Senatorbee:

Just apply and mail the international admission office and demand for a waiver.
That was exactly what I did and it was waived

Please do University of New Haven waive TOEFL for Nigerians?

fairheart:
Well, I just went through the transcript. Congrats on your baby delivery. Is your baby a boy or a girl?

I noticed you did not prepare for the f1 visa interview. When you were asked about English test, you did not really respond as a normal consular would expect. This is the first glitch, and you said you don't have the test score report. Consular probably thought you lied. Trust me!

Then the second interview, you did not give a valid reason as to why you choose the school. So, I think the second VO agree with the information the first VO left on your profile within the system. As I can see, you can get the F1 Visa. You need to prepare very well and put yourself together, except getting the visa doesn't matter to you anymore.

You need to write a tailored transcript for the next interview, and by God's grace, the outcome should be positive.

Good luck

Bro...i just sent you a pm, please reply

Please who attends or knows about University of Toledo?

Good day people, please who can help pay application fee?

Delesta2015:
I thought PhD admit get automatic full funding at Michigan Tech?

So I thought too but was not funded.

Please I am looking towards PhD with full funding for fall 2019 in Environmental Engineering and need suggestions from you.
I have admit from Michigan Tech for Phd and Uni of Maryland college park(MSc) without funding. I would appreciate school suggestions with possible funding.

Profile- GPA- 3.7/4 in Civil Engineering
GRE- 310 158(Q) 3.5 AWA
3 researches but none published yet

amofum:
Hello fam,

Let's keep the SOPs coming in. The email still remains victorofumboyi@gmail.com


Cheers

Sent you mine for review. Thanks.

MasterforceII:


Put in an app at TAMUK.

Its a direct PhD from BSc. TAMUK doesnt have this

frostsc:


So sorry about the unfortunate incident that led to your scores. However, I would need your profile to be able to assist better. Please provide information on what you studied, your CGPA, what you intend to study, and what your preferences in a school are, if any. You can share here or send a private massage.

Please I am looking towards PhD with full funding for fall 2019 in Environmental Engineering and need suggestions from you.
I have admit from Michigan Tech without funding and have identified Cleveland and Ohio State U. I would appreciate other suggestions.

Profile- GPA- 3.7/4 in Civil Engineering
GRE- 310 158(Q) 3.5 AWA
3 researches but none published yet

Johnolap:
Hello gurus this is my transcript, please help me go through it and also give me tips on how to improve on it. Thanks in anticipation.
VO and Me: Good Morning
VO: Why are you going to the US?
I am going to the US to study for PhD in Environmental Design and Planning at Virginia Polytechnic Institute and State University.
VO: Why did u choose to study in the US instead of Nigeria?
There are universities here in Nigeria that offer Environmental Design and Planning, but they focus more on the theoretical aspect, and do not provide the practical research opportunities for my preferred course.
VO: Tell me your study plans/Program schedule?
I plan to go for PhD in Environmental Design and Planning at Virginia Tech. It will require a total of 90 credit hours including minimum of 30 hours core course work. I will be taking courses like Innovation in Construction, Sustainable facility system, Sustainable Infrastructures system, Principles and practices of Construction, series of independent study, seminars, proposal and dissertation. And after the program I will be coming back to Nigeria to start a lecturing job at my Alma Mata.
VO: How many schools did you apply to?
I applied to two schools. Virginia Tech and Mississippi State University.
VO: How many admission did you get?
I got one, Virginia Tech. However Mississippi State University is yet to notify me of their decision.
VO: Why Virginia Tech? /Why did you choose this school over others?
I have a soft spot for intelligent infrastructure. In 2016, Virginia Tech has invested approximately $79 million into intelligent infrastructure. This will make them the nation’s best in this area and it will be an honor to study in this type of school. Also, Dr. Axxx who is a proponent in this area has agreed to be my supervisor because she was impressed with my undergraduate academic performance and my programming skills. Therefore I will benefit from this school because, I will be learning a lot from practical work and experience.
VO: How did you get to know about this school?
I did an extensive research online using academic websites such as US News, gradschools, education USA and I focused my search based on my area of interest and schools that match my ambition and goals.


