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Re: How To Achieve High Scores On The GRE by ponpon(m): 12:22am On Jan 16, 2018
orgasticdance:


Smells fishy. Sounds like you're shilling for Mafit. Only 23 posts to date and in about 60% of your posts, you're basically advertising for Mafit.
Looks like an elaborate lie then..
lol
Re: How To Achieve High Scores On The GRE by Gbolly4unow: 10:04am On Jan 16, 2018
Bro, you have done a very good job. For Phd Applicant, would they focus more on B.sc or Msc if one has M.sc. My B.Sc CGPA is 4.14/5.00 and M.sc is 3.8/5.0. Lets assume I have research experience. With good GRE, is it advisable to apply to top notch Institutions?

Also, I studied management course, Is full funding really sure like that unlike STEM?




smallsuper:
Just thought sending it here. Someone might be enlightened.

https://www.quora.com/What-does-the-admissions-committee-process-for-graduate-school-look-like-Do-you-sit-in-a-room-and-all-discuss-the-same-candidate-at-the-same-time-or-is-it-more-of-an-individual-process-with-opinions-aggregated-at-the-end/answer/James-Leland-Harp


A2A. First this question is about graduate schools that have departments, not about business school, law school or medical schools. These professional programs do consider standardized test scores such as GMAT, GRE, LSAT, or MCAT. However, standardized test scores alone will not get you admitted to any graduate program.

I can only answer this question based on my experiences as a professor who served on a number of admission committees and as a director of a graduate program who actually made the admission policy in conjunction with the full professors of the department. Other admission committees may have a totally different process.

The graduate schools that I have experience with required a minimum of 3.0 on a 4 scale for a four-yearbachelor's degree. Both the cumulative GPA and degree are on your transcripts. The graduate school may require GRE that have no minimum scores. They also required TOEFL that does have a minimum for international students who native language is not English. If an applicant does not meet the graduate school requirements, the department, not only does not see the application, they cannot even ask for an exception.

The department sorts the applications based on research interests as stated in the SOP and then forwards these applications to the respective research groups. The decision of who is admitted and who is not is made at the research group level which is why I alway recommend that all applicants target a research group telling them what they bring to the table. Those applicants who research interests are unclear, the admission committee has to make a judgment call to see which research group should make the evaluation. These student are at a disadvantage especially if the judgment call is wrong. The goal is to get the best students as possible.

Each research group subjectively evaluates the SOP supported by LORs to determine research potential, the ability to work at the research level. Each research group has a number of openings. The research group decides who is accepted, waitlisted, or rejected. They also say which applicants should get research group funding using RAs. The director of the graduate program determines which accepted applicants should get department funding usually TAs, and he or she then forwards these decisions to the dean of admissions who sends out letters accordingly. When an accepted student declines an admission offer, the next person on the group waitlist is given an offer.

Some research groups may still have openings. If this is case, the department may contacts the applicant who is on the wait list if he or she will consider at different research interest. However, I must point out the students can change research interested at any time; however, RAs are a yearly contact which means a student with an RA may not have funding in his or her new area of interest. This ability to change research groups is why there is funding available all year round.

Most departments have a limit, a quota, on how many students can be in the department, so for a student to be admitted, an enroll student must leave. What this means it is unclear how many students on the wait list will be admitted or at what time they are admitted. (I have personally given an offer with funding one week before classes started.)

If you are applying to a PhD program, you must demonstrate your potential to do original research which is why I always recommend writing a thesis (senior or master’s). You would given an executive summary and cite any published papers (preferably in refereed journals) in your SOP. The reason I say this is because you are being subjectively compared to the other applicants who most likely have demonstrated the ability to do (original) research.

There is no probability to this process because the SOP supported by LORs are subjectively evaluated and compared to the other applicants as I have previously stated. When you are being subjectively evaluated, the evaluation depends on the people making them. Anyone out side of the admission committee and the research groups would not know the criteria for their decisions. Another factor that is also unknown is the number of openings for a particular research group. The percentage for a research group that has no student openings is 0.

