If you think you can beat the system, recall that PTDF has every right to withdraw their sponsorship, so let's be guided.

Liebermann:


Whoever wrote your SOP wont answer in depth questions about your field for you. My argument isnt that these criterias can't be unreliable is that something as unreliable as O Levels shouldn't carry as much weight as it does.

He said O'level is unreliable

Sound scholars with straight A's will just be laughing at you while reading your comments.

You sound so sure about these fake waec results. One thing I know is I've not come across someone with sound waec results who can't defend it anywhere & anytime.

If I was PTDF, I'd simply make sure that the year you acquired your BSc isnt before the year you got your waec. Problem solved.

tolaade1960:
Honestly, the best way to have chosen MSc would have been transparent Aptitude Test which they were doing before.

Whether 1,2:1,2.2 , subject them to same aptitude test .

PhD could do interview.

Aptitude tests were done in the past until people devised means to cheat the system.

Liebermann:


Which is why the interview should be more rigorous and improvised to throw as many curveballs as possible to get a much better assessment of a persons knowledge. You keep mentioning university grades as if they don't carry 1/3rd of the marks that O Levels do and a great O'Level grades are much easier to come by. Like I said, 10-15 marks (20-30 in total) seems fair for both.

Bro, whichever rating criterion you pick, there's a way to beat it. For example,

Awards, if you bring award letters or plaques, how do I verify the authenticity? Probably this was scrapped cos of too many fake awards.

WAEC, you've stated your point that people rewrite to boost their grades but the percentage is negligible, if you ask me. You can't comfortably plan with Nigerian government.

First degree? Masters? No much comment, we're familiar with Nigerian universities.

Professional membership? Just have your money, you can join as many as possible.

Published journals? Hire someone.

Interview defense? Get past scholars to prep you.

SoP or research proposal? Outsource this to Professional and pay them.

Which one did I miss?

My discoveries from that shortlisted list truly humbled me, so this back and forth argument isn't even helping. Let's kuku wait for the successful list. Whatever outcome, I can chest it.

Liebermann:


Interviewers don't grade you based on what you write on your SOP or proposal. They do that based on how you verbally present and defend it. I wasn't even asked to present a hard copy. I'm sure same goes for a lot of people.

See ehn, I don't understand you. Grooming someone for interview isn't a problem. Past winners of Erasmus Mundus scholarships can attest to the help of mock interviews from past scholars. The way you guys downplay WAEC result like your reality is the same for millions of other students. Girls sleep for marks in school, some sort with cash, etc. How many Nigerian universities are world standard

Liebermann:


That's a fallacy of composition that further buttresses my point. You had to go through a strict exam environment, does that mean everyone else did? There are miracle centers all over the country. How is it fair to assess your performance against these other candidates? There are cases of people specifically having others write O Levels for them to get high grades for this scholarship. Something that can be so easily manipulated shouldn't carry this much weight period.

Are you saying 16 - 18yrs old preparing for WAEC cheat just so they can apply for PTDF in future ? Or you're saying people who have graduated from universities rewrite waec solely for PTDF? I believe each waec result has the exam year on it so that shou send a red flag signal to PTDF.

If the latter is the case, then such student must be dumb cos the same energy can get you other world class scholarships that don't even need a waec certificate.

Liebermann:


What does that mean? Either way, class of degree isn't as weighted as O'Levels for it to matter even though it's generally more credible than O'Levels IMO. Maybe both should be relegated to 10 - 15 points each. Then have SOP and other qualifications round out the rest of the process.

You dunno there are professional SOP and research proposal writers? Why do you feel it deserves more points than other rating categories?

Liebermann:


What does that mean? Either way, class of degree isn't as weighted as O'Levels for it to matter even though it's generally more credible than O'Levels IMO. Maybe both should be relegated to 10 - 15 points each. Then have SOP and other qualifications round out the rest of the process.

I dunno the year or school you sat for WAEC exam that gives you the impression it's not credible. My secondary school was a mission school in the North, strongly against exam malpractice. The best five students in WAEC in my set are doing greatly;

One is working in Germany as we speak, he won a scholarship for BSc.
2 are doctors (one is UK based)

I can go on and on.

Engr2016:
I also agree too. But the UK seems to have more awards compared to FGM . This is perhaps to give room for the larger number of candidates that normally choose there.

In a normal 4-scholar award list, FGM has at least one name. UK is highly competitive.

Liebermann:


No it doesn't but having straight As carries more weight than your first degree and offers a better advantage than whatever margin you may gain with your SOP. Yes there are individuals whose class of degree don't correspond with their level of knowledge of expertise but in general O'Level grades are the most compromised. I know illiterates with distinctions in their O'Level. Not stupid, not ignorant, not dyslexic, literal illiterates who can't read or write. Then you have a criteria like that carrying such weight in your selection process? No way.

