Congrat Scholastica,DreManuel and xyzoke. I'm really happy for you guys. This is just the beginning..cheers

Good morning,

Anybody in for TA, have they contacted anyone for AC? I did my documentation last two weeks but haven't heard from them concerning AC. Any update please??

eaglebeliever:


I am a Lecturer in a University in Nigeria (2014 - date). My field of Study is Electrical Engineering (Wireless, Mobile and Communications Engineering). I had about 2 Years field experience with a Telecommunications company in Lagos between 2010 and 2012 before I obtained my Masters degree. I also have a couple of publications (not really in the top journals of my field).

I need help on what schools to apply to considering my GRE score.

Hi eaglebeliver, you have a good profile, given the olio of your work experience both on field and in a academic settings, you should get a good admit. However, I would advice you take time to research schools that suit your personality,while doing that, do not forget to check professors whose research interest matches yours. Undoubtedly, there are loads of information embedded in their personal websites.

To start with,you can check

UT Austin
Cleveland University
Montana Uni
Stevens Institute of Tech
Illinois institute of Tech
TAMU College station
Rice University (fee waiver)
UTN Knoxville.

Here are some picks from bosses on this thread

DreManuel:


I heard these schools are generous but check if they offer your program;

1. Univ of Florida
2. Univ of Colorado, Boulder
3. Texas Tech
4. Florida State (Florida A & M)
5. Univ of Tennessee, KN
6. Uni of Central Florida
7. Clarkson Uni
8. Colorado School of Mines
9. Wayne State Uni
10. Michigan Tech
11. NJ Inst of Tech
12. Mississippi State

and...

Scholastica16:


Consider Cleveland State Uni as one of the possible safe schools. I got this information from someone on-ground. They have funding for EE guys like you.

You should look at NCSU. People got admitted and funded with same GRE but less GPA than you so you can give it a try.

Someone else recommended Colorado State and I agree. Look at Clemson as well and UT Dallas.

Scholastica16:


Each school gives a guideline to follow in writing SOPs. Though all guidelines would have similar requirements, some others are differentiated by subtleties or nuances here and there that you should look out for.

So ransack the school's website to see their SOP guidelines as it is always there.

Anyways, yea, it usually makes sense to give brief details about past projects you have done and how they tie into what you are trying to do going forward.

Thanks boss, your insights are salutary. God bless your hustle.

Great GRE scores flying around, congrats to gokuu,Time2reign, temmitats(kudos to your tenacity).

You also have a great quant score @fatazee, you can still be accepted in some engineering programs provided you have eye-catching overall profile,better still, rewrite the test to be on a safer side. @TheZed, review your techniques, vocabulary and write more mock test.

The process that ensues after GRE is the most onerous, gliding from one school's website to the other, checking faculty members, I'm extremely inundated by the process. My SOP is quite long ; I'm not sure if I'm getting it right, do I need to give brief details about the projects have done?

Gurus in the house, I need some tips to go about it. Thanks

dayjeee:
thanks tizentos, but am having difficulty downloading it.

I would advice you use UC browser or PC. I still checked it this morning, I wished I had the link before I gave my GRE.

dayjeee:
Pls can u help me with GRE materials. God bless

Hi dayjeee, kindly check the GRE folder in the Google drive I posted in the previous page. It contains ETS official guide,Magoosh GRE guide and Manhattan(Strategy guide and 5lb).

patomaniac:


Think there's a Trojan virus in that link

Its not mine,just trying to help.I have used it several times without no ish. Download what you want to download and close it. Your antivirus might be showing off.

pretimina:
So I practically did not sleep cos of this issue. I checked schools and their requirements for my preferred program and realized it will be better I take GMAT and not GRE.. Not all schools accept GRE for my course so to avoid stories that touch, I'll just take d GMAT exam. Pls is there a related thread like this for GMAT? If yes, kindly share. I'm available should you know someone who needs a study partner for GMAT against December. Thanks, this thread has been really helpful. Kudos to you all

Few days after my GRE test, I took a GMAT-based aptitude test--which I aced-- and I must say, there just nuance differences between GMAT and GRE.

