₦airaland Forum

LaudableXX:
Try not to expose your misguided brand of clueless logic on this board. The UK govt says one thing on their website, while the UK school says another thing on their website, and fosters a different impression through several exchanges of e-mails spanning several months, with the student.

Which one will the student most likely believe, especially since they have forged stronger ties with staff and representatives of the school handling their enquiries over several weeks? The student is often left with the impression that the info on the UK govt website is a generalised one.

All you need to do, since you are so aggrieved on the UK govt's behalf, is tell them to ensure that all universities admitting foreign/international students include a disclaimer on their website in bold letters, which states loud and clear that they are not allowed to work in the UK, after their pricey degrees. So that such students can ignore the hyped testimonials, about how many students get a job after parting with huge amounts of cash, for their pricey degrees.

We are having a silly back and forth. The government makes the laws... it really doesn’t matter a jot what a school tells you. It is your responsibility to know what the law says. Airlines fly you to the US daily and Disney wants your money too, regardless of what they say, it is your responsibility to know that you cannot simply choose to live in Florida forever on a visiting visa.

That is just plain facts... feel free twisting yourself into a pretzel in order to blame everyone but yourself for your own poor planning.

Besides, anyone who spends millions to obtain a masters in the UK gets no sympathy from me. You could have obtained the same degree for far less in the US or Canada... again it boils down to proper planning. I’ve spent enough time on these boards to realize that this is the fundamental problem of most Nigerians. We are basically lazy and shortsighted, preferring to rely on “favor” and “prayer” rather than a clear set of facts and logic. We know the immigration rules, but we prefer to go ahead, “believing god” that “our case is different”. When it doesn’t, we put up long threads blaming the UK government and it’s schools. UK schools exist to make as much money from the clueless, if I were in their shoes, I’d do the same too. It is not their responsibility to teach you how to think.

DaddyB01:
Thank you very much for your further explanation...
Meanwhile, i didn't have any stamp or visa of any countries in quotes...This forum has really helped me in many ways and i am now proud to be an advocate of "Visa profile must be truth"
Thanks

This sad part is that you needed a web forum to realize you should always tell the truth on visa applications. What’s worse is that this epiphany isn’t about your character and what is right, but out of fear of the consequences from governments who take the truth seriously. When it comes to Nigeria, you’d have zero problems telling lies and committing fraud I suppose.

Aphrodite007:
Are you in Abuja? Let me take you out for a drink.

This is what I've been saying! If them born them well, let them include the caveat on the website that just 1% of international students work, lets see who will dash them money to cater to their citizens! I'm just tired of the senseless arguments gan!

You know the worst part for me? These defenders are people that I respect and used to follow gullibly but now that I see that I'm wiser than them on nairaland, I would start doubting everything they say! Just Imagine if I hadn't experienced this thing first hand, I would have out-rightly believed them, chai! mumu no good sha!

Frankly the bizarre arguments are from your end. Basically you’re blaming the schools for misleading Nigerians? People who can read and are expected to know the rules under which their visas were issued? Should we also blame airlines for not telling us we cannot live permanently in the US with a visiting visa?

Hilarious.

Aphrodite007:
Why did justwise tell someone that they wouldn't work in the UK with a visit visa, isn't it clear that a visit visa is obviously for a visit?! The reason is that we hope for something better, no matter the situation. Why did you spend ages on the US thread correcting people's misconceptions? Can't they read the blue print and figure it out themselves? I liked you on the thread cos i believed you were doing it out of the goodness of your heart, but now, I believe different.

You guys constantly remind Nigerians to stick to the rules, which is exactly what we are doing. It is beyond me why you should argue about this, unless you want to pretend like you don't know that Nigerians pay that ludicrous amount with hopes of living/working in the UK. I think its wickedness to know that some people invest borrowed money for a better like in the UK and you wouldn't advise them against it.

Let the Nigerians going to the UK should be the judge of this post, not you guys that were opportune to enter before the laws got difficult.

