₦airaland Forum

timesup234:
You mean the way countless traders and businessmen in Nigeria who didnt even go to secondary school are billionaires? Abroad is a diseased that must be eradicated. It is the highest form of brainwashing of the black mind. Nothing in abroad is good. It is a disease

lasthero:
1. Please name just 10 out of the countless illiterate billionaires you are talking about.

2. You still haven't answered my question. Do you mean the way jumia and konga ceos, with countless of Nigerians on H1b in top firms like amazon, Facebook, twitter and Google are regretting?.


3. Name just 10 Nigerian based msc holders is on par with their foreign schooled counterparts?.



All I can smell from you is a person whom Walter Carrington has slamed multiple rejection and ended up been frustrated and anti American.


When I am not mad, why will I see a sane, conducive and organized education system and compare it with the Nigerian system with lots of sadist professors with outdated curriculums.


You aren't making any sense this time bro.

This is an educational topic, not your usual Nigeria is better than America threads

timesup234:
Young dude education in form of college is overrated. Going to Harvard, Yale don't guarantee anything. The United states was built on murder and thuggery not education. Nah, visa is slavery

https://edition.cnn.com/2019/09/17/us/los-angeles-yale-graduate-homeless/index.html


https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=05We-FC3QfE

lasthero:
You are still not making any sense bro.

1. I asked for the names of the illiterate billionaires, you refused to mention.

2. I asked for the names of at least 10 Nigerian universities graduates who is on same par with their counterparts from US, you refused to mention.

Instead, you came up with this stuff. Go back to where you dug this nonsense out from and research about the best Nigerian is specific desciplines across the world.

Incase you are too lazy to do that, I will show you just few out of the best Nigerian professionals out there.
These few after getting first degree in Nigeria, went abroad to gain skills and they are well known in their professions.

Go to LinkedIn or see how our best brains are doing well in a sane country whose educational system are top notch.

Avail yourself with how our best brains are been employed in top firms in the US after their studies.



Once again, this is an educational thread, not your regular hulabalo frustrated threads of how Ambrose alli university is better than havard.

I won't reply to you again

kash3000:
Nigeria is More Better !

Crispels:
@OP, I agree with many of the facts you pointed out. I currently work with one of the top 3 auditing firms in the world and one of the things we have come to realize in the course of recruiting graduates from different countries is that Master's graduates of American R1 universities are usually better (more exposed/flexible) than their counterparts from the U.K. Even in Nigeria, when we were recruit for Deloitte and Shell, we do find out that Nigerians who travel to the United States for grad school return home more equipped and 'world class' than those who studied in other countries. This is largely due to the fact that they spend more time studying and developing in the American educational system. The United States also has the largest economy in the world which means more JOB OPPORTUNITIES and the likes.

This is not to opine that studying in the U.K is inferior to studying in the United States. I studied in England, Australia and the United States as well and I can say it all eventually boils down to what the individual makes of it at the end of the day. However, American universities(particularly R1/R2 schools) really spend more time drilling you and investing in you: which makes the big difference. If you are very smart, willing to work hard and embrace big problems, I encourage you apply to American schools, they are more likely to make the best use of your talents. The cost of studying in the United States is immense but once they know you are hard working, you are capable of adding value and you have great potentials, they will go as far as funding your education and may even try to keep you in the American system.

I was not offered full scholarship after my admission to Duke University. Upon resumption however, after a few weeks of classes and tests(they saw my potentials), the university offered me a fellowship that covered my entire tuition fees(about $50,000) as well as my cost of living. I was one of the best in my class and I got offers from companies(networked with them after we presented a class home work to them) that wanted to sponsor my green card and ensure I remain in the U.S but I chose to move to Australia instead due to personal reasons.

In the end, the grass is not always greener on the other side and foreign education does not automatically translate to success in life. It does not even automatically mean you are better than those who studied in UNILAG, OAU, FUOYE or BABCOCK. It all boils down to the individual and how well you make the most of certain opportunities in life.

Jefferyhi86:
Nigerians we too like school haba! Yet our backyard dirty

DonTattaglia:
I believe that wherever u study is not the issue. It is the individual who decides to be what he wants to be. As a consultant I have assessed and interacted graduates from Nigeria and their counterparts from U.S, U.K, and other parts of Europe and Africa in clinical research and exchange programs and most times I see that Nigerians are better and more thorough in clinical judgment with a broader and sharper acumen. Unfortunately Nigeria govt is not helping matters.

DexterousOne:
Some of the worst graduates I have dealt with are from Nigerian unis
The good ones are statistical outliers
We don't like telling ourselves the truth But it is what it is

Crispels:
@OP, I agree with many of the facts you pointed out. I currently work with one of the top 3 auditing firms in the world and one of the things we have come to realize in the course of recruiting graduates from different countries is that Master's graduates of American R1 universities are usually better (more exposed/flexible) than their counterparts from the U.K. Even in Nigeria, when we were recruit for Deloitte and Shell, we do find out that Nigerians who travel to the United States for grad school return home more equipped and 'world class' than those who studied in other countries. This is largely due to the fact that they spend more time studying and developing in the American educational system. The United States also has the largest economy in the world which means more JOB OPPORTUNITIES and the likes.