The Quant is almost similar. However,the verbal section is a bit different with the inclusion of critical reasoning, sentence correction and logical reasoning which I just have to familiarize myself with. The AWA is pretty much similar,albeit, you need to know how to write the GMAT, so here is a google drive, I hope it helps.

https://drive.google.com/drive/folders/0B2jZERjUXCHhZnB5T0tpY2ZyRmc

Scholastica16:


Consider Cleveland State Uni as one of the possible safe schools. I got this information from someone on-ground. They have funding for WE guys like you.

Please, take UPenn off that list so as not to waste your application fee.

You should look at NCSU. People got admitted and funded with same GRE but less GPA than you so you can give it a try.

Someone else recommended Colorado State and I agree. Look at Clemson as well and UT Dallas.

UPenn state it clearly on their website that they don't provide funding for masters but for PhD only. Which I will put in for PhD if UPenn make my final list.

Cleveland is cool, I'm inundated by the programs they offer. However, I would like to ask if its compulsory to read a professor's/potential advisor paper before contacting him because most of their papers are paid which is not free. What should I do

DreManuel:


Chief, Great GPA and lovely GRE scores.

You already have two ambitious schools in your list; UT Austin and UPenn. With your profile, you may get into UT Austin and UPenn, but funding is another thing. Except you are going for PhD, the hustle for full-funding for MSc real die! And getting into PhD programs with Nigerian BSc in ambitious schools is equally very difficult except you can prove that there is an Einstein in you.

Bros, get a chair, sit down and thoroughly research plenty schools (mostly safe schools and they are really not safe anymore) whose programs and faculties closely match your academic interests. Mail as much advisors as possible from those schools. They can say if there is any faculty that is willing to take you on, and most times they are open to tell you if they have funding or not. Although you won't usually mention to professors in your introductory mail that you need funding, they can see through you that funding is one of the major reasons you are contacting them, and before you ask, many will usually tell you if they have money or not.

I heard these schools are generous but check if they offer your program;

1. Univ of Florida
2. Univ of Colorado, Boulder
3. Texas Tech
4. Florida State (Florida A & M)
5. Univ of Tennessee, KN
6. Uni of Central Florida
7. Clarkson Uni
8. Colorado School of Mines
9. Wayne State Uni
10. Michigan Tech
11. NJ Inst of Tech
12. Mississippi State

Wow, I will have to check this school one after the other.. Thanks a bunch

tizentos:
I gave my GRE test on 17th of August( last Thursday).

Verbal : 152
Quant: 160
#teamFall2018

Thanks y'all for the congratulatory message. This is my profile

GRE: 312

TOEFL : will give soon

GPA: 4.68(3.7/4) plus a paper to my name

Department: Electrical and Computer Engineering( Interest in VLSI,embedded systems, IC or communication)

Work experience: Internship during UG and NYSC PPA(Teaching line)

After the test I sent scores to the following schools

1. Montana state university
2. University of Texas,Austin
3. University of Pennsylvania
4 University of Tennessee, Knoxville
5.Stevens Institute of Tech( Haven't reported scores)

Please I need ambitious,safe and moderate schools that fit my profile with funding/scholarship for MS/PhD.

Make una help una boy o biko..

holarwhaley2:
Good Evening.
My exam is on Wednesday
This is the summary of all my practice tests.
Quan always > 165
Verb between 140 n 149. I do have 5 questions left unanswered. Am afraid!!!

You need to work on your pacing, the additional mark required to push you to >150 in verbal lies on those unanswered questions.

As DreManual posited earlier, you can answer TC/SE first, next, move to short passages and paragraph argument then cap it all with the long passages question. Practice Powerprep 1and2 verbal section to get the pacing technique right.

Go show dem what u got!!

pierre92:
Good morning. Is a score of 320 + achievable in 30 days, considering I have a baseline score of 308 (Q-152,V- 156)? P.s- I had skimmed through the Manhattan quant strategy guide for like a month before the test. No prior prep for Verbal. Targeting at least 160 in Quant(lol).

Its very possible you hit 160+ in your verbal and quant, considering your base score. You need to analyze your mock test and note the questions you got right,wrong,guessed rightly. Also, ask yourself why you got or failed each question--it might be arithmetic error, inability to interpret word problems,never studied the question type before or perhaps,you haven't learnt enough vocab,poor approach to questions.

Then you work towards perfecting your weak areas.

Manhattan 5lb book(not strategy guide) is very helpful to practice various topics in Quant.

Magoosh video approach is top-notch to tackle RC detail ,inference questions.

