₦airaland Forum

kyuubi:
To put things in clearer perspective

The $555,000 Student-Loan Burden
When Michelle Bisutti, a 41-year-old family practitioner in Columbus, Ohio, finished medical school in 2003, her student-loan debt amounted to roughly $250,000. Since then, it has ballooned to $555,000.
http://online.wsj.com/article/SB20001424052748703389004575033063806327030.html

Yeah I read that. A lot of Americans are like that though- borrowing a lot of money to finance their education thinking it would pay off.

@jamebex med school is bloody expensive and tough to get into. My sister's GPA is 3.9 and her MCAT scores were also very good. Basically she applied to medical school for a whole year before finally getting into a school which wants evidence of $240,000 in an account or something ridiculoue. My point is unless you are very, very smart or very, vert loaded do not bother with US medical school. I think the UK is a bit cheaper and the quality of education you receive there is similar to what you'll get in the US. My uncle trained in the UK some 30 years ago and now works as a profesor/medical doctor in the US.

Was that school Hopkins? I know they require 240K in an Escrow account (I learned that word from American medical schools- ole barawo )

The best thing to do, and what most asians do (These guys are going to take over the world I can confidently say because they use their common sense) is train to be doctors in their country (MBBS/ first medical degree), and then come to the US for a masters in medical biochemistry or something stupid like that. While they are doing this, they sit for the USMLE, get the best grades possible and then try and get residency in a medical clinic ( You are not included in the H1B Work visa quota system if you work in a hospital/health clinic). Voila they become doctors in America. You really dont have to go to a $50,000school in America to be a doctor- you just need to use your brain.

@SEFAGO keep your head up. I too was rejected from all my choices the first time I applied last year. Now I've applied again but I have a potential job with an oil company in naij so I'm not as stressed as the first time around. I'd honestly advice you to do some additional research, try to raise your GPA, reddo GRE if you got below 1450 and try to apply for the spring semsester. I totally understand what you mean about asian (indian and chinese mostly) professors only hiring students who share the same nationality with them and maye one or two whites. Thats messed up. Im go better for us sha.

I got a high above a 1450, my GPA might have been iffy but not that bad, I took some of the hardest classes in my school. I had taken 2 PhD level classes and I am currently on my third. 1+ year research experience (Independent research mind you, which is similar to what Graduate students do)- infact if I work an additional semester, I might have something published in a paper. However, the big problem is the transition from Hard Sciences--> Engineering. I have already gotten into PhD programs in my department choice (Really top schools), but I have gotten rejected everywhere in engineering sucky lol.

Speaking of Asians professors- yes they do play a bit of favoritism but not too much. I would too if I was a professor but one has to consider the familiarity factor. For example, I see someone with a first class from OAU or UI ( I would be aware that this is very hard to get and would place him at the top of the pile). However, I cannot interpret the GPA requirement of someone from IIT or Tsinghua University which are the premier institutions in their countries even though I know these schools. Moreover professors work with people they are comfortable with, who speak the same languages and such. Anyways I think the real problem was my non-engineering background and far less with anything else. I think the best thing would be for me to do a masters in engineering and then apply for a PhD- this was what I was advised to do, by someone who had experience in such things. However, one of my seniors in university got into Caltech for a PhD in Environmental Engineering and so I thought it would not be that hard, until I found out that his research advisor had contacts with the environmental engineering department- case in point, never use someones situation as a parallel for yours.

^ Do you have plans to pay for the $200,000 medical education in the US? No, then forget it

[quote author=flo_path link=topic=943.msg5527622#msg5527622 date=1266363776]I thought it was you lol. I like to think that I have a photographic memory even though it sometimes fails me. I transferred to Cornell, but I have only spent one semester there before going for this research internship that I am currently doing. Ithaca is too cold lol. I have been doing research for one year(well, It would be one year in April when I finish this). One of the main reasons why I took this research thing is that I realized that popsi was shelling out major cash for Cornell.  I am not the only child, and my dad isn't a politician so I felt kinda bad. I am using this research thing to also figure out what I really want to do. I am also going to try transfer admissions for the last time, hopefully I can crack the places I want. Even if I don't, I am still pretty happy with my results so far.

