₦airaland Forum

akatovic1:
However my result came out thus
AWA- waiting
Verbal- 157
Quantitative-166
I was unhappy and disappointed and I feel I messed up because I expected more(when MIT is drawing you wetin you go do na), however in all things I give thanks. But one thing I learnt is to prepare better
I had to change schools like MIT and introduce plan B schools like;
University of Texas Austin
Texas A and M university
University of Notre Dame
Colorado School of Mines ( na confusion make me add this one)
My profile goes thus;
School: One big school like that for eastern Nigeria
Discipline: Mechanical Engineering
Target: msc/PhD
CGPA: 4.53
Now let the writing of Statement of Purpose begin , I can not come and be going at the same time
Please your advice will be appreciated by me and I trust God to take us there in Jesus NameM

This is a really good score especially your Quants. Your school choices are top-notch however Mines in the last 3 admission cycles did one of the following 3:

1. Reject
2. Moved the PhD app to Masters (some got thesis option others non-thesis)
3. Accepted with 50% tuition waiver and asked you to seek individual faculty for RA or TA.

Summarily, their funding get as e be but it is profiles similar to yours that generally get accepted.

I would only recommend you added 1 or 2 safe schools to the mix to forestall touching stories of Top African students being underrated. If I was to recommend any I would say Ohio State University of Columbus or so (OSUC) for PhD, and Arizona state for Master's.

Whosentyou:
U of Utah app fee is 65$ and John Hopkins GRE scores are too high...imagine 5.5 for AWA. Am actually applying for PhD

Some of those stats are put to scare "riff raffs" away. Don't hold on religiously to it as it could be wrong.

I think Utah was $25 oh. You won't be sure until you get to the payment stage and see "click pay or submit". I remember thinking it was $65 only to get to that point and see $25.

femi312:
Just to chip in, It used to be the case before but things have changed due to cut in research funds by the US Government. For instance not all Phd students are funded in University of Colorodo at Boulder and many more schools while some wont admit you because they don't allow self funded students.

Yea I agree, I actually was referring to the schools she listed and not just US schools in general.

PHEEEMMMY:
Hello Scholars,
Greetings to you all, It's great to be here.
I just finished my Master's in Europe. I'm back in Nigeria.
My next plan is to apply for PhD's. I'm into more of Agriculture/Agronomy/Plant pathology field.
I registered for GRE. I will sit for it in the next 3-weeks. (I NEED HINTS, ADVICE AND SUGGESTIONS ON HOW TO PASS THIS TEST WELL).
Likewise, Can you share sites where PhD positions are listed?.

Thank you all, I celebrate you all....

Just search for your course and US via Google.

As per tips for GRE, well, read the thread from page 1. Cheers.

Aryastark2:
Hello everyone,
My profile; BSc 3.89; Msc 4.00; gre 307;
Schools to apply ; temple university, Baylor college of medicine, Rutgers state university of New Jersey and university of Louisville.
Course : PhD Physiology /biomedical science
Please what's my chance of getting in with full funding?
@timetosmile and others

I might edit this post when I have more information but typically if you get admitted into most (if not all) of the schools, the funding will be automatic as most PhDs in the US are.

Time2Smile:
And this is a link to the study guide I have posted before on this thread https://drive.google.com/file/d/0B-ii97JplpxMTVhRZGplOEhPaVE/view . I think it is worth sharing again. Hope it would be useful for prospective test takers. Cheers

Oga himself. Care to educate us more on what a PhD entails in the US? We crave your indulgence sir.

JoshMedia:
Hello

Nice work here

Please, I will like to know if there's any Thread or Whatsapp Group for SAT?

You can start one yourself. Others will join you. I am referring to Nairaland.

JoshMedia:
Hello, is there anyone here that had registered with this people?