You know your weakness and strength,thus, be direct in your prep. practice ,practice and practice then you will achieve 320+.

Time2Smile:

Congratulations. Really good score especially considering the circumstances. And the improvement in your scores as you progressed in your preparation is really impressive. Relax for a few days or week and continue working on other parts of your application. Especially your SOP and LORs. It wouldn't hurt to contact some potential supervisors.

Congrats again.

wow.

Thanks Time2Smile, that was helpful. I will get back to work soon!

Scholastica16:


Congrats Tizentos and don't apologize for your post as that is the reason this thread was created. Trust me, your score is good. Now it will help direct you to the schools that - armed with other aspects of your application - can admit and maybe even fund you.

Good thing you have started early. If you have time and money please take the TOEFL as well so that you would not be wanting in anything. I have a good feeling about you.

Thank you boss,

I plan taking TOEFL before December--state of service is far to "test-taking states"-- cuz 3 of 4 schools I picked have it as part of their requirements for international students. Moreover , I have come to realized that it will boost my chance to get funding and scholarship. I am really hopeful about this whole process.

I gave my GRE test on 17th of August( last Thursday). Here is a short transcript of how it went.

There was an accident at Ketu-Maryland road that very morning, so, I got to the centre 30 minutes late. When I got there,I knew is either I'm allowed to take the test or not. The latter was about to happen, "as in, d guy don write lateness on top my name",I had to change my rapport to Yoruba maybe he will understand better as in " tiwa tiwa",$205 can't waste like that. After subtle pressing, he directed me to his boss chilling in one corner in the test room, as d guy saw me, I told I knew I was late, he just pleaded to d junior officer to please attend to me. Na so I do data capture, read one trope compliance text and so on. After that, I was directed to seat 37. Oya to d next section
..

Before clicking anything, I had to bring my thoughts together, so I clicked ,clicked and clicked. The issue essay was about student choosing subject that interest them rather than choosing the one that leads to job. Kaplan really helped in terms of essay organization so it was pretty easy. Argument essay was okay, I was able to detect the flaws and used Kaplan method again.

Second section was verbal, it has always been an issue, so was already prepared for any surprises. I pace better in TC, SE and short passages during prep, which I first attempted before attempting the long passage(it was damn long).

3rd section was quant, having an engineering background, it was not too hard, but didn't really pace well,the questions were really technical. I spent more time on each question cuz I haven't really entered my "avatar state", deciphering the word problems was arduous.

Now another verbal, its difficultly was like the first ,so I knew I preformed averagely(9-12/20) as I usually do in prep. Didn't ignore the long passage at first, I attempted the questions orderly. I'm kind of adaptive in my approach to the verbal section.

**10 minutes break, was really enervated, asked the officer to allow me get water in my bag but he refused, he said test takers are not allowed to get their bag until after the test. I just jejely went back to my seat knowing the next two sections will be hell**

5th section was Quant, I saw some difficult questions,compound interest in one QC question, "I use sense answer am". I was asked to find the area of a tilted shape in a xy-coordinate,couldn't find a reference point, I just ignored it. Data interpretation was okay. Still very thirsty, I couldn't think well at first but I garnered my inner strength with some motivational Bible verse and moved on.

Now verbal for d last section, I knew dis one can't be the experimental section, " throat don dry already". The TC/SE was okay, the long passage is just two long paragraphs, not really difficult. I extrapolated that the previous verbal was not very good or at the same level,but I tried to answer the questions very carefully, I even had like one and the half minute to review some marked questions.

I was very scared, I couldn't look at the screen cuz I'm not convinced with my performance. So I clicked on report scores, "I open eyes saw a confirmation message, I just vex click confirm".

Verbal : 152
Quant: 160

I was surprised cuz I wasn't in my ideal mind throughout the test, but I can not but to thank God.

These were my mock test scores;

Diagnostic test (Powerprep 1) : V142 Q154
After a month(Powerprep 2): V138 Q156 ( I knew I had to upgrade my prep)

Some weeks before test:

Manhattan test: V148 Q158
Princeton test: V149 Q159 AWA:4.5

I was really pissed with my petty mistakes on quant so I knew I just have to be super careful on the test day to hit 160+

Three days to test
Powerprep 2: V148 Q158
Magoosh test : V150 Q159
Powerprep 1(verbal only): 154
Powerprep 1(Quant only): 164

This is my recommendation:

Kaplan is very good for essay organization, Magoosh's technique on logical fallacy will help your argument essay. Make sure you read sample essays on ets verbal official guide.

