please, can the house share links to good IELTS materials..Thank you

@esosa4real please I mailed. kindly reply.

please how do I contact @imperiouxx

Hi Guru,
I am currently in USA doing a PhD but interested in the express entry to Canada. I tried the FSW in 2013 , but my package was returned because slots were filled. I am hoping to try it again. I have not taken the IETL but I think I will score at least 7 in all the categories. I have a Nigerian BSC degree and a UK MSc degree. I am 36years and not married. Have six years professional work experience in 3 different categories, but I can only claim 2 years work experience for the job category I intend filing under. Please what will be your advice to boost my chances. Also, I was thinking of using a professional consultant , not sure if this will be a good idea but will welcome it if the house can recommend trust worthy ones. Thank you.

python guru urgently needed!!!!

Urgent , Can one enter USA after the date stated on the I20? Mine is in few days time, 9th of August.

Hi house, please I appreciate any review or assessment on Royal Air Maroc flight to USA or chigaco. My Destination is Iowa. That airline seems to be offering the only reasonable price for now. Else any other suggestions will be welcomed

My interview happened on Monday 6.30am, but I have been busy reason for the delayed transcript. This forum thread has been fantastic and does 50% of the work needed for people to get their visa. The selfless service of gurus and members cannot be ignored. Sometimes their hard or straight talks often cause commotion , but its better they tell us the reality and what is possible than people chasing shadows . bbdd (he packaged and inspired me) and slimmy are often attacked for their straight talks, but these two guys were instrumental to getting my visa. Also, the tendency of people looking for the easiest way out of everything and not doing the necessary diligent home work are the major reasons for many denials. If advice given is followed and tailored to one’s application, then I see no reason why people can’t pick up their visas easily. The job of the VO is to look for reasons to deny people( VOs are doing their jobs), but our job is to not give the VO the chance, and block every loophole possible in our applications and during interviews by preparing for all possible questions. I believe the forum has helped immensely. The visa journey is not smooth, but achievable .

VO: morning
ME: morning
VO: what school are you heading to?
ME: University of Iowa
Vo: what program are you going for there?
Me: PhD in Health Informatics.
VO: How did you get to know about the school ?
ME: I did extensive research about schools offering PhD in Health informatics using professional websites like American Medical Informatics Association (AMIA) , Health Informatics Forum and other search engines and streamlined programs in clinical informatics and health data analytics. This is in line with my research (…cut ) ( my advice every course has a professional website. Instead of people saying usnews, Princeton etc , that VOs keep hearing daily and I consider cliché. Mention the American professional websites of the course you want to study)
VO: why university of Iowa
Me: I have a Master’s degree in health informatics and the school is among the top schools offering training in the field of Health informatics. It has an excellent program in health data analytics.
VO: you have a masters degree?
Me: Yes I have a master’s degree in Health informatics from the University of Leeds
Vo : Health informatics and what’s that about?
Me: Health informatics is the use of information technology to leverage the delivery of health with the aim of improving the safety, quality and efficiency of heath service delivery..(cut)\
Vo: who is sponsoring you?
Me. The school is my sponsor. I am on full funding as stated on the i20. It covers.. tuition…(cut)
Vo : Do you have any other document that shows the breakdown of your scholarship other than i20.
Me: I gladly gave her my admission letter and I started smiling
She had no choice too , but also smiled with the good new

Hello house, Pls on the D 160 previous work history page , I have some contract work history to fill in, but the forms would not permit me more than two sessions of work history thereby not covering the 5 year period requested for. I tried to "add another", but it was not higlighted. Has any one encountered this or its unique to my form. Thank you

DanjaNinja:
Hi all. I just booked my Visa appointment using the GTBank internet banking platform. It was fast and seamless. Took me less than 5 minutes, all from the comfort of my home. If you have internet banking on Gtbank or know anyone who does, i would encourage you to use this method cos its pretty fast and stress free.

Hi, Danja. I would like to use this method tonight and right away but I do not have a standby printer. Is it possible to pay and print later. Thanks. Also, sent you a message via inbox.

Any house member schooling or going to University of Iowa this fall?

slimmy05:
Health Informatics is really competitive. Its a nice program and congrats on your admission.

Well, good you got funding for your first year sorted out, well your academic performance will always determine if your funding will be renewed. In my school, you will need to maintain a 3.0 which I feel is fair enough, an average student should be able to get 3.0 atleast in my field, but I can't say for others. You are going for a PhD program so you should rule out anything like Job hunting for the next 4 years, you should focus on your PhD program as that is the surest route for green card. I am sure your monthly stipend should be enough to pay your bills. Schooling in US is really very demanding. I am also looking at PhD programs as well for Fall, 2016, I want to take my time and apply to like 15 schools I know its hard, but I've already started scouting for schools and emailing profs.

About your visa, you have a high chance of getting the visa I don't think you need anything else. You also need to get a sponsor to show you can fund the program you also need to prove to the VO why you actually chose the program. Iowa is not expensive, but its white dominated areas, all you need do is identify yourself with a church, I would prefer a white church and make yourself useful to them and I assure you there won't be any problem when you're short of food or cash.

Try and wait for University of Texas admission decision and see if they would offer funding. You need to pay SEVIS fee which is $200, pay visa fee in GTbank, fill your DS160 and book for your appointment.

