How do you guys see/access this school,Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute ? Seen alot about the school on Quora (Rankings and all) though I don't like the name of the school lol. I only applied because of the fee application waiver. I have been admitted but no funding ,at least for now.



Scholastica16

Yes I will advise you mix your applications. Some for MS,some for PhD. I assume you're targeting Spring and Fall 2019, so you have time to do extensive research on the schools you want to apply to.Mail alot of Professors and from their responses, you will be able to conclude on the nature of funding available in their schools.I wish you all the best in your GRE.Cheers.

Sherlock5577:
Good day house,
I recently started following this forum and appreciate the idea and sense of altruism in this group.
I also have an inquiry:
I graduated with a First Class Geology and Mining (GPA 4.59/5.00) and intend to write my GRE at most in two-months time. I have been practicing for the GRE General exam for about 15 days and had an average score of 150 verbal, 156 quantitative (totalling about 306). I know I can make improvements (my goal is at least 320). I intend to obtain my MSc in Petroleum Geoscience in the US, but lately I realised full funding through GA or TA is more feasible in a PhD program.
My question is "Is it advisable to make applications for PhD directly, since I have heard cases of individuals going straight from a BSc to PhD? "

Thanks in anticipation!!!

Okay, just contact the graduate admissions office and explain everything to them. I also think you need to act fast because I know the deadline in order to be considered for funding has passed.

tizentos:
I'm not sure if am going to pay another application fee for applying for PhD or just ask them to switch my masters admission to PhD. I'm really confused, this PhD thing sef.

I think you should apply. It is worth the risk. The fact that he even stated that your research interest aligns with his is a good sign.

tizentos:
Then I later replied that I have already been admitted maybe there is something he can do from his end...this was his second response.

I have not heard from TAMU despite seeing a couple of admission decisions on gradcafe. I submitted my application before the December 20th deadline.

tizentos:


All masters except TAMU(Phd).

Congrats bro.For the Skype interview, check the Professor's recent research papers and his lab's website. He won't ask anything extremely technical. Just check out methods and research tools he has used to conduct research. He will mostly likely be asking you questions to see if you are a conversant with all you will need to work with him. You should be fine. Cheers.

tizentos:
UPDATE:

After waiting endlessly for weeks, my US dream almost withered. At last, admit decisions finally roll in. This is my update.

Confirmed List:

Stevens Institute of Technology(Ms)( accepted plus $15k fellowship award)

Auburn University(Ms)(accepted, scheduled a Skype interview with a prof later in the week)

Cleveland State University(Ms) (accepted)

Stanford University(Ms) (accepted, I actually applied cuz of the Knight Hennessey scholarship but I wasn't awarded).

Pending list,

UT Austin(Ms)
UC boulder (Ms
TAMU,College station (PhD).

Please guys, I need you advice on the Skype interview and how I can go about securing full funding. Your advise will be highly appreciated. #teamfall2018

It is wrong to put Buhari and Mandela in the same sentence. Mandela is everything that Buhari is not. Buhari won't leave on his own. He will prefer to be disgraced out.

That's not correct. You need to have unrestricted right to work even if you're from a commonwealth country. You should already be a permanent resident or at least be on long term visa (I.e. Spouse visa)

dayjeee:
the department for international development will take care of that. Inasmuch as you are from commonwealth country. cheers

Lol You're very observant.

ponpon:
You signed up 10 minutes ago to talk about then, can these mafit people GTH out of nairaland, it's becoming annoying, y'all are trying too much to impress and it's obviously fake

PMB should stop lamenting. Corruption has been more instutionalised during his tenure. I'm not an advocate for GEJ, but he did fight corruption in institutions though individuals looted Nigeria dry. Under PMB, both are taking place on a monumental scale. He should stop complaining and go to work.

They just wanted to know my research interests and experience. They basically went through my CV and they asked questions on it. They also want to know your future plans, what you aim to achieve from your research. If it is a studentship, the questions will be more specific as it relates to the specific project. Nothing deep as such, just to make sure you're an ideal candidate.The aim of most of these interviews is to find if you're a good fit for their research group/lab/work. I hope this helps you. All the best.

calculator123:
bro,what kinds of questions were you asked? just a hint would do, thanks in advance

I still don't understand the rationale behind dropping numbers and forming whatsapp groups. The aim of the thread is defeated. Information is best shared here so that everyone can benefit. If you're too busy to visit nairaland to check for any information, then you really do not need that information. If you go through previous threads on PTDF,you can have a glimpse of what happened and all. This thread shouldn't be any different.

Sure I will. Thanks for the good wishes. I wish you the same too.

MonsieurCoder:


Thanks for the update. Good luck with all the pending decisions. I really hope they come good for you. Please keep the house updated.

Most of the schools I applied to have not gotten back to me. Most of them had January 15th deadline. I am also guessing that my applications were too close to the deadline. For instance, I applied to Texas A &M , College Station before December 20th.
I have seen some decisions from TAMU for PhD Mechanical Engineering on gradcafe. Same with RPI.Most of them applied really early. I am still hopeful though. I applied to 8 schools. I could have applied to more. Some People on gradcafe applied to as many as 15. Lol.

MonsieurCoder:
Why is this place suddenly cold? I am sure a lot of decisions have been made by now. Please you all should share, there is a lot we can all learn, whether it's good news or bad news.

I won't call them interviews really. More like informal chats with Professors on Skype. For the ones I applied to recently, no one has scheduled any interview with me yet though I have seen a couple of admission decisions from two of the schools on gradcafe.

MasterforceII:


I really don't understand how admissions are made.
Have you been interviewed by any of the schools?

