Topiipii:

I'm good and you? How's the application proceeding?

I am good too. Thanks. Done with all my applications. Na siddon look I dey now.

Battywonder:

Congrats Man! I've been anticipating your post regarding d GRE and I must let you know am not disappointed cos you've got a great score, albeit you can do better. Ur Q 161 is definitely going to get you into a gud graduate programme in Economics. Just make sure u get a good LORs and write a good SOP. You should be fine cos you've got a good GPA and GRE. Stay Cool...

Ok then. Thanks for your kind words.

Scholastica16:


You would do better I have no doubt..just try to still make use of this one even as you plan to write another. I doubt the SEs would have been an issue to you so just work on the RCs and TCs (especially TCs because they seem to be getting harder progressively). RCs on the other hand, I still think it is better to read less into it than to try to read it word for word. At the end of the day they barely test you on more than 4 aspects of the whole passage. Always write down the answer options on a piece of paper and then strike any answer choice that doesn't ring a bell even by barely reading the passage. What practice helps you do is, it gives you the confidence to work with that approach on test day because you'd notice that you'd be getting most of the answers and with less headache than if you tried so hard to decipher the whole text. I hope this helps.

Thanks BTW for the mention.

You pointed out righthly! I really need to put in more effort on the RCs and TCs. And yes, your post helps! Thanks so much.

layez:
Krazzy scholars here oooooo..........
.
.
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all the best in the applications @drhopeful,scholastica etc

happyday, its been a while, at my end though

Hi boss, hope you're doing great? Thanks for checking up on me.

And to the only wise God be all glory, honour and power. Today's my happy day! I'm thanking God for making me +1 today!

To every member of the house waiting for their application decisions, you will have to cause to laugh and celebrate before this year runs out. And for all December visa applicants, start picturing that US visa powerfully stamped on your passport, because it's happening to you already. Have faith, not fear.

God bless every member of this wonderful family.

happyday:
And to the only wise God be all glory, honour and power. Today's my happy day! I'm thanking God for making me +1 today!

To every member of the house waiting for their application decisions, you will have to cause to laugh and celebrate before this year runs out. And for all December visa applicants, start picturing that US visa powerfully stamped on your passport, because it's happening to you already. Have faith, not fear.

God bless every member of this wonderful family.

Happy Birthday Happyday ... God bless u and make all your dreams come through

happyday:
And to the only wise God be all glory, honour and power. Today's my happy day! I'm thanking God for making me +1 today!

To every member of the house waiting for their application decisions, you will have to cause to laugh and celebrate before this year runs out. And for all December visa applicants, start picturing that US visa powerfully stamped on your passport, because it's happening to you already. Have faith, not fear.

God bless every member of this wonderful family.

Happy birthday happyday. Today is indeed a happy day.

M very fine bro, kudos 4 all the hints and advices hre...
BTW, happy bday bro...more grace wt sound mind

happyday:
Hi boss, hope you're doing great? Thanks for checking up on me.

layez:
M very fine bro, kudos 4 all the hints and advices hre...

BTW, happy bday bro...more grace wt sound mind

Happy Birthday happyday. More Blessings!

happyday:
And to the only wise God be all glory, honour and power. Today's my happy day! I'm thanking God for making me +1 today!

To every member of the house waiting for their application decisions, you will have to cause to laugh and celebrate before this year runs out. And for all December visa applicants, start picturing that US visa powerfully stamped on your passport, because it's happening to you already. Have faith, not fear.

God bless every member of this wonderful family.

Happy Birthday big boss. Thank you for your help as regards my PM. Hearty Cheers to you.
More success to come.

Hi guys, my exam is tomorrow...what do u do a day before your exam....I am just looking at words....My vocab is not as strong as I want it to be...

happyday:
And to the only wise God be all glory, honour and power. Today's my happy day! I'm thanking God for making me +1 today!

To every member of the house waiting for their application decisions, you will have to cause to laugh and celebrate before this year runs out. And for all December visa applicants, start picturing that US visa powerfully stamped on your passport, because it's happening to you already. Have faith, not fear.

God bless every member of this wonderful family.

Happy birthday happyday I wish you many happy returns.

