going to US?
ME: I am going to Stonybrook University, Stonybrook, New York, USA for a PhD Degree in Mechanical Engineering and I will be Concentrating on Aerospace Engineering. I will be working with Prof. Folusho Ladehinde in the Laboratory of Energy, Propulsion and Fluid dynamics.
She then cut me and continue typing...
VO: What will you be working on?
ME: I will be working on Combusion analysis of Supersonic and Hypersonic aircraft Propulsion systems with the aim of reducing carbon emissions to the atmosphere by aircraft engines and providing alternative to carbon combustion in propulsion system. This will support the SDGs goal of zero carbon emission and prevent global warming. I will be applying the knowledge in Nigeria by taking up a lecturing.....
She didn't allow to finish.
VO: Where are you currently working?
ME: I am working in alma mater (Bleep) as a Research assistant at Prof. T.I. Ogedengbe Energy lab. He was the one who encouraged me to apply for this program.
VO: Okay, How did you get the funding?
ME: I submitted a strong application (she cut me).
VO: I know
ME: I was interviewed by the chair of the Department (prof. Bleep), my supervisor ( prof. Bleep), one other Professor and a graduate student in the Laboratory.
VO: That's what I want to hear. What are the courses you will be taking as a teaching assistant?
ME: Engineering Mathematics, Fluid Dynamics and Aerodynamics.
VO: Class
ME: Undergraduate.
VO: Okay
VO: Take your I20 you'll be needing it when you get to US and take this you need to get your passport back.

Profshow:
Pls, How many Times is applicant allowed to reschedule an appointment per MRV fee. What's the limit, to reschedule an appointment per MRoV payment

4 Xtimes

How does one goes about applying using this waiver?

chibertha:
Marshall university has waived application fees for graduate school application for summer and fall 2023
You might want to take advantage of it
www.marshall.edu

Dreamsss:
Please, who is a better candidate to use as sponsor? Brother or Husband? Brother is in US and receives dollars as may appeal to a VO, but husby is a political figure in Nigeria. Both have the required amount to cover tuition.

Asking for a friend.

Husband. Home ties 👌

Komphyyyy:
Good evening everyone!

Pls i need some advice
Attempt: First
MBA
Date : 16/11/2022
Status: DENIED
Me: Good morning Officer
Vo: Good morning. Pass me your passport and I120
Me: (pass)
VO: I see you are going to University of maine
Me: yes officer
VO: who is sponsoring you?
Me: my Aunt
VO: what does she do?
Me: She is currently working as an Investigative Money Laundering Analyst at ******* bank, USA (my aunt lives in new jersey and i have a bank statement of $80k)
VO: Typed for some seconds and gave me the blue paper
Here is the twist: i deferred to summer semester, paid another visa fee and was lucky enough to have gotten another date for mid february 2023.
But someone said i shouldn't have written on my ds160 that my sponsor lives in the US and advised i put her nigerian address which i feel will be misrepresentation. I even declared that i dont have an immediate family memeber in the us but i have other relative in the us (obviously my sponsor). My question is -Should i get another sponsor here in nigeria and request for a new i120 (will be pretty hard tho) or should i just go ahead with what I've submitted?
Also, i used the sane passport photograph for this new application but i plan on going with a a new one. Will it be okay?

Pls help a brethren

There are no issues with having your aunt, who lives in the US, sponsor you. The important question is, "How did she get there?" Is it through the visa lottery, or B1/B2 and refused to come back?
Based on your transcript, you were not prepared. Your responses were rather generic; you were not detailed. You need to join the visa mock group to be properly grilled. Repetition is the mother of skill.

iamola30:


I will pick the candidate with 5 years experience with no GRE.

Ugochukwu Madu got into 5 fully funded PhD programs in the US without GRE in fall 2022. Search for him on LinkedIn.

WTF is GRE. A 4 hours exam that has been bastardized with the home edition version. Don't be surprised most high scoring result don't even seat for it anymore, they outsource it.

GRE is expensive for the poor brilliant candidate in the 3rd world countries.

Most schools abroad are coming to terms with this new reality, thanks to Covid, now without GRE graduate are even performing better in school, e.g Florida State University has waived it till 2026.

Alot of schools in the US now waived GRE forever.

I can count 100 top schools that waived it already.

Don't waste your money

Been there and done that. Everything I didn't want to do, I found a way to convince myself and others why it might not be necessary. Until I began to acknowledge the competition out there, like the OGs have been preaching about here. When you hear that a program is competitive, how do you advice people then, to make themselves stand out? Would it not be for them to up their game in every possible way? The Ugochukwu Madu you mention is one person that made it without the GRE, will you deny the existence of a lot others that had succeeded with one, and even with a smoother experience? Was it even handed to him on a platter? Tell his complete story... We strike off WES, we strike off Standardized tests, we look for free applications everywhere, so how do you want people to compete? Speak better grammar in SOP?