Pon Pon is an honest helpful guy on here. There are few of them on Nairaland considering what we saw WRT supposed PR holders on the visa thread. He is also in the US.

nelem:
thanks bro. did you pay via the ets portal

Have you registered? Call B.Y MAFIT or use Pon Pon's offer above. He is cheaper than B.Y MAFITs and his reputation on this forum so far is great. Either offers can help pay for you cheaper than what PayPal will charge if you use your own card. Both can give tips on venues and PonPon had Magoosh videos which you would need if you are serious about taking the tests.

nastydamus:
Menh...where do I even start from?

It's been one hell of a roller coaster and it looks like it'll stay that way for a while.

I had a one-month TA training course before the fall quarter. Fall quarter (yes, Drexel runs the quarter system) started last month with me registering for 9 credits and I've been playing serious catchup here...I guess it's what you get when you take a 5-year hiatus from the school
environment.

Oh, and I am a half-time TA so I teach two classes (two hours each) every week, with close to thirty students in each class; it's a totally new experience for me but I'll survive.

Winter is coming (literally) and the formerly sunny Philly is starting to wear an overcast look. Sweaters and warm clothing have started coming
out of hiding and people don't roam the streets unless it's really necessary. I'm already mentally preparing for the heating bills I'll be seeing
soon.

On the whole, I'm happy I didn't delay my decision to pursue a PhD as any further delay would have meant even more catching up to do...when I had my MSc., we were still trying to usher in LTE tech; I'm back to school a few years later and it's like I've been living under a rock...

I've written a quiz (have another tomorrow sef) and turned in a number of assignments.

For test takers, it's really worth the stress. You'll get to work with, and learn from people with patents and world-changing inventions. Education
is a big deal here and they don't hold back where research and the prospect of solving a global problem are concerned. I was shown my desk
which still has a desktop PC that a former student was using, and they showed my a box with my new desktop PC which I'm yet to unpack, my
laptop will do for now.

Prepare well, ace your tests and start pushing out your applications as early as you can (early bird gets the worm).

Thank you for this. This means a lot to some of us here. If you are still free, I want to throw open the PhD/MSc debate that recently transpired on this thread. What is your take based on your observation thus far?

femi312:
Just to add to your points, everybody's destiny is different. What works for A Might not work for B and what works for B might not work for A. And guys need to have it at the back of there minds that less companies are willing to file HIB visa for international students as each day pass by. All these guys you all mentioned are not international students, infact you dont need a masters in American as a citizen to get to the top of your career. What applies to them doesnt not apply to us. A Phd has more opportunities than a masters on the long run. For instance you might finish the Phd and get a job that is not willing to file employment based green cards, as a Phd holder you can file for yourself in the Eb1 and Eb2 category whereas as a masters holder your faith lies solely with your company to file for you. And one out of every 10 companies are ready to even go through that route, thats why you see more people going through the Phd route.

I wonder how I forgot this. Thanks.

Cheers.

DreManuel:
Well said.

I sincerely believe that PhD is a wonderful thing highly academically and research motivated people should pursue.

Nevertheless, one doesn't need a PhD to secure a patent. Thomas Edison didn't have degrees. And some graduate applicants already have patents before graduate schools. Also one doesn't need a PhD to contribute new things to a field.

Elon Musk dropped out of PhD at Stanford after just two days to focus on his personal business. Today he is making rocket science a child's play with just a Bachelor's in Physics. Same as the Google guys who quit PhD. This is not to discourage PhD hopefuls but to praise them - they are courageous folks!

I think the argument of EZEIGBO...was to bring to the fore a fact that a seemingly confused man who doesn't know whether to do a MSc or PhD may never have considered, notwithstanding a huge potential for funding if a PhD is pursued.

A person who is not fully convinced about PhD and ends up struggling or frustrated or dropping out after many years incurs a huge opportunity cost.
Same applies to anyone who is in a profession he doesn't have passion in and ends up frustrated.

Lastly, I believe one may have more degrees than a thermometer but that doesn't guarantee success in life. The ability to imagine and create and solve human problems with or without degrees is omnipotent. Thus a degree should be a means to an end and not an end in itself.

I can't add or take anything away from this as it is more balanced than what Ezeigbo was presenting. Not saying he was completely wrong but it felt like he was saying "you would suffer and die if you choose A but the choice is still up to you between A and B".