The rules in the US are quite clear. Unlike the UK, you are not automatically asked to leave after your degree. In fact there is a 12 month to 3 year post study work scheme that almost every graduate qualifies for. You also have a dedicated work visa program that has remained fairly liberal. If the UK rules also applied to the US, there would be no point providing advise on the US threads at all. You’re making an apples to oranges comparison.

LaudableXX:
They usually find out on the website, and are told when applying for a visa, during the 10-20 minute interview at the high commission.

Meanwhile most of the schools they applied to, (during the very lengthy application/admission process which could span several weeks of e-mail exchanges and phone conversations), never mention it and even give the impression, that students who graduate from their institutions find it easy to get jobs, or that many of them have become gainfully employed ever since they got pricey degrees from such institutions. Are the UK schools and UK govt in the business of confusing prospective students?

That is why I said that all UK schools should include a caveat in their prospectus/brochures, that international students would NOT be allowed to work in the UK, except for a few who have studied any of the STEM courses, and have a sponsor to back their application. There should be a clear section on immigration policies, in their brochures.

Once that is done, prospective students would be able to compare the cost of such degrees with existing UK policies, and would be able to make better informed decisions, by going elsewhere other then the UK, to study! Now, is that too difficult for you to understand, or must I break it down into mono syllables before it gets into your head?

So basically the problem isn’t the UK government. It is our own misplaced sense of entitlement. Anyone with half a brain would know that the government (not the school) makes immigration rules.

Pidgin2:
We are so blessed in this country, good weather, social/friendly people, good culture and other lovely tourist attractions here yet some people are blind to all these goodies, they prefer going to Western countries where boredom will give them dementia/Alzheimer, modified food will give them diabetes, stress will give them heart disease, bad weather will give them rheumatism and arthritis and many other diseases that they import to us here through change in lifestyle, nonsense

The ignorance is high on this one. We have all these health problems in Nigeria, the problem is that we do not have the medical expertise to accurately diagnose them. In addition, we tend to not go to the hospital when we should (our healthcare delivery system is haphazard, primitive and of low quality) and we attribute all our problems to spiritual causes. How many "mad people" in Nigeria were simply suffering from Alzheimer's or dementia?

Zimzee:
Hello good people, I have started filling my ds 160 and I need to make some clarifications to avoid mistakes abeg.
1) we chose Florida as our destination.. I googled and it looks like an interesting place to visit. Please is it OK or are there better places suitable for family tourism?( note we are gonna be staying in a hotel where ever its gonna be)
2)secondly, for someone that's self employed, I didn't see column for self employed... This is what I saw(find attached).
3) how do I link my children's forms to mine and Hubby's?

You don't seem to have any travel plans at all. Chances are you will be denied if you don't come up with one.

Seunemman077:
@xwhyz I am not using the same passport again this time around I did a new and I went to Kenny truly with my wife can there be any implication from the last interview experience cos
I was given a yellow paper ??

lol some of you think the US immigration is as incompetent as the Nigerian immigration. You will certainly be denied tomorrow... but thanks for the N64K wasted.

kinibd:
Hello house, I am new around here and would probably get lost trying to search through the pages for an answer to my question so i'll just ask and hope someone will be kind enough to help/advise me.
I graduated from the department of ict with the networking option and i want to go for a masters but in a dilemma whether to go for networking still or just go into software( i feel the ict world is shifting more towards software...its a feeling lol) or any other better option. also i would like a recommendation from anyone of a good ict/computer science school in the usa. Also whats the first step i need to take and if i start processing now, can i go by september this year or i will need to wait till next year? So many other questions but i hope this little can be answered by someone. Thanks

That's a lazy cop-out. There is a search feature here that can help narrow down a search if you're truly interested.

LaudableXX:
He is upset, because people have exposed the hypocritical side of his beloved UK govt, and its' policies.

