chibertha:
You can work for 20hrs only on campus. To work outside while still in school you must have done one academic year (or 2 semesters) then you would be eligible for

Curriculum practical training aka internship or

if you declare financial hardship ( you do not want to go this route) then you will be granted Pre completion OPT ( 20hrs outside school)
NOTE
If you do this, it eats into your post completion OPT

It depends on what you mean but this is not exactly true. Don't get me wrong on paper, you are correct however, the rule is not implemented this way.

As long as one has classes registered for a year, you can work outside of campus during your first year. I made this mistake by following the rule you have up there but I saw and met other Nigerians who came in same time as me or even later and many of them had internships a semester after they got in with no repercussions after they graduated.

I learned my lesson that way.

NwanyiOkpa:



You are very welcome sir. What can i do with a 297?

What do you want? Funding or just admission?

Sherlock5577:

Boss, good to see your post after a long while!

Good to see you too. How is Louisiana working out? Trust you have adjusted very well.

user4321:

Very glad to have you around sir. Pretty sure your thesis, has google, and Microsoft on their toes for patents .

Very glad to have you on this thread (period). You are doing a great job and you would do a greater job when you get here.

At emboldened, I pray o.

I have been off Nairaland for a bit. Working on my thesis etc. I gleaned through the past pages and realised most people are complaining about the recent heightened difficulties in the quants section. User4321 gave an appropriate explanation but there is something I need to add. The experimental section could very well be the first exam you could see. ETS are known to add that to their schemings. If you observe that your questions are very difficult in the first section, they could very well be the experimental section.

acebolted:

I didn’t go tru this.....my bags weren’t checked in JFK at all

Your hand luggage? Not possible.

The check-in luggage? Lol. They checked it. You just did not know. All the terminals it went through especially in the US it was checked. If you used a lock you would have known because they would have broken the lock and put a slip there telling you they did.

dumbiri99:

Did you put the medicines in your hand luggage or check-in luggage and were you asked any questions about them.

I put it in my check-in luggage but in a Ziploc bag. Thing is, their scanners can tell if a drug is there but they won't act until they sense it is too much. They flung my toothpaste from my hand luggage because it was too big. Not connected to my first response but just giving it as FYI to anybody who is about to make the same mistake I made.

Time2win:


yeah, I even have like 5 unfunded PhD admit. It's doesn't always come with funding.

Those were 5 subtle rejections.

Like your profile is good so we feel bad sending you a regret mail. So we will send you an acceptance to make you feel good.

elhadji19:
.

Most people always think, PhD admissions must come with funding. I had 3 to 4 PhD admissions without funding too ooo.

It is not a "must" but it is supposed to for STEM degrees. If yours comes without it, it is a scam, run.

Brown2Green:


Once you get admitted for a Doctorate program, you'll most likely be automatically funded.

This is correct.

dumbiri99:


Wow. Even paracetamol and anti-malarial?
Plus there is a prescription medicine I use too for high blood pressure, I can't carry that one too?

So let us analyze it. If you are taking anti-malarial drugs because you are about to leave a malaria-prone area that is fine, but how much do you need? You only need the dosage needed to combat the malaria once or at least twice. You are coming to the US where Malaria is not a thing.

Ok, what about paracetamol? You need it for fevers and pains. So let us say you will need it more than once or twice. How many times? You can have enough to last you for a year but remember that drug has an expiry date. So if you have 15 packs of paracetamol, how long are you prognosticating you will be taking it for bearing in mind it has an expiry date? 3 years?

As you can see, you are carrying too much of it that will raise flags that you have intentions to sell it when you get here. Nobody will listen to your justifications. That is the danger. I even suspect your friend that is asking you for this amount wants to sell it. So be wise.

I travelled with Panadol and Anti-malaria drugs so those are fine. Even your medications for HBP is fine. But the quantity is the issue.

olasijiayo:
@scholastica16 lagosismyhome

One is a document sworn under fiduciary agreement. It is legally binding and can be used to bind your uncle to pay if he at any point reneges on paying for you. The other (the letter) is just an expression of his desire. It can be used in court but it is not as binding as the former. Personally, the affidavit has more weightage. So if he is fronting as your sponsor, I will say the affidavit is better.

dumbiri99:


Actually the drugs aren't mine, a friendly school mate wants me to help him buy and bring them along. But I don't want to have issues at POE with immigration, am I safe?

If they discover the drugs in your luggage at POE, you will be deported. If they don't discover it, fine. You can bookmark this post.

TheGrandChemist:
To whom it may concern,

May you kindly take your sweet nothings out of this thread?

There is a romance section on Nairaland for this purpose; if it really interests you, then you can create a thread there. You guys are derailing the purpose of this thread already.




Thank you!

I agree with this. It needed to be said.

justwise, sanitize this thread.

Time2win:


The V.O is very crazy. It's very hard to get emergency appointment approved now if one is refused within the last 2 months. I guess he should do as you have instructed, he might be lucky to get his request approved. A friend with funding and some deficit tried but wasn't granted an emergency appointment.

