SEFAGO:

Flo_path lol you sound a bit like me, I think we should talk off Nairaland for several reasons--- I lived in Europe for a year b4 starting grad school at one of the Harvard/Yale/Princeton/ MIT/Stanford schools. Biggest mistake I have ever made in my life. But its quite possible, trust me, I randomly contacted professors from Universities all over the world and I got research positions in EPFL, Trinity College Dublin and University College Dublin, Oxford, St Andrews and a bunch of other UK universities- but funding was also a major issue though and some of them wanted me to even pay for my housing.


I dont think MIT/Caltech/Stanford are necessarily reaches- Berkeley might as an International student.

Why? I was planning on doing a year in europe too and then coming back to the us for phd. may be that's a bad idea too, but I just didn't want to go directly into a phd program. I feel like I should take a break for a year or something. Anyway, i was planning on just contacting professors randomly and just packing up and going somewhere for a year.

Yeah, we should talk/email off nairaland. Are you still in grad school? How is that going. I am bent on the grad school route right now. anyway, let me know where to contact you. I need serious advice.

tanimola22:

And why Italy? Curious me!

Not applying for phd in Italy, I'd just like to live in Italy for a year. I took one art history class sophomore year and my final project was art in Italy. I have wanted to check out the history and architecture. If I go there, it'll be for a year and I will be working on the kind of stuff am interested in. There just won't be a lot of money.

Anyway, are you applying this year too?

Those are not my GRE scores BTW, even though mine is pretty similar, I think the scores are hassan's.

Anyway, I looked at KAUST, it seems like they have a lot of money, but isn't anyone concerned about the location? I mean foreigners aren't exempted from their laws right? Seems like a pretty good school though. Anyone you know there, what is it like?

tanimola22:

Hey Hassan,

I think there is a mistake in your GRE scores, perhaps a typo.

Probably not, he/she probably took the revised gre. It's out of 170 now. Those are pretty good scores actually.

SEFAGO:

Long tyms, What schools are you applying to and is it for a PhD?

I am feeling [b]very anti-academia [/b]nowadays so I doubt I will be inspiring. Just choose places that are in good environment.

why? lol. What are you up to sef? Am sure you are doing something cool though.

Yeah, I am applying for phd in the US schools and masters in some uk/eu schools.

I am not sure I should post the schools here because everyone will say am crazy. I have VERY legitimate reasons(research) for applying to these places though.

Anyway, uk/eu: Cambridge, Oxford, Imperial. Considering ETH, but I don't know if I want to go there. My ideal place would be Italy, but given their economy right now, who knows. I having been talking to a research group there though. Israel would also be pretty cool.

US: MIT(ha!) twice too! Stanford, Caltech, and berkeley are probably reaches for me. Would be happy to crack anyone of those. As it stands right now, I want to go to grad school in the east coast or california. No midwest or south for me. Can't stand TX too. Those are the interesting schools am applying to, but I am also applying to some other places where I know I should get in. I need to turn these apps in though within like the next few days, or else am screwed. Make I just get through this year sef.

Anyway, any advice anyone has would be highly beneficial for me.

Time to bring this thread back. I need some inspiration as I try to finish up applications and turn these things in. Hey people where are you applying?

ekt_bear:

There was that black woman who started off low at some job in an ivy league school, but lied on her resume to get the job.

She eventually rose to the top position in the admissions department of the school. When it was found out that she lied 30 years earlier for the entry level position, she was fired.

I'd find the article, but my google-fu seem to be failing me atm.

I dunno, if you are low-level you can probably get away with it. But I think most prominent people who falsify their achievements here eventually get outed and caught.

Certainly at the level of CEO, VP, federal/state/etc government level, you'd get in trouble if you were found to be a liar

This happened at MIT, and the woman is not black though you might be talking about another case entirely.

When the NYSC thing started I knew something was up. Nigeria needs a proper vetting process/body for all public officials. Bankole had the same NYSC trouble until he produced some certificate. Only God knows where he got it from. Anyway, I am sure this would go away after some time, but we still need a mechanism to ensure that these people don't just feel like they don't need to be accountable.