Well, my advice for people who have Gone and now Know, should be to take note of the time you waste and be smart enough to know when to up your game. I personally know how all these I mentioned up there have greatly covered a gap for me, given the fact that I didn't have a stellar GPA.

NightCyrax:


I would pick the one with better research antecedent and skills; the one with hands-on expertise in handling laboratory equipment through demonstrated individual research-breakthrough.

The GRE is a crucial factor, no doubt. At the same time, it remains a singular material out of many.

Semantics...
Better research antecedents are dependent on what I publish and can defend before an admissions committee. Would you even say that we do better research than our abroad counterparts? Going by that, we will not even smell their embassies. How do we compete, is the question?

Okay, say we ride out the impassioned logic that standardized tests are not crucial, if both have wonderful research works prior to admission and one has a score to submit, who stands a chance then?

In brief.... let's help ourselves.

MelaninGemstone:
Stop wasting your time and money applying for a smelly USA Visa !

They don’t want you in their country

Come to the UK, It’s an easier route to study so far you are financially capable

"Smelly USA visa." The US visa for my passport no dey smell Abeg.lol... The UK only wants your money, and it's quite expensive—tuition deposits, little to no scholarship opportunities, etc. If you have a good profile, you can study in the US for almost free through GA.

Same here.
Which program did you applied for?

Temi475:
Good everyone, I applied for PhD program at University of Wyoming on Dec 31st, I am yet to here from them as regards interview or admission decision, but I got a mail from them today to start getting prepared for immigration application..please what does this mean

Dreamsss:


Semantics...
Better research antecedents are dependent on what I publish and can defend before an admissions committee. Would you even say that we do better research than our abroad counterparts? Going by that, we will not even smell their embassies. How do we compete, is the question?

Okay, say we ride out the impassioned logic that standardized tests are not crucial, if both have wonderful research works prior to admission and one has a score to submit, who stands a chance then?

In brief.... let's help ourselves.

I think the problem is that he's drawing the conclusion that "Some people have gotten admission without submitting standardized tests" means "Standardized tests are unnecessary".

A good GRE/GMAT/SAT score can do no harm. It can only boost your application.

DAramis:

Great boss.

Success in the upcoming interview. By zoom right or is it Google meet?

Are you in Purdue? You’ve attended their interview before?

Najdorf:
Transcript not mine.


Visa Approved
1st attempt
Date: 23/01/2023
Lagos embassy
School: Stony Brook University
Program: Mechanical Engineering PhD
Funding: Funded with surplus.

I was scared because I already have valid Canadian Visa which is intended for a master degree in oil and gas engineering but has no funding and the class had begun on the 5th of January.

VO: Good morning.
Me: Good morning, how are you?
VO: I am fine, thank you. Can I have your passport and I20 please?
Me: have it.
She checked every pages of my visa page and shook her head when she saw the Canadian visa stamp. She then scan the visa stamp.
VO: How old are you?
ME: 24 years old. I will 25 by April.
VO: So you are 24.
ME: Yes
VO: When do you finish your master's degree?
ME: I don't have a master degree, I only have a bachelor degree.
VO: Okay, when did you finish your bachelor degree?
ME: 2019.
VO: Why are you going to US?
ME: I am going to Stonybrook University, Stonybrook, New York, USA for a PhD Degree in Mechanical Engineering and I will be Concentrating on Aerospace Engineering. I will be working with Prof. Folusho Ladehinde in the Laboratory of Energy, Propulsion and Fluid dynamics.
She then cut me and continue typing...
VO: What will you be working on?
ME: I will be working on Combusion analysis of Supersonic and Hypersonic aircraft Propulsion systems with the aim of reducing carbon emissions to the atmosphere by aircraft engines and providing alternative to carbon combustion in propulsion system. This will support the SDGs goal of zero carbon emission and prevent global warming. I will be applying the knowledge in Nigeria by taking up a lecturing.....
She didn't allow to finish.
VO: Where are you currently working?
ME: I am working in alma mater (Bleep) as a Research assistant at Prof. T.I. Ogedengbe Energy lab. He was the one who encouraged me to apply for this program.
VO: Okay, How did you get the funding?
ME: I submitted a strong application (she cut me).
VO: I know
ME: I was interviewed by the chair of the Department (prof. Bleep), my supervisor ( prof. Bleep), one other Professor and a graduate student in the Laboratory.
VO: That's what I want to hear. What are the courses you will be taking as a teaching assistant?
ME: Engineering Mathematics, Fluid Dynamics and Aerodynamics.
VO: Class
ME: Undergraduate.
VO: Okay
VO: Take your I20 you'll be needing it when you get to US and take this you need to get your passport back.

