₦airaland Forum

I don't do this, it's not my kind of talk but I will advise you and Sharwama not to fence yourselves with sword and shield. No need to blow things out of proportion especially among three respected individuals. Lagosismyhome is an exceptional individual who is out of the class of any rancour with anyone, she has demonstrated this over time. I think you and your queen should thrash this issue into the bin and berry the hatchet, move on with the great work ongoing in here. As a matter of fact, many young Nigerians need more help to achieve their respective goals and realise their dreams. Think of this, you guys would know that we all need to come together and render more help and forget about any wound/injuries sustained in helping others fulfil their destiny.

fairheart:
She was insulting me indirectly, not just Shawarma. Lagosismyhome is one of the only 4 or 5 people I follow on Nairaland. That is to tell you I also respect her and value her genuine contributions. I even read some of her comments on other threads . She is a good-hearted person, or else, she wouldn't be here assisting people she'll never meet in real life. I guess she misinterpreted the whole thing and did not mean any of it. The King and Queen thing is just to have fun and connect with the lady, because she's my kind. Funny enough, I have only talked with Sharwama like 3 times outside this thread; and trust me, she is one of those responsible and direction-oriented young women I've met on the internet.

It is just sad that those who have never done anything for anyone on this thread will use those comments to cut someone who's just being herself. I have edited my initial comment to show I am also a peace-loving person. Thank you for sharing this. I appreciate you!

Mine is UA in Tuscaloosa (Capstone) and not Birmingham

Astaclover9:
Fellow UAB here.... What's your plan on getting accommodation and when do you intend to leave... Booked my flight already..... Mph student Fall 2019 here

calculator123:
Chief hope you won't mind sharing your profile
GRE and TOEFL scores, GPA etc.

Of course no!
My profile
BSc Industrial Mathematics (CGPA:3.62/4.0)
MSc Mathematical Sciences (83%)
Publications: 3
Funding: Fully funded (0.5FTE GTA) with no deficit
GRE:302
TOEFL: Nil

I sincerely want to appreciate everyone on this trend for great and invaluable efforts put together to bring up fruitful discussions at all time. I have been a silent follower of this trend and finally, benefit from all your productive comments. May the good Lord bless you guys immensely in return.

My transcript goes thus:

Interview date: July 11, 2019.
Embassy: Lagos
Time: 6:45am
Window: 4, a black American man.

VO: Good Morning

Me: Good morning sir (almost at the same time with him)

VO: Let me have your documents please

Me: All right sir and I passed it

VO: Oh, University of Alabama!

Me: Yes, that's right!

VO: Why a PhD in Applied Mathematics?

Me: Pardon? (Because I wasn't expecting that as a first question)

VO: He repeated the question

Me: I want a PhD in applied mathematics because I'm passionate about the use of pure and applied mathematical concepts to study the evolution, effect, control of infectious diseases and epidemiogy of diseases that follow seasonal trend. I enjoy the use of mathematical models to provide insight into the complex structures of epidemiological and biomedical problems.

VO: Why University of Alabama?

Me: I chose university of Alabama because they have a strong research team in BioMathematics. Their applied mathematics group has excellent and award winning researchers, such as Prof Dang Nguyen who has just received a distinguished award from the Society for Industrial and Applied Mathematics. I'm also fascinated by the research of Prof David Halpern-who uses mathematical models to investigate biological and bioengineering process-with whom I have had correspondence.

VO: How did you come about BioMathematics?

Me: During my undergraduate, I took a course on Modeling of infectious diseases and I eventually did my undergraduate research in this area. After which I had a full scholarship to AIMS for my master where I had the opportunity of working under Prof Robert Smith of the University of Ottawa. He later supervised my thesis: Modeling the effect of vaccination on the control of Leptospirosis using impulsive and differential equations. These spur my passion for BioMath and I want to expand my research prowess.

VO: Your GTA, How did you get it?