Finally my post How to improve my chances to be admitted into a top University that everyone underthe sun wants in gives you some insight as to what I and my other colleagues look for in an application. If you are applying to a master’s, see my answer to Do you need research experience toget into a top CS masters program?

Bottom line: Faculty members view applicants differently. They are looking for the best match for their particular research interests, which is why applicants should be familiar with who is doing what and where.
Re: How To Achieve High Scores On The GRE by smallsuper: 1:35pm On Jan 16, 2018
Based on understanding, They put more importance on B.Sc CGPA more than M.Sc, but having MSc. is an added advantage.

Secondly, Funding for management courses are not as common as STEM courses. But it is not impossible. It is about finding the right school for yourself.


Gbolly4unow:
Bro, you have done a very good job. For Phd Applicant, would they focus more on B.sc or Msc if one has M.sc. My B.Sc CGPA is 4.14/5.00 and M.sc is 3.8/5.0. Lets assume I have research experience. With good GRE, is it advisable to apply to top notch Institutions?

Also, I studied management course, Is full funding really sure like that unlike STEM?




2 Likes

Re: How To Achieve High Scores On The GRE by temmitats(f): 9:29pm On Jan 16, 2018
Dalmakz:
Please... I under performed in my TOEFL exam.. I scored 75... I am planning to rewrite... I used Kaplan for my preparations at first.. Please can any one help me other materials can help me score better
It's best to use the official guide to prepare and complement it with notefull toefl videos. You can actually get away with using only the official materials and still score well.
Re: How To Achieve High Scores On The GRE by Scholastica16: 7:13pm On Jan 17, 2018
My PTDF Journey

After having acquired the scholarship, I realized a harder task lay ahead; Midway into the game, PTDF decided to shift the goal post and then change the rules of the game. They instructed everyone to apply to only schools in the UK and told us explicitly that the scholarship would last for one year - of which - they were only going to sponsor 1-year programs.

The programs in UK, though good, did not tickle my fancy. I was fully set on the USA and nothing could stand in my way. In my head, I was willing to forfeit the scholarship if PTDF remained adamant and I made that clear to everyone who asked or made inquiries. I emailed a previous scholar from the previous set and he gave me some partial assurances that they were not inflexible. His reasoning was that they raised similar conditions previously but bent with more pressure. I took his words to heart and waited, whilst scouring for schools that I felt I could present to my sponsor.

I decided to go for higher ranked schools than I could aim for in my last admission's debacle. I looked at GaTech, Northwestern, Boulder, Purdue, UCLA and so on. If it was below MIT, CALTECH and Stanford, I looked at it. Many of these schools did not have my major, Chemical Engineering Thesis-based available in Spring. The few that did had their spring deadlines elapsed as far back as July (even before I sat for the scholarship test). Some (Like Northwestern and Boulder) that were kind enough to still be available by 2nd week of September pointedly told me that they needed Q166 V162 GRE for the former or that they did not have the thesis option for spring.Add UW Seattle and Delaware to schools that said that to me. UTAustin like Santabarbara wanted a direct PhD app which I knew my sponsor will not honor.

After much ado, I put in applications to U.Southern California, Texas A&M College Station and UMD College park. 2 weeks after UMD moved my app to fall, USC accepted me and TAMU gave me a cool fat reject. There are stories inbetween this as to why that was so but the summary is, TAMU can be pretty selective for God knows what reasons. I quickly held unto my USC app and readied myself to present it to my sponsor until I heard that a fellow scholar who tendered UMich Ann Arbor to them got turned down.

I reasoned it was foolhardy to try my luck with USC as UMich which was only (see me using "only" grin ) $44k+/ year was rejected yet USC was $60k+/ year in tuition and fees. And with it, my silicon valley dreams were put on hold. TAMU was my hope at the time but they dashed it on the 1st of November 2017. Still battling with the thought that US schools won't be accepted; November being way past the deadline for many spring apps I had to pray and go back to thr drawing board to find befitting schools. My definition of befitting here was top 70 Engineering, reasonably priced and Spring app still available. So yes, needle in a hay stack kind of challenge.