This is definitely not a good thing for Nigeria. Our dependence on oil has already reached ridiculous levels, but these kinds of developments would make it insane to even think about diversifying our revenue stream now. May God save our soul. With all the influx of the Chinese to naija, the last thing we need is more oil. Niger Deltans don die, by the time all these this done, that area would be a hell hole.

tanimola22:

I am jocund that you were smart enough to simply construct the highlighted statement the way you did. As I believe that we are all learning, I would like you to educate yourself a little.

http://www.todayszaman.com/newsDetail_getNewsById.action?load=detay&link=203282

Feel free to voice your disagreement!

ok. I indicated in that post that I am very biased. Besides, I was talking about a specific period. 2004-2006 for IMO, physics and IJSO competitions. I know a guy from there got bronze medal in IJso recently. Even my own crappy sec school has 4 Ijso bronze medals and several national medals so kini big deal. What I was trying to indicate is that, the way you said it, you make it seem like the school is far and above the best in naija when it is not.

Besides, the link you posted indicated that they proudly educate the kids of past presidents and Nigerian state officials. Basically, they educate the kids of those stealing naija's money. That is my problem with them. It is a very good school there is no question about that. I am just offering my own biased opinion. Finally, why do you care so much? chill my guy. The point of this thread is to celebrate someone's success, not antagonize others.

[/quote][quote author=ekt_bear link=topic=722710.msg8807221#msg8807221 date=1311854498]
IMO (international mathematics olympiad)? What is the process like in Nigeria? How do they select the team?

Also, have you ever heard of this Nigeria –Turkish International College? I guess it must be pretty damn good if half the team came from there.

I actually did qualifications for IMO, and the physics one. The give state exams and then ask top performers to come seat for a national one after which they'll select a team. Getting that Bronze is a pretty good achievement. One thing I can say having participated is that it is not that Nigerians can't do well in these exams it is just that must secondary school curriculum don't cater to this kind of stuff. I remember then, I was still doing integration in further maths when I participated. All the other kids from the different countries were far ahead of the curve by that time. Most countries like Romania, US and others have training camps that are entirely dedicated to this stuff. This is a really good achievement. Nigerians have also won Bronze in IJSO. It is also an international competition.

As for Nigerian Turkish school or whatever. IMO it is not that good. I disagree with the previous comment about that. Their school fees alone precludes most people in Nigeria. In all my time going to these competitions back in sec school, never met anyone from Nigerian turkish qualify. IMO that place is just a bastion of wealth and it display by the kids of the Nigerian elite. This is a biased opinion based on a relatively small sample set of their grads that ve met tho, so don't take my word for it.

I am really happy for this guy though. It should not just be about him though, I think he has opened the door for a lot more to come after him and establish Nigeria-Africa- as an academic powerhouse too.

I don't understand how this forum works again oh! I posted twice now and nothing comes up. all of a sudden i get this spam trash! anyway, how is life everyone! i'll if I can repost.

@stzero1: The research program has free housing so that's good. However, the stipend is decent, and you have to get food yourself, but I figured the sacrifice is worth it. I am deciding between that one and a goldman sachs internship actually. it is the classic money vs purpose, but I think i'll chose the reserch thing. if I go there and i see that the research isn't really my cup of tea, then we'll proceed to other things.

So a couple of questions for you, do you have 3.9 and a 42 mcat? is 42 mcat not like top one percent or something. I don't know a lot of people with that kind of score. the things you've listed are daunting and would require absolute focus. As for publishing, I am actually getting close to submitting a paper. My research is in applied math/ systems biology, so it a little different. Here is what I am saying, the md/phd at harvard is really really difficult. I talked to some naija guy that was doing his phd at mit and they wouldnot even let him transfer to md/phd.

Anyway, columbia, and wustl also take international students for md/phd. I have a list of schools that take international students, but I am too lazy to post. Stanford and cali schools are no go zones. They like money too much. Anyway, if you don't mind, are you attending a top ten school? seems like you have already taken the mcat, how did you study for it? I am an engineering major, so I hope they'll give room for gpa slack. I should end up with 3.85-3.9 range. Mcat I haven't taken yet. Basically, this summer would determine things on that end.