Me: Pardon? (at this point, I was tired of talking)

VO: Tell me how you got GTA.

Me: The graduate admission committee found my application strong enough and contacted me for the GTA position (I lost composure at this point because this wasn't the response I prepared).

VO: Okay, what is your plan after graduation?

Me: I intend to return to my current place of employment-Landmark University where I currently serve as assistant.....and later pursue a post-doctoral research to broaden my horizons.

VO: Typing for few seconds and then looking at my mouth (as if I have not spoken enough but of course, the flow wasn't like when I was talking about my research)

Me: Yes! (like, that's all)

VO: Continued with the typing

Me: I was just speaking in tongues inside of me with my mouth gesticulating. I was thinking I had floppy responses in the later part of the interview.

VO: Looked up into my eyes and said your visa is approved.

Me: Thank you sir. Thank you for approving my Visa.

VO: No! with reaction. It's my job.

Vo: Reached out for the white paper, pick up your passport after 3-working days at the address indicated on this white paper. And you will need your I-20 at the point of entry.

NB: The VO was patient and he listened to me through out the conversation (lucky me!). I got tired so early because I was passionately dramatizing with my two hands and I expect the interview to end so soon (lazy me!).
However, be prepared for anything, personalise all your responses and be passionate with your delivery.

I reside in Ibadan but owing to their delay, I was advised to go to Ado which I did and I got it the same day. The guy who I was referred to in Ado told me it is normally done for 25k but he has to bribe some other guys.

fairheart:
Yes, even Ibadan might issue the same day with that price. This black market price is mostly within Lagos and Abeokuta.

I did mine in Ado on 22nd of May for 31k and I got it the same day.

Bjteensdes24:
Thanks for that.. But are you saying it will be more than 45k if it's not done in a black market?

Teminiyii:
Hey guys, I really want to say that this forum helped me greatly, my visa was approved today(7:45am) at the Lagos state embassy, after denying me a B1/B2 visa last year and also delayed at Abuja embassy last week Thursday a F1 visa but here I am today giving thanks to God Almighty for his love and mercy towards me. It was just pure favour and God's grace I received today. I also want to use this opportunity to thank Mrchillz, Ability247, blacnewton, eniolorunfe, Texrem, lagosismyhome and segun for ur contributions in one way or the other to the success of my visa. God will continue to bless u guys. Amen

My transcript goes this:
Vo: Good morning
Me: Good morning nd how was urnyt.. fine
Vo: Tell me about ur travel plans
Me: I'm going for my masters degree in mathematics with a specialization in applied statistics at Cleveland state university... Am required to earn 36 credit hours over a period of 24months and I'll be taking courses like... Vo cuts....
Vo: Let's make it simple... what re u going for?
Me: Am going for my masters in...... as mentioned above
Vo: why Cleveland state university?
Me: I chose Cleveland state university cos their mathematics and statistics department offers a good research and curriculum that's inline with my career pursuit wch will be apathway to achieving my career goal as a data analyst.
Vo: what's ur research on?
Me: Developing a robust method for analyzing data also developing a user friendly software that offers flexibility for data manipulation.
Vo: what do u intend to do with this course?
Me: I intend to work in a telecom company due to rapid increase in phone users in Nigeria, my skills and experience gained will help in analyzing sales report and also make good market research that will be productive in helping my company make a better business decision.
Na so she start to read my Ds160 form for like 2mins the next thing wey I hear na the magic word oooo.... that ur visa has been approved.. e be like say na d only thing wey I hear be that.
Before the interview was just singing all things re working for my good and it's intention and indeed God made everything work for my good. You're a failure only wen u fail and u refuse to stand again... And put God first in everything even wen it seems that nothing is working trust me God is working. Thanks

A big congratulations to you, I am glad you made it.