Time will fail me to talk about how I emailed a ton of schools again on that first day in November; telling them I had a scholarship, my profile; and the fact that I wanted a Thesis-based program in Chemical Engineering. OSUC, ASU, NCSU, ISU, Rutgers etc. Of this list, only NCSU did not reply till date. OSUC told me to wait to apply in fall as time was far spent. ASU told me I could try but they could not guarantee I would get the Form-I20 in time. ISU (Iowa State University) had their spring deadline in August (15th to be precise) so I felt it was a long shot. I can't even remember what Rutgers said. Anyways, long story short, ISU replied and the graduate prog director told me to apply immediately.


...To be continued...

23 Likes 1 Share

Re: How To Achieve High Scores On The GRE by Scholastica16: 7:13pm On Jan 17, 2018
PTDF stage Two

...Ater consulting all consultables I applied to Iowa State University. I was conflicted initially because the app fee was $100 and I had limited time but something told me to press on and I did. Exactly 7 days after the grad prog directed emailed me to say 2 Professors saw my profile, liked it and wanted to have a Skype Interview with me. That interview was scheduled few days after his email and I spoke with a very intelligent CALTECH grad of a Professor for something like 18mins. At the end of that chat, he told me straight-up that he wanted to work with me. That is the summary of how I got into Iowa State.

I am regarded as a scholarship-sponsored research assistant because I have a federal government award but I feel all will change after a semester when I start getting extra funding from the school themselves. The Professor I work with is well-funded by the National Science foundation so that also backs my thought-process. But I digress....

I have to abridge this story and cut out the part were I turned accountant and carried out a thorough analysis of the tuition and fees in a way I could present it to PTDF without it being rejected. I got to their towers on the 19th of November, submitted my admission letter and got it approved together with being issued my Proof of funding and award letter between that day to the 22nd. The simple fact is it was not as easy as I am presenting it here: There were days of frustration as PTDF refused to offer any scholar going to the US more than an 18-month stipend. The good thing being, the stipend as it were, can take care of one for 2 years without the burden of lab work and teaching that TAs and RAs are saddled with.

Let me also chip in that the scholarship has changed alot from last year to the one I benefitted from. For instance, there used to be a one-off payment for warm clothing, a laptop and cutlery but all that was removed from the award letter. US scholars used to get 24-month stipends (in fact, PTDF used to adjust the stipend depending on the state one was travelling to) but they stopped that this year. Even getting them to give you the 18-month allowance was a heavy bargain which even turned depressing for some others. By the time you experienced the cold shoulder treatment in Abuja, you'd have simply realized that all those big school ambitions via them would have been a pipe dream. I pray for those aiming for it this year (may your struggles be less).

The UK scholars, most of whom travelled in Sept/Oct did not get a dime from PTDF till November. People had to fend for themselves till money was released 2 and for others 3 months later. On the whatsApp group we created, there was alot of weeping and gnashing of teeth that one wondered if the scholarship was worth it at all. In actual fact, the happiest days of acquiring the scholarship are the days you saw your name on the list and perhaps after getting your first payment tranche. The inbetweens are not for the faint-hearted.

It won't also be fair to them if I do not add that atleast they also reimburse your SEVIS, Visa fees and any medical tests you take prior to applying for the visa or in a bid to completing your registration. They will also handle your insurance, books and supply if you are smart enough to invoice it to them. Lest I forget, they pay for your flight too and for those who travelled in December and saw those humongous figures, I am sure you'd have wished you had the scholarship at that point in time. Looking back, I would prefer to get my scholarship and funding fully from the school as those one's have value for you more than PTDF or any other scholarship body in Nigeria. But that is my own honest opinion.

15 Likes 1 Share

Re: How To Achieve High Scores On The GRE by Scholastica16: 7:14pm On Jan 17, 2018
My Visa Interview

I received my I-20 from Iowa State University on December 7th physically and that is because they used express mail services to get it to me. I immediately tried to book a visa date and the earliest I could see was January 22nd whereas my I-20 read that I was to be in the US on the 5th. I stubbornly refused to select that date until people and commonsense prevailed on me to accept it and explore the emergency services option on the visa/travel doc portal.