I think I might end up in a management and engineering sciences type phd program. The ones at MIT and Stanford are pretty good. There is also a pretty good joint program at HBS. I am in the interview process for a particular internship right now. If I get this summer internship-which is a pretty big IF-  then the path to a good MBA program would be easier. I am just trying stuff out to see what I might enjoy doing in the future, even though I know things would change. It's funny, I thought I would enjoy research so I feel angry at myself for even considering other options.

Carnegie Mellon is such a good school, it's in a nice city too.  Princeton has a pretty good ChemE program, but its MechE is just decent, besides I have never really liked NJ. Such a terrible place.

Hey, sefago, If you don't like your results for this cycle, you could take a research position for a year and then reapply with better recs and SOP. That might also help you to narrow down your options better. It is a pretty crazy process, stepping out of it a bit can be of much help.

One question for you guys applying to phd programs though, do you see yourselves going the Phd -->> Post doc -->> Assistant prof route? I think it is pretty important to keep that in mind too.[/quote]Oh Ok, I actually think I know who you are then. Its really easy for me to spot naija ppl on CC.

Yeah I heard Ithaca sucks a bit, I got into Cornell for undergrad but one of the reasons I decided not to go was lack of money and the cold rural new york area. However looking back I think braving the cold might have helped since I might have decided to do engineering. But your options would be so numerous if you come out of Cornell with good grades- infact you wouldn't sweat getting into any engineering program. I actually dont know anyone at Cornell but I know a couple at Columbia though so I cant ask u about any naija peeps.

So how many years have u being going? Like seriously you should not transfer again man, focus on your grades- (haha I am the last person to advise anyone) and spend more time. I have met a couple of people who post-graduated from Cornell and they are at MIT, Caltech, Stanford and all those good schools for engineering. Its all about the grades man not the school you went to- or does this have to do with financial aid?

Considering other options, You mentioned law school. I know you are worried about debt, but consider scholarships which are rare but anything can happen. Some schools award funds of up to 120,000 dollars (ColumNorthUmich are three schools which do ) and the money you make coming out of these schools is atrocious. You just have to loan the rest and live from hands to mouth for 3 years

Also Business school does cost money and it might be hard getting into one straight as a senior from undergrad. Have you heard of the 4+2 program in HBS- check it out quite interesting especially if you are engineering.

Yeah Pton's ChemE is hard, I dont know what I was smoking that made me apply there. And my stupid professors where like you would get into every school you apply (Probably because I am black), then I get this bunch of stupid rejections hehe.

As for me, I dont know what I am going to do- I would prefer to PM you the school I might have gotten an offer and ask your opinion about it, when it is official. However right now things are not looking great.

As for the Academia route, interesting question actually, one i don't have an answer to yet. It depends on where I finally attend. I was leaning towards industry but then with no options on the table I am a bit ambiguous.

BlackkBoy:
I think my fears are now manifesting. I had a premonition of serious difficulties (especially for international applicants) in getiing into graduate programmes in the US this year.
It's a public knowledge that the US has been in the centre of the never abating global economic crunch, and this, I'm sure, has severely reduced (I mean relatively diminished) the amount of research grants and donations many companies and institutions give to most schools (or professors). So professors have very limited positions compared to what they used to have, as constrained by the little funds they have.
It is also known globally that a lot of Americans are now jobless as another consequence of this monster (financial meltdown). People will naturally think of doing something to raise their profiles (so they might increase their chances of getting a job) by going for graduate degrees (masters and PhDs). The result of this is evident. That many graduate programmes mention a significant increase in the amount of applications received by them in the many rejection letters they've been serving to applicants lately, is not so surprising to me.
What do we expect as a consequence of this domino effect? A huge number of applicants vying for very limited available positions.
If I had followed my mind (and words of advice) not apply to a highly competitive school, maybe my first notification wouldn't be a rejection