I am utterly confused. How is the UK immigration policy hypocritical? When did the UK government become responsible for Nigerians?

LaudableXX:
Ooops! Here comes another defender of the British universe and its sibling, the UK government. This thread is NOT pointless. It is meant to educate and inform people, about what happens next after they have acquired those pricey degrees, from UK universities. If after reading over 18 pages of valid points from the OP, and different counter-arguments from others, you have NOT been able to decode the reason for the thread, then please go back to one of your UK schools and kindly take a refresher course in comprehension.

This is silly dribble. Again let me explain - you are expressly told when applying for a visa, that it is temporary and that there are conditions attached to that visa. Anyone who can read can peruse the UK government websites where these conditions are spelled out in detail. To say that this thread is "meant to inform and educate" people who have already obtained a visa is basically an indictment on their own poor planning. I have never seen a situation where obtaining a student visa and paying millions for a masters degree automatically entitled you to a job and/or permanent residence in that country.

Aphrodite007:
Aren’t you in America or the UK already? That’s probably why you don’t understand the thread, but don’t worry, The people that the message is intended for are now completely aware that the UK owes them nothing, so now they can go back to the drawing board and assess whether studying in the UK only to return to nigeria to count cars is really worth it.

I’m basically reiterating what the visa says to people- “study visa not work visa”!

Have a lovely night rest sir.

I get your point but I think its rather misplaced. The UK government makes it clear that a study visa is a temporary visa, obtained only for the purpose of studying in the UK, after which you are expected to return to your home country. No where is there any expectation that you will be allowed to stay permanently or get a job. The basic premise of a non-immigrant visa is that it is TEMPORARY and that the UK provides you no guarantees of "return on your investment". On that basis, I struggle to see why the thread is relevant at all...

Aphrodite007:
*holds mic* THIS IS EXACTLY WHAT WE HAVE BEEN SAYING!

justwise you are far smarter than this! Isn’t this what we have been saying since?, “Don’t go to the UK cos you can’t work without a sponsorship, go elsewhere!”

I’m really tired of the pointless argument!

The problem is that the entire thread was pointless in the first place. The thread started as a screed about how England has restricted access to the job market for international students who have spent millions to acquire an education... hmmm when did England owe you the right to live and work within its borders? Hasn't that ALWAYS been clearly spelled out during the visa application process?

joystick007:
Please Twoods, Lagosismyhome, femi321, kindly give your thoughts too.

Please.

No one can tell you what gives an edge at a visa interview or not. You just have to try. Yes the graduate assistantship and scholarship helps bolster your credibility as a genuine student so that should help your confidence. The only thing I was not sure of was the $500 downpayment. I thought your tuition was fully covered with the GA and scholarship?

I’d say wait a few weeks, contact Maryland U and ask them if you should still expect a response and when. Let them know you already have an offer but looking to see if they also will offer you admission. If by March end you hear nothing, move on with yeshiva.

bikat:
@dating website. The point I am making is simple - VERY FEW PEOPLE GET A JOB THAT CAN SPONSOR THEIR VISA.

I’m not sure why you think this point is important. Employers care more about their citizens... there was no guarantee you would get a job after a degree.... in fact one of the criteria for obtaining a study visa in the first place was that you would return to your home country after your education, no?

BossLaifay:
Lets not all come here and deceive ourselves. The truth of the matter is the chances of getting a job are slim. The truth is majority of people going to study in the UK (or anywhere for that matter) hope to get the opportunity to get some experience after school and possibly remain as a legal immigrant. But in the UK that is hinged on a sponsor and trust me its very very slim. I do know this for a fact because I researched my ass off at a point. And was refused a couple of jobs after interviews.
So please give the OP a break. He is just telling people not to go with that mind set to the UK. THEY WILL MOST LIKELY NOT GET JOBS!!!