Have you heard of hst? That is another viable option, but that one only takes superstars, as in people that are just freaks of nature. One naija guy made it a couple of years ago though. Actually, md for international students is not that bad, you just need to have your money or apply to private schools.

So what made you decide md/phd. is the 7/8 years schooling not affecting you? what is your goal after?

Oh, I forgot to add this. Harvard and all these md/phd schools like oxford and cambridge, another shortcut is doing a 1 yr masters there, with a stellar record you would

@cezeozue: MIT has to fund you oh. That your profile is too good for them not to get you an RA or TA position. correct me if am wrong, but you are going for the TPP right? you can easily do a dual masters with that say in tpp and cs or even aero and astro. Did you look into their media arts program? the mit media lab does amazing things. MIT is just a land of opportunity abeg. anyway, did apply to cambridge again? I just wanted to know about that. One more question, do you intend on taking it all the way to phd? if so why? and what do want to do afterwards? I just like to hear/get a feel for what other people reasoning is for getting a phd?

stzero1:

Ph.D student, applicant, I am shooting for the M.D/Ph.D program which is almost impossible for Internationals but i am working on this bosom Cancer Paper and if i can get it published this year, my chance with Harvard for the M.D/Ph.D program will be more that stellar,

I am also considering Md/phd. Are you at Harvard? do you know anything about the HST MD program? Md/phd for international students is almost impossible. I might be going there this summer for the summer research thingy, hopefully I can get those details worked out. I am looking forward to it though. You have to be absolutely ridiculous to get into hms md/phd. The last guy that did it is Benyam Kinde. He was valedictorian at Maryland. You kinda have to be the best of the best. However, a better way would be to get in for Md first and then apply for phd. Anyway, I am interested in systems bio.

Anyway, Cecezuoe any info on funding from MIT?

sefago any tips for the md/phd thing. I am waiting oh.

NKnight:

Its up to you to be creative. In 100L, a prof told me, "last century was for physics, this century is for biology" Enjoy your century o!

That part is very important. That is exactly what the prof I work for said. There is so much going on in the bio field right now that everyone wants to get in on it. I am just glad I realized this before leaving undergrad, so I will be able to work towards developing myself in that area. I feel traditional engineering is just going away. Nowadays everyone is doing interdisciplinary stuff. Right now, I am involved in research around comp bio, control theory and systems bio. The fun things is I might actually get published. I am not using much of traditional mech eng, but I don't care.

@sefago: Do you know much about MD/Phd programs? I am starting to look into that now. phd definitely, but Md/phd might be an option. I actually know this ghanian chick that got into jhu for phd in genetics. It's difficult, but they also like to accept qualified minority people. With bio research, you just have to be really good to cut it.

Congratulations cezeozue !! More would come.

cezeozue:

Using simple proportion I should have a GPA of about 3.86 on a 4.0 scale.

What undergraduate program did you attend?

Avoid my mistakes. I wish you all the best. If its any encouragement, I have a friend who earned a 2.1 (I think his GPA was quite high though) from LAUTECH and he got Cambridge + Gates. Funnily, an unfortunate turn of events made him not to attend.

These are the much I can think of at the moment

5
I attend a decent school in the us. In final year. Technically, I should be done but my thesis is taking longer than expected so I decided to do the 5 yr bs/ms thing they have here. So far, I think my research experience is just meh. No publications to show for it, and it is getting much more difficult than I thought. I'll keep at it though.

Right now, I am looking into anything that is at the intersection of biology, engineering and math. Traditional engineering is becoming boring to me. One field that fits this mold is control theory/systems biology and applied math. Right now, if I were to send in applications I would apply broadly to EE, biology and applied math departments to study control theory and applied math in relation to bio. I was originally interested in bio-mems, but from my experience with it so far, the field is more like a means to an end. It is not the actual koko. those are my interests. I am also part of a research group now, but let's see how that goes.

cezeozue thanks for the detailed list. I have to say that mutallab guy really spoilt show for you oh. I am going to keep those things in mind when I apply. Hopefully, you'll have a much better cycle. stay optimistic

SEFAGO:

For confidentiality reasons, cant tell you much. However, do you just want to go to these schools for their names or because of the research going on?