That is sad @ friend. I don't even think some VOs actually listen or review the i-20 before making decisions. They seem more preoccupied with the DS160 form and usually make up their minds on a whim.

Sherlock5577, I knew you'd get something even if not this time, your next admission cycle would have been great. It seems you are avoiding the PhD route which somewhat limited you. I do understand why you would take that pathway if that is your plan. Congrats.

DonGusfring:


Resumption date is August 9th and lecture starts by August 16th. Is it possible to get a date in Abuja before the resumption date ?

Reapply and (if still available for a second-time applicant) opt for expedited visa appointment. Your funding letter, resumption date on a document and if possible a letter from your school or intended supervisor explaining that you are legit should facilitate your request approved forthwith.

I don't know why people don't belabour it, but being full funded is the first reason you should want a school over others except the rest of them awarded you some funding. You should always endeavour to put your best foot forward before garnishing your response with the nature of the research and the supervisor.

I am convinced your request for an emergency date will be granted and you could even get approved with dates ranging from tomorrow to Friday. Don't be dismayed. The VO was just crazy(for lack of a better word).

space1:
Please someone should help me out here. I want to know if I am to take the Quantitative aspect of the GRE only, is that possible?

You are to write all sections.

They are only saying that these days the GRE quants can act in lieu of the GMAT which was not the case some years back when many thought the GRE maths was easier.

VibraniumWoman:
Good afternoon, I have followed this thread closely and I want to appreciate everyone contributing to this thread.
In the light of the question asked by Nassiirr, I also have a very disturbing question to ask, more like I want an advice.

A friend of mine said she was used as a mercenary years back, to help someone write a GRE test. She was stupid, she had no idea that it's very wrong, illegal and could haunt her. She regrets that action now anyway!

The thing now is, she is to write the GRE test for herself in one of the coming months, she's afraid her thumbprint and facial recognition software will reveal that she had taken the test for someone else in the past, and she'll not be allowed, or maybe get arrested.

How do you think she can get past this, or this really isn't a big deal?

I will appreciate your input please, nagode��

I suspect you are your friend.

Be that as it may, at the time when mercenary use was rampant in the GRE, biometrics were not yet employed. Consequently, I believe she can take her GRE unscathed.

I will still sue for more tact and honesty going forward. There was a fellow NL member who used a mercenary for her GRE and ETS subsequently found her out and withdrew her score report. I believe she lost her admission as well.

doziej84:

BSc Geophysics (3.59/5.00)
MSc Applied Geophysics (4.0/5.00)
GREQ=150, GREV=155, AWS=4.0. TOEFL - 103 (wrote both back to back in Dec...few days in-between.....(rewriting wasn't an option)
4 publications (3 Lead, 1 co-author)

University of Texas, Austin- PhD Geosciences (Rejected)
University of Houston- PhD Seismic Physics (Accepted with full funding-TA) - very generous offer
University of Tulsa – PhD Geosciences (Accepted No funding)
Northern Illinois University – PhD Geology (Accepted No funding)
Louisiana State University PhD Geology & Geophysics (Awaiting decision)
University of Louisiana PhD Energy Sciences (Accepted No funding)
Virginia Tech – PhD Geosciences (Rejected)
Georgia Washington University – MS Data Science (Accepted + partial funding)

I Hope this encourages someone with average scores like mine....truly I do.

Gosh this brings so much joy to my heart. Always looked out for you, Mfarad, MasterforceII and the guy who got Cleveland State even when he did not really apply there (I forget his name) Congrats champ.

Edit: Yildiz

chatwtme:
Boss I am new here and I need help. I am one of the new beneficiaries of the pdtf, I chose IFP France and I was given petroleum economic and management. On checking the school portal I realised admission closed since march 30th. What can I do? My first degree is mechanical engineering with 4.12 CGA from unilorin with 7 years working experience in university of Oye Ekiti. I don't want to sit for IELTS or gre . Please put me through. Kindly treat this as urgent requests boss.

I don't know if this issue has been resolved and what your plans are -sorry I am just responding. If you are dogged you can still use PTDF to go to the US but you will need to drown out the dissenting voices of naysayers as I have been reading and hearing most of them. I believe a PTDF scholar went to Uni of Lincoln Nebraska without a GRE. I also think there is a middle man PTDF scholar who can help you get into Auburn without one as well.

I would still recommend that you took it to open more doors for you in future. I personally feel going to the UK is a waste of time and money from a long-term perspective.

olorunnisola001:
With a Cgpa of 3.89 out of 5
Studied Mechanical Engineering
GRE score: 330
Do I still really need IELTS or TOFEL?
Which school can I apply to, for scholarships?
Anticipating your response. Thanks

Are the schools you are applying to asking for TOEFL? Do you have the resources for it? If you do, why not? Why give yourself a reason to believe you were disqualified for a reason you can fix?

What schools did you apply to when you took the GRE? Your GPA and GRE are great enough for most schools but a lot of things go into it. What area of research are you looking at etc.