The UK is simply saying it has enough of its citizens to fill its employment demands and does not need you. Why do you think you should get a job there? Why aren’t you demanding your government provide a job for you?

bikat:
. Don't misinform people. Only 1 out of 800 foreign student will get a job that can sponsor their visa. VERY FEW PEOPLE GET A JOB. After your masters you have about 3/4 months before your visa expiration which of course is not renewable except you get someone to marry so how can you get a job when you have to leave almost immediately? UK MASTERS NA WASTE OF MONEY

Did the UK. Government force you to come do masters in their country?

Aphrodite007:
God bless you immensely. I have been looking for how to create awareness on this issue.

If I had known that it was like that in the UK I wouldn't have bothered going there! People need to be aware that UK should not be an option. Its bewildering (and quite unfair) to make Nigerians pay so much money with little to no benefits in return. I was lucky to have gotten a job as soon as I got back to Nigeria, but what about the other over 30 school mates that were in my school that are jobless in Nigeria with no job to give back to their families for the money spent? One day, I went for a bank job interview, and I saw a lady that studied MPH in my UK University, she finished a year before me, which simply means she had been jobless for a year plus. I was so heartbroken seeing how the UK certificate had not impacted her in any way.

During my studies, I applied to over 100 IT jobs, I knew I was over qualified for some sef, but they turned me down the moment they found out that I was going to need sponsorship (even with the IT shortage)- me, that built their economy with my outrageous tuition! One time, one of the international officers in my school even confided in me that the Indians had blacklisted UK Universities due to the inability to remain in the UK after the amount of money spent, she wondered when we Nigerians would get sense and do the same.

I am always so happy when I see the UK threads reducing in popularity because less Nigerians are going there, rather, I am happy that the Canada, US and Australia threads growing with Nigerian youths that want a better life. UK is so so so not worth it!

I’m confused as to why we think the UK must provide us with job opportunities after an expensive education. We were not forced to study there... we contributed nothing to the infrastructure that attracts us to go there. They want their country to better serve their own citizens and are under no obligation to compensate you for the poor state of your own country.

Naughtyvirgin:
@LagosismyHome @Twoods @femi312 and all d gurus

I'm trying to verify for the very last time b4 I reg for my SAT from y'all...please your candid advise again.
I'm a graduate of Bch with a low cgpa 2.07, I intend studying nursing. Checked out schools in the states and requirements and noticed the least schs opted for a 2.5 gpa.
1) I intend taking the SAT and applying to d schs of my choice for B.sc in Nursing.
2)I'd certainly declare my first degree when filling my D'S 160 form .
3)spoke with a friend offshore and he said since the second degree I'm going for is different from my first I can continue with my application but i should look for a correlation between the two courses.
Having said all this I really hope I'm still on a good track and this won't be an issue?.im asking coz of the vast knowledge and advices on here .....Thanks

You never know until you try. Your gpa is low, so that limits your options. You also need to convince a VO why you’re changing your major to get another bachelors degree. Are you changing because of a low gpa and this low employment prospects in your home country?

gokuu:
LOL. Fresh graduate wants to apply to the Wharton School for MBA?

Where will you get the 5 years of IMPACTFUL work experience in Investment banking, Private Equity, Consulting, or Corporate Development they typically ask for?

You do know that this cycle, Wharton interviews for candidates applying from EMEA (Europe, Middle East, and Africa) is a Team-Based Discussion style held in LONDON (so you will need to travel to the UK to interview even if you miraculously get an interview invite).

You clearly have not done any research.

Research? This board is a haven for the intellectually lazy. Those who don’t want to write any exams, demand “immediate answers” and want you to recommend a school for them.

ndindiatu:
Please , please ,please, my People what is the benefits of becoming a graduate assistant? I really want to hustle to make up my money for tuition since I have a payment plan but I don't know if graduate assistant will help. Thou people said it will expose me to a lot of opportunities both academically and career wise but I need money to make up for things. What do u guys think? Abeg u guys reason my case

You should have figured this out before you travelled.

Richbest18:
Greetings to you all..