Since I am no longer considering straight up engineering disciplines anymore, places that value an interdisciplinary environment are the places I am generally looking at. From my research so far, all those schools encourage it a lot. They also have a lot of funding in these areas. I just don't want to be another poor grad student. I'd rather go into something that I am really interested in. A last option that I have actually considered seriously is the exit options. If I come out of the other end not wanting to be a researcher(I doubt it) anymore, atleast I'd have a lot more options than other places. Another thing is that most of these schools have great medical schools or life science departments that like collaborating with their engineering departments, so I think these are the places to be.

How did all you people study for the gre. I have been under the assumption that it shouldn't be too bad. A friend of mine took it and scored 800 620, complained a lot about the verbal. what tips do guys have for that section. They are actually about to switch things up, so I guess I better take it kia kia.

I am having a hard time seeing why cezeozue should apply to more schools. His gpa is fine, gre fine, research might be so so, but I have seen several people get into some of those schools with so so research experience. Penn state atleast. These schools know/understand the naija system, so all they need to see is intelligence and commitment. I think his profile shows that. I'll even say maybe Columbia should be good for him, depending on what you apply for. Maybe I am mistaken or something, but is there a huge disparity between people applying from naija and those applying from the US?

Hey cezeozue, so you do know what your gpa is on a 4.0 scale? I plan on applying to grad next cycle, so I am looking for all the info I can get. You might also want to check out carnegie mellon, but you kinda have to be a beast to get in. Why do you think Cambridge/oxford rejected you? I am planning on applying there, and I thought I would be a show in , but I am having second thoughts now.

@sefago: I need tips on applying to yale/harvard and even cambrigde too. so where did you end up going? not yale I guess?

NKnight:

@ flo_path: Yes, was focused on the US but tried 1 in UK and 1 in Asia. It went well.

UIUC: MS/PhD. Asked to contact faculty in search for RA
UT Austin: PhD. Full Funding, RA if I get an adviser before resumption. Guaranteed TA otherwise.
FSU: PhD. Full Funding, RA.
Princeton: PhD. Full funding, RA.
USC: MS. Still waiting for funding decision.
Caltech: PhD. Rejected. Not even the personalized letter I got could soften the pain, It really was and somehow still is, my dream school.

Accepted into MIST, Abu Dhabi. MS. I don't know how good they are but it seems they have some support from MIT and the application was FREE. Their offer is mad; Tuition, medicals, housing, laptop, stipend and air ticket. Guys without much family support should seriously consider this school.

Also got into one of the usual UK petroleum schools on the SORSAS scholarship. Was also offered an MPhil/PhD here in naija but I don't think I'm taking any of the last two.

Overall, I think I did well. And I'm happy as some of my close friends did too. Our struggles weren't in vain. Whenever I think about Caltech I feel we humans are just insatiable. Now whether that is a bad thing depends on so many factors and so many perspectives.

Are you kidding? lol. Your results are fantastic. a lot of people here only dream of results like that. What kind of research are you interested in, or does it vary by the school? So did you have a first class? I am still kinda surprised that you were rejected at caltech given your other acceptances. May be they have a bias against universities they are not too familiar with. I'll have to look into caltech more, they seem to be more hardcore than I thought. I just hope i do as well when I apply. Why did you not apply to MIT? I hope I am not drowning you with questions I am just hoping to get as much info as I can about this process as a whole.

@Nknight: I see you have a list of schools in your sig. did you apply there? how did it go?

@Sefago: he did the advanced chem eng program at cambridge.

are you guys following that gulf oil spill thingy? Loiusiana has terrible luck mehn. not fair for them.