VO: Tell me about your course?
This course, Environmental Design and Planning requires a minimum of 90 credit hours including minimum of 30 credit hours of core courses and I will be offering courses like Innovation in construction, Principles and practices of construction, advanced fundamentals of Construction Management, sustainable infrastructures system. Also at graduation I would have successfully completed qualifying and preliminary exams, proposal defense and dissertation defense.
VO: What will PhD do for you?
It will provide me with knowledge and skills to be an academic and a credible researcher. Also, having a PhD will make me assume a top position when starting a Job at my Alma Mata, UNIOSUN.
VO: Why EDP/What will this course do for you?
I am very passionate about my country, and I have seen the wrong construction practices here in Nigeria which has led to many kinds of building failures, so this course will give me in depth knowledge coupled with my experience on how efficient, sustainable and safe buildings can be constructed using new innovations and technology.
VO: What are your plans after graduation?
I will be coming back to Nigeria to start a lecturing job at UNIOSUN, my Alma Mata.
VO: What is your research topic?
I don’t have one yet, but my research area will be focused on intelligent infrastructure.
VO: What is your total credit units?
90 credit hours including minimum of 30 hours core courses.
VO: What are the courses you will be taking this semester?
Innovation in Construction, Sustainable facility system, Sustainable Infrastructures system, Principles and practices of Construction I and II, Seminar in Environmental Design and Planning.
VO: What are the requirement for graduation?
The requirement for graduation is a minimum of 90 credit hours with a minimum of 30 hours of core coursework. Also I must successfully complete the Qualifying and Preliminary exams, Proposal defense, and Dissertation defense.

VO: Did you write any test(s)?
Yes, GRE and TOEFL.
VO: Who is your Sponsor?
I got funding from the school to cover the out of state and in-state tuitions, and monthly stipends for the first year, and I was promised renewal every year provided I meet the minimum academic requirement. And my Uncle will pay the differentials.
VO: What does your Uncle do?
He works as the general manager of CON Nigeria Limited.
VO: What does the company do?
They are retail outlet of petroleum products including AGO, PMS, DPK and Engine Oil. Also the company is into construction of buildings.
VO: What is intelligent infrastructure?
Intelligent infrastructure is the integration of sensing, computing, and communications capabilities into traditional urban and rural physical infrastructures such as roads, buildings, and bridges for increasing efficiency, resiliency, and safety.

Please can you share your profile. Thank you.

Please house, hope people who take student loans to go to a top school and go for visa interview with it get apporoved?.

tactmayor:
Good day everyone, I hope people that went to the embassy with student loans to go for MSc in a top school were given visa.

No one has answered me still....sad!!

Good day everyone, I hope people that went to the embassy with student loans to go for MSc in a top school were given visa.

GboyegaD:


For graduate studies in Sciences, the standardized examination required is GRE. For funding purpose, most schools will require a Language test score.
A good way to search for programs might be to start with www.usnews.com. Another good site to follow up to know when schools start making admission decision and sometimes to judge how competitive you may be for your program of choice is to use www.thegradecafe.com and navigate to your program of choice.
Evaluating your credentials depends on what school(s) you are applying to. Not every school requires this since some of them have in house evaluators that does evaluation on international credentials.
Lastly, on visa application process, you might want to follow this thread and learn what the next step is and how to prepare for interviews.
Above all, I wish you the best in your academic pursuit.



I guess many might have skipped it unintentionally.

Are you saying that if I apply to a University that does not require Nigerians to submit language scores, then I wont be offered funding?. I dont think that is true!!!

4gunners:
Just received rejection mail from Michigan Tech citing low GP as the reason for the rejection. Though I applied for the spring admission as a litmust test as I av my eyes set on fall admission. I applied for direct PHd civil engineering.

My profile
My GP is 4.26/5.0
GRE 313(Q154, V159)


Should I drop the idea of direct PHD admission based on my GP and concentrate more on MSc. If otherwise, Pls suggest a school that is safe for me. I've applied to UW and UArK. I'm about to apply to USF but kept it on hold due to the outcome of Michigan Tech.

When did you apply bro? I also applied to the same program for spring but yet to get a decision from them.

folmus:


Are you still on this? I thought the schools I helped you paid for gave you admission. In fact I thought you are in Yanke already. Pm me if you still need help.

I was given admission but no funding. That hindered me.

nelem:

cc:

Thank you.

Please guys, I need to pay my application fee and Nigerian bank mastercard and visa cards are not going through. Who can help please. It is very urgent.

nelem:

a visa debit card (from a nigerian bank) should work

It did not work

Jumybecks:
Try using MasterCard and/or PayPal. If it doesnt work, send me a pm

It did not work. I have sent you a pm.