This is not to opine that studying in the U.K is inferior to studying in the United States. I studied in England, Australia and the United States as well and I can say it all eventually boils down to what the individual makes of it at the end of the day. However, American universities(particularly R1/R2 schools) really spend more time drilling you and investing in you: which makes the big difference. If you are very smart, willing to work hard and embrace big problems, I encourage you apply to American schools, they are more likely to make the best use of your talents. The cost of studying in the United States is immense but once they know you are hard working, you are capable of adding value and you have great potentials, they will go as far as funding your education and may even try to keep you in the American system.

I was not offered full scholarship after my admission to Duke University. Upon resumption however, after a few weeks of classes and tests(they saw my potentials), the university offered me a fellowship that covered my entire tuition fees(about $50,000) as well as my cost of living. I was one of the best in my class and I got offers from companies(networked with them after we presented a class home work to them) that wanted to sponsor my green card and ensure I remain in the U.S but I chose to move to Australia instead due to personal reasons.

In the end, the grass is not always greener on the other side and foreign education does not automatically translate to success in life. It does not even automatically mean you are better than those who studied in UNILAG, OAU, FUOYE or BABCOCK. It all boils down to the individual and how well you make the most of certain opportunities in life.

Passion2009:
I obtained my Bachelor's degree from a Nigerian university. Upon graduation, I proceeded to the U.S for my first Master's degree and later to the United Kingdom for my second Master's degree.

I have equally traveled across the world - I've had the honor to meet graduates from over 70 countries. Today, at a workshop in Canada - we discussed about graduate school opportunities all across the world and I've decided to share my thoughts with readers here on Nairaland. My opinions are drawn from my experience studying and living in both the United States and United Kingdom as an international student.

I will be writing about the Pros and Cons of obtaining a Master's degree in both the United States and the United Kingdom - the dream destinations for Nigerian students.


Graduate School in The United States of America

The United States is the most preferred destination for international students all across the world. They boast of the best and of course - the most expensive universities in the world. Among the top 20 Universities in the world, more than 10 are in the United States and among the top 200 universities in the world - at least 60 are in the United States as well. American universities are passionate about research, study, innovative ideas and critical thinking - especially if you attend a R1 university(e.g Harvard, Princeton, the University of Chicago, the University of Pittsburgh, CMU, etc) in the United States(Google the list of R1 universities). American universities have proven to be the epicentres of transformative discoveries and innovations in the past 50years and they still lead the world in the fourth industrial revolution.



PROS (Advantages of Schooling in the United States).

(1). YOU ARE MOST LIKELY A STRONGER CANDIDATE IN THE JOB MARKET DUE TO YOUR FLEXIBITY

For graduate students who are hardworking, talented and smart thinkers - American R1 universities provide you with a great opportunity to live your biggest dreams in different fields.
As a Master's student in the U.S, you can obtain a Major, a Minor and Certificates in different fields in the course of your two years of study. For instance, I have a mentee who bagged a Master of Public Policy from an American university and he was able to obtain a Major in Energy Policy, a Minor in Governance Development, a Certificate in Cyber Security and Law as well as another Certificate in Africana Studies. He amassed all of these qualifications in his two years of study in the United States. With these qualifications, he is flexible enough to apply to different jobs in different sectors and you can probably guess where he works now. It is also easier to do joint degrees as a grad student in American universities. In other words, you can be running a M.B.A/J.D program at the same time with your initial Master of Science in Psychology - you graduate with two top notch degrees that will give you a big advantage in the job market.
Although, it takes longer(2years) to bag a Master's degree in the U.S but it's mostly worth it for students who know their onions. More so, many grad school programs in the United States make it mandatory for you to go on internship abroad or within the U.S for about 3months. My mentee that I talked about earlier on had his internship in Vienna with one of the international organizations there - his entire internship expenses were fully funded by his American university. Opportunities like interning abroad as a grad student strengthen your profile and make you more formidable in the job market. The U.K grad schools largely do not give the room for this kind of flexibility offered by American universities.

2. THERE ARE MORE FUNDING OPPORTUNITIES
If you are a strong candidate applying to an American university, you are very likely to secure scholarships and fellowships that will help cover most(if not all) expenses of your grad school education. Schools in the U.K are not as generous as American schools when it comes to funding/scholarships. A very significant percentage of the grad students in American universities study on full-scholarships. You can Google and read about the KNIGHT HENNESSEY SCHOLARSHIP initiative for grad students at Stanford University - this is just one American university.

3. DIVERSE LEARNING COMMUNITY.

American universities attract the highest number of foreign students in the world. They are the first choice of most international students globally.


4. WORLD CLASS FACULTY AND TOP CLASS FACILITIES.


5. A HIGH CHANCE OF BEING RETAINED TO PURSUE THE AMERICAN DREAM.

Particularly for those who have made the best use of their two years.

