₦airaland Forum

mummytutu:
Hi Guys,
Please,for interview purposes, is there any disadvantages with stating that i applied for just a school and got admitted into same cos that's my situation.

I would not necessarily call it a disadvantage- just make sure you can explain why you applied to just one school. You can spin it to your advantage by stating a specific research area, topic or field of interest you want to focus on. You could also state that the course content and schedule resonates more what you intended for your studies (again, be able to explain in detail why).

Just make sure you articulate your reasons clearly. I do not see this as a big disadvantage.

angelajuni:
So finally I got time to put my transcript together. Had my interview on the 4th of october and it was successful.
I had spent over 2 months praying, fasting, practicing, mock interviews, reading etc. Like everybody say, your confidence is key even in the face of uncertainty you cannot not be confident. I think confidence comes from a lot of practice, self awareness and a bit of understanding that las las its not a do or die affair.

Two weeks to my interview I decided not to be on check nairaland for any updates because every time I came on here I got scared by the rejection transcript I read, I just felt I didn't need any bad energy as day for my interview drew near.
Additionally, from day 1 I have trusted God through the process and the confidence of me getting this far solely was on my trust in God. He totally made the process from day 1 effortless for me and I trusted that He wouldnt leave me hanging. That is not to say I didn't prepare, I prepared like the outcome totally depended on my practice. Few days to my interview, I had a virtual mock interview with a friend currently studying in the US and she scolded me so much on my answers not been specific with too many stories, I had to work on my answers and make them more specific, some with specific examples, I feel like that was the deal breaker. Enough said, see my transcipt below.

Was scheduled for 6:45am, got the the embassy at past 5 or so. At some point I needed to ease myself, asked the security where i could do that and he directed me to a gutter near by, while doing my business, my passport which I was holding in my hands fell inside the gutter, I was like "na like this Devil wan start". I quickly picked it. It was really wet, thank God I had handkerchief with me, I kept on cleaning every page of my passport till I entered inside the embassy.

Straight to my interview.......He was like the oldest of the VO's, had rejected everybody that went to him that morning before me and I had just told myself anyhow e go be, its fine.

VO: Good morning, passport please
Me: Good morning......passed my passport and i20

Vo: What are going to do in America
Me: I will be studying for my masters in business administration at Wright State University, Dayton, Ohio

Vo: How many universities did you apply to?
Me: I applied to two universities - wright state and university of michigan - flint. Got admitted to both.

Vo: Why did you apply to these universities
Me: They are located located in smaller cities compared to bigger cities like Boston, New York, Chicago etc. I believe this will help me focus on my studies and achieve my goal of coming top of my mba class.

Vo: Did you take any exams
me: yes, I wrote Toefl and gmat. Had 92 on toefl and 460 on the gmat.....raised my exams score sheet for him to see

Vo: 460 is an impressive score
Me: Smiled, nodded (truth is, 460 is really not an impressive score on the gmat)

Vo: tell me about you academic experinece
Me: I studied marketing at the university of nigeria, nsukka. I also a have a certificate in marketing from the charted institute of marketing, uk and have taken other short courses in negotiation skills, digital marketing just to mention a few

Vo: Who is sponsoring you
Me: My Uncle

Vo: Can I get your bank statement? Are you with them?
Me: yes....gave him my statement

checks them then ask

Vo: how are you exactly related to them .....(before the interview, I was hoping they wouldnt ask these questions because my sponsors are both yoruba's and I am igbo - was scared our names may give us away)
Me: My mum's cousin (said that with all the confidence I could gather)

Vo: I see two different names(talking about my bank statement), are they both your cousins
me: yes

Vo: Have you travelled out or Nigeria before......oh you have been to the UK
Me: No, I haven't been to the UK.....Vo:oh, the UK program was online
Me: yes. I have been to Dubai twice, one for vacation the other for some business meeting.

Vo: What will you do when you complete your program?
Me: I will return back to Nigeria and continue work with my current company, I currently work at xxxxxx nigeria limited. I will also seek roles in other fmcg companies in Nigeria like p&g, unilever etc

Vo: Your visa has been approved......said plenty things I didnt hear, gave me the white paper, circled with where I will pick up my passport
Me: Just nodded to all he said, carried my document and left.

I picked up my passport on Tuesday, class starts in Jan 2019. Still here till Dec.

Congratulations!!! Sounds like you really prepared for this.

oladiran2:
please gurus in the house, i need anyone who is familiar with statement of purpose to help me to vet my sop for any correction before uploading to my graduate application.thanks

With the rapid reduction in the land area available for farming due to rapid (avoid having same words in a sentence except they are prepositions) urbanization and fast growth in the population of Nigeria which stands to about 195 million as at October 7th 2018 from the united nations estimate www.worldometers.info/world-population/nigeria-population/ which clearly shows that within just 2 years where the population of Nigeria stood at 185 million in 2016 there have been an increase by 10million, there is a mandatory reason to improve on the agricultural sector of the country even as the land area farmable are drastically reducing as effect to the population growth.
This sentence is too long. Break it into 3/4 sentences. For example "Urbanization and an explosive population growth in Nigeria have led to a reduction in land area available for farming. Nigeria's population is currently estimated to be 195 million...

