₦airaland Forum

True, but I’m being practical here tho
The current trend says otherwise, sometimes it’s not always about preparation it’s about following the trends and looking at the numbers

Brown2Green:
The truth is, if you're very well prepared , the VO will have a hard time giving you a denial with or without funding.
They are humans! always remember that.

Congratulations to all who had approved visas recently

My only concern is we’ve not had a lot of approved transcripts thus far for students who are not funded somehow

It’s a big concern, funding isn’t very easy to get
And I don’t see partial funding as even enough going by recent events here

Too late, already done
But thanks

fairheart:
DM!

Okay
Dm? Or how do we communicate?

fairheart:
Reach out and let me do it for you from this end.

Why not tell her directly instead of quoting me

fairheart:
Her husband will be forever grateful to have her. A girl like this go make person laugh tire...Good soul!

Need help paying for my ECE evaluation fee
Paid through my MasterCard online but it has just been on order received (pending) sort of and that’s all
What to do? I’m against time now

You and your sarcastic replies

sharwama:
I cover myself with the blood of Texrem
I shield myself with the mantle of fairheart
Why ask for crayfish when you can have catfish?
I am not qualified to run a mock interview, I have no firsthand experience. Mesef dey find the kind visa like you and my interview don dey near finish too.
Please contact the gurus on this platform, I am still an apprentice
May the Triune force be with you!

Any one here apply to brown university? We’re you offered any type of funding? Either partial or full for this fall ?

Lmao
Who are you? I like your confidence
It rubs off just fine on me

sharwama:
Yaaaaay!!!
I am really glad you have come this far in the pursuit of your dreams. Like Jon Snow, I know nothing . However I'd share these with you:
1)There are tonnes of transcripts in here, of applicants whose visas were approved or denied. They are your GENESIS. Go through them meticulously, absorb the knowledge, let it guide you as you draft your transcript. Brace up for anything, the simplest questions are the ones that can throw you off balance.
Let me illustrate:
I recently read a transcript where the applicant was asked the date he/she sat for the GRE. Like of all the things to expect, date wasn't really on the radar. Yet the VO asked and threw the person off balance.
You see my point now abi?
2) When you draft your transcript, post it here so that the eyes of the gods, the new and the old may behold it and counsel you if the need arises.
3) We should never wait for things to come to us, we should chase the things we want, hunt them down and bask in the thrill of victory. The point is; send a message to whoever you are seeking a mock interview with. Again and again, these amazing humans are BUSY. So ask nicely, be persistent in your request and hopefully you'd get what you want.
4)I know I write too much but hey! I am HOME, this is FAMILY
I wish you explosive success on the path you have chosen. May Grace speak for you!

Your username is up there with the funniest I’ve seen out here

sharwama:
You are most welcome. The code of this platform does not allow me to share their contact details but it doesn't stop me from pointing you in the right direction
So kindly search for either of them, click on their profile and click " send email message"
I am sure you can take it from from there.
P.S: If you have never done this before, feel free to rehearse with my profile, I don't bite

Duly noted and correction taken

Time2win:
Ashland university is not a red flag. Don't believe anyone telling you that.

This is a link of the transcript of those approved with ashland university i20 https://www.nairaland.com/3905661/general-u.s.a-student-visa-enquiries-part/430#63146467

https://www.nairaland.com/3905661/general-u.s.a-student-visa-enquiries-part/168#59715631

https://www.nairaland.com/3905661/general-u.s.a-student-visa-enquiries-part/19#58342571

moshoodn:
Sent you a PM.

I'll be interested in the Alakuko place.

I’ve replied sir

Lol I have to ask ohh because even the so called ashland university looks legit if you check out their website but by virtue of this forum we’ve seen that it’s a red flag school who issues I-20 anyhow
Better to be late than sorry bruh

Time2win:
Ranked 66 in national universities, what else do you want to do. It's definitely a very good school.