I told them my story and attached my SEVIS coupon, admission letter (that wrote that 2 profs basically fought to have me) as well as my PTDF award letter explaining to them why I am just applying for the visa. I did this on a Saturday evening which I am guessing was on the 9th of December and by the next day, they approved my emergency request and asked me to select between December 11th to 16th to be interviewed. I went with the 13th because I had boasted to people who knew me (on the 7th of December that I would be approved before the 14th of the same month).

Because where I stay(ed) in Lagos was not too far from the US consulate, I left my house around 5:30AM on that day and was able to get there before 6:15AM for a 6:30AM appointment. I was privileged to not meet the CGI crew of fraudsters who make people print documents they don't need at outrageous prices. I was turned back however at the final checking in stage when one ITK lady realized I was wearing a smart watch but it all worked out in the end as the Visa was eventually approved. My actual transcript went thus;

VO [Some African American lady in window 10]: I see you want to go to Iowa State to undergo your masters in Chemical Engineering. Why?

Me: Started mouthing off something about Biorenewables (my area of concentration) *don't want to bore you with what I was saying*

VO: [Nodding suspiciously] then says, I asked you why Chemical Engineering...stops herself from going further and says "why do you want a master's degree?"

Me: because it is going to be relevant in Nigeria jobwise which is an aside from the fact that my area of concentration is going to be the future of energy and perhaps foreign exchange in Nigeria.

VO: Do you have a first degree?

Me: Yes, In Chemical Engineering as well.

VO: Oh, I see. When did you graduate?

Me: 2011

VO: What have you been doing since?

Me: I worked with an oil servicing company right after the Compulsory national youth service scheme, got bored, taught for a bit and recently quit that job as well.

VO: [Nods approvingly because it rhymes with what I wrote in the DS160 form].

VO: So how will this course help you in Nigeria?

Me: [looks incredulously at her] and says "sorry I don't understand".

VO: Why is this course not being done in Nigeria and why will Nigeria benefit from it?

Me: Well, the world is going greener and scientists are getting more conscious of the non-toxic or -toxic effects that our resources bring to us. Biobased products like biofuels, biodiesels and other biomass derivatives are known to be more environmentally friendly and cheaper somewhat to mass produce. Also, I am aiming to synthesize heterogeneous catalysts that will aide their mass production from the non-edible part of plants and so on [I am chopping mouth here and using ermmss..emmmms a couple of times]. At some point, I say I am struggling to find words to use to express myself to someone who has no clue about my field.

VO: JUST USE CLEAR TERMS AND KEEP IT SHORT I DON'T HAVE ALL THE TIME IN THE WORLD.

Me: at this point I am getting antsy and even irked but I am smiling and calculating how to swing things in my favor (in my head).

VO: so list some courses you would take.

Me: listed some courses from University but just added Advanced to 4 of them.

VO: [Still looks unimpressed]. So why Iowa State University?

Me: I looked at a couple of schoo....

VO: Does not let me finish. Says "I don't have time for that, I want to know why this school of all the schools you looked at."

Me: Yes, that is what I was about to answer.

Me: did not want to give her the canned answer of class size etc or their ranking in engineering or my course, neither do I tell her about the Prof that wanted me 'cause I am livid at this juncture. So I say "well, after acquiring my scholarship, I was looking for a reasonably priced highly-rated school that was within my sponsor's budget" [did that to just mention my scholarship jare].

VO: [Eyes bulging now], what scholarship? [Says this and looks at the I20 while at it]

Me: I have a full govt scholarship which will take care of all my spendings, I mean tuition and stipend for the duration of my program.

VO: I don't know this scholarship.

Me: It has existed since the 60s and is a renowned scholarship. You can Google it or my name to get more information. I also have my award letter here if you care to look at it

VO: [Offers to look at it ]. Looks at it...types for a bit. Then asks me if I took standardized tests.

Me: Yes ofcourse; GRE and TOEFL. Do you want to see them also?

VO: [Nods]

Me: hands them over to her.

VO: Sees them and immediately says "I will be approving..."

