₦airaland Forum

cojunior:
I am so sorry I am posting my transcript late. I did my interview 22nd of May, 2018.

Vo: Good Morning
Me: Good Morning; I have a little cough please bear with me.
Vo: No problem
Vo: What do you want to do in the US
Me: I am going to Florida State University to study PhD in educational leadership and administration with a special focus on improving the quality of basic education in developing countries: beginning with Nigeria.
Vo: what's your background
Me: I have bachelor's degree in educational management at AAUA and masters degree in educational management at University of Ibadan.

Vo: when did you finish your masters degree
Me: 2016

Vo: what have you been doing since then?

Me: I worked for an NGO then later got a job at.... And I told her my job description.

Vo: do you know the name of your advisor?
Me: Yes, Dr... Stammered several times. I had 24 messages with this my advisor with Skype call and I almost forgot her name. I later mentioned her name.

Vo: what will this course do for you
Me: Over 10.5 million children are out of school in Nigeria and I hope to bring up strategies, techniques and methods to increase the access to basic education. I will also be part of a project done in Nigeria sponsored by United States agency for international development. I stammered when I wanted to mention the name of the project. In fact, that was why I was given full tuition wavier and stipend.
I also look forward to being a professor and a consultant of educational leadership and administration with a special focus on improving basic education in developing countries.

VO: Who will pay the remaining bill on your i20($7k plus) ?

Me: My brother. He works as software quality assurance engineer at...

Vo: Can I have his bank statement?

Me: sure!

Vo: when did your brother go to the US?

Me:Please , I don't know

Vo: I am afraid your brother is in Georgia

Me: I kept quiet

Vo:who is he?

Me: My step brother, the same father but not the same mother.

Vo: ok

Vo: have you traveled out before?

Me: Yes, I went to Dubai for a conference

Vo: are you married?

Me: No

Vo: do you have children?

Me: No

Vo: Pick up your visa. I didn't hear anything again.


My latest profile is summarized below:

> Undergraduate CGPA: 4.1/5


> Masters degree CGPA: 5.8/7-- best graduating result.

> Two conferences attended

> Two publications

> One paper accepted for publication

> Four online statement of accomplishments

> One conference paper

> One workshop attended

> Two professional qualifications

> GRE scores: 297 ( 148- verbal and 149- quantitative) and Analytical writing is 3.5

> New GRE scores: 296 ( 144- verbal and 152- quantitative) and Analytical writing is 3.5

> TOEFL: 87

> Few years of teaching experience.


> Currently working as Education and Policy Officer at a school of security

> Currently the head of content development for an NGO



@ Femi321, @Lagosismyhome and others I appreciate you so much. Femi321, I remember your contributions when I posted my profile here. I appreciate!

KendrickAyomide:
can my aunt that is a US citizen sponsor me?

Predstan:
Put your address in Line 1 only. Leave line 2 empty... To change that state, you need to change country first to Nigeria. Make sure you use your own card as the site will not accept a different card details that is not in your name.

KendrickAyomide:
can my aunt that is a US citizen sponsor me?

femi312:
First, why are you scared? It is not a hercullean task or is it? People apply to as many as 6 schools and they are still alive. Secondly, applying to just one school does not speak well about your ambitions or dreams. Additionally, you can have 340 in GRE + a good gpa and still not get in. Yes its good to take risk because life itself is risk but this kind of risk is unwise. Apply to at least 3 schools spreading across top and decent schools. You will most likely be writing the same SOP (but changing the paragraph about school and research interest). So where is the stress? The same energy you will use in chasing LOR for one school is the same for 2 or more schools. You can also save cost by applying to school that accept unofficial transcript because to me that is the hardest part of applications and there are a ton of them

thirdpage:
Like many people have said here, I believe its always better to apply to more than 1 school (asides for Visa purpose). You diversify some risk away when you apply to more than 1 school.

I applied to 8 schools (A3, R4, W1). You've got to invest time to research on them. I only paid application fee for 2 of them, others only cost me time and data.

And yes, I also did the WES evaluation, but I ended up not using it.

MyAmericandream:
pls bro i want to make payment for WES, I want to use someone else credit card or use the usual naija debit card. I'm not too sure if they'll accept our debit card.

Walspring:
Materials sent

Nahum777:
Bro can you help me Check Bachelors Degree at Utah Valley University?

lasthero:
sorry for the late reply. you can always check school rankings on the following site.

https://usnews.com/best-colleges

collegeconcensus.com

Nahum777:
I don't seem to understand their ranking system especially for Utah Valley University. Could you help me please?

thirdpage:
Yes naira debit card is accepted.

lasthero:
https://www.collegeconsensus.com/?s=utah+valley

https://www.usnews.com/best-colleges/utah-valley-4027

check those two links. according to usnews and collegeconcensus, your school is [b]UNRANKED[/b]LOL I want to study Economics. I read that they removed themselves from American University rankings. My interview is next month bro.




modified. i just checked again, its ranked 169 in engineering, i think its fair . but if you have a better profile , why not shoot for schools ranked higher?