Still basking in the euphoria of a successful transcript, our first in quite some time now

Please any personal reviews on Clark university (Boston Massachusetts)
Note my personal research has been carried out regarding the school but to prevent had I known issues I’ve decided to ask on the forum
Any reviews or comments whatsoever would be appreciated
Thanks in anticipation

Congratulations

kinibd:
I was denied the first time on December 31st 2018 at the Lagos Embassy, My original I 20 got to me on the 2nd of January and so I had to go with a scanned copy for the interview and the first question the VO asked me then was why did I come with a scanned copy, I told her that the original was still on transit and the look on her face was not encouraging and after asking me why this school and who will be sponsoring me, I got the pink paper and so I went back and requested for another I 20, made sure I got it then booked another interview at abuja

Got to the Abuja Embassy,

Me: Good morning (while smiling)

VO: Good morning pass me your passport please

Me: Passes Pasport while still smiling

VO: I can see from your F1 that you are applying for a student Visa can I see that

Me: Yes I am while passing the F1

VO: Have you ever been out of the country before?

Me : Yes I had my first degree in Ghana

VO: What did you study

Me: ICT

VO: What?

Me: Information and Communication Technology

VO: while typing...I dont see anything like that here

Me : I filled it in it should be there

VO: Oh i see it now...calls the name of my school and I nod then he asks how many schools gave me admission

Me : two schools

VO: what schools

Me: St Clouds State University and Concordia University St Paul

VO: Why did you choose St Clouds

Me: i chose St Clouds because of a couple of reasons, firstly they have a Business Computer Research Laboratory Equipped with workstations and enterprise level servers for research and teaching purposes and...

VO : cuts me off, yes well all schools in the usa have very good laboratories tell me why you chose this school

Me: well at the Laboratories at St Cloud, they create virtual machines that are used to support teaching database auditing  and networking packets  dumping and analyses and also...

VO: cuts me off again...well most schools have that as well

Me: Oh well then i chose them because they gave me a scholarship

VO: oh really, (looks at my I 20) well your scholarship is for $3000 and your total fees is about 19,000, how are you going to take care of the rest

Me: oh no, my Tuition and Fees is $9,500

VO: looks at I 20 again, okay so who is going to be paying for the rest

Me: My Parents

VO: what do they do

Me: My mom whose statement I have is blablabla

VO: I'm sorry what?

Me: my mom is blablabla and my dad is blablabla

VO: How did you hear about the school?

Me: One of my undergraduate course lecturer went to St. Clouds for a seminar and when he came back, he couldnt stop talking about the school and their laboratories and when i started searching for schools online to pursue my masters degree and St Cloud popped up again, i checked them out and the course they offered alligned with my career goals.

VO: Types for a while. Looks at me. So what are you going to be doing after you finish this program?

Me: The number of internet users in Nigeria has grown from about 20% of the population in 2010 to more than 50% of the population today and the more people that use the internet, the more networks there are, the more security there needs to be on them, this course will help me institute policies that protect organizations physical data and digital information and so i could become an IT consultant, I know i can, i tried to infuse what i learnt in my under graduate studies into my dads business by setting up a website and also creating a program that helps keep track of stock records.

VO: Can i see your bank statement

Me: passes it

VO: I am going to check this out and if I find anything wrong you will be banned from entering the USA, do you understand

Me: yes I do.

VO: types for a while, take this paper, (he gives me a white slip) you have to keep it safe because you will need it to enter the United States. Then he types for a while and gives me a yellow paper and says again if i find anything wrong with this account you will be banned, are you sure you still want to submit it

Me: Yes Sir

VO: okay welcome to the United States and make sure you keep that white slip safe ok

Me (while smiling) : okay sir thank you very much.

I hope this helps someone, I owe it all to God, I prayed like I had not prepared at all and I prepared like I had not prayed at all but its all the grace of God.

Last Bullet: I was so tensed the first time and so while rehearsing my answers for the second time, i noticed that smiling made me more relaxed and that was how i was able to overcome any nervousness, by smiling almost all through the interview.

fairheart:
Congrats and thanks for posting your transcript.

I am going to point out just one thing here for the sake of those planning on going for their interview soon.
I must be honest with you kinibd, God's favour played here big time. And I am happy the consular is the type who's patient and willing to listen...unlike some of them. He really wanted to hear you give him exceptional reason for picking the school, but thank God he was still pleased with your response.