I was refused a u.s visitor visa last year (Aug/Sep). I wanted to go on vacation.



I want to re-apply, maybe using conference. I was 26years as at the time i applied, the agent that did the package for me filled my marital status as married but am single, position at work; Branch Manager, the agent also made a mistake on my salary which didn't correspond on my statement of account (the agent wrote N150,007 instead of N235,000). My fiancee stays in united states (Nigerian, born and brought in u.s). Last visit to Nigeria was 4-5years ago.

My question is this;


(1) When reapplying, should i use the same information the agent used
(2) How can i apply for conference,
(3) What is the process/requirements for spouse visa and how does it work. My fiancee wants to visit Nigeria soon for us to do a court wedding. I asked her to chill alil for me to seek advice/another possible means.

NB I have not traveled out of Nigeria before, I was born and brought up here. Never had interest in traveling out cos i get scared entering the plane.

I appreciate your advice.

To answer your questions:

1) No. You already admitted that the info in your previous application was false. The difficulty would be convincing the VO that you are now suddenly single when you claimed to have been previously married.

2) Again you're trying to obtain a visa by fraudulent means. It appears you have learnt nothing from your previous refusal.

3) The process is available on the US consulate website. Alternatively, your fiancee can find out for you.

citizen202:
please any good nigerian in houston a brother needs your help he just got into houston and he is stranded he needs per hourly job to be able to meet up.. please help nairalanders help ...his mail is kelechiduri17@gmail.com

He isn't stranded, he can simply take a flight back home.

citizen202:
hello good nigerian to all the wonderful nigerians in houston America ..please i have a brother who just arrived in houston but is finding it difficult to adjust..He came to hustle you know please any help from our brothers and sisters in texas houston please he needs a job to cope please any per hour job will do thank you ...please send him a mail on kelechiduri17@gmail.com

This has been mentioned here time and time again... America is not a place to simply come to "hustle". You cannot work on a non-immigrant visa. It is illegal.

Princewhite24:
Good morning
I have an interview this morning
Vo. Good Morning
Me morning ma
Vo passport
I gave her my passport
vo why are you traveling to USA
Me I told her am going there for visiting my brother who is doing is mastering degree at University of Texas
Vo have you applied for Canada visa

Me No
Vo but u have
Me I told her have not
Vo where do u work
Me I told her where I work and my position
Vo have you traveled before
Me yes have been to UAE AND GHANA for business trip
she gave me the blue paper that am not qualified
Plz what relationship does my application have with Canada

You’re pretty much screwed.

Drelexy:
I have been a silent reader here in short and I must say this thread is so wonderful. My family interview was today but was denied. My wife who I told everything and said she know it ruined the whole thing and am not happy. The transcript below.

Vo. Passport please
Me :Here it is, Good morning( I don't even know if she responded)
Vo: is that your daughter
Me n wifey: yes
Vo: why are u going to america
Me: We are going to attend my graduation( Did MBA online in xxxxx school and they invited me) and we will visit so so places too.
Vo: Online program
Me : yes please
Vo: Nice and expensive school.
Me : yes but it worth it.
Vo: going for how many days
Me: 10 days
Vo: have any of u traveled out before either personally or as couple
Me : I traveled to Poland, France, Switzerland, Italy Greece, Germany, Malaysia Ghana .that's before I married my wife.
Vo: typing as if is Nigeria budget why asking these questions.
Vo: what did u went for in Malaysia
Me: for annual vacation and I explained more.
Vo: you have any relative in america
Me and wifey: No
Vo: where will u be staying
Me: xxxxx hotel in xxxxx place.
Vo: How long have u been married
Me and wifey : 3years
Vo: where do u work
Me: xxxxx company and into xxxxx things.
Vo: your position:
Me: Ism (Information system manager)
Vo: your duties.
Me: I pour down everything
Vo: cut in how much do u earn
Me: xxxxx income and got xxxxx from extra works. At this time the vo notice am very confidence and flowing well then she turn to my wife.
Vo: madam what do u do?
Wifey : Am accountant in so so company in so so place. And am into fashion
Vo: fashion what do u mean?
Wifey: I make clothes
Vo: OK nice.
Vo: your accounts please
Me and wifey: here they are
Vo:looking at both account carefully:
she took her time to look at our account, don't ever take fake account to there cos u might not be lucky. She scrutinize our account that a man in my back was shaking.
Vo: have it
Me: thanks:
Vo: your daughter should be in school then how come she is joining the trip?
Me: Her school gave her exemption for the trip and here is the letter and her school fees receipt 3terms paid once.
This time the vo stretch to the white paper while looking at the screen. Then suddenly she caught my wife off guard.
Vo: madam are you pregnant
Wifey: No
Then the question I think got us denied.
Vo: do u wish to give birth in america if given visa and still valid for two years
Wifey: confused
Vo: repeat it again and looking out my eyes if I will signal my wife.
Wifey : confused with the question
Vo: repeat it again.
Wifey: Answer yes.
In my mind I said oh my God.
Vo: type for 2minis and gave us the blue paper.