Nahum777:
According to what I read, they said they opted out of the ranking system. I want to study Economics and my interview is next month by the way.

lasthero:
ok bro, all the best. i am not an advocate of ranking though, but i always advice people to shoot for the best school their profile can meet.

also, i believe that with adequate preparation and good delivery at the interview, you are on your way to success. i hope to read your approval transcript soon.

mayd16:
Please how can I convince the VO that taking an English test was not a requirement for admission cus i fid not do any test and i font want that to scare me off

femi312:
Sponsor you like use her SOA? Ofcourse yes, no hard rule to this. People use American statement of account (uncle,aunty etc) to get visa. However, everything depends on the VO's discretion

olukoredejay:
Good day house, please help me scrutine my proposed transcript. My interview is next week, your inputs and corrections will be highly appreciated.
VO: Good morning
Me: Good morning how are you doing today?
VO: Pass me your passport and I20
Me: Passed
VO: Tell me about your study plan
Me: I will be going to the University of Arkansas at Little rock for 24months for Masters in Business Administration (MBA). I am expected to complete 33 credit hours prior graduation. Some of the courses include; managing your career, accounting for managers, management of human capital, managerial economics, operations and supply chain management, strategic management of information system and technology, etc. After graduation, I will return to Nigeria to take up a managerial role in the ever growing telecommunication industry like XYZ Limited where I currently work.
VO: Have you been to the US before
Me: No, have not had reasons to
VO: Why did you choose MBA?
Me: Pursuing a master in business administration will help broaden my managerial knowledge and exposure and enhance my managerial competence and capacity. This will help me find more opportunities and better prospects. In a competitive world, higher qualifications in a field as business administration will serve greatly to give me a better chance to join the industry of my choice as a long term career prospect.
VO: How many schools did you apply to?
Me: 2; University of Arkansas and Indiana university of Pennsylvania
VO: Why UALR?
Me: From the first time I made contact with them the experience has been amazing. Prompt replies to emails and all the support staff are ever ready to help. Also, I have interacted with few current students who are pursuing their masters at this university. They advised its one of the universities that offers research opportunities in the field I will be studying and on top of that it has great faculty. I have been accepted to a few other universities as well but this one appeal to me. It is because the courses that are offered perfectly align with my area of interest. Courses such as: managing your career, operations and supply chain management, strategic management of information system and technology, accounting for managers, managerial economics and the rest .
VO: Where do you work?
Me: XYZ Limited
VO: What do you do?
Me: I am a regional stock controller
VO: Tell me your job functions
Me: I forecast supply and demand for stock to avoid overstocking and under stocking, I enter sales and purchase details into internal database, I track shipments to address delay, I coordinate regular inventory audits, I liaise with warehouse staff and internal teams to test product quality i.e I carry out quality control of products.
VO: Are you married?
Me: Yes
VO: Any kids?
Me: Yes (two beautiful kids)
VO: Who is sponsoring you?
Me: My Dad
VO: What does he do?
Me: He is into real estate
VO: I will be approving your visa.
Me: Thank you.

Note: my GRE scores is V -155, Q -158 and AW -4.

olukoredejay:
Good day house, please help me scrutine my proposed transcript. My interview is next week, your inputs and corrections will be highly appreciated.
VO: Good morning
Me: Good morning how are you doing today?
VO: Pass me your passport and I20
Me: Passed
VO: Tell me about your study plan
Me: I will be going to the University of Arkansas at Little rock for 24months for Masters in Business Administration (MBA). I am expected to complete 33 credit hours prior graduation. Some of the courses include; managing your career, accounting for managers, management of human capital, managerial economics, operations and supply chain management, strategic management of information system and technology, etc. After graduation, I will return to Nigeria to take up a managerial role in the ever growing telecommunication industry like XYZ Limited where I currently work.
VO: Have you been to the US before
Me: No, have not had reasons to
VO: Why did you choose MBA?
Me: Pursuing a master in business administration will help broaden my managerial knowledge and exposure and enhance my managerial competence and capacity. This will help me find more opportunities and better prospects. In a competitive world, higher qualifications in a field as business administration will serve greatly to give me a better chance to join the industry of my choice as a long term career prospect .
VO: How many schools did you apply to?
Me: 2; University of Arkansas and Indiana university of Pennsylvania
VO: Why UALR?
Me: From the first time I made contact with them the experience has been amazing. Prompt replies to emails and all the support staff are ever ready to help. Also, I have interacted with few current students who are pursuing their masters at this university. They advised its one of the universities that offers research opportunities in the field I will be studying and on top of that it has great faculty. I have been accepted to a few other universities as well but this one appeal to me. It is because the courses that are offered perfectly align with my area of interest. Courses such as: managing your career, operations and supply chain management, strategic management of information system and technology, accounting for managers, managerial economics and the rest .
VO: Where do you work?
Me: XYZ Limited
VO: What do you do?
Me: I am a regional stock controller
VO: Tell me your job functions
Me: I forecast supply and demand for stock to avoid overstocking and under stocking, I enter sales and purchase details into internal database, I track shipments to address delay, I coordinate regular inventory audits, I liaise with warehouse staff and internal teams to test product quality i.e I carry out quality control of products.
VO: Are you married?
Me: Yes
VO: Any kids?
Me: Yes (two beautiful kids)
VO: Who is sponsoring you?
Me: My Dad
VO: What does he do?
Me: He is into real estate
VO: I will be approving your visa.
Me: Thank you.