For prospects, please personalize your transcript. Have program-based, courses-based, research-propelled reasons, and possibly (because of scholarship or GA) for picking your school. And this is a key question, as a VO will always ask it.

I wish those of you going for your interview this month same favour and approval. Amen!

Congrats once more

fairheart:
Congrats and thanks for posting your transcript.

I am going to point out just one thing here for the sake of those planning on going for their interview soon.
I must be honest with you kinibd, God's favour played here big time. And I am happy the consular is the type who's patient and willing to listen...unlike some of them. He really wanted to hear you give him exceptional reason for picking the school, but thank God he was still pleased with your response.

For prospects, please personalize your transcript. Have program-based, courses-based, research-propelled reasons, and possibly (because of scholarship or GA) for picking your school. And this is a key question, as a VO will always ask it.

I wish those of you going for your interview this month same favour and approval. Amen!

Congrats once more

Completely agree

You could prepare quite well on your own, what you need are just materials
You don’t need any centers per say
My 2 cents

favor100:
Hey Guys. I wanted to ask for your advice with taking the GRE in late may towards august/September. I know its a bit too close and I am willing to shift it till next year. Pls if you have suggestions of centres where I can prepare well preferably in the island area that will be well appreciated. Also given the timing, i would like if anyone can give advice for schools that will still meet the timing . Thanks

I have a number of locations in 5 filling stations willing to lease space for lpg plant currently available in very viable locations with no competition

Lagos only
1. Alakuko area
2. Iyana isashi (very excellent location)

Send a pm if interested

I have a number of locations in 5 filling stations willing to lease space for lpg plant currently available in very viable locations with no competition

Lagos only
1. Alakuko area
2. Iyana isashi (very excellent location)

Send a pm if interested

I have a number of locations in 5 filling stations willing to lease space for lpg plant currently available in very viable locations with no competition

Lagos only
1. Alakuko area
2. Iyana isashi (very excellent location)

Send a pm if interested

I have a number of locations in 5 filling stations willing to lease space for lpg plant currently available in very viable locations with no competition

Lagos only
1. Alakuko area
2. Iyana isashi (very excellent location)

Send a pm if interested

Any reviews on the following schools:
1. Bowie state university
2. Clark Atlanta university
3. Brown university ( it’s an Ivy League school I heard)

Is either of these schools a red flag school ?

Hmmmm

Join the group chat

Jiteshell:
Please I need a self con or mini flat in Yaba. If it's at ebutte Metra, great. If it isn't, still cool.

Do you assist in getting location?

kiakiagas:
LPG PLANT VARIATIONS
LPG Retail Plant Sizes that Kiakiagas in collaboration with our foreign technical partners can set-up for you

2.5tonnes mini plant:
5 tonnes mini plant:
10tonnes Mini plant:
20-100tons stationary plant
100-500 tons stationary plant

Seen

lexychuks:
I used two days to study for Analytical Writing. I used Kaplan to have a background understanding and the official guide to notice how they marked the top arguments and issues. I must confess I studied for it poorly because I kept thinking why I was scoring 147-149 in Verbal despite all my sacrifices. I kept forgetting about words I crammed the day before, the passages seemed confusing. I then decided to employ the tricks I used to ace my Toefl (I scored a 29/30 in the reading section). The trick is to not go directly to the passage but study the questions first and let it give you an idea of what the passage is like. This trick worked for me and I realised I was improving on my scores in the Reading comprehension section (I used the difficult Manhattan Reading sections to test this trick and it was effective for me. I gained courage and believed I would defeat GRE.

TEST DAY
I prayed seriously before I left for my exam as I no get another 50k that I am not using. I was at JKK on time. I followed my elders’ advice of eating and stacking up food in order not to be exhausted. I decided to gist with a pretty lady beside me to ease my tension. I should have collected her number sha... I got inside and started the exam. The issue was sweet, I was able to mix my TOEFL knowledge with the little ETS official gre guide. I wrote introduction, wrote my second paragraph with a good example, jumped to write my conclusion for the issue on my last paragraph so that I relieve myself any tension of not concluding well. I then proceeded to write my second paragraph with another sweet example. I had completed it all with 5 minutes to spare. The argument was also not too difficult as I could easily pick out the flaws and quickly stated how the flaws can affect the veracity of the claim.