PS: Another reason people apply for the direct PhD is to gain the free master's degree on the way before dumping the actual PhD. Larry Page did that. The Google guys did it..and someone like me may have done that if I got a job after the Master's.

As the spirit leads.

4gunners:
Which school do you think will get better chane at funding for PHD in US

You have not written GRE yet so it depends on that but keep Auburn and Purdue on your shortlist based on your GPA. I know people that got in fall 2017 who were funded for MSc and PhD in both schools.

Epithet:
About the powerprep II I think it was removed from the site. I'm not completely sure though, I referred a friend to download it, well he couldn't. Anyone that has a Google drive that links directly to the powerprep II download should be benevolent with it.

I think you need to use a registered account to download it.

witgig:
It is free... but you must have ets gre account to access.

The PowerPrep II is free but the PowerPrep Plus is to be purchased.

Yildiz:
Please how can i download the power prep software

Same ETS website there. It is just 28MB.

Yildiz:
There is an online version currently

TooMuchSauce:
The new powerprep2 requires internet connection. ETS recently changed the GRE interface, they don't have a desktop application for the new pp2 that has the new interface. Meanwhile, Yildiz I don't think you should worry too much about this technical issue, you can take the pp2 test as many times as you want, just place on order using your ETS account.

Okay, you guys are referring to the PowerPrep Plus Test. The one that is paid for? If that is it, I believe the test will begin from where you stopped just like it does in the main centre.

Yildiz:
Afternoon all. Please am having a little technical problem. I started the power prep online test and my network hooked. I have trying to login again but its still not going through. Will I be enable to continue from where I left or do I have to start all over

You don't need internet for the PowerPrep II if my memory serves me well.

Ronnie1209:
Hi Scholastica, Please can you send me pdf materials for gre? ronnie1209@yahoo.com thank you

Hi Ronnie, go to the first page of the thread; you would see 2 email addresses to which you are to send blank emails (preferably with a gmail.account). You would get most of the GRE materials you need. You can contact me thereafter if you need any one you think is unavailable there. Cheers.

EZEIGBO1OFIMO:
the bolded requires deep introspection, far too many graduate students (PhD) are miserable human beings. are you ready to spend 5-7 years working ~80 hours per week on a some dissertation, knowing that engineers out ther even your fellow immigrant are making 6 figures comfortably while you slave away in some research lab, are you ready to be frustrated by your own work, and having it rejected from top journals and/or conferences even when you have worked long enough on it. I suggest you read PhD grind by phillip guo(it's free) and see what the life of a normal PhD resembles. if all that scares you then jejely go for an MsC.

What about automatic funding? What about the chance to bring something novel to his Civil Engineering field? What about inventing a patent that would be used for years to come with the concomitant pecuniary benefits.

There are also many MSc and MBA holders that are ostensibly disenchanted with their '6-figure-paying' 9-5 jobs. Some of them are bored with the rote involved in doing some assigned role repeatedly. Others, might feel constrained by the job because they know they are more creative or innovative than their job allows them to be. You must present the positive perks attached to a PhD when you are calling for this introspection.

There are certain IOCs and fortune 500 companies that will not employ you as an international student if you are not in a PhD program or a graduate of one. I, for one, know Shell is one of such companies and that T-something guy hinted at the fact that his company (another IOC with the 5th letter "N" ) will not admit you into his department if you do not have one.

A PhD in the US, is not just relegated to Academia as it is in some other countries. In fact, word is that having one places you in a higher salary bracket than even MBA holders when positioned in the same job function. It will be equitable to let 4Gunners know the flip side of the coin you just tossed at him.

Udo!

doziej84:
I misplaced my international passport recently & I guess that's the only valid ID for entry to write the GRE.

Does anyone know if I'd be allowed to write the exams with a scanned/print out copy of my int'l passport?

You won't.

ponlear:
Early next month boss

Still having some challenges with my verbal but am getting better.

Thanks bro

God is your strength.

Just be patient with the ETS guide and Princeton Review. I believe both really help with the VR as well as the Magoosh videos.