•CONS( Disadvantages of Studying in the United States)•


1. IT IS SUPER EXPENSIVE.

American universities are by far the most expensive in the world. For most programs in US R1 Universities, your tuition/school fees alone will cost you around $40,000(roughly 15million naira/per year) a year as an international student. Some programs in universities like UCHICAGO and Stanford even cost as high as $60,000 - $73,000 in tuition/per year. Most Master's programs in the United States also take two years to complete. Thus, tuition for a two-year Master's degree program(at the rate of $45,000/year may gulp over 30million naira from you).

2. THE ADMISSION REQUIREMENTS AND PROCESSES ARE MORE STRINGENT AND COMPETITIVE COMPARED TO THE U.K

Many grad school programs in the United States - particularly in R1 universities require you take standardized tests like G.R.E and even TOEFL in some instances. This means more funds are injected into the application process and more candidates to compete with their test scores. While some programs in different American universities now waive the G.R.E test - many have begged to differ and I've instead stuck to their gun.

3. IT TAKES LONGER

In the United Kingdom, you are most likely to bag your Master's degree in the course of just one academic year in a similar program(as a grad student in the U.S) but this is not the case in the United States. The American educational system will keep you in the libraries and classrooms for at least one more year - buried in research works, readings and paper writing.


4. American ENGLISH
If you ever get to visit the United States, you will realize that their pronunciations are to an extent different from the British(Water is pronounced as
"WADAR" in the United States). If you grew up in Nigeria and your parents could not afford to send you to secondary schools like B.I.S, LEKKI British School, GRANGE and the likes - you may struggle to communicate with Americans on your first few days on campus.

5. EXPOSURE TO WHAT MAY SEEM TO BE NEGATIVE CULTURAL INFLUENCES.

Particularly for those who are conservatives - you may find it inconvenient and shocking.



•GRADUATE SCHOOL IN THE U.K•

British universities are no doubt some of the best in the world. They exude class, history and culture. From the classrooms to the libraries, you see students and faculty members making efforts to build on legacies that have defined their excellence and greatness for decades.

PROS(Advantages)

(1). CHEAPER OPTION

Compared to American universities, the U.K offers a similar world-class education for cheaper tuition fees. A Master's degree program that will cost you $40,000(just school fees/tuition) a year in a R1 American University will cost you less than $25,000 in the United Kingdom. It is also pertinent to remember that you are paying the $25,000 just for a year in the U.K but in the U.S.A - you are paying the $40,000 twice. To put things in perspective, the school fees for a Master's degree in the U.K will cost you less than $30,000(less than 10million naira) while a similar program in the United States will cost you at least $80,000(about 30million naira).


(2). EASIER TRANSITION TO NIGERIAN SYSTEM

(3). MORE RESERVED AND PEACEFUL

This is the major reason why some Nigerian politicians pick U.K schools over American universities. Many people see the extreme social/cultural exposure in the United States as destructive. Although, there are still a lot of Nigerian elites whose children study and live in the United States - particularly those in the National Assembly. In fact, Nigerian business men and investors still pick the United States(Canada taking over now) over the U.K as the most preferred destination for their children.

(4). WORLD CLASS FACULTY AND FACILITIES

(5). EASIER TO SECURE STUDENT VISA COMPARED TO THE CURRENT TRUMP USA - PARTICULARLY FOR APPLICANTS BASED IN NIGERIA

The United States now extremely scrutinize their student visa application process. In the past, once you secure admission into an American university, you are almost 100% assured of a U.S F1 visa. These days, the rate of F1 visa denials is shocking; even candidates with scholarships and good immigration history are being denied visas. Some even struggle to secure visa interview appointments in Lagos and Abuja. Currently, compared to Trump's America, the U.K is more relaxed when it comes to student visa issuance.



CONS(Disadvantages).

(1). Less Funding/Scholarships
Although U.K schools do offer decent scholarships to impressive applicants, they are way less generous compared to American universities.
Apart from scholarship initiatives like CHEVENING SCHOLARSHIP and Mastercard Foundation Scholarship for U.K universities - there are no many funding opportunities for prospective grad students - compared to the United States - where even a research fellowship or a G.S.A/T.A with a professor can cover all your tuition and living expenses for two years. American universities by far have bigger endowments and funding when compared to U.K schools.

(2). Grad School Admissions are largely hinged on CGPA

American universities tend to look at a candidate's entire profile(leadership, research, volunteer experiences etc) when making admission decisions but U.K schools are more particular about CGPA.


(3). DESPITE BORIS JOHNSON'S FRESH 2-YEAR OFFER TO INTERNATIONAL STUDENTS; THE U.K IS YET TO RE-AFFIRM ITSELF AS THE PREFERRED DESTINATION FOR A POTENTIAL FOREIGN WORKER/IMMIGRANT.


Best of luck.



Ayobami Olorundare writes from Canada; 20th of September, 2019. He can be reached on Twitter.