Are you forgetting the mass sorting going on in universities too? See, you can't be consistent in cheating the system.

Awarding scores for 'awards won' favors me, you think I'm happy PTDF scrapped that? They've got the yam and knife.

babey543:

Lol. If O level were to be irrelevant, there is no how 2.2 graduates consistently win PTDF.
Also, many 2.1 graduates were not even shortlisted for interviews.

Just keep on praying.

Your state is the main deciding factor and also if you chose FGM or UK.

Some candidates with very low score will still win this PTDF scholarship especially in FGM category because of low competition in their state
as observed in the interview lists.

So it is all God's grace.

Later guys.

You're right. There has to be a slight balance for UK and FGM. I saw a state with over 150 for MSc for UK alone

Yabani1122:

Lol...at least my O'level no too bad lyk dat na .....just saying this from a neutral ground so that who so ever is preparing for PTDF will b very serious with his SOP and Interview in general and not b deceived by his O'level grades. Even our universities now admit students base on JAMB and POST UTME score bcuz they no longer have faith in our WAEC/NECO results

If you have straight A's, you won't complain. Forget that thing guy

Liebermann:


Like I said before, my profile is well rounded however they choose to grade candidates. Objectively, O Levels carrying this much weight is ludicrous.

I don't have issues with the WAEC scores either, it's clear PTDF needs all-round scholar who has been consistent, and that involves assessing from secondary school (WAEC) till after university, plus interview performances. Having straight A's doesn't guarantee a win, same as having a first class.

Back to my observation mode. The guys in my state were blasting first class and distinctions in MSc. I'm humbled

Yabani1122:

Listening to both Interviews, there speech emphasises on SOP/Research proposal and are directed to mek recommendations as well...looking at research that can address some of the country's problems. I have confidence that no way O'level will take upto 30 marks( that's 1/3.3 of the total score na) for O'level exam wey no dey pure for Nigeria.

It's easy to infer you don't have a fantastic O'level result, else if you did have, you won't have issues with PTDF awarding 30 marks for WAEC


Everybody wants their selling points to have more marks

Taking a break from this thread until sanity returns.

I hope the noise continues after successful candidates have been shortlisted.

donbee:
Please can anyone advice on this?

Which advice again? You applied and got shortlisted, what else do you wanna hear? Go for it.

biosystech:
Over 200 candidates from mine!

The list for the UK is long oh. Many applicants want the UK. Why exactly?

Na grace and mercies of God las las!

E shock you abi?

My category has more of GFM than UK.

[quote author=Usmanbaro post=113464969][/quote]

You're not sure of your OSS interview presently so I'd advise you go for the LSS interview too.

EdoBoy90:
.

*Any course that you can do the program here in Nigeria not need for overseas* This is not a fact. Mechanical engineering, chemical engineering and electrical engineering, you can do them in Nigeria yet I have seen PTDF scholars in these fields of engineering.

Generally, lecturers going for PhD are encouraged to apply through Tetfund. Else if you allow them they'll pack their published journals and grab all the points
I guess that's why just one published journal is needed. IMHO.

About competition in states...

A staff who was among the panel said a particular state in South East is the most competitive in Nigeria, but I don't want to mention it. Generally, the South is usually more competitive than the North. We've all been seeing the cut off scores for unity schools in Nigeria, or states with best WAEC results.

This published list has humbled me, ahswear

Liebermann:


If it was to ascertain the veracity of your certificates they wouldn't single out specific subjects to grade for your O'Level. Everything is scored. I agree the interview is very important though because ceteris Paribus it's what sets you apart from people you may have scored similarly with in other departments.

I think another factor is the programme and country you chose. STEM courses are favored above other courses and may give you a slight edge. There's a great deal of UK applicants so they need to balance out the countries they award given their budget. This is why people here talk about the need for divine intervention. So many variables involved.

One thing is certain;

They graded your best 5 O'level subjects, whether you combine results or not. The 5 subjects must include English and Mathematics.

Adazeal:
Getting this scholarship borders on grace/luck. The competition is very stiff. In my state for UK PhD there are 50 candidates and 23 candidates for GFM PhD. And from past lists, there would be 2-3 successful scholars from each group.

Everyone should just go and start praying. Lol

You've said it all. It's all grace. Somebody can be the 4th best in a state and still not get. Assuming the best 4 chose the same country. They also try to balance UK with FGM.

