₦airaland Forum

I received the invite for the panel interview, Saturday 9:00am.

[quote author=sunshineluv5 post=64462396][/quote]wow! What materials did you use to prepare? The reading and listening sections are relatively easy and you can even score the full 30 marks. You need to tackle that before proceeding to register again.

Scholastica16:
My Visa Interview

I received my I-20 from Iowa State University on December 7th physically and that is because they used express mail services to get it to me. I immediately tried to book a visa date and the earliest I could see was January 22nd whereas my I-20 read that I was to be in the US on the 5th. I stubbornly refused to select that date until people and commonsense prevailed on me to accept it and explore the emergency services option on the visa/travel doc portal.

I told them my story and attached my SEVIS coupon, admission letter (that wrote that 2 profs basically fought to have me) as well as my PTDF award letter explaining to them why I am just applying for the visa. I did this on a Saturday evening which I am guessing was on the 9th of December and by the next day, they approved my emergency request and asked me to select between December 11th to 16th to be interviewed. I went with the 13th because I had boasted to people who knew me (on the 7th of December that I would be approved before the 14th of the same month).

Because where I stay(ed) in Lagos was not too far from the US consulate, I left my house around 5:30AM on that day and was able to get there before 6:15AM for a 6:30AM appointment. I was privileged to not meet the CGI crew of fraudsters who make people print documents they don't need at outrageous prices. I was turned back however at the final checking in stage when one ITK lady realized I was wearing a smart watch but it all worked out in the end as the Visa was eventually approved. My actual transcript went thus;

VO [Some African American lady in window 10]: I see you want to go to Iowa State to undergo your masters in Chemical Engineering. Why?

Me: Started mouthing off something about Biorenewables (my area of concentration) *don't want to bore you with what I was saying*

VO: [Nodding suspiciously] then says, I asked you why Chemical Engineering...stops herself from going further and says "why do you want a master's degree?"

Me: because it is going to be relevant in Nigeria jobwise which is an aside from the fact that my area of concentration is going to be the future of energy and perhaps foreign exchange in Nigeria.

VO: Do you have a first degree?

Me: Yes, In Chemical Engineering as well.

VO: Oh, I see. When did you graduate?

Me: 2011

VO: What have you been doing since?

Me: I worked with an oil servicing company right after the Compulsory national youth service scheme, got bored, taught for a bit and recently quit that job as well.

VO: [Nods approvingly because it rhymes with what I wrote in the DS160 form].

VO: So how will this course help you in Nigeria?

Me: [looks incredulously at her] and says "sorry I don't understand".

VO: Why is this course not being done in Nigeria and why will Nigeria benefit from it?

Me: Well, the world is going greener and scientists are getting more conscious of the non-toxic or -toxic effects that our resources bring to us. Biobased products like biofuels, biodiesels and other biomass derivatives are known to be more environmentally friendly and cheaper somewhat to mass produce. Also, I am aiming to synthesize heterogeneous catalysts that will aide their mass production from the non-edible part of plants and so on [I am chopping mouth here and using ermmss..emmmms a couple of times]. At some point, I say I am struggling to find words to use to express myself to someone who has no clue about my field.

VO: JUST USE CLEAR TERMS AND KEEP IT SHORT I DON'T HAVE ALL THE TIME IN THE WORLD.

Me: at this point I am getting antsy and even irked but I am smiling and calculating how to swing things in my favor (in my head).

VO: so list some courses you would take.

Me: listed some courses from University but just added Advanced to 4 of them.

VO: [Still looks unimpressed]. So why Iowa State University?

Me: I looked at a couple of schoo....

VO: Does not let me finish. Says "I don't have time for that, I want to know why this school of all the schools you looked at."

Me: Yes, that is what I was about to answer.

Me: did not want to give her the canned answer of class size etc or their ranking in engineering or my course, neither do I tell her about the Prof that wanted me 'cause I am livid at this juncture. So I say "well, after acquiring my scholarship, I was looking for a reasonably priced highly-rated school that was within my sponsor's budget" [did that to just mention my scholarship jare].

VO: [Eyes bulging now], what scholarship? [Says this and looks at the I20 while at it]

Me: I have a full govt scholarship which will take care of all my spendings, I mean tuition and stipend for the duration of my program.

