reekadohbanks:
To the guy asking me not to be an a.s.s, you're just going to have to get used to my sense of humor. Its crude thats all. And i still maintain that Reekadohbanks of MAVIN is one ugly MF. Anyways back to the agenda..
Here's a fair warning for those that have just been granted F1 visas and are hoping to come to the US and survive on a job on campus. Be prepared for a rude shock. First of all, on-campus jobs only pay minimum wage ($8.25 if you're very lucky) and you can only work a maximum of 20 hrs per week (which isn't guaranteed you'd get that many hours anyways). So after your FITW (federal income tax withheld) your take home will be about $160 - $220 every month. That doesn't even begin to scratch the surface of the heap of bills you'd have to pay. Your phone bill alone is almost 1/3 of that. Add the cost of transportation (Yes, even public transportation is pricey) and food, and you're done. Remember that you'd have to pay rent. And if you're unlucky enough to find yourself in cities like Boston, NYC, DC, or Chicago, be ready to shell out 750-1200 dollars a month on rent for a 12x12 room that isn't half as big as your mother's pantry in Iyana Ipaja. Best advice: Be honest with yourself right from the beginning and have a game plan. If your parents are civil servants in naija and had to put all their savings together to buy your flight ticket, and your plan is to come and "hustle" your way through school, don't even waste your time. There's no "hustling" your way through their over-priced schools here. Its outrageously expensive, even if you get financial aid (before you start asking what that is, F1 visa holders are not eligible). F1 students cant legally get any jobs and eve if you get any under the table jobs, be ready to slave for some smelly pakistani who was wise enough to come here and open a pizza place.
So now you're probably asking yourself... so what can a man do?. Fear not my children, I've got the answer for you. There's no shame in sneaking into the US under the guise of a student visa. We all know that the mushroom schools in some nasty backwater town in Mississippi or Oklahoma(who effing goes to Mississippi!!!!!) that gave you I-20 isn't much better than UNN or UI, but at least it gets you in (I entered with I-20 from VIU!!!.. sweet lord!, I'd have to do a whole new post on that podunk wastebasket they call a university!). When you get here, don't be slow, your 2 years visa is going to expire even before you can spell VISA. The sooner you're able to become a permanent resident, the better for you (and I mean that with all my strenght!... ANother post on that will come soon). Life will be easier for you. Then you can figure out which school to go to that will work out for you. Most naija people here just do nursing. you'll get an associate in about 3 years and you'll get a job in a nursing home that'll pay you $15-25 an hr. Not bad right?. All I'm trying to say is that, you're way better off if you have a plan before leaving naija... if you're planning to "jama jama" or "rugged" your way through school with odd jobs, you're going to be more surprised than when you discovered your 100MB data is finished because you opened one website!... you get the gist.

good. Post bro what is ur suggestion or advise to the F1 visa applicant coming down there

worry359:


You should search on USA websites for whatever course you want to study.
Then contact schools to see if they will admit you.
You must realise that a third is not good!
and blaming "some circumstances" does not help you.
You may need to re take your BS or do remedial school (extra cost.)
Answer HONESTLY, are you up to the schooling before spending your sponsors funds?

Trust me bro, "some circumstances" is a huge understatement. U wont dig. Im not tryin to mask d grade. Im up to the schooling, i jst need sum1 more experienced to point me in the right direction. What do u mean by BS?? Is there like an equivalent of a postgrad diploma after which i can proceed to a masters programme?? You're right bro, a third is no good.

Amefrica:


Long time... How do you do?

Sweethat I'm cool hows canada treating you?

Amerinancy:
Sweethat I'm cool hows canada treating you?

Not bad at all. Happy New Year in advance.