I thought all applications are reviewed at once especially for schools with a deadline ? I'm seeing on Gradcafe a lot of admission decisions from some of the schools I applied to. Though it appears some of them applied before me.

Thanks bro.

MasterforceII:


Lol. Here: https://thegradcafe.com/survey/

Please, how do you guys even check current admission stuff on gradcafe? All I see is old stuff.

MasterforceII:
Anyone here applied for EE Masters at Uni of Illiinois, Urbana Champaign? Already seeing admits on gradcafe and I'm getting frantic.
Also who on here can't stop checking gradcafe every 30mins?
Lol. Really need to calm down. Our admits are enroute.
#Fall2018 #YesWeCan

Thank you Time2Smile. Lol @ Nigerian Prince. I agree with you. Most of their current students I contacted via LinkedIn are funded and they didn't go through much stress in getting GRA and GTA positions. Well, we will keep trying.

Time2Smile:

Congratulations on your offers. Do not mind them, they can only try that with international students. Maybe they are hoping you are a Nigerian Prince.

Dear ******* *******:

Congratulations! I am pleased to notify you of your acceptance into the Mechanical Eng-Eng Mechanics PHD program for Fall 2018. Classes begin on 04-SEP-2018.

Please be advised that funding is not available from the department as a GTA. GRA decisions are made by individual faculty members but none have expressed a need for GRAs at this time. See FAQ http://www.mtu.edu/mechanical/graduate/advising/faqs/#faq48340


Research and teaching assistantships are awarded by your department and questions regarding this form of aid should be directed to them. Since no financial assistance has been offered to you at this time, you must submit evidence that you possess the appropriate amount of funds to finance your own educational program for one academic year. For more information, please refer to our cost of education page (http://www.mtu.edu/gradschool/financial/cost/).

Please upload a completed Certification of Finances Form and bank statement(s) through your MyMichiganTech as soon as possible. We will finalize your admission and issue your I-20 or DS-2019 following receipt of the requested financial information (http://www.mtu.edu/gradschool/documents/policies-procedures/forms/certification-of-finances.pdf).

Resources to assist you prior to your arrival on campus can be found both in the Enrollment Checklist on your personalized MyMichiganTech (https://www.mymichigantech.mtu.edu). Notify our office as soon as possible if you have had any changes in your mailing address or proposed term of admission.

We look forward to welcoming you to the Michigan Tech Graduate School and wish you continued success in your academic career.

Sincerely,
Jacque Smith
Director of Graduate Enrollment Services

Student ID: ********

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
I just got this from Michigan Tech. I am not understanding. Do this guys think paying for a PhD is a joke? They must really be a stingy school. lol. I actually prefer the style of not granting admission because of lack of funds. I saw an advert from one of their Professors with an available studentship position. I am calling him as soon as it 8-9 am in Michigan. lol

Wow! Thanks for this information. I hope it turns out fine in the end.

Scholastica16:


Fellowship usually comes from the department with no conditions. Many times it is a lump sum payment and other times spread over a time period. It is not tied to maintaining a GPA or doing RA/TA and is usually offered to the best or most preferred students in an application pool. Congrats.

If he is lobbying for you to get it, it means he truly wants you on his team. Fellowship is usually added to the RA/TA that will come from him which will make your sum for the year quite comfy. Congrats again.

Thanks Bro

RexCheeng:
This influx of good news is exciting!
Congrats smallsuper, Quoran!

#Fall2018 #YesWeCan

Thanks Bro

smallsuper:
Congrats Quoaran. Funding on the way bro!

Scholastica16 If a Professor says he will apply for a fellowship on your behalf, what does he mean?

I have been admitted to the University of Alabama for a PhD in Mechanical Engineering. Funding decisions will come up later. The Graduate school coordinator said I can also contact Professors for funding support. Two have already offered to apply for Fellowship on my behalf. I hope it turns out fine.

#Fall2018

True, you really know these things. I would not have applied if not for the free application form.

Scholastica16:


They waive app fees to reject many people and then improve their rankings. The higher rate of rejections you get, the higher your ranking (for those who care so much about rankings).

3rd best school in industry-rich Michigan should not be lamenting lack of funds when UMich and MSU are heavily funded. On Grad cafe, almost every PhD in your dept had to really lobby for partial funding before they sniffed it. Just put me off from the school jare.

Like I said, I pray it is better for you guys.

lol @ Stingy. I reckon that is because they receive so many applications since their application fee has been waived. I recently applied for their Mechanical Engineering PhD program. I have contacted most of their professors. The keep lamenting about lack of personal research funds to fund me. Departmental assitantship is competitive as usual. I am hoping for the best though.

Scholastica16:
Congrats Athorello. Michigan Tech is a stingy school but the way people get funding is to contact POIs after getting admitted. Normally, PhDs should come with automatic funding but not with MTech. In fact, sometimes most PhDs get partially funded. I pray that is not the case with you.

Congrats still.

Congrats. Contact your department ASAP. Do not fret about the financial requirements for now. Asking you to submit them ASAP is normal talk that comes with admission offers. Contact your department and individual professors. Hopefully, something positive will surface. You will be surprised that some Professors have already started making plans for students they will like to work with thereby looking for funds for them.

athorello:
Just in.... Admit for Michigan Tech PhD but no financial aid though it is stated that my department provides assistantships. I'm required to upload my certification of finances and bank statements asap. Where money dey? Lol. Let me contact the dept first.

The average Nigerian politician is so predictable. Lol

Okay thanks. I will try it.

geofelx:


Edit your application and upload the required project. Ensure you submit after editing

Did anyone apply for PhD? Where did you upload your masters degree project? I did not upload mine. I totally forgot. Any ideas on what I can do? Thanks.

.