After this, I prayed for QA to be my experimental paper as I find English exhaustive and it can kill my moral. As God would have it, I was handed QA as my first paper, I briefly blessed God and started solving. The QA turned out to be the worst QA I have ever seen in my life. I thought I was a guru of maths, I began to question if I made a mistake of quitting my job to prepare for GRE. I thought about how Chelsea stole two points from Manchester United at the die minute and how I was moved to tears. All these thoughts while time was ticking. I had convinced myself before the exam that if I did not know a question, I’d leave it to focus on another question and then come back later to it. Exam tension made me sticky stupidly on one ridiculously annoying question for 5 minutes... I didn’t still get the answer and I finally came to my senses. I attempted the other questions but time went up and I hadn’t answered about 8 questions. I quickly prepped myself up that it was experimental and I shouldn’t let it spoil my flow. I moved to Verbal and did see some magoosh vocabularies. It wasn’t too bad and my countenance began to improve. I then went for break, took my lucozade boost and gala.

I then proceeded to the next session, the QA was so freaking cheap, I began to feel like Albert Einstein. I was done with 5 minutes to spare and I was pretty sure of scoring at least a 19/20. The next verbal was almost similar to the previous verbal. I followed my tricks and completed it in good time. As I was about to start my final QA, I stupidly looked up at people writing the exam with me and saw that they were already seeing their scores. The lady in front of me scored 289, the guy beside her scored 293. I started thinking of my first QA and started shaking. I couldn’t think well. What is wrong with LUKAKU, why can’t he score goals He’s absolutely balling for Belgium. I tried placating my fears and summoned the courage to take my final QA.

Won’t lie, I didn’t write it well. I was terrified while solving maths, I got a simple question but forgot how to solve it. Smartly however I left it to focus on other questions. I ignored the data interpretation with the aim of coming back after I was done with the others. I did my best even though I knew I wasn’t my usual sef. I finished on time and selected submit scores. Result came out Verbal = 155 Quantitative = 160. Total =315. I was completely stunned as I was expecting my usual 306 or worse. I guess exam adrenaline is a thing. I quickly did the Mourinho pumping of fists especially when Man U scores a lucky goal.

Conclusion. GRE no be beans o. Please study for at least two months and also the GOD factor is key. Thanks to the originator and elders of this thread. I gained a lot from the experiences of people here. I hope my experience would help someone too in the future.

So are you gonna tell us how the exam went or you’re gonna keep us thirsty

lexychuks:
I promised to give my own account of my experience writing GRE due to the valuable information I got from this thread. I wrote my GRE today at the world famous JKK centre.

I finally summoned the courage to write GRE September this year. I planned to write it in October so as to have ample time and apply to various schools. Fortunately for me, when I visited BY Mafit, I was informed there was no free spot for the month of October and that I had to select a date in November. I was sad at first but had to accept the sad reality.

I then decided to visit my favourite Nairaland to seek clues about the GRE from the gurus. I went through this page from pages 1 to the end and realised I would have failed GRE if I thought I could just freestyle and write it in October with barely a month to prepare.

I downloaded all the books recommended, Manhattan 5lb (God bless this book), Official Guide by ETS, and GRE General Test cram plan for the Quantitative Analysis. I also downloaded the Grubber, Magoosh Vocabulary flashcard, and downloaded the magoosh videos.

Based on the recommendation of this page, I took my first Powerprep test to first deter where I stand before I start my studying. I scored 304 (148 verbal reasoning 156 Quantitative Analysis). Then I realised I had a long way to go. I began my studying focusing on the areas I messed up in the test. After doing this, I became cocky and decided to take the GRE practice test 1 in the ETS Official Guide under timed conditions to simulate the exam and still scored 147 Verbal and 154 Quantitative (301).
I became scared. I was moving backwards. The English was hard, I kept making silly mistakes in the Quantitative. I decided to study completely Manhattan 5lb to brush up my QA. The book exposed me to various secrets of QA. I would recommend this book to anyone. I then studied Grubber for VR. Where I learnt how to eliminate wrong answers and select the correct one. I downloaded the Magoosh vocabulary builder and practiced everyday learning new words. I did this throughout the month of October. I took the Barron simulation test and scored 310. I then began to feel I was making progress and would score above 309 which was my target.

