₦airaland Forum

I know someone who went here ... although not recently . Let me send you her details

Thank you.

My US trip. I will try not to make it a long read. This is my 2nd day here.
So prior to my travel, i had to sort out accommodation and flight.
I used lufthansa, quite expensive but good reviews. I had no issues with the flight but the food, my Lord, tasted soo strange or rather tasteless my taste buds disagreed with everything. I just gave up drinking water and coke through out. The layovers were not much..approx 3hrs.
Passed through immigrations at houston, long queue. nothing was asked specifically. Was told to pass only my documents. On reaching my hostel, i found out my luggage key was damaged and my bags searched in US. They left this pamplet saying they had to and I should not take offense and how sorry they are...lol
So Tulane sent me names of hostels I could stay in. I found their rates online and reserved a bedspace in one, its a 4shared room...really strange arrangement but a common thing here. I am just minding my business. Greet my roomates in the morn and run out and spend my day in a restaurant close by.
Landed at new orleans 6pmish and took the airport shuttle, costs 36. Reached the hostel and was told a different story that the rate online was without tax and fridays cost more. So I paid more than budgeted.
Though Clean sheets and staying with strangers is odd but I am getting by. We all have this unspoken respected boundary.
I found a telephone service, using AT and T cos its close to the hostel, quite expensive but what can i do?
For bank, i found chase highly recommended by locals. Went by and they were so helpful.
The language is something else, i vowed not to use phoné and will continue to repeat myself till it sinks in. Let them be acting like they cant understand me. Its not like i have an ibo accent so i dont know their problem.
Where i eat which is relatively cheap, the hostess corrects my pronunciation of water all the time...i just laugh and say this one is on her own...in my mind o. The food here is another wahala. I just eat what i know now which are chips, chicken, steak which we call beef and pancakes...that is how i wasted money on potatoes that was mushy and cooked with its skin.then the rice and one green sauce like that, pls dont try it. I like to experience new cuisines but that was the height abeg. i just tire and I was told to bring foodstuffs but i didnt want to carry overload and since i didnt have a room, how will i store them when i get here. These were discouraging points for me.
Finding accommodation here is hard so pls do so from naija. I am spending too much in this hostel as i do not know anyone.
Went to my school today, nice and friendly ppl. Everyone smiling, it seems odd sha but i guess they are happy ppl. I complained of accommodation...they do this thing which i find unhelpful...they give u lots of information and leave you to do the leg work. I guess thats how its gonna be. I was told of many sites to search for rooms which i have been searching there before now still nothing and was not given any specific contact of anyone who can help me.
The weather is cold so come with sweaters and jackets. If you do not know ppl here like me you might feel out of place but its normal for me, i am not that social. I could coexist with ppl with minimal communication so im not too bothered.
All in all, i am getting by. I have not seen a Nigerian in new orleans. Seen blacks though but no nigerian. I took the street cars and cos i didnt know the stop i will be alighting off, i got talking with the driver, she actually asked how come i speak good english...my God, i was angry...i chimamandaed her, i told her that it was a ludicrous question and the US will be ashamed she asked me that and how we have okonji iweala and the late achebe and chimamanda but reflecting now i guess with all the negative things about nigeria, one shouldnt blame her too much. To show how sorry she was, i didnt pay for my trip. I would love too meet a Nigerian who can put me through. been Putting up a brave face since i got here but i got lost today...not a funny experience. This is not to discourage anyone. The first few weeks will be rough but with time things will iron out.
Happy travels and compliments of the season. If u have questions not covered here u can send me an email. If you know anyone in new orleans, help a brother with contacts pls.

Hi. I am going for a masters in health services administration at Tulane University SPHTM. This place is truly a gold mine and I learnt so much here. I got approved on 27th of sept in abj. Just picked up my passport today. I felt I should give back to the community. There is a lot of background story to this interview but for the sake of brevity i will just go straight to my interview. This was my 2nd attempt.

V.O, good morning

Me, good morning

V.O, where are you going to

Me, Tulane university in new orleans for a masters in health services administration otherwise known as health care management

V.O, how did you hear about the school

Me, when i first made up my mind that i wanted a masters, i went to google and searched for top 20 schools of public health in USA, then i bagan checking each school on their official website. Tulane ranked 12th on the US news and world reports and also My supervisor mentioned the school as one at the forefront on research on tropical diseases which is important to Nigeria...V.O, i will stop you right there.

V.O, why now when you do not have enough medical experience

Me, Not at all, I have been a medical doctor for over 3 yrs now (told her all i have done since graduation till now, all the things on my DS160). V.O, I will stop you right there, so why now?