^ Not really International students still get offers in droves. It just depends on how good you are and the school you are applying to. I wish I had the opportunity to consider California schools but disregarded them because they are notorious for being hostile to International students. I bet you got the Princeton rejection lol. They sent out notifications to everyone on the 11th of February. If you did not get this thank your lucky stars you might be a finalist for admission. However note, if you applied to ChemE at Princeton they rarely take International students mostly preferring Americans.

However what you said is noteworthy. Some programs reported the literal doubling of applicants, though I dont know if the quality has gone up.

Goodluck though- as I mentioned earlier if you can secure a masters, you could definitely leverage yourself into MIT/Stanford and all those type of and those other schools in the future.

This is really stale news as I mentioned earlier. However, Bayo Ogunlesi is a legend. Its also important to note that he isn't one of those people who forget where they are from, and he tries as much as possible to help black people enter wall street by chairing several diversity initiatives for all minorities.

However he did not purchase anything with his own money. I am happy sha that he made his mark before the era of 419   .

EzeUche:
This man has represented our country well. As an Igbo, I will give this Yoruba man praise. He deserves it! I pray for his continue success.

He doesn't need your praise lol

This is a very interesting thread, probably the best one I have seen here.
@ Sefago, are you on College confidential? Your user name seems pretty familiar. Anyway, don't give up hope, things would get better. The good thing I have found with Academia is that, if you truly love it and are prepared to do what is required, you'll get where you want to go.
I have also been considering graduate school for a long time now, but I am just so torn between a lot of different options. I transferred away from my previous school because of lack of research opportunities. However, I have just recently realised that engineering might now be for me. I am doing really well actually which makes it a little problematic, but I have just discovered that I don't like Labs or Research very much. May be it's the research or may be it's Me! I don't know. I am thinking of a US medical school or even Law school. I am so confused that I have even started preping for the Lsat( the thought of debt kills me) while planning how I can rush through the premed reqs.

My line of action is to keep my gpa above 3.8 at the bare minimum so as to have these options open for me. I don't see myself running a lab someday so I think i might avoid that option. I had an option of graduating a year early, but I have basically scraped that option since I don't even know what to do. I am hoping an internship this summer world work that out for me.

As for the transition from hard sciences and engineering, I don't think it would be that hard froma chemical engineering stand point, atleast not like going from say physics to Meche. You do well, its just the applications aspect that might stump you a little at the beginning.

I urge you guys to check out Duke and Carnegie Mellon too, they are nice schools that go under the radar sometimes. I hope this cycle works out well for everyone.

Yeah I am the culprit lol. Yeah I haven't given up hope yet but things dont look too good from my end. When I applied to college, I did not get rejected by any top school and so its a bit of a shock being rejected at mid tier graduate schools. However, as I said the transition from

I urge you guys to check out Duke and Carnegie Mellon too, they are nice schools that go under the radar sometimes. I hope this cycle works out well for everyone.

Duke did not have the program I wanted though, I should have applied to their Mechanical Engineering Dept or Biomedical Eng. though.

Carnegie mellon is very hard to get into

Yeah labs are really not my favorite either but that is because I might not be doing the right type of research. I think my research skills will shine more when I am in the right environment. However if you dont like research, a PhD is not the best option for you. How long have you being doing reserach?

LOL, By the way you sound a lot like me, I did the premed-> law school-> graduate school path

Law school would have been a good idea lol, my undergrad places people in Harvard Law, and Columbia law like no mans business. But I ran away for the same reason- too much debt. I always wanted to study engineering because I do have superior math skills (not blowing my trumpet or anything ). I think I would be happy in research though.


Where did you tranfer to and from btw?

PM me if you are uncomfortable putting it online.