Yabani1122:

From my point on view, all this Degree and O'level grading doesn't count, I think they were used to initially shortlist the candidates who met their stipulated requirements and scored high points from their state. PTDF clearly stated it out on their interview notice written boldly that "ONLY CANDIDATES WHO PERFORM VERY WELL IN THE INTERVIEW WILL BE SHORTLISTED" looking at the past scholars stories, almost all had a good Interview story, many got scholarship without publications, professional membership and with lower grades. D Interview is to check ur originality of ur certificates too. That's my view and stand to be enlighten

Nah, you're wrong. If there's one thing that has been constant in all the centres, it's the grading of O'level, BSc, and masters (for PhD).
Past scholars I know had fantastic O'level results, awards, BGS, etc.
Getting this offer without publication or professional membership boils down to your state of origin. You're not competing with the full Nigeria, the battle is between you and other candidates from your state of origin!

FatimaMK:
I assumed one can deduce the marks for 2.2 from the pattern of the marks. It is 9 marks and no mark awarded to experience. Industry experience can only help you to get shortlisted for interview with 2.2 degree and nothing more than that.

Industry experience can only help while defending your SOP or proposal.

FatimaMK:
According to the last year's marking scheme for PhD: First degree was 15 points if you have first class while 12 points for second class upper, masters was 15 points if you have distinction while 12 for merit, o level 15 points if you have 5A1 (A1 is 3 points, B2 is 2.5 points, B3 is 2 points, C4 is 1.5 points, C5 is 1 point and C6 is 0.5 point), Publication is 5 points, membership certificates 10 points (5 is required) and interview/proposal takes the remaining 40 marks.
But it seems they made some changes this time around.

This is a plausible breakdown for PhD.

However, for MSc, the total points for WAEC is usually higher than that of PhD. So the guy who said total for MSc is 30 could be correct. IMHO.

Good luck to everyone. Results will be ready in 3 weeks time.

hosey:


Nice observation and write-up bro.

But the problem now is that in some venues, they didn't even ask for publications and membership. Some centres only used just 2 minutes.

Moreover, some of those who chose virtual were not attended to as interviewers didnt show up or perhaps interviewers came very late.
Many virtual applicants were not asked to show their credentials.

Why bring crowds when you can't interview them well. Shortlist to the bare minimum.

It should be noted that in some centres, they asked for publications, membership and employment letter confirmation for work experience (especially lecturers or working in the relevant sector). Some interviews lasted more than 10 mins n some centres.

There is a lack of consistency and this has resulted to flaws.

The idea of an exam would have been better for MSC due to the high population.

Interview and publications are great for PhD as it tests their research prowess.

The interview is just full of luck and not competence anymore. The best won't win due to this.

Life isn't fair after all.

Good luck everyone.

They probably needed to create more work for themselves. This translates to more daily allowances, hotel flexing, etc. 3 weeks interview schedule is too long if we're being serious. They could have shortlisted top 50 from each state which is like total of 1850 and wrap it up in a week.

tolaade1960:
Honestly, they need to look at PTDF OSS scholarship scheme. It's purpose not achieved.
How do you know your performance against other candidates?

The courses that are not available in Nigeria universities, should be sponsored abroad.

It's kinda easy to tell where you'll lose points in the marking scheme. Also, if you can get the full points for the constant factors, you only need to focus on the variables.

Constant factors:

O'Level: 5 distinctions in English, mathematics, and any other 3 subjects. Full points.

BSc: First class. Full points.

MSc: Distinctions. Full points.

Variable factors:
Publication:
Professional membership:
Awards: (used to be rated but not anymore)
Dress code:
SoP/Research proposal:
Confidence/interview performance:

You can't change the constant factors, but if you channel the efforts on the variables to clinch the full points, you can measure your success rate.

Mind you,

No state is less competitive, we're talking about best six candidates at most. Compare that with the crowd interviewed, you'll understand. You'd be surprised at the portfolio of persons from your states.

Lastly, PTDF is one out of many scholarships you can attempt. Just do your best and wait for the outcome.

tolaade1960:
Let's wait for the interview results. We know Nigeria system is quota system which is disadvantage to some states .

PTDF could use CGPA we entered on the application to select best candidates in a moderate number like 3700 for competitive aptitude test since the final list is very small.

After test, filter out high-scoring candidates and do organised interviews preferably virtual. Let the tests results be seen immediately u write CBT .

Since PTDF scholarship is to train Nigerians in oil and gas industry, why asking for academic journal publications from MSc since most of them are in industry.

Professional bodies membership could be part of selection criteria since the scholarship is tailored to professional training. It's good to be identified with professional bodies.

How relevant the chosen course to oil and gas also matters.

You wanna give PTDF marking scheme now?

Who told you they've not tried out the aptitude tests option in the past?

reader29:

No be you go tell me weytin I go do.
You're not God.

Typical Nigerian. Be blunt with them and they think you don't wish them well. No publication, no prof memberships, credits in WAEC, 2.2 in BSc, etc and somehow you wanna be top 5 in your state on merit? Okay o.