Congratulations

iamola30:


I will pick the candidate with 5 years experience with no GRE.

Ugochukwu Madu got into 5 fully funded PhD programs in the US without GRE in fall 2022. Search for him on LinkedIn.

WTF is GRE. A 4 hours exam that has been bastardized with the home edition version. Don't be surprised most high scoring result don't even seat for it anymore, they outsource it.

GRE is expensive for the poor brilliant candidate in the 3rd world countries.

Most schools abroad are coming to terms with this new reality, thanks to Covid, now without GRE graduate are even performing better in school, e.g Florida State University has waived it till 2026.

Alot of schools in the US now waived GRE forever.

I can count 100 top schools that waived it already.

Don't waste your money

But a PhD applicant with zero work experience, lab, publication and no GRE…is as good as an undergraduate applicant with no SAT/ACT/TOEFL

Dreamsss:


Been there and done that. Everything I didn't want to do, I found a way to convince myself and others why it might not be necessary. Until I began to acknowledge the competition out there, like the OGs have been preaching about here. When you hear that a program is competitive, how do you advice people then, to make themselves stand out? Would it not be for them to up their game in every possible way? The Ugochukwu Madu you mention is one person that made it without the GRE, will you deny the existence of a lot others that had succeeded with one, and even with a smoother experience? Was it even handed to him on a platter? Tell his complete story... We strike off WES, we strike off Standardized tests, we look for free applications everywhere, so how do you want people to compete? Speak better grammar in SOP?

Well, my advice for people who have Gone and now Know, should be to take note of the time you waste and be smart enough to know when to up your game. I personally know how all these I mentioned up there have greatly covered a gap for me, given the fact that I didn't have a stellar GPA.

Exactly. Using an outlier like one Ugochukwu somebody doesnt tell the whole story. Average Naija student with little or no research experience, who doent have any standardized test; and is applying for funding, is doing some disservice to his/her application.

justdoit100:


There are no issues with having your aunt, who lives in the US, sponsor you. The important question is, "How did she get there?" Is it through the visa lottery, or B1/B2 and refused to come back?
Based on your transcript, you were not prepared. Your responses were rather generic; you were not detailed. You need to join the visa mock group to be properly grilled. Repetition is the mother of skill.
 

How she got there is not an issue so long as she’s legit. The problem is that her finances aren't enough to pay for his MBA. If he goes back for a 2nd interview with the same funding formula, he stands a higher chance of getting denied again.
I hope all these private chat groups dont charge for admission.

Are these private chat and mock interview groups free of charge?

iamola30:


I will pick the candidate with 5 years experience with no GRE.

Ugochukwu Madu got into 5 fully funded PhD programs in the US without GRE in fall 2022. Search for him on LinkedIn.

WTF is GRE. A 4 hours exam that has been bastardized with the home edition version. Don't be surprised most high scoring result don't even seat for it anymore, they outsource it.

GRE is expensive for the poor brilliant candidate in the 3rd world countries.

Most schools abroad are coming to terms with this new reality, thanks to Covid, now without GRE graduate are even performing better in school, e.g Florida State University has waived it till 2026.

Alot of schools in the US now waived GRE forever.

I can count 100 top schools that waived it already.

Don't waste your money

Don't be deceived! You have to check the department of these your mentors. Some departments don't receive a high volume of applicants like other departments like Data/Business Analytics. The high volume of applicants makes the competition to be fierce.

Also, I can bet you that these guys have a high GPA and graduated with a FIRST CLASS.

Check your CV and ask yourself why would a department want to sponsor your education. What value do you bring to the team? Do you have the useful skills to assist ongoing or future research in the department? They care about your writing samples to see if you are a good researcher. Have you been volunteering in an NGO? This shows you have the social skill to survive the complexity of the graduate school environment.

Be intentional with your application. Find a school not that popular that your application can stand out.

SHALOM!!!

BigIyanga:

Exactly. Using an outlier like one Ugochukwu somebody doesnt tell the whole story. Average Naija student with little or no research experience, who doent have any standardized test; and is applying for funding, is doing some disservice to his/her application.

That was before covid, not now anymore. Gre has been waived and will be outlaw soon.
And again, most schools look at several factors when it comes to Graduate application.
SOP, letter of Recommendation, Resume if done right can give good funding.

P.S. I wrote GRE though, and was told blantly it's not needed

BigIyanga:

How she got there is not an issue so long as she’s legit. The problem is that her finances aren't enough to pay for his MBA. If he goes back for a 2nd interview with the same funding formula, he stands a higher chance of getting denied again.
I hope all these private chat groups dont charge for admission.