I heard everything she said but at this point I am so exhausted and angry that I give her this inscrutable look. For the first time in the whole interview, she smiles, gives the white paper and tells me she is going to hold unto my passport. I don't thank her, walk out of there, tip the security personnel just outside and pay the police woman that helped me keep my watch - then I head home...angry. I was expecting a really short interview considering I was given an emergency date but I guess God had other plans.


PS: When I am chanced, I will explain my immigration experience just before I left Nigeria. How PTDF almost botched my ticket and travel plans and my experience thus far in the USA (Close to 2 weeks that I have been here) and what I have noticed about our GPAs and much-touted research experience. Timezone difference is crazy but I coped easily as I used to be "Mr Nocturnal" in Nigeria.

31 Likes 2 Shares

Re: How To Achieve High Scores On The GRE by Scholastica16: 7:14pm On Jan 17, 2018
......
Re: How To Achieve High Scores On The GRE by smallsuper: 7:35pm On Jan 17, 2018
Hello boss,
We miss you here.
Scholastica16:
......

1 Like

Re: How To Achieve High Scores On The GRE by frostsc: 7:36pm On Jan 17, 2018
Of course I'm shilling for Mafit. Its quite obvious. I've not even started. I'm just warming up. grin grin grin . Bro, do you know what it means to have full funding? D you know how many people would die to have that? I'll answer your question with an analogy. If you attend a church let's say MFM and you were crippled and they prayed for you and you could walk and you see another crippled man outside, no one needs to ask... in fact you will drag him to the same church.

My test scores, the school I chose, the whole application process and yes, the visa I got two days ago can be traced to my coming in touch with Mafit. So, yes... I'll speak about them more and more for whoever cares to listen. I'm sure there are tons of others that have been helped by Mafit and they are keeping quiet. I won't.


orgasticdance:


Smells fishy. Sounds like you're shilling for Mafit. Only 23 posts to date and in about 60% of your posts, you're basically advertising for Mafit.
Looks like an elaborate lie then..
Re: How To Achieve High Scores On The GRE by frostsc: 7:38pm On Jan 17, 2018
My oga! Everyday I wake I say I prayer for you. I wish I could get to know you in person.

Scholastica16:
...

3 Likes

Re: How To Achieve High Scores On The GRE by Olorisijuade: 8:16pm On Jan 17, 2018
Please everyone, my cgpa is 2.99... can I get full scholarship with this grade and a high score in gre.. I wish to apply to universities in the united state of America
Re: How To Achieve High Scores On The GRE by charliejose: 10:06pm On Jan 17, 2018
frostsc:
It's quite easy to ace. What worked for me though was the classes at B.Y Mafit. I attended the classes and used that as a baseline for further studies. As I was not a mathematics pro, I just religiously followed and built on that.

If you are in Lagos or Abuja, I suggest you attend the classes even if you are doing personal study. B.Y Mafit is the only organization in Nigeria as of now that offers free class based lectures for tbe TOEFL and GRE and as I said earlier, it's the best. Trust me.

The major challenge though may be time but you can check out their weekend lectures as well.

If you can't make it for either then make the best use of the materials given. They give you free Kaplan textbook, free magoosh access and other aids in addition to the free lectures.

Best of luck!

Hello. Is it possible if I attend lectures and pay for the exam later? I don't have the finances to register for the exam at the moment but will in the long run. And by the way I registered my first GRE with them but never attended the classes.
Re: How To Achieve High Scores On The GRE by darkelf: 10:52pm On Jan 17, 2018
Good evening all

If you require math tutoring for your GRE Exams and you are based in Abuja, please call TOP on 08031376060

Thanks
Re: How To Achieve High Scores On The GRE by darkelf: 10:54pm On Jan 17, 2018
freshyabstel:
Hello everyone, please anyone in abuja writing GRE this February/March? and any good tutorials center in abuja? please let's hook up and join heads together to ace this exam. I really need a very good tutorial center and a study partner here in abuja ; can't afford to screw this exam oooopppsss.