Please who can help pay for my application fee from the US?

sillysassysally:
4.51

Ur GPA on a 4.0 scale should be in the region of 3.66 or 3.67.

sillysassysally:
4.51

Ur GPA on a 4.0 scale should be in the region of 3.66 or 3.67.

sillysassysally:
Hey Guys,

I just used the WES unofficial iGPA calculator to convert my GPA to a 4 point scale and it came in at 3.71. For me, it seems quite bogus and I'm having second thoughts about putting this on my resume. What if the admission committee to the school i'm applying to come up with something different (lower). It'll look misleading no?

What is ur CGPA on a 5.0 scale??

aanexplus:

No pressure man.
Illinois Institute of Technology - admit
Uttyler - admit
Virginia Tech - admit
Western Michigan - admit
Notre dame - reject

The vocabs were useful, I saw some of them in the test. And learning them make me feel confident sort of. All the best man

were u funded by VT??

Hi guys and how are y'all doing.
I am having a little bit of tough time with school selection with MSc in Civil Engineering in view and looking to funding too.
Here is my profile->

GPA- 3.71/4.00
GRE- 309 [158(Q) 151(V)]
Job Experience- 2.5 yrs
3 researches conducted, none published yet.

I have the following list of schools in view after checking their websites-> Purdue Uni, Virginia Tech, Uni of Maryland College Park, Uni of Texas Arlington, Uni of South Florida and North Carolina A&T state Uni.

Your contribution on these schools and other schools I should consider is highly welcomed. Thank you.

daking10:
Good evening people.....
I've been a silent follower of this thread in the days leading to my interview.

I had my interview on the 21st July... Was slated for 10:45am but got there before 8am. The biometrics and checking in where painstaking. At the end ofth day I found myself facing the VO and the following interview ensued ...


VO: Good morning

ME: Good morning (smiling but the cool dude didn't seem to be in the mood for that)

VO:What are you going to study?

ME: I am going to University of Toledo to do my masters in chemical engineering, same course I have a Bachelor's degree in

VO: Why this course (actually for some weird or obvious reason I never saw this question coming, like my undergraduate degree is in chemical engineering what course was he expecting me to do a masters in) so I kinda motioned like I didn't get his question and he repeated it.

ME: I want to do a masters in chemical engineering so I could specialize in catalysis and sustainable energy especially in the area of biofuels, in my undergraduate research I worked on the synthesis of an ultra stable catalyst for use in breaking down petroleum product (wanted to say FCC (fluid catalytic cracking) but the word skipped my mind). With that knowledge I want to delve into the aspect of sustainable energy and work on catalysts that would be applicable.... (Actually I was so taken aback by the question that I couldn't make my response cohesive towards the end but I didn't let that show in my countenance)

VO:Where did you hear of this school

ME: Actually when I wanted to apply for graduate school I discussed with my undergraduate research supervisor who suggested some schools to me with Utoledo being one of them. After which I checked the department website and discovered alligned faculty interest in catalysis and energy, I reached out to a faculty whose research I'm interested in and she shared her journal with me and was open to me joining her lab. Then I used USnews.com to see the ranking and school profile while I also used grad cafe to see acceptance rates for profiles similar to mine and discovered I stand a good chance

VO: What will this course do for you

ME: I plan to take up a lecturing position in my alma matter, I have been discussing with my undergraduate research supervisor who was the HOD while I was in school and he has assured me the department will be willing to receive me especially as I not only graduated as the best student in the department but also as the best student in engineering and the whole school and received both Dean's and VC's award at my convocation

VO: I'll be approving your visa....then said the normal pickup thing and handed me the white paper

ME: thanks. Walking away like an achieved man trying to contain the smile....

I did learn a great deal from here....this is me giving back.

Were u given funding?...Please could you share your profile; GRE, GPA etc

Tohlou:
When you say profile I’d like you to be specific Profile yapa

Lol, i mean GRE, GPA etc

Tohlou:
I have been a silent reader here since January that I started putting in my applications and also wrote the GRE and well didn’t do well that much but regardless I still got admitted into all the schools I applied to.
Thanks to the people I have reached out to here and they attended to me, most in particular Aanexplus’s God bless you brother for all the advice and corrections which all ended in success, you’re much appreciated boss.