I have noticed the chemical engineering craze too, it has not stopped. Here, a lot of naija ppl want to go to medical school. It is just insane, every other naija person wants to go. Anyway, I don't really think exams are getting any easier, I just think that people now know what these different exams test. Wassce has been around for a long time, there are lots of past questions all over the place, so overtime people would come to understand how to tackle the exams. It is the same thing for major standardized tests. Nowadays you even have companies devoted to studying and tracking standardized exams so that they can let students know how to approach it. I think we have more tools now compared to the previous generation.

@Sefago:It differs from department to department. Chemical engineering is competitive everywhere, so I would say something like a 3.5 would probably be a minimum considering the kinds of applicants they get. The guy going in the fall, had a 3.7 or 3.6 I think for undergrad, but he also did a masters in the Uk. He dint really get involved in research much for undergrad, but did for his masters. Caltech doesn't really do well for minority applicants/students for undergrad. Most of them that get in there would probably get in at somewhere like MIT too or a more appealing school. The application season also matters, because you would be compared to a lot of the other students applying.

As for why I am considering cambridge. uhm. A lot of reasons. I am really not yet comfortable with the idea of going directly into a phd program, so I am looking for an intermediate program where I would be able to get my head together concerning what I would like to pursue. They have a good controls, CS and AI department that is actually doing really interesting research. I am really interested in that kind of research that combines bio, meche and CS stuff. I attended a presentation by a couple of guys from there, so I know they at least have something going on. I want to take a break from the US after my undergrad, so that is really appealing too. This is all based on assumptions because I don't know how things would play out. I am actually only going to go there if I am not going to pay for a significant part of their outrageous fees. Anyway, I am keeping my fingers crossed.

ok so I am kinda bored today so I just wanna rant. I hate it that investment bankers and all these finance people make so much more than engineers. Plus what do we get for it? financial meltdown upon financial meltdown. Almost everyone goes to work for those banks or hedge funds. It's just not right man. Things need to change. Engineers don't get treated well. I don't wanna work in a lab forever, so am kinda apprehensive about this graduate school thing. Anyway, CS is a really good field, especially artificial intelligence. I used to think most startups languish in poverty, but those guys are enjoying anyhow. You just gotta know the right people I guess.

On the gates issue, I am still trying to understand some things about that award. I know the school has to approve you just like they do for Rhodes and goldwater, but I don't understand how it would work given that I am not applying for the US scholarship. it seems that quite a few Nigerians get it from time to time. Most of them, may be even all of them schooled in Nigeria, so I don't know if that is also an issue. am gonna contact my school department about that. The procedure is pretty elaborate, but I think I would work on it. I looked up some profiles, most of them had like 3.9-4.0, but those were all US people. I hope a 3.8 is enough, especially from naija, but I still have to do more research on it.

On another note, I think the engineers here should start considering caltech. I know someone going there in the fall. They like minority applicants, well qualified minority applicants, so they might give a little room. You have to be top notch though, but if you are, they will do anything to make you come over there, plus its CA, nice weather and girls. Another thing with engineering is that it is pretty easier to trade up from a typical school to a top school depending on how hardworking you are.

As for H seas, I know a lot of it is interdisciplinary which is part of what scares me about it, because that term can mean a lot of things. I am generally interested in that kind of research, so hopefully that would show in my application. Hst is pretty unique and they seem to have a high concentration of freaks.

so when are you guys starting graduate school? I like the Uk vs US. I just thank my stars everyday that I didn't go over there for college. The US has K leg too, but it is pretty manageable.

@SEFAGO: Long time no see!
I am just confused about what to do with grad school. On a good note, I just got an internship with goldman sachs!! I know they are in trouble, but its still kinda worth it. Ever since I came here, I started considering doing a phd. That is the exact reason why I transferred away from my previous school. I am hoping I can maintain a 3.8 till I finish engineering, but that is looking like it is going to be a significant hurdle, although having a social life at the same time is almost impossible. I am hoping to go to grad school in something that would focus on robotics, it is mainly artificial intelligence that I like. MIT and the big H have pretty good departments in that regard. However, my current engineering track is more mechanical/aerospace than computer science. I have started taking those courses though. I should graduate next year, but I would do one more yr just to maybe get a double major in CS and engine. I am also looking at business school down the line, so I think I might be going down another route. If you can't tell already, I am a confused soul. I need to get my head straight. I plan on doing that this summer.