Scholastica16:

I saw VQVQV yesterday and in my estimation did V1 and V3 very well. My V2 was iffy to call a spade and spade. I prayed my V2 will be experimental but I now doubt that was the case. My Q on the otherhand was harder and more time consuming than I hoped it would have been. In fact, I did not have time at all to review any of my sections. I realised I made one mistake but that was in hindsight. The eventual score was Q-164 V-160. Just a 6 mark differential from the first one.

I can't pretend I am excited but I am wise enough to know that my focus should be on what it will help me do- which is to get the admission I want and funding. I don't know how to guage my AWA this time around but I think it was just about the same with my first GRE. I did not practice AWA that much either of the times. I read HappyDay's post on how he got his 5.5 and I think I emulated his template (without his content obviously ).

I am never going to rewrite the GRE. The exam is more of an endurance test than one for acumen or intellect. Also, I would like to thank everyone that has contributed one way or the other on this thread starting from Danja Ninja to Drhopeful to Seeker88 (without whose help I wouldn't have gained access to Kaplan). I was also buoyed by the testimony of Believerspraise and how he got admitted into LSU with a 304. I am saying this because my initial fear was that (from Africa, particularly Nigeria) if one didn't have > or = 328 with a solid GPA etc. You stood no chance. I have since disvowed that notion.

I will keep the house informed how my application goes. I am trying to get it all submitted before the year runs out. ETS TOEFL is yet to make my scores available to me, so that's pretty demoralising.

I apologise for the long post and typos if any. I made this post with my phone. I will edit it when I am settled. Cheers.

Congratulations dear. Your result is amazing! That funding is yours oh.

happyday:
And to the only wise God be all glory, honour and power. Today's my happy day! I'm thanking God for making me +1 today!

To every member of the house waiting for their application decisions, you will have to cause to laugh and celebrate before this year runs out. And for all December visa applicants, start picturing that US visa powerfully stamped on your passport, because it's happening to you already. Have faith, not fear.

God bless every member of this wonderful family.

Have a wonderful birthday celebration. I pray that God Almighty bless you more than you can ever imagine... Cause you are such an amazing person. With a beautiful heart. Be blessed.

happyday:
And to the only wise God be all glory, honour and power. Today's my happy day! I'm thanking God for making me +1 today!
To every member of the house waiting for their application decisions, you will have to cause to laugh and celebrate before this year runs out. And for all December visa applicants, start picturing that US visa powerfully stamped on your passport, because it's happening to you already. Have faith, not fear.
God bless every member of this wonderful family.

Happy Happy Birthday dear and many more beautiful and prosperous years ahead. Stay blessed.

Happy Birthday happyday

andradaeze:


Congratulations dear. Your result is amazing! That funding is yours oh.

Thanks. I claim it!

happyday:
And to the only wise God be all glory, honour and power. Today's my happy day! I'm thanking God for making me +1 today!

To every member of the house waiting for their application decisions, you will have to cause to laugh and celebrate before this year runs out. And for all December visa applicants, start picturing that US visa powerfully stamped on your passport, because it's happening to you already. Have faith, not fear.

God bless every member of this wonderful family.

Happy birthday man. You are really selfless it needs to be said. I pray you get all you want this year.

Topiipii:

Correction made, my AW score remained the same, so it's 42nd percentile for me.

6 marks is a lot, once again I wish you success in your applications.

Thanks again. I appreciate the words of encouragement. LOL @ percentile. I don't think it plays as much role as people claim it does especially at Masters level (I mean the AWA). Isn't that what you are gunning for? Meanwhile, to say I was flummoxed that you did not make use of your 329 of 2013 is putting it mildly. Why did you not use it and if you tried what schools could have possibly overlooked you?

drhopeful:
Woo.....hoot!!!!! Boys and girls murdering the GRE!!!!! Congrats dear! Gotta love your V score! Are you applying for PhD? Which schools are you applying to?

Meanwhile your previous scores were not bad at all oh!!! I would not have rewritten if I scored those. You dey find Harvard?

Masters or PhD anyone that will provide me full-funding ja re. The exchange rate is not smiling.

I had some schools in mind before my 2 tests but I ended up abandoning them due to fear that the score may not measure up. My first choice schools were to be U of Texas @ Austin and USC but fear no gree me to select them both times. My list comprises of 8 schools and like 4/5 of them are below top 50. I even feel somehow typing them here because I don't want anyone to laugh. Michigan State Uni and Uni of Florida are 2 other schools that are above 50 that I still selected sha. What about you?