Manhattan 5lb book to solve Quant questions(it was already late before I discovered this book) and watch magoosh videos for techniques and tricks. Manhattan strategy book also tried for long passages (as for me).

Magoosh video on verbal generally is okay, practice with their verbal question set. If you don't have access to Magoosh account, Kaplan online verbal question bank is also okay.

For vocab, Magoosh common words(I-VI);its on quizlet. other vocab gotten from articles and questions are about 300 words. Barron 333 high frequency word, some of the words are familiar, I just filtered the unknown words out and studied like one third of it few days to test day. Altogether, I studied like 500+ words. Vocabulary.com is very good to checkout the meaning of words in context, which is substantial to your vocab learning journey.

In coda, the ets official guide for verbal and quantitative plus the official guide for general test are perfect, plus Powerprep 1 and 2. Powerprep 2 is a real test for verbal ,if you can perform well on Powerprep 2 verbal, then you're good.

Please bear with, the post is long but I know it will help future test takers just as this thread's forefathers have done and have helped us. Thanks for reading

Regards.

#teamFall2018

Hushee:


Sureboy:

QUICK TIP!!!

This is for those who want to write strong letters of motivation. I figured a way that might work if executed properly. I wanted to transfer from my department into another department which to be honest, I don't think I'm very qualified for. What did I do? I scheduled an appointment with the department's Graduate Coordinator. I went to her office and I asked her questions about the department. I asked stuff like how ranked the department is in the US, what the course is really like especially the courses students are mostly scared to take, placement of recent graduates and what they went on to do with their lives, I asked if they admitted students with backgrounds from totally different disciplines and the chance of getting in (and if so, what are they really considering from such students), what the department was moving towards in terms of development, etc. It was a trap cheesy She told me everything about the department, what they're looking for, was indirectly bragging about how this and that, etc. Lobatan.

I went back home, and composed a letter of motivation. I wrote about myself in a way that plugged into everything that was going on in that department. I personalized everything she told me and made it look like that's what I'm really looking for. Don't want to go into much details, but I really wrote it in a way that reflected all she told me during our meeting. Even my future plans mirrored what most of their recent graduates went on to do. I picked particular interest in that course she said many people didn't like haha cheesy I submitted my application on Monday, Tuesday afternoon, they had already made a decision and she asked for another appointment to come so she'd show me around again and get me more familiar with the department. Na my $255 Paco Rabanne perfume work that one, She wan see baba again cheesy

Now, how to execute this plan. I think you should call the grad coordinator of the department you want to gain admission into. If possible, schedule an appointment via email and let it be a convenient time for them to talk. If you can't call, email could work too. Have a list of questions to ask. The point is to get them to tell you about the department, about the students already in the department, what they're really looking for, what students have gone on to do with their lives after school, etc. Get them to talk, talk, talk. After the conversation, carry your fingers and write a letter that's going to plug into the scope.

Don't know if this makes any sense, I rushed it. Apologies for any typos and incoherence. Cold wan finish my fingers. it's 24F/-4C here. Bye.

Gbam!! You said it all.

GucciOluwa:




I took GRE two months ago and it was disappointing to say the least. Scores were:
139 Quant, 147 Verbal and 3.5 AWA.
I am presently studying to rewrite on the 28th of August, Any help on how to improve my scores?
Thanks in advance.

It's good you are rewriting the test. Now ,you have approximately two months to study. I would advise you watch the Magoosh premium video to understand maths operations that are necessary to ace the quant section. Then you try solving questions in the ets official guide for quant-- do not forget to read explanation to solutions at the end of each practise set.

For verbal, Magoosh video on verbal reasoning is also okay for this section. Download Magoosh GRE flashcard to learn common GRE words and Magoosh vocabulary builder to understand how the words are used in context. Quizlet will let you create custom vocab list for words you get from articles in Nytimes,Economists or RC passages. Then solve question on the ets official guide for verbal reasoning.