Waooh dnt tell me in are u in canada after all d stress you ve passed through ur usa student visa still dont believe it do u still remember where is everyone in thr house i missed you guys where is mamacita ojap olawale imperiouxx big francis nl mama anthony nd ko **************]

smithjanetstore:
Waooh dnt tell me in are u in canada after all d stress you ve passed through ur usa student visa still dont believe it do u still remember where is everyone in thr house i missed you guys where is mamacita ojap olawale imperiouxx big francis nl mama anthony nd ko **************]

Boss, long time oo.. How have you been?

Omo ibadan i dey ooh just dey push am small small

jakeharris:



It was cool.....I just de happy say I no get p with poe

Wow... Glory be to God for your safe trip

Rubbers:
Hello house, compliments. Please what can a third in my bachelors degree get me in the U.S I really want to further, in a health related area....the low grade was jst due to some circumstances beyond my control. I alrdy got a sponsor n all that. Thanks in anticipation

To be honest, it doesn't really matter what class of degree you have here. I graduated from naija with a third too and after I got my papers, I was able to get a job at Chicago Lighthouse. Now as far as furthering with a third, that would be hard because your cgpa will not be up to the minimum requirements for a masters degree here. You do have a few options though. Even though you didn't provide a lot of information, I can offer some advice:
Say your first degree was in a science related course in naija and you did IT (industrial training.. the reason I mention this is because they people in naija never get less than A/B in IT. its about 15 credits if I remember correctly and when they factor that into your evaluation it will boost up CGPA), you can evaluate your transcipts using WES or some of these other reputable agencies. the way they do their evaluation is a little strange, but you might end up with like a 2.6 - 2.8 out of 4 after conversion. If this is the case, I'll advise you do TOEFL and GRE (and do well in them) to shore up your academic profile, then you'd have to do an enormous amount of research to find like 3 okay schools that will admit you for masters (it will most likely not be in your science related field but you might be able to find something close that you can sell at the embassy.). But say you dont have IT to boost up your CGPA, you might be better off applying to schools have the second bachelor's degree option. There are quite a few of them that a very good schools and are a bit relaxed with their admission criteria. They'll give you admissions and you'd be able to complete your Bachelors with a much better result.
When i first got here, It was really hard to figure out what to do because furthering with GP less than 3.3 - 3.5 USA GP is really hard to eb honest, but with a little know-how and some luck, its not impossible. I'm a living proof.

Hey guys, to the people trying to email me, I don't know why I can't see your emails. I guess nairaland has changed a few things about direct email and all that. You can post your questions here and I'll answer them as soon and as honestly as possible. I don't want you guys thinking I've been ignoring your messages. I just can't see them because it's saying we're not connected etc. I dunno what that means!

Walspring:


Wow... Glory be to God for your safe trip

Yeah now my bag never show only one Don show

Pls guys, who knows of websites or any other means of searching and booking for flights to the US for the best possible price?

Thanks

jakeharris:



Yeah now my bag never show only one Don show

Your bag go still show make you no dey panic

reekadohbanks:
Hey guys, to the people trying to email me, I don't know why I can't see your emails. I guess nairaland has changed a few things about direct email and all that. You can post your questions here and I'll answer them as soon and as honestly as possible. I don't want you guys thinking I've been ignoring your messages. I just can't see them because it's saying we're not connected etc. I dunno what that means!

reply it as if u re send normal mail

reekadohbanks:

To be honest, it doesn't really matter what class of degree you have here. I graduated from naija with a third too and after I got my papers, I was able to get a job at Chicago Lighthouse. Now as far as furthering with a third, that would be hard because your cgpa will not be up to the minimum requirements for a masters degree here. You do have a few options though. Even though you didn't provide a lot of information, I can offer some advice:
Say your first degree was in a science related course in naija and you did IT (industrial training.. the reason I mention this is because they people in naija never get less than A/B in IT. its about 15 credits if I remember correctly and when they factor that into your evaluation it will boost up CGPA), you can evaluate your transcipts using WES or some of these other reputable agencies. the way they do their evaluation is a little strange, but you might end up with like a 2.6 - 2.8 out of 4 after conversion. If this is the case, I'll advise you do TOEFL and GRE (and do well in them) to shore up your academic profile, then you'd have to do an enormous amount of research to find like 3 okay schools that will admit you for masters (it will most likely not be in your science related field but you might be able to find something close that you can sell at the embassy.). But say you dont have IT to boost up your CGPA, you might be better off applying to schools have the second bachelor's degree option. There are quite a few of them that a very good schools and are a bit relaxed with their admission criteria. They'll give you admissions and you'd be able to complete your Bachelors with a much better result.
When i first got here, It was really hard to figure out what to do because furthering with GP less than 3.3 - 3.5 USA GP is really hard to eb honest, but with a little know-how and some luck, its not impossible. I'm a living proof.

Nice comment bro.

Walspring:


Your bag go still show make you no dey panic

Yeah he just show now now....am good to go

jakeharris:


Yeah he just show now now....am good to go

Good to go then...

@reekadohbanks
Thanks so much for the detailed info. I'll check them out especially the second degree options. I'm also considering doing a pgd here then maybe apply for a direct masters if it works that way over there.

Thanks once more...U're far too kind

hello guys, is there any school where i can still apply for masters programme in the US

i'd like to apply for masters in biochemistry. need some advice on which school is still accepting application

..

reekadohbanks:
To the guy asking me not to be an a.s.s, you're just going to have to get used to my sense of humor. Its crude thats all. And i still maintain that Reekadohbanks of MAVIN is one ugly MF. Anyways back to the agenda..
Here's a fair warning for those that have just been granted F1 visas and are hoping to come to the US and survive on a job on campus. Be prepared for a rude shock. First of all, on-campus jobs only pay minimum wage ($8.25 if you're very lucky) and you can only work a maximum of 20 hrs per week (which isn't guaranteed you'd get that many hours anyways). So after your FITW (federal income tax withheld) your take home will be about $160 - $220 every month. That doesn't even begin to scratch the surface of the heap of bills you'd have to pay. Your phone bill alone is almost 1/3 of that. Add the cost of transportation (Yes, even public transportation is pricey) and food, and you're done. Remember that you'd have to pay rent. And if you're unlucky enough to find yourself in cities like Boston, NYC, DC, or Chicago, be ready to shell out 750-1200 dollars a month on rent for a 12x12 room that isn't half as big as your mother's pantry in Iyana Ipaja. Best advice: Be honest with yourself right from the beginning and have a game plan. If your parents are civil servants in naija and had to put all their savings together to buy your flight ticket, and your plan is to come and "hustle" your way through school, don't even waste your time. There's no "hustling" your way through their over-priced schools here. Its outrageously expensive, even if you get financial aid (before you start asking what that is, F1 visa holders are not eligible). F1 students cant legally get any jobs and eve if you get any under the table jobs, be ready to slave for some smelly pakistani who was wise enough to come here and open a pizza place.
So now you're probably asking yourself... so what can a man do?. Fear not my children, I've got the answer for you. There's no shame in sneaking into the US under the guise of a student visa. We all know that the mushroom schools in some nasty backwater town in Mississippi or Oklahoma(who effing goes to Mississippi!!!!!) that gave you I-20 isn't much better than UNN or UI, but at least it gets you in (I entered with I-20 from VIU!!!.. sweet lord!, I'd have to do a whole new post on that podunk wastebasket they call a university!). When you get here, don't be slow, your 2 years visa is going to expire even before you can spell VISA. The sooner you're able to become a permanent resident, the better for you (and I mean that with all my strenght!... ANother post on that will come soon). Life will be easier for you. Then you can figure out which school to go to that will work out for you. [b]Most naija people here just do nursing. you'll get an associate in about 3 years and you'll get a job in a nursing home that'll pay you $15-25 an hr. Not bad right?. [/b]All I'm trying to say is that, you're way better off if you have a plan before leaving naija... if you're planning to "jama jama" or "rugged" your way through school with odd jobs, you're going to be more surprised than when you discovered your 100MB data is finished because you opened one website!... you get the gist.

bro having gone through your post. its quite enlightening. the highlighted above is my major interest as I planmovin to America. I have seen schools but am confused. I really need an advise as to how to go about it. I have m Bsc and work experiences in the health sector. thanks

Rubbers:
@reekadohbanks
Thanks so much for the detailed info. I'll check them out especially the second degree options. I'm also considering doing a pgd here then maybe apply for a direct masters if it works that way over there.