My wifey is a smart woman. I told her interview is not just about smartness but preparedness. I even told her what to say if same question is asked but she said she was nervous and a bit lost. All The same thanks to the gurus in the house.

Your poor wife... I hope you're not making things worse for her by berating her at home.

Gunnerson:
I should use this opportunity to congratulate the lucky pundits in the house that have been offered admission. I’ve been on this platform for a while noticing things as usual. I’m indeed happy because the mission of this platform is being fulfilled. I’m pretty sure potential grad students are seriously looking forward to hearing ‘welcome to America’ but these are the few points you should be aware of before leaving Nigeria. My first question is this, are you sure you really want to accept this admission offer? Oh! You’re surprised right? I’ll explain elaborately on this based on my experience. This time last year, I got a plethora of admission offers that I became bemused on the one to accept, and the ones to let go. I got an undergraduate degree in industrial chemistry from the university of Lagos, but I have never for once cherished what I studied. Throughout my university days, I never gained anything, I was never serious because I hated the smell of chemicals which emanated from the chemistry lab. I’ve always wished I studied chemical engineering. Upon graduation, I said to myself this is the best time to fulfill your chemical engineering dream. The truth is if I had known, I would have applied for an MS in chemical engineering, but because I wasn’t advised and based on ‘do it all by yourself’ phenomenon, I fell into a trap, and it took various deliberations before I was able to get out of the trap I got myself into. I knew I wasn’t going to get into top schools that offer PhD in chemical engineering because of my industrial chemistry background. I applied into 6 or 8 schools (not too sure), I applied for PhD in chemical engineering in three low ranked schools(with research areas that I don’t even like or have a fundamental knowledge of), I was eager to leave this country because I felt this country doesn’t have anything good for the youths. My first admission offer (PhD Chemistry) was from Michigan Technological University with a fully funded, amazing stipend package. I was like ‘wawuu’ I saluted myself, and said to myself, ‘Tobi, welcome to America’ I didn’t even wait for the second offer before I grabbed the first one and accepted it. Seriously, I made the biggest mistakes of my life by accepting that offer because I didn’t do enough research before; (I) showing interest in PhD, because research isn’t my thing, I’m always and will forever be in love with calculations, (II) applying into Michigan Tech, because the research areas are not what I consider funny. Not that I don’t like the research areas, I HATE the research areas. Plus, Michigan is a cold state, I went during summer, but the weather was unbearable for me, it was extremely cold and I’m allergic to cold. There was a day I was coming from school, I cried and said to myself, ‘Tobi, who sent you here! You want to come and die in America right?’ Plus, Michigan is more of a white man state, I was the only black in my department. Michigan is one of the coldest states in US, and that would have been a capital NO for me if I had done my research before leaving Nigeria. Also, I loathe trying new species of food. I’m a typical Ekiti man who’s used to our cultural foods, but it was difficult in Michigan because I couldn’t find any Nigerian store. I had no choice but to result into consuming biscuits, burger and chips for three weeks. There was a day I instructed one of my friends in Atlanta, Georgia to buy our normal foodstuffs in Nigeria for me in Atlanta, because there are quite good African stores in Atlanta that sell Nigerian foodstuffs. By the time I calculated the cost of shipping the foodstuffs to Michigan, I lost interest.
If you’ve made up your mind to leave Nigeria, please and please consider the following piece of advice;
(I) Do a thorough research on the school you’re going to, the state, and means of transportation. I faced a lot of challenges transporting myself because MTU is located in a small town. There was no train(I think train is the cheapest means of transportation in US), no BRT bus. I was left with two options, it’s either I board a taxi(very expensive) or I trek to school. My apartment was far from school, and what I did most was to trek.
(II) Please ask yourself this genuine question, why am I leaving for US? Are you interested in going to US because you’re tired of being jobless or underemployed in Nigeria? Are you going to US because you want to get a green card? Are you going to US because you have flair for international education, and research? Are you going to US because you just want to leave this country? Let me answer the questions one after the other. If the reason is because you’re underemployed or jobless, have you tried being self employed? https://www.dailytrust.com.ng/news/women-enterpreneurs/affiong-williams-makes-forbes-africa-s-billionaires-list/155376.html Did you know you can get grants to finance your unprecedented ideas? I’m very sure most people know Iroko TV, the CEO got grants to finance his idea and he’s a lionized young billionaire in Nigeria. https://www.google.co.uk/amp/s/amp.ft.com/content/b02cab5e-c378-11e5-b3b1-7b2481276e45 if you’re not called to be self employed, please and please, don’t go there because many are called but few are chosen. On a more serious note, what