Congrats Witgig. I will only tell you to add Cleveland State Uni to your list of schools. If you know you can make your applications before November then apply to UMD College Park as well.

Apart from the fact that your GRE is good with your very strong work experience to boot - it is not the only thing that schools take note of. Your GPA for example is very good and I am sure you would put out very strong LORs and SOPs. Another thing many fail to take note of is early applications and to me, if you apply in or before November you'd be early enough to get the admission and possible funding.

Cheers mate.

Seeker88, we see you. We'd be needing you every now and then.

Cheers mate.

ponlear:
Sup guys

Can the peeps that wrote GRE exam today share their experience?

Cheers

Yours is this month right? I have been meaning to ask how your prep's been going.

MasterforceII:
Thanks so much Scholastica. Means a lot to me coming from you. I hope my scores and GPA are good enough for the schools I have selected. I feel I'm being a tad ambitious sending scores to the likes of Georgia Tech and Michigan State but I know anything is possible if you believe. Right now, I am working on the other parts of my applications - preparing for TOEFL and writing my SOP- and should start rolling out applications by next month as unfortunately, I am not armed with my transcript at the moment. In the interim, I plan to instigate correspondence with prospective supervisors in the schools I have shortlisted after careful study of their papers. I hope this pans out well. Thanks once again.

Mahn, anything is possible. I personally believe you stand a great chance. Besides, I have seen or rather heard of lesser profiles that got into UPenn and Boston Uni for Master's fully-funded.

Athorello,

Great profile you've got there. Like someone else recommended, start working on the other parts of your application. I think you should aim for that PhD as you stand a good chance. Just try to contact potential advisors now so you won't need to waste your app fees in applying to too many schools. You might want to contact professors in UTK - I believe someone here has talked up their geophysics program and need for PhDs.

Prospective test takers should take note of Computerized full-length tests MasterforceII used and how they closely mirrored what he reproduced on the main day. That is exactly what most of us have been saying.

GlitteringStar:
IELTS Academic is not acceptable for Express Entry. He should choose TOEFL since he will be applying to both schools in the United States and schools in Canada. Schools in the United States have a preference for TOEFL while Canadian Universities accept both.

Cc: TheExclusive

Had no idea. Thanks.

TheExclusive:
Thanks a lot @Scholastica16 and @GlitteringStar for your responses.

So i can conlude that TOEFL is the way to go in order to increase admission chances in both US and Canada.

I have also observed that people are placing much emphasis on only GRE. Is test of English no longer compulsory for admission?

Thanks

GRE is more important but TOEFL etc helps with the things GlitteringStar mentioned.

All the best.

Congrats MasterforceII and Amandrush. I am glad you gave back to the thread and your reported experience will definitely help someone else.

Amandrush, I understand that you want to retake it. My advice will be to attempt more practice tests and less reading except you want to revisit a specific topic that you don't seem to be getting right while practicing.

I will always sue for full-length tests that should start with Kaplan (as it is slightly easier) then should gravitate towards Magoosh/Manhattan/CrunchPrep and finally the PowerPrep II software.

MasterforceII, congrats again and no you would not need to retake the test as you have done very well. Your GPA is also quite strong. Just put out a very well-rounded SOP and quality LORs. You could also try to reach out to POIs in your considered schools armed with your transcript, CV and now the PDF version of your GRE all in one. I am sure you know areas you would like to work on so read about it - and if possible the works of some of the POIs you are considering.

If you can tell them a bit about it; what you understood and how it can be improved and then ask to join their research group - you could be admitted and funded solely on that premise.

Even without that, your profile is strong so try to apply early (that is, before November if possible). I am excited about your chances.

Ifecrown:
Good morning to all the great members of this thread.

I have a concern and i need the contributions of great minds on this thread.
my target is to get admission next september in either US or Canada, so i want to ask when will schools open/close their admission for that period

secondly, I want to ask when is the best before date to write GRE for these admissions.

Read the thread well. You can start from this page and go backwards or start from the first page. The answers to your questions are contained therein.