Teminiyii:
Visa delayed today at Abuja embassy.. my transcript goes thus

Vo: why are u going US?
Me: Am going for my masters degree in mathematics with a specialization in applied statistics
Vo: why Cleveland state university
Me: I chose Cleveland state university becos it offers a research and curriculum that's inline with My career goal of becoming a data analyst. Talking about the curriculum I am required to earn 36 credit hours in a period of 24months and I'll be taking courses like... linear algebra with functions of different variables, applied linear model, categorical data analysis, time series analysis... she was just nodding.

Vo: U're for masters in mathematics?
Me: tried correcting her and adding with a specialization in statistics.
Vo: she was like hey stop.. like she wasn't cool with d fact that I was trying to correct her
Me: I smiled

You were sound and confident with your responses. However, you weren't convincing enough as a mathematician. Did you forget that there is an immeasurable distance existing between mathematics and statistics? You're going for an M.Sc. Mathematics to specialise in applied statistics? That does not follow bro, it doesn't. To the VO, it sounds as if you were going to a law school to earn a degree in medicine.

You would have gotten your visa by telling the VO that you chose this school because their mathematics and statistics department's curriculum correlate with your career pursuit and it will be a pathway to achieving your dream of becoming a data analyst. Hence, the VO would know that it's possible you earn a degree in Mathematics but specialise in applied statistics from this department (Some universities have Mathematics department different from Statistics, some have them together as mathematical sciences and some do not have statistics dept.).

N.B: At graduate level, you're expected to master a field of study while you can still apply it to other fields. That said, it doesn't imply that a statistician will be mistaken for a mathematician, that is fallacious and a terrible error to commit.
I don't know if I made any sense to you. You can't go for Master's degree in mathematics and major in applied statistics, why? the same reason why a student going for MSc in statistics can't major in Topology or PDE e.t.c

Ave:
Hello house, I ws denied yesterday, been trying to figure out what went wrong but here is my transcript please I am open to constructive criticisms, I have already rescheduled for Friday.
............
Vo: which school are you going to
Me: Washington State University



Vote: nodded and said so why this school
Me: I chose this sch because their curriculum fitsmy profile and they offered a concentration on environmental health engineering
Vo: cuts in, I think they are other schools in the US that offer a major in environmental health
Me: I just continued but stammered here a bit that I carefully checked the ongoing research by the department professors and found one that aligns with my area of interest,by professor .JJ whom I have contacted and he agreed for me to join his team. The research is on the transformation and degradaton of graphene nano materials in d environment. I was also impressed with the prompt and timely response of the faculty members to all my inquiries
Vo:she allowed me finish nodded and repeated I think there are other universities in the USA that offer that same major. She then asked what do you do

Luck was actually against you or perhaps you were delayed till the Friday and not denied.
Left to me, you were almost outstanding with your responses. You did not just well but very great.

That said, I think you didn't do too well with the first question, you gave the school you were going to but for what program? (B.Sc, M.Sc or PhD in what?). I think mentioning these at this point would have reduced the stress off you and gave the VO a good impression of you.

More so, Why the school is another point the VO wasn't quite comfortable with. May be you work on these areas as we hope and trust God for your visa approval on Friday. Congratulations in advance.

[qote author=Ave post=58632823]Hello house, I was denied yesterday, been trying to figure out what wentwrong but here is my transcript please I am open to constructive criticisms, I have already rescheduled for Friday.[/quote]You did well but you left it late to kill it

Obayomimi:
My visa was approved yesterday after 6 denials.
Let me tell my story because I want it to motivate someone out there.

A very big and a special congratulations to you @Obayomimi. This is indeed a victory well deserved for a very dogged and persistent warrior like you. I pray that the good Lord will protect your testimony and grant you outstanding success and speed for excellence in your endeavour. Congratulations once again.

Congratulations @TheGreat342, this is just the unending grace of God.

TheGreat342:
I got to the consulate around 5:45am. Naso I see people ooo. Fast forward to the visa interview.