Thanks as I anticipate relies

I can help with your tutoring since you are based in Abuja

I can also help with some materials

Call TOP on 08031376060
Re: How To Achieve High Scores On The GRE by darkelf: 10:57pm On Jan 17, 2018
toluene1234:
Hello house.

Please I need materials to prepare adequately for my GRE in April for Fall admission.
I will also appreciate sample test questions to be familiar with how it is on an examination situation.

Please help a brother .

Thanks

I can help with that for a little token.

Contact me on 08031376060
Re: How To Achieve High Scores On The GRE by Time2Smile(m): 12:56am On Jan 18, 2018
I somehow unfollowed the thread. Waiting for the rest of your post @scholastica16, Great story so far.

1 Like

Re: How To Achieve High Scores On The GRE by Time2Smile(m): 12:58am On Jan 18, 2018
darkelf:


I can help with that for a little token.

Contact me on 08031376060
What do you mean by a little token? We don't do that here.

2 Likes

Re: How To Achieve High Scores On The GRE by orgasticdance: 3:47am On Jan 18, 2018
frostsc:
Of course I'm shilling for Mafit. Its quite obvious. I've not even started. I'm just warming up. grin grin grin . Bro, do you know what it means to have full funding? D you know how many people would die to have that? I'll answer your question with an analogy. If you attend a church let's say MFM and you were crippled and they prayed for you and you could walk and you see another crippled man outside, no one needs to ask... in fact you will drag him to the same church.

My test scores, the school I chose, the whole application process and yes, the visa I got two days ago can be traced to my coming in touch with Mafit. So, yes... I'll speak about them more and more for whoever cares to listen. I'm sure there are tons of others that have been helped by Mafit and they are keeping quiet. I won't.


There's also an alternate universe somewhere in which you are getting 340 on the GRE and walking into MIT/full ride; still won't change my impression of you as a shameless promoter for Mafit.

1 Like

Re: How To Achieve High Scores On The GRE by elevatedmind: 4:41am On Jan 18, 2018
Scholastica16:
......

Oga scholastica, we are waiting for the full gist o..... The ginger you drop on this trend is too much.

1 Like

Re: How To Achieve High Scores On The GRE by frostsc: 8:21am On Jan 18, 2018
Once again, you are right. I'm a shameless promoter of Mafit. I'm on stage one of shameless. Wait till I get to stage 10. grin grin grin grin . Nigerians. Chai! I have suffered. I guess you have to call out every single one who has spoken of Mafit here. Including all those who insisted on them... And that includes the fore fathers of this thread.

I wish I got admission to MIT as you said. I can't remember mentioning MIT anywhere. And FYI, GRE is not the only indices for full funding. I've seen people with less than 320 get full funding. Nigerians have a lot to learn from Indians. Like seriously. Getting a lot of information from those guys really helped me.

This is the last response you will get from me. Except you want to fill shilling application. I would gladly welcome you to shill for Mafit. grin cheesy cheesy cheesy

I hold nothing against you tho. The way I have spoken about them too is quite much. I wasnt a nairalander before i joined this topic. I understand your view point. But seriously, I was just happy. That's all. But as I said, it's your opinion and you are entitled to it.

Peace.


orgasticdance:

There's also an alternate universe somewhere in which you are getting 340 on the GRE and walking into MIT/full ride; still won't change my impression of you as a shameless promoter for Mafit.
Re: How To Achieve High Scores On The GRE by frostsc: 8:23am On Jan 18, 2018
I'm not sure o. Why not visit them? Just that those girls will just be speaking plenty English for you. Lol.
charliejose:
Hello. Is it possible if I attend lectures and pay for the exam later? I don't have the finances to register for the exam at the moment but will in the long run. And by the way I registered my first GRE with them but never attended the classes.

1 Like

Re: How To Achieve High Scores On The GRE by darkelf: 8:57am On Jan 18, 2018
[quote author=Time2Smile post=64293739
What do you mean by a little token? We don't do that here. [/quote]

So those people peddling tutorial centres nko


Hmmmmm....na wa
Re: How To Achieve High Scores On The GRE by LadunaI(m): 9:32am On Jan 18, 2018
Scholastica16:
...

