₦airaland Forum

babsharon: Hello house. Pls i need ur advise. I have plan of going for MBA in u.s but the school did not required GMAT or GRE. But just thinking of writing it because of the visa officer here. Pls which of the 2 test can you advise me to write. I will appreciate if someone can reply me. Mr imperioux ur attention is needed pls.

GMAT would be more appropriate for business and management studies. some schools accept GRE in lieu of GMAT though.

@ imperiouxx,thanks a lot mehn!

imperiouxx: Sure, many schools will ask you for a phone interview rather than campus visiting interview, so by that internationals can be given opportunities. I have a colleague who was interviewed on phone and he is doing his PhD in Pharmacology in South Florida. Some like University of Washington will invite you on campus for interview with traveling expenses within the US paid, that means their PhD is mainly for those in the US. Since you will be applying from Nigeria, be expecting phone interview.

Tanx imperiouxx,always helpful. can you link me with your South Florida guy so i can get some tips from his interview experience?

I don't know if you've registered and taken the tests,but i'll share my experience just in case and for others that may need the info. I did the GRE in June,2012 and TOEFL in Sept 2012.You can register for the TOEFL by yourself,all you require is a VISA debit card(only visa was allowed when i registered).U go to the ETS website and open a TOEFL iBT personal account and then go ahead to register for the test.a list of available cities and centers is available on the site. U choose where u want to write your exam and pay instantly with your VISA card. U then print out the order page. they'l send an email to you anyway.when i got to the exam center,i was number one on the list! As for the GRE- you can't pay for it online from nigeria. i registered for it at the test center paying N37 000. I did both the TOEFL and GRE at FIRST LOGIC IKEJA LAGOS. There are many Toefl centres but GRE centres are few,probably only in abuja and lagos,don't be deceived

Mystiqme: So I have been on this thread since 2010 and I have been following up throughout my GRE and TOEFL process, through my application process and through my spring rejects but I finally had my interview last Friday and this is how it went down.
It was pretty short (about 3 mins) as I told God I wanted the previous day and out of my over 20 documents, only 2 were requested by the VO.
I was at the Lagos embassy and about 4 VOs were interviewing:the African-American on Counter 1,one white guy on 2,one elderly guy on 3, and one other guy on the last counter.
The guy on C2 refused all the women that came for visiting(Did he think they were pregnant ). Anyway my token number was 174 and when i saw 173 on C2, I don dey fear but I don dey prepare my mind for a difficult interview even though I was sure I would make it.Suddenly C1 flashed 174 and I walked up to him on jelly legs. It seemed I had forgotten everything I had rehearsed. Anyway....
The Interview
Me: Good morning
VO: Pass your documents, please.
Me: I passed them. He scrutinized them and at the same time was looking at my face. Maybe he dey look this small boi wey dey go do PhD.
VO: Did you take the GRE?
Me: Yes I took it (I passed him my scores).
VO: Do you have your transcript?
Me: Yes, I do. I pass am.
VO: Looked at my transcript and asked 'What is ecology?' I guess this question came up because I studied Botany and I am going for a PhD in Ecology.
Me: I don already dey blow answer afterall na my turf na, but he stopped me and asked:
VO: What is the difference between Botany and Ecology?
Me: Botany is basically the study of plants while Ecology is the study of plants in their environment..both biotic and abiotic. Short like that, I no sabi talk too much
VO: So what will this degree do for you?
Me: Well, I already work here as a ...... so it will enable me get promoted more rapidly in my place of work.
As I was answering the last question He was already tearing the green ticket.
VO: Alright, I am granting you your Visa, go and collect it on Wednesday at Ikeja.
Me: In a small voice..thank you. I was trying to hide a smile but I was not successful.
All the best guys, I will try to be available to answer any questions. Cheers!

@mystiqme,i see you gained a Phd admission. please were u interviewed on phone by your intended school at the time? can you please share the interview experience(school,not embassy) so i can learn from it? Thanks a lot.
oga imperiouxx,any ideas/tips?

collyno200: hello house! please i really need information from you guys urgently.I am set to register for the GRE and TOEFL exam and would need some advise.Firstly i want to personally register it myself rather than through agents.The problem am facing with the registration of TOEFL is that online registration is available from candidates in Nigeria, i intend to pay using credit card but the following cards are not permitted from candidates from Nigeria Express, Discover, JCB and MasterCard i need to know how else i can make the payment online without the listed credit cards.
for the GRE this is where the headache lies more online registration is not available for Nigerian candidates.There@s a form to download and to be mailed to RRC in Netherlands and the payment also is what i don't understand.please if anyone has personally done this i would highly appreciate the info because i would need to register for both this august.i can send my email address or my phone number.i can also call so that i grab the info at once.thanks all

I don't know if you've registered and taken the tests,but i'll share my experience just in case and for others that may need the info. I did the GRE in June,2012 and TOEFL in Sept 2012.You can register for the TOEFL by yourself,all you require is a VISA debit card(only visa was allowed when i registered).U go to the ETS website and open a TOEFL iBT personal account and then go ahead to register for the test.a list of available cities and centers is available on the site. U choose where u want to write your exam and pay instantly with your VISA card. U then print out the order page. they'l send an email to you anyway.when i got to the exam center,i was number one on the list! As for the GRE- you can't pay for it online from nigeria. i registered for it at the test center paying N37 000. I did both the TOEFL and GRE at FIRST LOGIC IKEJA LAGOS. There are many Toefl centres but GRE centres are few,probably only in abuja and lagos,don't be deceived

imperiouxx: Even you are given full time fellowship, GA or scholarship in the US not from your home country, you will still need a bank statement. Reason is in case you don't keep to terms and the funding is withdrawn, you will have something to fall back to. Though securing the admission even outside the US is big advance but embassy will like to see something from you.

Tanx a lot imperiouxx.

bigfrancis21: Yes, most PhD programs are fully funded. In fact many departments offer financial assistance only to PhD students while some others fund more PhD and less masters students. If you're awarded an assistantship, that would be great as it would cover your tuition + part/full financial expenses, and that would be a very good guarantee for your visa. Its not likely that the VO would still go ahead to demand for a bank statement if you have a full funding. If you get a partial funding, then a bank statement would be necessary. Of course, don't forget to mention your financial assistance award during the interview. Let the house throw more light on this.
Either way, if you want to go along with a bank statement to make your case solid, you may go ahead still.

Thanks a lot bigfrancis21

Hey guys,gurus in the house. does one need a bank statement for a Phd admission? most doctoral programs in the US are fully funded. please help. Tanx guys

Hi guys,I'm winning by God's grace come October 22,2012 5pm