I hope I helped, Guru's here would help me, I'm still learning

@slimmy05
Thank you for the eloquent advice. There had been pressure and constant communication from Iowa regarding my decision, even yesterday (Saturday). I had no choice, but to be submissive and accept the offer. I will see what comes out of Texas, but I doubt if their fellowship package will be as good as that of Iowa. I just have to put strategies to cope with the tedious years ahead as well as the white dominant environment as mentioned. I will progress with visa processing as suggested. Thanks again!!

imperiouxx:


Well said slimmy but PhD and green card are different gameplay altogether.



@pumpin26,

The route (PhD) you're taking gives "NO" opportunity for hustling while you're into it. You basically depend on fellowship or you'll crash out of the program. Moreover, Iowa is not a state suitable for hustling. So get your fact right before deciding on what to do. Best of luck!

@imperiouxx
Thank you for the advice. What's your view of the gameplay and which are the hustling states?

biikeys:


Do you have an MS degree already?

Eitherways, a 3.0 may be okay for someone in the MS program. For a PhD, you want to maintain a 4.0 or at least a 3.5. In fact, some schools require a minimum of 3.5 CGPA for their PhD students.

Be careful though in choosing schools..your research area/interests coupled with having the right Professor should be priority.
Do you really want to invest your time in what you're committing yourself to?
If it is a fast-track MS/PhD prog, it will probably take you up to five years or more. You don't want to waste five years of your life doing what doesn't really interest you (your research area).
I feel you should have a focus on what you would like to do(under Health Informatics) and who you would like to work with based on research interests, and then base your decision on that!

Thank you for the advice. I already have MSc in Health Informatics. Unfortunately, I am yet to find student or alumni from university of Iowa that can share their experiences of the school or the department with me. An insight into the department could be useful with regards to choosing professors and supervisor or the research area one should concentrate one. Health informatics is relatively new and multidisciplinary program, many of the faculties are still flexible and trying to establish their own research areas in this field as well.
Nevertheless I have two areas of research am considering. I believe with hardwork and dedication the 4.0/3.5 is achievable.

@slimmy05

Top of the day to all in the house, I applied for Phd in Health Informatics to 4 schools. As we are all aware, this period is admission decision time for most schools. Unfortunately I have so far, received rejection from 2 schools (Minnesota and Utah).

Luckily, however, I was given admission by Univ of Iowa. Initially the admission came without funding , but when they sensed my reluctance of accepting such, they decided to give a year fellowship for my first year so as to be able to concentrate on course works and my performance will determine my eligibility for TAs and GAs for subsequent years. Although this is not my best choice and since I am not having a stable job at the moment, I will be accepting the offer.

Nevertheless, I would appreciate contribution or information regards the school, life generally in Iowa, hustling in USA, realistic job prospects, approach to visa application and any other appropriate comments. Still awaiting decision from Uni of Texas, this would have been my preferred choice provided it comes with funding, which I doubt.

For those that are experiencing rejections, it’s part and parcel of the process, don’t give up!!

Top of the day to all in the house, I applied for Phd in Health Informatics to 4 schools. As we are all aware, this period is admission decision time for most schools. Unfortunately I have so far, received rejection from 2 schools (Minnesota and Utah).

Luckily, however, I was given admission by Univ of Iowa. Initially the admission came without funding , but when they sensed my reluctance of accepting such, they decided to give a year fellowship for my first year so as to be able to concentrate on course works and my performance will determine my eligibility for TAs and GAs for subsequent years. Although this is not my best choice and since I am not having a stable job at the moment, I will be accepting the offer.

Nevertheless, I would appreciate contribution or information regards the school, life generally in Iowa, hustling in USA, realistic job prospects, approach to visa application and any other appropriate comments. Still awaiting decision from Uni of Texas, this would have been my preferred choice provided it comes with funding, which I doubt.

For those that are experiencing rejections, it’s part and parcel of the process, don’t give up!!

Wagasigiungu:

Good a.m. Glad i came across dis ur post. I sent u an email. Would love to discuss with u abt d health informatics program. Pls respond. Tnx

I have responded via my yahoo email. Kindly confirm receipt. Thank you.

Hello House, I am a novice at programming. I decided to go into programing mainly because it will help my Health Informatics career progress. I have decided to learn Java and currently using “introduction to java programming comprehensive Edition by Y Liang". The book has huge exercises at the end of each chapter that I believe will be helpful for skills development. However, I often encounter challenges when coding some of the exercises and would appreciate advice and input on how to make the codes better to get the desired result. My question is there a thread where I can post my code and question for help or can I make use of this. Also, anyone in Abeokuta at the moment who is good at programming that can provided necessary guidance. Thank you

Hello house, I am relatively new to his forum , but I am impressed from what I have read so far and can see that there are open minded Nigerians that don’t hoard information and still desire progress in others .

On the other hand, I have a masters degree in health informatics from UK already and i am considering going for a second degree in Canada. I love the health informatics course, but unfortunately couldn’t get much hands-on experience in UK . Now am thinking of going for another course in Canada. However, I think it wont be logical to go for Health Informatics Masters again in Canada as this may cause visa denial. I am now considering either a PhD in Health Informatics or an MPH. Please which Canadian university does one have higher chances of getting funding for MPH since I made a Distinction in my MSc. Other suggestions will be welcomed particularly if people know of Health Informatics programs and career prospect in Canada.