You did well this cycle. Everyone has told me that it is what you do in grad school that matters and that it is not all that dependent on where you go as far as engineering is concerned. Besides, I hear Yale has nice girls. Good luck.

Celtics Vs Cavs first quarter over. Cavs leading. LBJ got hot towards the end. Hopefully the flame would die off. The Cavs' fan boo davis for sending old papa shaq into injury territory last month. I need my celtics to do this one for me. It's getting close to playoff time.

Celtics and Cavaliers today! We'll see how this would go down. LBJ would most probably choke again. This would be a good prep for the playoffs.

PYTHAGORAS:

informajara informajara informajara. imobraska coronation nearer nearer. all babasis that want to tried that keske of i was therer, should rotate vi softlinks hotel the day for coronation remains in mississipi. when they fire the day, i will shyne the kese here. if ou want to come call munwa via 08030941984, for onward ife di iche

WOW. are you speaking in tongues? I am really amazed at how developed the kegite language is. You guys have a whole nomenclature going on. Sorry to mess up the flow lol. Some kegites had a meeting place close to my house because I grew up near a university area so I have always regarded them as palmwine dudes who mumble crazy stuff when they are drunk. It is nice to finally get the full picture. It's still funny to me though how seriously you guys take this language thing.

Unfortunately, I can't rep my secondary school because I hate it now. Maybe feelings would change overtime but I am not really feeling it. I have met quite a lot of students from Loyola Jesuit and they just have this weird vibe. They call themselves the best secondary school in naija. It is probably among the best though, I just don't like the way the brag, unfortunately, I have quite a lot of family members who go there and they too act weird now. Anyway, it is nice seeing everyone rep their secondary school.

H2O2:

FAce the truth brother. Your team just doesn't have that "it" again. IF they manage to face the CAVS they will get destroyed. Maybe they have a better shot against the Magics.

If they face the Hawks, they will get beat.

You better pray that the playoff ball bounces a lucky way for you, because if you manage to draw the Hawks and then the Cavs in the first and second round . . . your year is over.

I disagree. The celtics can take the hawks. Yes the hawks have had a remarkable season, but the celtics have been there. Look at the series with the bulls last year. If anything, that should point out to you that the playoff season is very different from the regular season. The guys know what is at stake here. This is probably KG's last legitimate run at a championship. I can't say for sure how the team would do against the cavs, but from what I have seen from that team over the years, they burn out quickly during the playoffs.

H202, you are so in kobe's pocket. You can't even think straight again! . Watch for the nuggets, I have a strong feeling that they'll down LA if those two meet early in the series.

chiogo:

Haha, even ESPN called the nets a 'lowly' team.

It's just a phase. Bawo, tell me your record and I'll tell you who you are.

I watched it. It made me feel sick. I'd like to think they took them for granted and just gave up. From what I can see, things don't look good rightnow, but I trust the guys to step up the play when it is necessary. With the transfers that have been made, I am expecting this playoffs to be very exciting.

H202 likes kobe too much abeg, you can't even

H2O2:

see me see trouble o. even bawo? you shouldn't even be talking at all.
you probably rub one off to derrick rose every night.

pervert.

I don't know what to say about the bulls. Sometimes they play like you expect them to(last playoffs against Boston) and other times they just do their own thing. Derrick rose and Joakim Noah are their major hopes for the future. I still can't believe they traded ben gordon. IF they get Wade, then that would be a major step up. I don't think they would though, their management is full of slackers.

Chic2pimp so it's lebron that is not self absorbed? What about all those LBJ MVP shirts he was wearing around?

Thanks Jesoul. These guys just couldn't wait to pounce on me. Don't worry guys, I won't reply now. No shaking, Let's wait for the playoffs when your teams start crashing out one after the other. Then we can have a real discussion.
@H2O2: this your obsession with kobe no be small thing oh. I like him though, atleast compared to lebron, who is totally obsessed with himself.