I however took the Second power PREP exam and scored 306. I was completely devastated. I had to start praying against any spirit of 30 something because it was beginning to look like a curse. I was frustrated and angry and I just wanted to postpone the exam. My mum however encouraged me and I decided to take the exam 5th of November.

People in the office were thinking I was mad when I stood up and gave this post a standing ovation
This is facts!! Facts!! Facts!!!

Scholastica16:
I am sure you do not know US schools do not care about such rankings because they understand how those come about. Their focus is on how they compare with themselves whilst leaving the outside world to play politics. It is the same reason a positively burgeoning institution like CU is below the pecking order in Nigeria compared to traditional and generally more well-known Universities like UNILAG and UI even when they are more funded, more organized and at this point, churning out better graduates and patents.

For your information, a school has a better chance of being higher up those times and seasons rankings by "sorting" those bodies out than say, amassing much funding whilst producing better research than your competitors. This is an open secret.

Just recently, a Prof in the state university I attend secured a $52M grant for his research. That is $12M more than Atiku used to erect his AUN in Adamawa. That same school may be ranked less than some UK universities who will not receive that amount of grant as a whole institution let alone department. But one Prof, in a state university, in one department, in the US, got that.

Make no mistakes, he is not alone. My Major professor gets $2M grants almost every other year. Few years back, he got $33M from NSF in connection with NASA. How in the world do you think he will not produce more results than UI which will in turn act as a precursor for better technologies which capitalists will latch on to, to make more billions of USD- and that [non]viscious cycle will continue. Yet as of last count, my school as far as Chemical engineering at grad level is concerned has 30 other schools (in the US) doing better. Does that not make your head spin?

What is that technology? NMR? GC? HPLC? UPLC? Name it, my lab has it. Not my school. Not ChemE. I said the lab my CALTECH-trained professor runs, has it. I have met a Chinese here who told me they had some of those things in their toppest schools only that they may have just one for the whole faculty and the queues formed by people waiting to use them slows down research. But one lab in some state university, in the US has more than one. How will I take you seriously when you tell me Birmingham University is "higher ranked" than me?

Virginia Commonwealth Uni is ranked 100+ in Chemistry in the world. But more than 80% of the schools ranked ahead of them did not have a Nobel Laureate sitting as a member of their faculty yet VCU did - Late John Fenn. Time will fail me to talk about the amount of grants he attracted to the school through his work and clout. His yearly budget could maybe fund UI staff salary for a year, yet because UI claims to be housing 50k students and have 200 degree programs, VCU will be unranked world wide and UI will be 700. How will any sensible person take that kind of ranking seriously?

Notice, I have constrained myself to just money in my lengthy writ. That is because money is the center of research which in turn should be the center of universities. So help me understand how schools that do not receive as much funding are somehow better than the ones who do? Maybe if you can give me a layered, well-thought out and researched response, I can take you to the next port of call which will then be quality of research produced and accompanying patents.

Bowie state university hardly gives funding, besides it doesn’t require any standardized tests so I doubt they will even give any funding without already being a continuing student

Gabbybanks:
No. Is there a way I can facilitate hat?

I won’t go back and forth with you on the issue
How many patents have these schools produced, how many new research conducted?
Universities are for research
How funded are these schools? Compared to schools in America??

sillysassysally:
Check the rankings for yourself.
https://www.timeshighereducation.com/world-university-rankings/2019/world-ranking#!/page/0/length/25/sort_by/rank/sort_order/asc/cols/stats

University of Ibadan and Covenant University fall between 601-800th globally. University of Nigeria falls above 1,001+

Well, your opinion

kylexy61:
The fact that a school is located in America doesn't necessarily mean it is better than EVERY university in Nigeria. There are 4000+ post secondary institutions in America and personally, I believe U of Ibadan is better than over 70% of them.

Are you insinuating that university of Ibadan could be better than any of those schools in America? Lmaoooo

hilaryxoxo:
Then he should just do his masters in University of Ibadan since it’ll arguably be better that these “B” “B-“ schools that’ll accept a 9th percentile quant score