You're a fighter, and your fighting spirit resonates such an optimism that permeates and illuminate the path that seems to be leading to no where. You typified the saying The WINNERS Never Quit.

Your courageous moves always baffles me, and at the same time reminds that truly if there is WILL there will always be a way!

I pray you get the very BEST of your heart desire.

Stay blessed bro!

4 Likes

Re: How To Achieve High Scores On The GRE by manlikegb: 2:23pm On Jan 18, 2018
HiredGames:
Life is not a bed of roses.

At some point we need to come to a realization of the need to "embrace" failure.

In my weird opinion, I'd even think failure teaches more life lessons than success.



Please I need your help concerning your contact for Lautech MBA transcript for my spouse. I've just sent you a PM. Thanks!
Re: How To Achieve High Scores On The GRE by Olorisijuade: 12:32am On Jan 19, 2018
Is anyone in osogbo preparing for gre. Maybe we can study together.
Re: How To Achieve High Scores On The GRE by skido04: 2:04am On Jan 19, 2018
Scholastica16:
My PTDF Journey




...To be continued...

Don't give up. Fight till the end, if not for anything, but to be able to tell yourself that u did your best. NO IFS.

(sent u an email, hoping u reply)
Re: How To Achieve High Scores On The GRE by Yildiz: 8:30am On Jan 19, 2018
Please gurus in the house I need your advice. I intent to apply to UTK for PhD in Data Science and Engineering, I have mailed the coordinator several times and she is helpful but she has so far refused to answer my question regarding the number of applicants they normally have per year. Further search shows that the program is new, it was just started last year. All she keeps telling me is that about 50% of applicants are admitted. My question is, is this course really worth it considering it is a new course, currently the course is not even ranked and how about job prospect after completion.

1 Like

Re: How To Achieve High Scores On The GRE by Nobody: 10:47am On Jan 19, 2018
Scholastica16:
My Visa Interview

I received my I-20 from Iowa State University on December 7th physically and that is because they used express mail services to get it to me. I immediately tried to book a visa date and the earliest I could see was January 22nd whereas my I-20 read that I was to be in the US on the 5th. I stubbornly refused to select that date until people and commonsense prevailed on me to accept it and explore the emergency services option on the visa/travel doc portal.

I told them my story and attached my SEVIS coupon, admission letter (that wrote that 2 profs basically fought to have me) as well as my PTDF award letter explaining to them why I am just applying for the visa. I did this on a Saturday evening which I am guessing was on the 9th of December and by the next day, they approved my emergency request and asked me to select between December 11th to 16th to be interviewed. I went with the 13th because I had boasted to people who knew me (on the 7th of December that I would be approved before the 14th of the same month).

Because where I stay(ed) in Lagos was not too far from the US consulate, I left my house around 5:30AM on that day and was able to get there before 6:15AM for a 6:30AM appointment. I was privileged to not meet the CGI crew of fraudsters who make people print documents they don't need at outrageous prices. I was turned back however at the final checking in stage when one ITK lady realized I was wearing a smart watch but it all worked out in the end as the Visa was eventually approved. My actual transcript went thus;

VO [Some African American lady in window 10]: I see you want to go to Iowa State to undergo your masters in Chemical Engineering. Why?

Me: Started mouthing off something about Biorenewables (my area of concentration) *don't want to bore you with what I was saying*

VO: [Nodding suspiciously] then says, I asked you why Chemical Engineering...stops herself from going further and says "why do you want a master's degree?"

Me: because it is going to be relevant in Nigeria jobwise which is an aside from the fact that my area of concentration is going to be the future of energy and perhaps foreign exchange in Nigeria.

VO: Do you have a first degree?

Me: Yes, In Chemical Engineering as well.

VO: Oh, I see. When did you graduate?

Me: 2011

VO: What have you been doing since?

Me: I worked with an oil servicing company right after the Compulsory national youth service scheme, got bored, taught for a bit and recently quit that job as well.

VO: [Nods approvingly because it rhymes with what I wrote in the DS160 form].

VO: So how will this course help you in Nigeria?

Me: [looks incredulously at her] and says "sorry I don't understand".