Scholastica16:


Thanks again. I appreciate the words of encouragement. LOL @ percentile. I don't think it plays as much role as people claim it does especially at Masters level (I mean the AWA). Isn't that what you are gunning for? Meanwhile, to say I was flummoxed that you did not make use of your 329 of 2013 is putting it mildly. Why did you not use it and if you tried what schools could have possibly overlooked you?

I tried TAMU college station (a notoriously selective school, I didn't know at the time) and Northeastern. I applied very late (deadline day for Northeastern) as the application wasn't planned, some people paid for the tests then so I had no other choice than to apply. I was rejected by TAMU, but Northeastern told me I was being considered for another program, I didn't bother to reply them.

Scholastica16:


Masters or PhD anyone that will provide me full-funding ja re. The exchange rate is not smiling.

I had some schools in mind before my 2 tests but I ended up abandoning them due to fear that the score may not measure up. My first choice schools were to be U of Texas @ Austin and USC but fear no gree me to select them both times. My list comprises of 8 schools and like 4/5 of them are below top 50. I even feel somehow typing them here because I don't want anyone to laugh. Michigan State Uni and Uni of Florida are 2 other schools that are above 50 that I still selected sha. What about you?

Your GRE scores are very good and you should recognize that. Those scores can get you into MIT for a masters program; a friend got in last year with 322/4 and a 2.1 BSc. So UT at Austin should not be anything. We should stop underestimating ourselves oh.

What is your undergrad CGPA? That is very important...infact the most important if you ask me. If UT at Austin or USC offered my research area, I would have applied.

Anyway, I applied to schools in the top 50 category - Carnegie Mellon, Penn State, Ohio State, UVirginia and UPittsburgh.

Please can anyone give direction on how to get to test center JKk at Ilupeju, I would be coming from Ibadan. Thanks

Topiipii:

I tried TAMU college station (a notoriously selective school, I didn't know at the time) and Northeastern. I applied very late (deadline day for Northeastern) as the application wasn't planned, some people paid for the tests then so I had no other choice than to apply. I was rejected by TAMU, but Northeastern told me I was being considered for another program, I didn't bother to reply them.

Mehn, when I hear all these things I am rooted to the floor. I know this time around you'd get what you want especially as you've started earlier I presume.

drhopeful:


Your GRE scores are very good and you should recognize that. Those scores can get you into MIT for a masters program; a friend got in last year with 322/4 and a 2.1 BSc. So UT at Austin should not be anything. We should stop underestimating ourselves oh.

What is your undergrad CGPA? That is very important...infact the most important if you ask me. If UT at Austin or USC offered my research area, I would have applied.

Anyway, I applied to schools in the top 50 category - Carnegie Mellon, Penn State, Ohio State, UVirginia and UPittsburgh.

I could not agree more. Perhaps, I was too focused on people that did not get it more than I should have. I know or I heard about someone who got 335 in Nigeria with a first class CGPA and he applied to 8 top schools only 1 of which gave him admission without funding. I also know someone that got 319 and got full-funding to NYU for MBA. Her whole $71k tuition waived. So I am transfixed.

I think you stand a very good chance especially because you also have a master's degree from U.K. which these USA folks don't question as much as they do Nigerian degrees. What am I even saying? *I need to get rid of this defeatist mentality*

My Nigerian CGPA is not fantastic either. Just a little above 4.0 but my final 2years were my most productive. Thanks for the encouragement. I have been too scared because I have seen top scores (and CGPAs)get rejected by these top schools.

Good morning!

Pls I need some help.

Is motivation the same as statement of purpose?

How can I really write a convincing SOP ?

If you have sample of any of the duo I will appreciate if you can send to foopinspire@gmail.com

Thanks in Anticipation

Thanks to all the gurus in the house and glory to God. My visa was approved last week after previous delay in the penultimate week. From what I observed during both intervews, prayer is the key, also being confident and prepare yourself adequately by perusing through the transcripts on this forum. I learnt from Nairaland and I would love to share both transcripts to the house.

Here is my delayed visa transcript

VO: Why are you going to the US
Me: To pursue my master's in business administration and management at .................. which will take a period of 20 months to complete.