Other useful materials are, Cracking the GRE (Princeton review), Manhattan 5lb book, Kaplan 2017 is okay for beginners; their AWA section is very good,if you want to jump start writing Analytic essays. Experiment with the concepts and questions in these materials, you will surely get the material that suit your kind of person. As a reminder, do not overlook ets official guide for quant and verbal. Goodluck

pcbo:

Try and apply to University of Michigan,Ann Arbor have good engineering program and their career service center is really good at linking well paid jobs to students.

iekene:


Kindly cancel Penn State University for now.. They wont issue i20 to Nigerian students until you make deposit for 1 full academic year including i.e Living Expenses + Tuition.

I'm very grateful for the info. All suggestions are carefully noted. Cheers!

zendmann:

UT Austin is ok. they do give funding especially for PhD.
I applied last time(Msc) and was given just 4160 dollars had to ditch it because it was not enough, but my friend was given full funding for PhD last year.

electronic:

Cool
Add more safe schools....
Montana state and UT Knoxville.... Are okay
But search more get like 6 more then start downsizing.


Dream and Wake up for the below...

Penn state univ,
UT Austin,
Stanford Univ ( targeting a scholarship specifically for their prospective graduate student).

Thanks boss, any comment on Stevens institute of technology? I see it as a safe school.

I would also appreciate more suggestions on safe schools that give their masters students full funding.

UT Austin is very generous to their PhD students, really ambivalent about d PhD thingy. tanx zendmann

Greetings,greatest Nlanders,

I have learnt a lot on this forum, thanks to the selfless contributors.I really appreciate ur good works,as such, I'm certain of a smooth application process. My profile goes thus;

Course: Electrical and Electronic Engineering,
CGPA: 4.68( over 3.7 using a crude converter),
Journal paper: One( based on my final year project)
GRE: Test scheduled for August

Work experience: Acquired through internship, also , currently serving, plus few personal project like that.

Graduate program in view: MSC electrical engineering( spring or fall 2018)

I need your invaluable insights on these schools.

Stevens Institute of Technology,
Penn state univ,
UT Austin,
Stanford Univ ( targeting a scholarship specifically for their prospective graduate student).

Other schools am also considering are,

Montana state univ,
UT Knoxville,
Michigan tech (free app tinz)
Duke.

Your suggestions will be highly welcomed. Ur boy needs your epp o.

Regards.

opylas:

Word is there's no getting the personal copy without applying for local or international

That's true, I heard about d changes last week. Maybe u should apply for local copy(2k), so the differences isn't much.

thibcyrain:
After much consideration. Please house kindly help me look into this schools if they are safe to go. I have my GRE pending for august. Undergrad GPA is 3.41/4 using Wes calculator plus about two(2) years work experience as software developer.

Intending program is MSc Electrical Engineering.
Tenesea tech ( my supervisor had his PHD so hoping to get LoR from him)
Texas Tech University
University of tenesea Knoxville
Montana state University
illonois Institute of Technology
Stevens Institute of Technology

Please house, recommend if am good to go. God bless

Stevens institute is a very good school, I'm considering it for MSc Elect eng..can I pm you?

poohbearie:
thank you. did you apply thru the website (futa etranscript ) or you went to schl? am wondering if i can get the student copy from the etranscript site or if i need to go to schl. is dere a way to get student copy without going to schl?

You have to go to the registrar's office to get it. Its 1k plus other charges like (gown and alumni fee in case you haven't paid).

morning everyone,

I have been following this thread for quite some time. I need your insights concerning Stevens Institute of Technology -- about funding, alumni network, future prospects. I need your critics. Thanks

BJOO:
pls how much doe watching the vedio cost

You subscribe for the video on Magoosh website but thanks to some guys, you can download it for free on 4shared or check the link posted few comments back.

TheZed:
you can pm me we have created a group already

I don pm you.

tescoman90:
hello, house!

done with the exam but the outcome wasnt good at all

157V and 142Q total 299

I envy your verbal score; it is astonishing. If you plan retaking the test, I would advise you watch Magoosh premium videos and practice more questions using Manhattan series.

usqoh:

ok have u got d premium. Who has d premium account. We both will compensate u.

Or if anyone is interested, tell us so we all save money and defeat GRE with 160+ and full scholarship is sure

am interested. They are giving a 20% discount for their service fee. The premium account should be around $103(minus discount).

happyday:


Don't judge people. You never know what kinda battle they are fighting.

Boss I didn't judge them, I only gave the guy, that ridiculed their degree as a mere mirage, a reason to view their poor performance from another perspective. just saying though