VO:Good morning
Me:Good morning (I was like how I go use ma for this one, how many years you take senior me...Lol)
VO: What is this teaching assistantship for?
Me: It is a Research Assistant postion (VO Nodding like Lizard...Na joke oooo)
VO:When did your finish degree?
Me:2014
VO: Who is your sponsor?
Me: My sister
VO: Do you have anyone in the US?
Me:No
VO: How many brothers and sisters do you have
Me: one and he reside in Lagos
VO:Your visa has been approved. Naso I deaf, I just carry my documents dey go.

Congratulations @kallowdean. First positive testimony, a symbol of great things to come in Part12 of this trend.

kallowdean:
Why Why Why Why una close the thread by this morning...
All the same noni, glory be to Almighty God.
MY VISA WAS APPROVED THIS MORNING... 6:30 Lagos

Transcript loading 80%....

[quote author=fayttyferano post=58174190

VO: Who is funding ur schooling? In the U.S


Me: Am funding it myself have saved a whole lots for this I got a 2.2million naira from 7up last year and before I came for this interview I got another 2.0 million contract from 7up. She now responded u are so successful in ur business


VO: who will be handling ur business ?

Me: My wife

I think you have done pretty well with your interview but the VO might be expecting more from you on those two questions above.

Firstly, the VO is almost impressed with your response to funding but might as well observed that your savings might be insufficient to see you through your education and other expenses to be incurred.

Secondly, the VO's greater displeasure might have been your response to who will be handling your business which you sharply answered your 'Wife'. Who is your wife? How can we relate your wife to your prosperous fashion business? What has she done to help this business? What has been her input on this business and what will she bring to the table in other to savage this young business from collapsing while you're away so that you won't have to start all over again? I think your response to this question left the VO with many questions on the future of your already flourishing business.

Conclusively, I think you should reapply again and look for point winning responses to questions of this format. More so, do realise that not all questions require sharp answers and that some require you to give sound and convincing explanations to your choice of answers. May almighty God grant your desire in no distant time.

akins2016:
Cool.. I was doing math untill I decided to see what's going on in the statistics world. Which school are you presently? Masters program ?

I'm a prospective PhD student.

akins2016:
ValentinoPerez Are you a Math major person? I believe the guy was suppose to relate the answer he gave to what he want to do upon his graduation. Also, I don't think someone can both specialize in analysis and PDE I'm not so sure because analysis is under pure math and PDE is applied math. He was suppose to stick to either pure (analysis, Algebra, differential geometry etc) or Applied math ( PDE, ODE, Numerical analysis etc)

.

Yes I am.

[quote author=Temitope746 post=58102958][color=#006600][/color]

VO: tell me what is the usefulness of the area.

Me: a lot of physical world problem rely on mathematical knowledge and Analysis and Partial Differential Equation is a great tool for solving complex problem that are modeled into mathematical equations, and after a solution is obtained, mathematician translate the solutions to that which is understandable by non-mathematician.

Your responses were outstanding with almost absolute chance of securing your visa until this point. You earlier said you were going to specialise in pure mathematics and P.D.E, but your current response best suit someone going for applied mathematics(Mathematical modeling, Biomathematics, Optimisation e.t.c). You lost your chance at this point in time, you could have further buttress the point you were developing. I am not convinced too, you said you were going for pure mathematics, which of the aspect of pure maths(Topology, Algebra, Differential Geometry, Analysis, Number theory, Graph theory e.t.c) I'm quite sure the question cut you unaware and you were absolutely not prepared for this question. Be specific when next and please do relate it to the research field of the professor you will be working with. More so, let there exist a converging point between what you are going to study and the lecturing job you'll be coming to take up in any institution here in Africa. I wish you outstanding success for you must reapply in no distant time and congratulations in advance because you're getting your visa.

My heartfelt congratulations to you guys and more outstanding success in your academic career. @:ProfOjah1234, Victorjoel, akandry and ruxxz.