VO: How did you get to know about the School?
Me: I got to know about the school using academic website such a US news and princeton review and then streamline my research to my course of interest.

VO: Why did you choose the School?
Me: I choose the School because of his MBA course curriculum which has an internship placement, over 90% of his faculty members have PHD which demonstrate their knowledge, research experience and educational commitment, student to faculty ratio is 15:1. Recent US News review listed the school as no. 1 public HBCU in US.

VO: How many School did you choose
Me: Three

VO: Can you name other schools?
Me: Tennessee State University and University of Tampa

VO: Where do you work?
Me: I am currently working in a professional firm, bla ..............., where I prepare financial statements, ............., etc. I have also worked with a similar professional firm for about 4 years eight months.

VO: I can see that you have worked for about six years, so why going for an MBA now
Me: I have a ten years career plan which to work for six years, pursue an MBA for two years and work for another two in my current work place when I return back to Nigeria.

VO; Are you Married?
Me: No

VO: Who is sponsoring you?
Me: My Aunt

VO: What does she do?
Me: She is a major distributor of Vegetable Oil

VO: Can I have her bank statement
Me: Sure (I passed the bank statement to him). At this point, the VO was glancing through the bank statement.

VO: How can you pay for this hugh fees?
Me: I can pay for my fees, you can take a look at the previous balances (My total fees is about 40,000 usd, no scholarship on my I - 20 and the VO was busy using black market rate to convert my total fees in USD to NGN. Bank statement balance is about 14 million naira.

VO: I dont think you can pay your fees, I expect you to have about 20 million naira in the account.
Me: I can really pay for my fees.

VO: Sorry, I think this is not the right time to issue you visa, pass me the blue paper
Me: Thank you Sir.

I noted that the major reason for the delayed visa was that I could not prove to the VO that I could pay my fees. However, I did not relent, I re-apply for another interview the following week. In order to play safe, I maintained my first sponsor and sourced for an additional bank statement as my second sponsor. The second sponsor is my cousin, this is in case the VO for the second interview would request for any bank statement but to my greatest surprise no document was asked during the second interview

Here is my second interview: VISA APPROVED:

VO: Good morning
Me: Good morning Sir,

VO: How are doing?
Me: I am fine Sir,

VO: Can you tell me why you are going to the US
Me: I am going to pursue my Master's in Business Administration and Management with specialisation in Management Information System at ...... which will take a period of twenty months to complete. (VO - Ok)

VO: Have you been issued Visa before?
Me: No Sir

VO: But your name is showing on the system that you have been issued visa.
Me: Wow...

Vo: Can you tell me about the Course?
Me: The course will take a period of twenty months to complete and has 44 credit units. I will be offering courses like financial statement analysis, investment analysis and portfolio managements ( i mentioned about 10 courses).

VO: Where do you work ?
Me: I am an accountant and I work with a consulting firm, bla....., where I prepare financial statements, render business and professional advice to clients (I mentioned my scope of work)

VO: Why were you not issued visa the last time
Me: Because I was not able to prove to the VO why I choose the school and due to insufficient funds( Please note while filling my new DS 160, I only mentioned the meaning of the section as disclosed in the blue paper).

VO: Who is sponsoring you?
Me: My Aunty who has been responsible for my education.

VO: What does she do?
Me: She is a business woman (VO - okay)

VO: Pass me the white paper, who can pick your visa at this address.
Me: Than you Sir.

I give God the glory and thanks to all the gurus in the house. No document ask, no previous traveling history and no scholarship in my I - 20.

Jeth:

Thanks to all the gurus in the house and glory to God. My visa was approved last week after previous delay in the penultimate week. From what I observed during both intervews, prayer is the key, also being confident and prepare yourself adequately by perusing through the transcripts on this forum. I learnt from Nairaland and I would love to share both transcripts to the house.

Here is my delayed visa transcript

VO: Why are you going to the US
Me: To pursue my master's in business administration and management at .................. which will take a period of 20 months to complete.

VO: How did you get to know about the School?
Me: I got to know about the school using academic website such a US news and princeton review and then streamline my research to my course of interest.