Research in crops for more yields with limited space available for production, breeding new varieties with disease resistance and good yield, and more effective farming system through land maximization will be the solution to averting food shortage in coming years. (Rephrase this to be- The solutions to averting food shortage or crisis in the medium term or in the next 10 years are....).

I hold a bachelors degree in plant physiology and crop production from the F ederal U niversity of A griculture, Abeokuta and graduated with a second class upper (irrelevant- focus on defining the purpose for your studies) where i worked on the effect of different inter-row spaces of (45cm, 60cm, 75cm and 90cm) by 25cm on the growth and yield of maize where I was able to conclude on a new spacing of 60cm by 25cm with good weed management through effective canopy formations from the results obtained against the already known 75cm by 25cm by the Nigerian farmers and I have it uploaded on www.academia.com for other scientists around the world who might need some information about maize production which has gotten so much views. (This can be better framed- I am not sure the admission committee will care so much about the number of views VS the quality of the research work. Focus on highlighted the relevance of this work)
Another extremely long sentence- break this into 2-4 sentences and make your points come across. I guess you are trying to highlight the relevance of your project topic to the problem statement which you had earlier defined.

With my passion for farming and agriculture, I wish to be more professional in my agricultural experience (this is not a well defined goal) with almost 4 years of active full field post-graduation experience where I have worked on different varieties of tomatoes, peppers, cucumbers, melons, peanuts(ground nut),maize (corn), soya beans and other crops to mention few in a large commercial farm (El-Amin Integrated Farms) as the senior agronomist and also consult for other farms facing one challenges to another in their production like in raising seedlings for productions, crop protection and nutrition, even the farm I am currently working had to make my consulting a permanent job when I was able to resolve their nursery issues and was impressed which had marred their production and market supplies and decide to apply for my masters in agronomy in Kansas state university been one the best university in agriculture and research which would help me to meet my career goals with the help of its highly recognized lecturers which at the end of my program I can impact the knowledge gained to improve the Nigerian agricultural sector as my thesis would be focusing on the production and identification of top performing and hybrids of corn, soya bean, peanut which are the most common crops used as raw materials for finished products by nigerian companies and for food and source of little income by the rural farmers with the rapid reduction in our farmable lands with hope of been able to work with international organizations like the international institute of tropical agriculture(IITA), Food and agricultural organization (FAO) and the likes who are working hard to reduce poverty and famines in developed and developing countries which request for masters degree in agricultural programs as part of their requirements before been considered for employment where I can impact globally and nationally.
Another painfully long sentence with no full stop. Very easy to lose your reader and sadly, you have a lot of good information lumped in this paragraph.

Thank you for your consideration.

My overall feedback

1. Keep your sentences short and to the point. What is the message you want a reader to take from your statement?
2. Avoid same words in the same sentence.
3. Go with a structure- You can use the outline below (sometimes, the school defines what they are seeking in an SOP)
- First Paragraph: Problem Statement and Interest in providing solution
- Second Paragraph: Background, experience and relevant project work. Focus on relevance
- Third Paragraph: Why this particular school? Why this particular course? What do you hope to learn and leverage? What are your research interests?
- Fourth Paragraph: What will be the added value of your degree once completed? Link this back to the problem statement and define how you will be able to contribute meaningfully with your added knowledge.
4. Articulate your statements to be precise. Avoid long windy sentences that are not precise.
5. Use a full stop (.) to end your sentence.

Writing a great SOP takes time. Put in the required effort (time is crucial) and if you want feedback, I will be more than happy to review another draft.

Superbrain:
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Rate is 360/$ non-negotiable

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Available

$2500 PayPal Available for sale (FnF)

Rate is 360/$ non-negotiable

Contact via WhatsApp 080-6564-3476

Serious buyers only. Verification available on request.

Sold!

MrBigiman:
No major issues, what's d minor ish

Fill gas for AC. Simple! Call for inspection- this is a buy and drive.

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Call for inspection...

chykd:
Can you do a swap?

Not possible. Goal is to sell off as I already have another vehicle.

Alikote:
800 k

Thank you but won't fly. Better you inspect and see how sound the vehicle is.

Call for inspection. Going soon...

Still available...

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More pictures....

Clean registered Honda DC for sale. Car is neat and has no major issue- buy and drive!

Asking Price: 1.1m

Selling due to an upgrade as I won't be needing this anymore. Car would be sold on first come, first served basis.

Call/Whatsapp 08065643476 for inspection and purchase.

Location: Ikeja, Lagos

Still available...

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Available....

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Call for inspection...going soon!

Available for inspection...Going soon!

Call for inspection...going soon!

Available for inspection...Going soon!

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tubabe:
Re you the 1st owner frm been a toks?
1m ready

No, not 1st owner and sorry but 1m cannot fly. Can negotiate after inspection- vehicle clean and as is, no issues.

Available for inspection...Going soon!

Still available...

aduje:
Clean ride...pls confirm price is negotiable. #happyselling

On inspection, yes.

Still available...call for inspection

Still available...