Note: my GRE scores is V -155, Q -158 and AW -4.

iceberge:
hello friemds,

i just recently receieved a phd offer from texas a&m college station. it is a fully funded position in engineering. my i-20 is yet to arrive and my resumption date is late august. can anyone tell me the general timeline for a visa application and what ways i can expidite the process in order to meet my resumption date.

thanks

Nahum777:
According to what I read, they said they opted out of the ranking system. I want to study Economics and my interview is next month by the way.

Postfut:
Can anyone preferably a current/former US Grad student explain why top schools are abandoning GRE as an admission requirement?

Schools that have removed GRE for some programs

MIT
Stanford
Chicago

Chidinho10:
I'm not a current or former US grad student, so take my assertion with a pinch of salt.

Each school has what they seek in their applicants. Sometimes, two schools offering the same program may target different set of applicants.

I'll use Masters in Analytics for instance.

Some schools offering Masters in Analytics target people with high quantitative ability measured by GRE Quant ONLY. These schools do not care if you have 8 years work experience or if you have stellar GPA. Their focus is on your GRE Quant alone.

Another school (School B) offering same course may be targeting fresh graduates (less than 2 years work experience) with a business background (BSc in Finance, Administration, Marketing, Accounting, Management Information Systems, Economics etc) ONLY. That means an Engineer with 5 years work experience may be denied even with a 340 GRE.

So, the most likely reason for those schools not accepting the GRE is because the GRE does not test what they seek in an applicant. So they see no need for their applicants submitting GRE scores. These schools may place their entire emphasis on your research experience or on your project experience.

That's why it's not good to believe those US schools telling you they do holistic review. To be honest, only a very few schools (very very very few) do holistic reviews. Most schools have what they seek in their candidates. The best way to know that is speak to admission officers or grad coordinators. Always ask the question "What do you seek for in an applicant?" That way, you will have a clear picture of what they want from you and you will try as much as possible to get those things on your profile before sending your apps.

Hope I answered your question well.

Chidinho10:
No mind them, that's what they always say when rankings don't favor them. Instead of them fixing the lapses in their program and improve on their rankings, they cite bullshit stories to tell their applicants.

Same thing happened to Indiana University's Kelley School of Business in the recent USNews MBA rankings. They fell so badly in the recent ranking, and instead of them to learn why they fell and correct their lapses, they got their current students to go on LinkedIn and tell their applicants that ranking doesn't matter for MBAs. One week after the ranking, lots of Indiana MBA students posted on LinkedIn telling their applicants that ranking is insignificant. The irony of everything is that Indiana were using their high ranking in MBA marketing to sell to applicants in previous years. Now wey ranking no favor them, they now tell people that rankings doesn't matter.

Long story sha... But what I want to say is that their excuse is not good. It's a defensive mechanism they want to use to cover the lapses that caused their fall in rankings. If to say they were ranked number 1, do you think they would have opted out?

I wish you the very best in your interview. Go and ace it! God bless.

Dahyur119:
hello bro do you do a WES Evaluation bc the department is asking for a Wes evaluation?

nosagiez:
Visa Approved after two days on AP. Abuja Embassy

VO. Good morning and welcome to United State Of America
ME. (Fear catch me, I thought I am in US embassy). Good morning sir.

VO. Your passport please
ME. Have it sir

VO. Thank you, I can see you are going to Middle Tennessee State University
ME. Yes sir.

VO. Your I20 please
ME. This is it sir.

VO. Thank you, I can see here that you were offer a graduate assistantship that covers your tuition and a living expenses.
ME. Yes sir,

VO. Do you have a letter for your assistantship offer?
ME. Yes sir,

VO. Let me take a look
ME. I passed it,

VO. What does your assistantship entails?
ME. I will be teaching 8hrs every week on the laboratory sir.

VO. Ok! I can also see that your family is your sponsor, which of your family member?
ME. Yes sir, my grandfather sir, though he's late but I have a sponsorship from him company. My uncle is currently managing the company sir.

VO. Do you have a bank statement from your grandfather?
ME. Yes sir, from the company, my grandfather is làte sir.

VO. I can't approved your Visa now, I have to check if your statement is genuine. Do you know if you bring a fake statement you will be banned from entering the US for forever.
ME. Yes sir

VO. OK we will get back to you, I will keep your passport, your I20 and your statement.
ME. OK sir.

My interview was on 12th of June at Abuja. This evening I got a text that my passport is ready for collection and my status has been changed from AP to Issued.

The account I used wasa company account. The statement balance I submitted was 8M but it was withdrawn within 12days to 99k (so basically they are not after your balance just the authenticity of the account)

PS. I wrote GRE twice and I scored 280 and 286 respectively. V140 Q146 AWA 3.0 God showed up for me when I made my application. I got admitted into MTSU with full funding and a comfortable monthly stipends.

My advice is that you should make that application and let God do the rest. Thank you fellow NairaLanders.