VO: Why did you choose the School?
Me: I choose the School because of his MBA course curriculum which has an internship placement, over 90% of his faculty members have PHD which demonstrate their knowledge, research experience and educational commitment, student to faculty ratio is 15:1. Recent US News review listed the school as no. 1 public HBCU in US.

VO: How many School did you choose
Me: Three

VO: Can you name other schools?
Me: Tennessee State University and University of Tampa

VO: Where do you work?
Me: I am currently working in a professional firm, bla ..............., where I prepare financial statements, ............., etc. I have also worked with a similar professional firm for about 4 years eight months.

VO: I can see that you have worked for about six years, so why going for an MBA now
Me: I have a ten years career plan which to work for six years, pursue an MBA for two years and work for another two in my current work place when I return back to Nigeria.

VO; Are you Married?
Me: No

VO: Who is sponsoring you?
Me: My Aunt

VO: What does she do?
Me: She is a major distributor of Vegetable Oil

VO: Can I have her bank statement
Me: Sure (I passed the bank statement to him). At this point, the VO was glancing through the bank statement.

VO: How can you pay for this hugh fees?
Me: I can pay for my fees, you can take a look at the previous balances (My total fees is about 40,000 usd, no scholarship on my I - 20 and the VO was busy using black market rate to convert my total fees in USD to NGN. Bank statement balance is about 14 million naira.

VO: I dont think you can pay your fees, I expect you to have about 20 million naira in the account.
Me: I can really pay for my fees.

VO: Sorry, I think this is not the right time to issue you visa, pass me the blue paper
Me: Thank you Sir.

I noted that the major reason for the delayed visa was that I could not prove to the VO that I could pay my fees. However, I did not relent, I re-apply for another interview the following week. In order to play safe, I maintained my first sponsor and sourced for an additional bank statement as my second sponsor. The second sponsor is my cousin, this is in case the VO for the second interview would request for any bank statement but to my greatest surprise no document was asked during the second interview

Here is my second interview: VISA APPROVED:

VO: Good morning
Me: Good morning Sir,

VO: How are doing?
Me: I am fine Sir,

VO: Can you tell me why you are going to the US
Me: I am going to pursue my Master's in Business Administration and Management with specialisation in Management Information System at ...... which will take a period of twenty months to complete. (VO - Ok)

VO: Have you been issued Visa before?
Me: No Sir

VO: But your name is showing on the system that you have been issued visa.
Me: Wow...

Vo: Can you tell me about the Course?
Me: The course will take a period of twenty months to complete and has 44 credit units. I will be offering courses like financial statement analysis, investment analysis and portfolio managements ( i mentioned about 10 courses).

VO: Where do you work ?
Me: I am an accountant and I work with a consulting firm, bla....., where I prepare financial statements, render business and professional advice to clients (I mentioned my scope of work)

VO: Why were you not issued visa the last time
Me: Because I was not able to prove to the VO why I choose the school and due to insufficient funds( Please note while filling my new DS 160, I only mentioned the meaning of the section as disclosed in the blue paper).

VO: Who is sponsoring you?
Me: My Aunty who has been responsible for my education.

VO: What does she do?
Me: She is a business woman (VO - okay)

VO: Pass me the white paper, who can pick your visa at this address.
Me: Than you Sir.

I give God the glory and thanks to all the gurus in the house. No document ask, no previous traveling history and no scholarship in my I - 20.

Happy for you... Good luck. Make NIGERIA PROUD

Guys I'm scared. I did Manhattan prep and kaplan prep test. Both gave me 306. I have just 10 days to my exam. Is this score normal or i have to work harder?

Congrats Jeth.

I noticed you kept omitting the school.

aanexplus:
Guys I'm scared. I did Manhattan prep and kaplan prep test. Both gave me 306. I have just 10 days to my exam. Is this score normal or i have to work harder?

What were your powerprep scores? I think the powerprep is the most efficient predictor of your final scores. Manhattan and Kaplan are quite close too. Don't let the 306 destabilize you at all, you'd most like score more on the actual test. However, keep working! Use the few days you have left to do more timed practice tests. Define your own pacing strategy and possibly get a logbook and keep track of silly errors you make frequently (on the quant especially). By doing this, you become very much error cautious which would gradually raise your scores even on the practice.

Or better still, you could use the days left to go through all the magoosh videos. They'd help too. A lot can still be achieved in 10 days. I wish you the best bro!