Interview was on Friday 13th July 2018, prior to that day I remember the fear and emotional roller coaster the preparation was but few days to the interview proper the confidence came after several coaching from My PFL Ideas people amazing guys really and also fasting and prayer without ceasing.

Got to the embassy for 6am waited till 20mins to 7 for my 7am interview, I was bold,courageous and optimistic that I got my visa approved already and I acted accordingly, no single element of fear that day.
I was interviewed by the nice young white guy at windows 5 no hassle no stress absolute gentleman, even though people that went ahead got blue paper and it was flying left right and center I wasn’t even bothered I just said in my mind today we die here I’m getting my visa from here and grace and faith spoke on my behalf.
Here goes my Transcript

VO: Good morning, how are you doing
Me: Good morning, I’m very well. You?
VO: Answered And goes please pass Me your passport and i20
Me: I did
VO: Thanks he looks at my i20 and asked why study construction management?
Me: I chose construction management because building failure is one of the most challenging problems we have in Nigeria construction industry and me going for this degree will actually give me more knowledge and skill to be a good project manager upon my return to Nigeria to promote safety in the construction industry here in Nigeria. VO was nodding
VO: So why Did you pick this school?
Me: I picked Virginia Tech because they have a mission of becoming nation leader in my area of specialization which is intelligent infrastructure and also they have invested $75m into the research of work of intelligent infrastructure VO just kept nodding.
VO: So how many other schools did you apply to apart from Vtech?
Me: Two others and I named them Florida International University And George mason university
VO: how many admitted you ?
Me: all three, just kept nodding
I was staring at him and kept on praying and saying in my mind Guy you must give Me this visa in Jesus name while he was typing.
VO: what did you study for your first degree?
Me: Quantity surveying
VO: where?
Me: Joseph Ayo BabaLola university
VO: when did you finish your first degree?
Me: 2014
VO: and what have you been doing since then?
Me: during my NYSC I got an opportunity to with an indigenous construction firm and currently I work at XYZ construction firm VO kept typing and nodding
VO: can you mention some of the coursework you will be taking in this program?
Me: I mentioned all the eight courses I will be taking without leaving one out.
VO: did you take any standardized tests?
Me: yes I did, I took the GRE
VO: what’s your score?
Me: I told him, thinking he was going to ask why I scored low he just keep typing and nodding while I was talking.
VO: Are you married?
Me: oh no not yet married
VO: do you have children or a child?
Me: Small smile no no children or child yet
VO: So who is your sponsor?
Me: my biological father
VO: what does he do?
Me; oh he’s into outdoor advertising and commercials for brands
VO: do you have his statement of account with you?
Me: yes I do handed it over to him didn’t look at it just folded it with my i20 and stuck it in between my passport I remained claim and was just observing
VO: So I’d be placing you on administrative processing brought out white paper wrote my name and ticked Administrative processing and handed it over to me
Me: I also have a sponsor letter from my sponsor
In my mind I was like Ha but young man you look impressed since na why AP again
VO: nah I won’t be needing that, and he continued you will be hearing from us after a decision has been reached,have a nice day.

I sha carried all my remaining properties from his front and said thank you, enjoy the rest of your day.

Another set of prayers started and fasting too Lord let my case change before Tuesday o and as the Lord will have it Early Monday morning my case changed from AP to issued I almost ran mad lol. Truly it pays to serve the Lord he is still in the business of men.

My advice to people yet to go for interview is be bold and courageous and prepare very well, have some one listen to your answers and get corrected and take corrections too and above all Let go and Let God put him ahead and behind you and you will be surprised at the success and miracle that will come with it.
Lastly you must not be caught lying to the VO, if you want to lie be smart about it.

pls do you mind sharing your profile

Predstan:
Is it advisable to apply for Spring semester considering funding availability. I want to start application by august and I am looking at some schools to apply for spring session but I noticed that Fall peeps got scholarship more than spring... And I've not seen a fully funded TAship for spring session so far

The reason is because schools have not started admitting for spring 2019. Most schools have application deadline for Spring 2019 between July and September 1. So expect admission decisions to start tlrolling in from September and people to start going for visa interview from September.

femi312:
If I were you I will take off the last two schools on that list. Your aim should be tier 1 schools. Secondly, I don't think VT allows direct Phd, at least for there structures group. It might be different for environmental but make sure you check.

Ok bro, thanks. Any other suggestions on schools you think I should include?.

Please guys, I need your advice on this.