VO: Why is this course not being done in Nigeria and why will Nigeria benefit from it?

Me: Well, the world is going greener and scientists are getting more conscious of the non-toxic or -toxic effects that our resources bring to us. Biobased products like biofuels, biodiesels and other biomass derivatives are known to be more environmentally friendly and cheaper somewhat to mass produce. Also, I am aiming to synthesize heterogeneous catalysts that will aide their mass production from the non-edible part of plants and so on [I am chopping mouth here and using ermmss..emmmms a couple of times]. At some point, I say I am struggling to find words to use to express myself to someone who has no clue about my field.

VO: JUST USE CLEAR TERMS AND KEEP IT SHORT I DON'T HAVE ALL THE TIME IN THE WORLD.

Me: at this point I am getting antsy and even irked but I am smiling and calculating how to swing things in my favor (in my head).

VO: so list some courses you would take.

Me: listed some courses from University but just added Advanced to 4 of them.

VO: [Still looks unimpressed]. So why Iowa State University?

Me: I looked at a couple of schoo....

VO: Does not let me finish. Says "I don't have time for that, I want to know why this school of all the schools you looked at."

Me: Yes, that is what I was about to answer.

Me: did not want to give her the canned answer of class size etc or their ranking in engineering or my course, neither do I tell her about the Prof that wanted me 'cause I am livid at this juncture. So I say "well, after acquiring my scholarship, I was looking for a reasonably priced highly-rated school that was within my sponsor's budget" [did that to just mention my scholarship jare].

VO: [Eyes bulging now], what scholarship? [Says this and looks at the I20 while at it]

Me: I have a full govt scholarship which will take care of all my spendings, I mean tuition and stipend for the duration of my program.

VO: I don't know this scholarship.

Me: It has existed since the 60s and is a renowned scholarship. You can Google it or my name to get more information. I also have my award letter here if you care to look at it

VO: [Offers to look at it ]. Looks at it...types for a bit. Then asks me if I took standardized tests.

Me: Yes ofcourse; GRE and TOEFL. Do you want to see them also?

VO: [Nods]

Me: hands them over to her.

VO: Sees them and immediately says "I will be approving..."

I heard everything she said but at this point I am so exhausted and angry that I give her this inscrutable look. For the first time in the whole interview, she smiles, gives the white paper and tells me she is going to hold unto my passport. I don't thank her, walk out of there, tip the security personnel just outside and pay the police woman that helped me keep my watch - then I head home...angry. I was expecting a really short interview considering I was given an emergency date but I guess God had other plans.


PS: When I am chanced, I will explain my immigration experience just before I left Nigeria. How PTDF almost botched my ticket and travel plans and my experience thus far in the USA (Close to 2 weeks that I have been here) and what I have noticed about our GPAs and much-touted research experience. Timezone difference is crazy but I coped easily as I used to be "Mr Nocturnal" in Nigeria.


Congratulations bro, I can't explain how elated I am for you. This is truly an inspiring story against all odds. I wish you success in your endeavors.

3 Likes

Re: How To Achieve High Scores On The GRE by trillville(m): 12:48pm On Jan 19, 2018
Scholastica16

Congratulations, I am soo happy for yo.u You have been extremely helpful to a lot of us on this thread and God has certainly rewarded your efforts.
I may not be your parent but I will still throw my blessings on you. Whenever you call 1 person, 10 thousand would answer you. The Grace of the Lord will always be upon you. Wherever you sow, you shall reap. May God continue to bless you. Goodluck in all your endeavours and do take good care of yourself.

8 Likes

Re: How To Achieve High Scores On The GRE by layez: 1:38pm On Jan 19, 2018
Scholastica16:
......
The Great And Selfless Boss. Well Deserved

4 Likes

Re: How To Achieve High Scores On The GRE by ProEnergy: 2:46pm On Jan 19, 2018
someone please attend to this guy, some of us would gain from response regarding his question
Olorisijuade:
Please everyone, my cgpa is 2.99... can I get full scholarship with this grade and a high score in gre.. I wish to apply to universities in the united state of America

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