I think you should make a comprehensive list of schools online using google to whittle them down based on GPA. Your GRE will not hinder you.

You should definitely look at Iowa State University and Louisiana State University.

You people are still flummoxed by user4321. LOL

We are rooting for you. You have everything it takes to get into Stanford. Also try MIT as well. Someone else with similar profiles (but your AWA and TOEFL are better) got fully funded into MIT.

Still shoot for UIUC, GaTech and Austin. I am 85% sure you will get into UIUC because another Akokite finished work there and is now doing his postdoc in Harvard Medical School. So they will know you are made of the same stock.

user4321:



===============================================================================
RESULT
QUANTITATIVE- 169
VERBAL - 162
TOTAL - 331

SCHOOLS
STANFORD UNIVERSITY -PHD
UT AUSTIN - PHD
RICE - PHD
WASHINGTON UNIVERSITY IN ST. LOUIS - PHD

GPA
4.74/5
WES (UNOFFICIAL) 3.82/4.0

cc- quoran scholastica16 time2win

NB: What really helped me in no particular order
1. Encouragement from my friends to rewrite
2. Manhatted GRE 6 test Pack ($50) - (It really mimics the real GRE)
3. greprepclub.com/forum/
4. Quora

also I hope to beat my 4.5 AWA

Edit: I also wrote while on my full time job as a software engineer

Not surprised at all. I think you are a genius. Rice and UT Austin are great picks. I would have added TAMU and GaTech and UIUC as well. Stanford is unpredictable but your GRE/GPA will not be the reason you are not taken, if you are not taken. I hope you are. You deserve it.

Sheke01,

The 2 posters replying you are one and the same.

Sherlock5577:

I agree with you; it's been a competitive year!
Thanks, I'll keep pushing

Congrats too

Education funding reduced this year, courtesy Donald Trump and the energy sector was hard hit as well.

Your GPA is strong, I will say you should not curtail your choices to just moderate schools. You stand a very good chance.

crispviv:
Hey Guys,

I need your help. I got an offer for a PHD chemical engineering but am confused on which to choose. I need your help fam.

Tulane University : PHD CHEM ENG. 28K STIPEND PLUS HEALTH INSURANCE (HALF)

LSU: PHD CHEM ENGR 25K STIPEND. NO HEALTH INSURANCE.

Pardon the errors .

Don't make this decision based on money. If you are unhappy with a bad PI, the extra 3k will not matter. Do not also go to a school because you think the name is more popular. Those things neither matter or count as much as people tout it on here.

A PhD is a huge commitment, I will say you should prioritize the PI's and their method of advising students first and foremost. That is key. Do you want someone who ignores you..or does not hold you accountable. Someone who wants the best for you including internships..or someone who just wants a lab slave? Some PIs also like to micromanage their assistants and if you don't like that kinda thing it won't work for you. It is when both are on par in these aspects that cost of living could be a factor. I think Tulane is recruiting you much more which is a good sign. Some of the people in my lab got offers from supposed better schools but they still chose to come here because they felt better recruited.

FA13:
Hello everyone,

I just want to seek opinion. I applied for PhD admission in Mechanical Engineering, Robotics option.

However a professor offered me Biomedical Engineering option.
I never thought of it before.

What is your view please? Can ones interest change and cope with a new area of research not in your plan before?


Scholastica16

Sorry I am just seeing this. He has seen something on your resume that he feels will make you a great fit for the idea he has and I don't think it is a bad option. Research in US is so flexible that the overarching major does not really dictate the nature of the research. He might want you to apply your interest in Robotics to solve a biomedical problem for e.g so it is still Robotics but just under Biomedical engineering. I have a friend here who had his Bachelors and Masters in ChemE but his PhD is in Food Science even though one of his advisors is in ChemE. The reason is, the funding is from Food Science and the application is there as well but all the knowledge being brought into it is from ChemE. I know another girl who was to be in Civil but because the application of her research is more in ChemE they made her switch and take the core ChemE grad courses. You are a smart chap, I am sure you will cope. First interact with him (if you have not) and flesh out what the research entails.

Topiipii:

On what basis are you making this claim? I hope you realise that there's a difference between attending high school and not presenting a certificate?

I have seen people say this thing ad nauseam and it makes no sense. How can a body, constituted to issue a certificate, issue that certificate in public, yet even lawyers go around either claiming it is fake or that the issuee does not merit it?

Sharon8:
Please when you send gre scores to schools, do you get any correspondence from them??

No. Two things you can do; check your application portal, the column for GRE results should acknowledge that they have received it but your best bet is to communicate with the grad coordinator with this query as the body of the email. Many times, the portal is hardly ever updated in time whereas they have received the official scores.

Olalekank:
Been a while I bounced around here

Na so fight fight fight everywhere like say we be pikin

Who notices a similarity between R and scholastica16?

Please, I beg you, leave me out of it. Thanks.

calculator123:

Now all I see is pride. No one is an island you know and no one is above correction

See it and be going, you must not quote me. Haba.