Me, Based on this experience, i have witnessed a lot of heart shattering things such as people not being able to afford drugs, doctors and healthworkers going on strike, people dying of preventable diseases. Most burdersome is how crippled the country is when we have epidemics. We have manpower and appreciable material resources, what we lack is good administration, planning and execution on how to generate an output that covers the health issues of all Nigerians. This is why i am going to the US to gain such transferable skills. I also have plans of owning my own hospital in Nigeria in the next 6yrs and I need this training to be able to run it efficiently and effectively with aims of giving affordable and accessible health care to my people...VO...i will stop you right there.

V.O, who is sponsoring this

Me, My uncle and i mentioned his name

V.O, can i see a statement

Me, yes, here you go

VO, what does he do

Me, told her

V.O, why is he doing this.

Me, he has always been supportive of my academic pursuits and wants me to be an instrument of positive change in the healthsector of this country

V.O looks at me seriously then says...do you agree to take full responsibility of this document if its found to be fake, this will cost you a 10yrs ban

Me, Yes, its authentic.

V.O, Ok, you have been approved...then the famous temporary deafness started....you will need this i20 at the port of entry...
Me, come again...repeats herself. Your passport will be available so so date, Me, pls come again....VO repeats herself....VO, you wont be able to enter the US 30 days before start of school so the earliest date for you to enter the US is so so date...Me, pls come again...VO, repeats herself. Are you clear with all i have said?
Me, yes

V.O, picks up the white paper and hands it over to me, do have a nice day.
Me, and you too.

Few tips that i can give based on my experience.

1st believe in yourself, sounds cliche right but its tested and trusted. My 1st interview, i met the infamous african american woman and honestly it was not pleasant atall. So if you know within you that you did the whole process yourself, had all your documents intact like i did and the only issue was the interview, do try again.

I am single, in my twenties and have not travelled before. So do not let that bother you so much.

Avoid agents pls. Avoid agents pls. They can be soo wicked. Do everything yourself. Come here for information

Pls be confident, its necessary...there was this guy shouting ontop of his voice thinking it was projecting confidence but we listening could hear the anxiety in every syllable what more the V.O. He was denied. Pls practice well before hand.

I have always been confident about my abilities. GPA 3.6/4 (Wes evaluated). GRE total 310. Applied kindda late to 8 schools was admitted into 7. Two gave me partial scholarships. So i was pretty confident. After the 1st denial, i was truly humbled but i am a resilient fellow. I hardly give up. I found God again...lol, sounds funny but its true. I prayed harder than I did before the 1st interview. I had to trust God this time and it worked.

Listen to motivationals, they helped me alot. I went on youtube, saw a lot. I discovered TD Jakes. What a gifted speaker. It will help you get over the few days depression and push you on.

I had to also contact ppl here to help me. Some answered, some didnt and i understand. People are busy with school, work and all but for a shy guy like me who likes to keep my business my business, i dreaded putting up my enquiries so i contacted the ones i noticed gave enlightening responses with a touch of humanity and who were willing to help others. Few answered, most didnt. So go with the ones that replied you.

Pls during the interview, learn to talk,express yourself. Do not be rigid. A lady i observed who was laughing with the consular officer and smiling through out got hers. I had to learn to smile like those beauty pagent models. My first interview was corrupted with the mantra of dont talk if not spoken to, do not answer what you were not asked...so i was a one word answering machine..yes, no...i did not even expatiate on questions and there was this long period when she was just typing on end, i was expecting more questions but none came afterwords because i read here how brief one had to be, anyways the point is pls by all means express yourself fully. When you notice them typing for long, present your case again, talk about the school, ask for opinion on the city you intend to go to school, say your future plans for Nigeria. Dont just keep mute. Let the V.O be the one to say 'stop'

I want to thank Promise, God bless you. Also Ubah, thank you...your candid advice helped.
Lastly to everyone who posted here, thanks. I started from group 9 to this current group. Its long, I am sorry but I hope this helps someone who genuinely wants to better himself or herself positively. Like i said, i am not inclined to put up things here but if you have questions, feel free to reach out and i will try and answer your emails. Pls be patient with me as i am a doctor with really busy hrs. Never, ever give up. God bless you all.

Hello, is it possible to get an i-20 of two schools?


Yes it is. I personally got from 4schools. But you will need to pick one for the sevis fee payment and for your interview. It offers you more options will you decide.

LagosismyHome:
Best place to reach me is here

I need mock interviews befor my interview pls. I have read transcripts here. I also sent you an email but no reply.

LagosismyHome:
Depending on when you were denied... Sevis is valid for one year so if you denial is within one year to reapplying . Then NO, you don't need to pay again

Pls how do i get across to you, my mail is uzobiggy@gmail.com

Hi ubah,pls can i have ur email. Would like to chat with you.i am uzoma