attracted me to US was the amazing stipends grad students get, but I was wrong when I got there. When I got my I-20, I was uncontrollably happy when I found out that I would be earning close to 500K naira per month after being fully funded. I was like I will have enough savings at the end of the month. Unbeknownst to me, US isn’t Ojuelegba where you can survive on 50K per month. I was staying in a one room apartment (three persons share one bathroom. Bathroom is also known as toilet in US.) and after calculating the yearly rent, I would be paying close to 2 million naira every year in what we call face me and face you apartment in Nigeria. That’s not all, I was also responsible for my health insurance, and other payments that would be made known to you when you get to the school. I realized the pay wasn’t what I anticipated. What’s left was passion, which I never had for the course I was given and the area of research that was available. I give crocodile smile whenever people tell me that they would work their asses off by combining multiple jobs in US. The truth is as a GA or RA, you will never have quality time for yourself coupled with the fact that you have projects you’ll be constantly working on. Disregard any of such information that tells you that as a grad students, you’ll have time for yourself. Especially students with science background (Eyin omo science student) be prepared to spend most of your day in the lab. If the pay is the reason why you’re going to US, please disabuse yourself from such fallacy. If you belong to the second category of people going to US because of green card, please think twice before leaving Nigeria. My first question is, are you ready to deny yourself of true love by marrying a citizen because you want to become a denizen? The bitter truth is not everybody would get citizenship through the means of securing a job upon graduation is US. Do you know how many US citizens are unemployed? The ones amongst us that might be lucky to get a good job in US upon graduation are the ones in top ranked schools. If you’re eyeing an unranked or low ranked school, have you thought of what would become of you upon graduation. Let me share a brief story of two persons with you. When I got to Houghton, Michigan, the only good experience I had was to meet some folks that graduated from Unilag. They told me the story of a Nigerian guy that concluded his PhD in MTU and returned to Nigeria to become a lecturer in Gombe State University. At first, I was like God forbid but on the long run, I saw it coming. I was lucky enough to meet the second guy, (this one is not them say) the guy got an undergraduate degree in chemical engineering from Unilag and proceeded to MTU for his PhD. He graduated the semester before I clocked in in MTU. We got talking and he said he had to settle for a post doctoral program when he couldn’t secure a job. As I’m talking to you, he’s a post doc student in the department of chemical engineering. My question to him is what next after post doc? Unto my next question, are you going to US because you have flair for research? The people that belong to this category are the ones that would survive the grad school heat in US. Please don’t hesitate to accept that admission offer if you belong to this category.
Conclusions:
(1) I would advise potential admission seekers to apply for an MS program instead of the over prophesied PhD program because you can still bear unforeseen circumstances for 18 months instead of 5 years.
(2) If you’re interested in getting a good job in US upon graduation, please and please target top ranked schools in your individual programs.
(3) If you’re interested in the green Pali, please don’t lead anybody on in Nigeria before leaving because I must confess to you, black Americans are the true definition of beauty. You’ll definitely find a partner in US, but don’t ever make it obvious that you’re interested in them because of your ulterior motive.
(4) If you’re interested in pursuing a PhD program, please be sure that you love research, be sure you’re in love with your area of research because PhD is over demanding. PhD would take everything called life away from you for five years. This is not to scare you. You can do it because many Nigerians that aren’t better than you have done it. But don’t deceive yourself.
(5) If you’re more concerned about being a billionaire, please neglect grad school, and invest in your idea for five years instead of spending it in grad school with nothing positive at the end but a degree.
(6) If you have a good job or earn well in Nigeria, please and please stick to your job, don’t resign o because there’s no assurance that you’ll get something close to that upon graduation.
(7) For those interested in international education, please be very passionate about it. The end result is good. Imagine a situation where Dr would be added to your name. Oh my! it’ll be so sweet being called Dr Tobi Crowns in future. But don’t ever let go of your dreams because of grad school.
Conclusion: grad school is only interested in passionate applicants. PhD program is very demanding and be ready to pay the price. A PhD program in ABC is more demanding than BS in Electrical electronics engineering because you won’t just learn the alphabetical order but you would learn why A is A and why X has to come before Y and why B is called B and why M is an inverted W. Be prepared! Be prepared!! Be prepared!!! Grad school is interesting, but demanding.
Ask yourself this question, ‘why am I leaving Nigeria’? Please be sincere with your response. God bless you.