Thanks once more...U're far too kind

You might be lucky to find a school that will factor in your PGD into your undergrad degree even though I highly doubt that. This is because the PGD degree is only recognized in some european countries and the UK as a separate post graduate degree on its own. If you choose to go that way, I would do a lotta research to make sure it won't be a waste of time and money as far as your MS plans is concerned.

fxsly:

bro having gone through your post. its quite enlightening. the highlighted above is my major interest as I planmovin to America. I have seen schools but am confused. I really need an advise as to how to go about it. I have m Bsc and work experiences in the health sector. thanks

Well I don't know what stage of moving to America you're in but if you're thinking of applying into nursing school from Nigeria, you can give it a shot. You have nothing to loose... except some money if it doesn't work out, but I would look at the requirements closely before committing money to it. If you're here already, you're in a much better place. You can take the pre-reqs for nursing and then go ahead to get an associates in nursing. The tricky think with Nursing here in recent times is that the landscape is rapidly changing. As a fresh grad of nursing with an associates, you're almost pretty much limited to nursing homes and maybe a few skilled nursing facilities. Big hospitals and places that pay the big bucks now require you to Bachelor's degree in nursing. Which would take a little while longer, but i know it is worth it.

slimmy05:
Mr, dont be in a hurry. Book your appointment for June. You school resumes August. Observe the 120 days rule and your good

i understand...thanks for your advice...i dont want to book a date that will affect me cos of my education here...thanks

reekadohbanks:


Well I don't know what stage of moving to America you're in but if you're thinking of applying into nursing school from Nigeria, you can give it a shot. You have nothing to loose... except some money if it doesn't work out, but I would look at the requirements closely before committing money to it. If you're here already, you're in a much better place. You can take the pre-reqs for nursing and then go ahead to get an associates in nursing. The tricky think with Nursing here in recent times is that the landscape is rapidly changing. As a fresh grad of nursing with an associates, you're almost pretty much limited to nursing homes and maybe a few skilled nursing facilities. Big hospitals and places that pay the big bucks now require you to Bachelor's degree in nursing. Which would take a little while longer, but i know it is worth it.

thanks for the response. am still in Naija. how long is the pre-reqs and how long also does it take to get the nursing associate. I know it is a competitive programme and before u say jack admission is already filled up so I intend to start my home work now

reekadohbanks:


You might be lucky to find a school that will factor in your PGD into your undergrad degree even though I highly doubt that. This is because the PGD degree is only recognized in some european countries and the UK as a separate post graduate degree on its own. If you choose to go that way, I would do a lotta research to make sure it won't be a waste of time and money as far as your MS plans is concerned.

*exhales deeply* Que Sera Sera.. Check ur inbox tho boss.

is it wrong to take a hard drive through customs abeg i need answers o

osahons9:
Booked 28th December....Royal air maroc. Ticket was less than 700 dos. One stop. 2 hours wait time

How many days in advance did you book?

smithjanetstore:
Waooh dnt tell me in are u in canada after all d stress you ve passed through ur usa student visa still dont believe it do u still remember where is everyone in thr house i missed you guys where is mamacita ojap olawale imperiouxx big francis nl mama anthony nd ko **************]

3 tuales for you sir. E kene m gi oo.

bigfrancis21:


3 tuales for you sir. E kene m gi oo.

Nwanne you're flexing the xmas okwa e