I've seen transcripts in the mock and date search WhatsApp group where the applicant was denied when they learned the sponsor came to the US on an F-1 or B1/B2 visa, abandoned their studies or overstayed, and obtained a Green Card through marriage or other means.
What makes you think that the current applicant would not follow the same route? The VOs would ask for a name and check their database. The way your sponsor migrated to the US matters. It can lead to denial. 
The mock group I know doesn't charge for advice or interviews. The applicant should just join the session or meeting and stay in the queue to be attended to.

infosoftlife:


Don't be deceived! You have to check the department of these your mentors. Some departments don't receive a high volume of applicants like other departments like Data/Business Analytics. The high volume of applicants makes the competition to be fierce.

Also, I can bet you that these guys have a high GPA and graduated with a FIRST CLASS.

Check your CV and ask yourself why would a department want to sponsor your education. What value do you bring to the team? Do you have the useful skills to assist ongoing or future research in the department? They care about your writing samples to see if you are a good researcher. Have you been volunteering in an NGO? This shows you have the social skill to survive the complexity of the graduate school environment.

Be intentional with your application. Find a school not that popular that your application can stand out.

SHALOM!!!

My point exactly, thanks for this comment. So many factors involve in getting good funding.

BigIyanga:
Are these private chat and mock interview groups free of charge?

Sure, it is.
But "Argo Visa" on Youtube still gives the best resources to help one with their visa.

justdoit100:


I've seen transcripts in the mock and date search WhatsApp group where the applicant was denied when they learned the sponsor came to the US on an F-1 or B1/B2 visa, abandoned their studies or overstayed, and obtained a Green Card through marriage or other means.
What makes you think that the current applicant would not follow the same route? The VOs would ask for a name and check their database. The way your sponsor migrated to the US matters. It can lead to denial. 
The mock group I know doesn't charge for advice or interviews. The applicant should just join the session or meeting and stay in the queue to be attended to.

@ bolded, I guessed the CO told the applicant the reason for the denial.
VISA is 50-50.
You must prove to the CO that you have sufficient funds for your program and will return to your home country after your studies.
You have to show you are a bonafide student and some CO sometimes ask during the interview if the student took GRE.

iamola30:


That was before covid, not now anymore. Gre has been waived and will be outlaw soon.
And again, most schools look at several factors when it comes to Graduate application.
SOP, letter of Recommendation, Resume if done right can give good funding.

It is not required but recommended. Hin get why. when it's time to give funding and there are applicants with equal GPAs, publications, and work experience (similar profiles). It is then that you would wish you had IELTS, GRE, even WES.
One applicant is better prepared than the other. Simple.

Dreamsss:


Semantics...
Better research antecedents are dependent on what I publish and can defend before an admissions committee. Would you even say that we do better research than our abroad counterparts? Going by that, we will not even smell their embassies. How do we compete, is the question?

Okay, say we ride out the impassioned logic that standardized tests are not crucial, if both have wonderful research works prior to admission and one has a score to submit, who stands a chance then?

In brief.... let's help ourselves.

And what if they both have great test scores but different levels of research skills? Also, I never said test scores aren't crucial. I guess you were quite peevish to reply, hence the causation of you missing my point.

Anyway, different strokes for folks. I only feel that as much as we try to strengthen our applications using test scores, other factors should be given priorities too-- top priorities.

Paid oo.

BigIyanga:
Are these private chat and mock interview groups free of charge?

iamola30:


I will pick the candidate with 5 years experience with no GRE.

Ugochukwu Madu got into 5 fully funded PhD programs in the US without GRE in fall 2022. Search for him on LinkedIn.

WTF is GRE. A 4 hours exam that has been bastardized with the home edition version. Don't be surprised most high scoring result don't even seat for it anymore, they outsource it.

GRE is expensive for the poor brilliant candidate in the 3rd world countries.

Most schools abroad are coming to terms with this new reality, thanks to Covid, now without GRE graduate are even performing better in school, e.g Florida State University has waived it till 2026.

Alot of schools in the US now waived GRE forever.

I can count 100 top schools that waived it already.

Don't waste your money

Exactly my point too! The GRE can come in handy to demonstrate competitiveness, no doubt. But I hate when we give it so much notary than it deserves.
I advise people to write it to strengthen their applications; but if they are unable to, there are other finer ways to do that.

Check this. I got the attached from my program when I was applying; an Ivy League, for that matter...

Mod: ...

BigIyanga:

But a PhD applicant with zero work experience, lab, publication and no GRE…is as good as an undergraduate applicant with no SAT/ACT/TOEFL

A Ph.D applicant with zero lab/work experience, with not even a publication? Does such exist at all?