Excerpt from a friend's experience

A smart man is one who learns from his mistakes, the wise one is the person who learns from the mistakes of others.

When we ask folks to sit down and take stock of why they are applying for educational programs in the US, they call us haters.

yanabasee:
Mercy Johnson's ugliness is extremely infectious to her kids....

This is an extremely offensive post.

chloe00:
Please leave him alone , that’s how he is. Whatever he says now shouldn’t bother anyone

I agree... I find those who have a problem with my posts are often the less than honest...

chloe00:
Twoods as usual ever since he entered into this thread is to stir up something and leave, well yes she lied but can you leave her and her lies alone please

What else am I to do?

captain90210:
I'm so in support of your response. Oga twoods, you have to respect people's situations. If you can't advice, allow the sleeping dog lie

Your response is confusing to me. I think what you mean is we have to continue to live in the make belief world where we hear, see and say nothing. Other than that, I see no reason why you demand that I “respect” the situation of others while denying me the same respect to voice an opinion, even one you don’t like.

Secondly, advice could go either of two ways. One you like, one you don’t. It seems to me that your problem is not that I can’t advice, but that you’re not comfortable with it.

The scenario I laid out is one any reasonable person would come to. It’s incredibly hard to convince me that a couple that divorced in 2016, after having a baby, found separate partners in such a short time that one has already moved on with another person to the US (a process that obviously takes a good deal of time) and the other is about to give birth to the baby of someone else... also why is she concerned about the ex-spouse in the US? Is she asking out of genuine concern or that the Cbp officers are likely to come to the very same conclusion that I did?