VO: I don't know this scholarship.

Me: It has existed since the 60s and is a renowned scholarship. You can Google it or my name to get more information. I also have my award letter here if you care to look at it

VO: [Offers to look at it ]. Looks at it...types for a bit. Then asks me if I took standardized tests.

Me: Yes ofcourse; GRE and TOEFL. Do you want to see them also?

VO: [Nods]

Me: hands them over to her.

VO: Sees them and immediately says "I will be approving..."

I heard everything she said but at this point I am so exhausted and angry that I give her this inscrutable look. For the first time in the whole interview, she smiles, gives the white paper and tells me she is going to hold unto my passport. I don't thank her, walk out of there, tip the security personnel just outside and pay the police woman that helped me keep my watch - then I head home...angry. I was expecting a really short interview considering I was given an emergency date but I guess God had other plans.


PS: When I am chanced, I will explain my immigration experience just before I left Nigeria. How PTDF almost botched my ticket and travel plans and my experience thus far in the USA (Close to 2 weeks that I have been here) and what I have noticed about our GPAs and much-touted research experience. Timezone difference is crazy but I coped easily as I used to be "Mr Nocturnal" in Nigeria.

I'm so happy for you.

Dalmakz:
Please... I under performed in my TOEFL exam.. I scored 75... I am planning to rewrite... I used Kaplan for my preparations at first.. Please can any one help me other materials can help me score better

It's best to use the official guide to prepare and complement it with notefull toefl videos. You can actually get away with using only the official materials and still score well.

Tassie:
is this for those that chose lagos as their test venue? Or it's (the test date)the same for everyone regardless of the venue? Is it also for entry-level because I've not received a test invite yet

I can't say anything about the venue. Yes it is for entry level and I also applied on the 27th. Maybe you should send an email.

heninfo:
I GOT AN SMS but not email to write my test. please when I logged in I got this message that YOU ARE NOT currently scheduled for an assessment. please what does it mean?

Same thing happened to me. You'll get the e-mail soon.

I've gotten the mail now. Thanks everyone.

Hafsat24:
I also got the text about an hour ago today and proceeded to check my mail and after refreshing the mail came in..you should try refreshing too

I've been refreshing, still nothing.

akatovic1:
Sorry ma,
How do you hope to take the test without the email . I will advice you give them (dragnet )a call on monday and lay your complaint, remember when there is a way there is a wheel......
Oh sorry , when there is a will there is a way

With Regards,
Fulani Herdsman

It's clear from my post that I got a link, username and password too. I'm sure that will suffice, thanks for your help anyway.

codified:
Take the test now. It's a simple test

Thank you.

HI, I applied for the Seplat graduate scheme in November. I forgot about it because I heard you had to have someone with a Seplat IDsend in your application. However I got a text from dragnet with a username and password to take an online test. They also directed me to check my email. I haven't seen any email from them yet. Should I proceed and take the test? Please this is urgent

teepha:
Has anyone received a date for their test?

Yeah 20th and panel interview for successful candidates on the 27th

*grabs popcorn*

LUCAS99:
I don’t think you know what it means to have a U.S. Passport for someone that have been out of status for two years after my F-1 Student VISA was terminated on January 28th 2016

I'm sorry, please ignore me

femi312:
This boy needs prayers and deliverance

Lol Nawa

Isn't this too personal to put on nairaland? I'm not quoting you so you can have a chance to delete your very personal documents from the thread. LUCAS99

LagosismyHome:
Na wa... you went for interview just this one time and came out an expert in what works or doesnt with all these bold ... ok ooo

Congrats anyway ... I guess my usual prayer here doesnt apply . MAY God bless your new journey

Lmao, it is well.

Scholastica16:
Wonderful scores dear. Congratulations!

I pray we all get raptured in this admission cycle. You no less. Cheers.

Amen and thank you.

stainless91:
congratulations on your score.
would be glad If u can share d strategies u used for d exam including textbooks. did u watch notefull video? thanks

I made use of the official guide and the practice software. I did watch notefull videos to get a general idea of responses, I however didn't follow their format strictly. During my test I spoke freely like I would do normally. I think the notefull videos are good to watch anyways don't just follow it to a T.