Had my interview this morning at V.I, 10.30 appointment. I was anxious as I had been refused Immigrant visa before as a 12 year old. I was also going it with a substantial amount of loan from the school and a little scholarship, no personsal or family funding!
Inteview went like------

Me (with a well practiced smile):- Good morning madam
VO:- Hello good morning. Could you pass your documents?
Me:- Here they are. She suddenly starts scrolling through the computer for what looked like eternity and I was scared she was checking the details of the previous application.
Vo:- So what are you going to do in the US
Me:- To pursue a masters degree in Public health at Harvard University
Vo:- That's good. so why Public Health.
Me:- (I smiled as I had memorised one answer I saw on nairaland) It is the science and art of preventing disease, blah blah. As a Doctor I dont want to cure patients alone, I want to help in disease prevention in Nigeria blah blah
Vo:- (Lookin impressed with my last answer) So how did you come across the school?
Me:- I did a lot of my research on the internet and also my school professor (the dean of public health) who is also my mentor helped in finding the right schools (formatting!!!)
Vo:- did you apply to any other schools
Me:- Yes I did, Was accepted at John Hopkins, Emory, UNC, Harvard
Vo:- So how did you choose, never mind, ( with a wide grin! ) I guess you chose the best school
Me:- (Smiling back) Yes, I did
Vo:- Did you write GRE
Me:- I wrote GRE (Trying to bring it out)
Vo:- Dont worry, I dont need it. So how do you intend to pay for your school fees (packing my documents together)
Me:- I got full funding from the university in forms of loans and scholarship
Vo:- (Picking the popular white paper I've been hoping to get) You can pick up your visa and other documents at Ikeja on friday.
Me:- Thank you ma
Vo:- You're welcome. Have fun at Harvard!
I packed my sack of documents and left ( Of all the people that came today I probably brought the biggest load of documents because of my past denial record but wasnt ask for any except the regular 4/5)
I heaved a sigh of relief and said Thank you Jesus.

Lessons learned:
1) God's time is the best, keep comitting your plans to him, if you are meant to travel out, you'll go at the right time. If not try and make sense in 9ja
2) There is a bias towards Popular and highly ranked schools, even though they wont admit it, pls choose your schools wisely
3) If you're computer literate, dont use an agent for your school runs and application process, learn on the job with the help of anybody that has gone through the process. A guy didnt even know abt the sevis receipt because agent just pack everything give am! ( He was denied, reasons unknown though)
4) Prepare for the interview, nairaland was very helpful. There wasnt a question asked that i hadnt prepare to answer, even the stance, the smiles, the confident look. Just give it your best, because he no easy to spend one year preapare make dem come go deny you visa in 5mins.

Dats all!!!!:-)

Flawless~diva:

Congrats, HARVARD yoooooo!!
I'm doing an UG in PH, would want JHSPH for my PG. So did you consider it and which other school(s) did you apply?
I've come to observe that most international students for PH in ivy leagues are MDs, I hope someone like me has a chance to walk in.
I'm trying to be at my best in school, so when I get to that level i'l cross by the grace of God.
Congrats!!
@bigfrancis et all : thumbs up, y'all doing a great job.

Thanks. You can get any school if you package your application materials well. JHSPH was actually my first choice but I didnt accept the admission because the fees are way too high and they dont fund International students like Harvard, Tulane, Boston and Drexel Schools of PH do. MDs have an advantage, but almost any field can be considered for the MPH if you show enough purpose.

moroh: Harvard!!!That name alone can guarantee your Visa oooo...But let's not get carried away here,if your scholarship is just partial, then you will still need to provide some sort of financial backing that you (or someone else) can shoulder the remainder of the fees. Goodluck!!!

Thanks. The scholarship is partial and the university loan covers the remaining fees, thats why I'm asking. Because my sponsors account is just about half of the total fees. But I guess I'll still hold the statement just in case.

Hello house, I'm having my visa interview in a few weeks. Got admitted to Harvard for public health with part scholarship and remaining loans (tuition and living expenses). Do I still need to provide sponsor or personal financial documents and if I have to, should it cover the cost of study. Thanks