LagosNIV:


Credit cards aren't just a bad idea for foreign students - it tends to be a bad idea for most students. Plenty of Americans get in to trouble because they rack up debt on their credit cards because they aren't managing their money well.

justwise:


bigfrancis21 you have been very helpful to many people here for years but this issue of credit card for foreign students is a bad one and it will do more harm than good please lets not encourage it here.

Thank you.

bigfrancis21:



Let me clear up this misconception. Many of the people who have contacted me regarding the credit card issue are those who have already been applying to get one but were all denied severally because they are new to the country with no prior credit history, as it is the requirement. With application referral from an existing user, it is easier and this is something I understand because I was once in their situation. I am not 'encouraging' people to 'get into debt'. Most 'foreign' students choose to remain behind in the US after graduation and the sooner they start building their credit score, the better. These are students who already realize that they need a credit card to start building their credit history to boost their chances of success in the country but cannot have it. Without a credit score, it gets difficult getting a [b]new car, getting a house or getting a US government job that everybody wants (well-paying, lots of benefits, lots of holidays, job security etc.), or renting certain apartments or homes etc.[/b] The list is endless. Also, some people do not even realize the importance of a credit score/history or the tips they need to build a good score and I advise them on the tips they need, the very same tips I used (nobody told me, I discovered them on my own) to get to the solid score I have currently.

There are people who are bad at managing their finances, just as some people go to school and flunk out, there are millions who are good at managing their finances. It doesn't mean that the school system is bad just because some people have dropped out or failed out neither does it mean that the credit history system is bad. It depends on the individual. I have done a survey of many successful people in this country and there is not one of them without a credit history or score, and a solid one in that regard. Successful Americans in this country all have good to excellent credit scores, because it is needed to get certain things in this country. More so, even more important is starting early to build your credit score because it takes at least 1 to 2 years to get to a comfortable level with financial institutions. It is not something you build in 3 days or 3 months. It takes time to build. My white colleagues at work have all told me how their parents opened a credit card for them while they were still in high school and managed the cards for them (i.e. paying back on time etc.) so that by the time they are graduating, they are not only graduating with a university degree but they also have a solid credit score and history of several years (2 solid things one needs to succeed in corporate America) and the sky is their limit. This is in contrast to waiting till after they graduate to build their credit history, which is bad advise. Then one would wonder why white Americans tend to be successful in America. People who are groomed for success from an early age because their parents realize the strategic things their children need to have at their disposal to succeed and start early to provide those things to them.

Be it known that I am not forcing anybody whatsoever. I strongly recommend that anyone remaining behind in America who feels they are mature enough to handle their finances should start building their credit history as soon as possible.

justwise:
@All

Please guys this credit card debate is not going to happen here, enough have been said already.

If you want to debate it any further then start a thread here and continue https://www.nairaland.com/business

juntod:
Hello my people, i miss u all.. make una no vex for me oooo.. The hustle has been real.. A brother had to lay low. Please what are the new materials available for GRE? Anyone with useful information?

bbdd:


1. No. Not necessarily in the pharmaceutical field. But in biomolecular sciences, it is very common. I advice you to check grad cafe for forums in your field for intending PhD students. They have good resources that can help you.
2. I have a Bachelor of pharmacy degree. Didn't have a masters before getting admitted to the PhD program. Also, I have research experience.
3. Ideal GRE score is >310. This is subjective because the whole application is usually looked at. So one area doesn't determine who gets in or not
The idea is to have a good application overall. Unfortunately, gre scores are a good indicator of intelligence to admission officers so you just got to have a good GRE score.
4. Answered already.

Good luck

belloluddy:
Good day good people
Pls my sister who is an HND holder in Elect elect wants to know if its possible for her to do a nursing course in the US ? She desires to do nursing in the US
Pls will it still be the same process in its requirement just like the Masters programme ?
Also, do u have any idea of the likely cost of tuition for this type of programme pls?
Thanks

DARKLIGHT:
I greet all the gurus, intermediates, and newbies. Keeping the purpose of this vital thread alive is paramount.

ikaboy:
pls I need some clarifications.
I have my Masters from a naija univerisity and seek ing to pursue my PHD in d states.

I currently have a 2 year visiting Visa and just came back to Nigeria last week after the first visit.

While their, I visited a school and my desire to pursue my PHD in such environment wouldn't be a wrong one I must confess.

A friend told me to do a second visit and try and apply over there in d states for my student visa. How feasible is that or i must do it in Nigeria??

Does my current visa put me on any vantage position to secure a student visa if offered an admission

Can I have a summary of the required documents to pursue an admission?

Is GRE mandatory, cos d school visited did not mention that.?

Brothers and sisters ur candid input will not go unappreciated

BloodyMitch:
Hi everyone, thought i let u guys know that fidelity bank charged me 198.9 naira a dollar yesterday.

kennyrony:

Bro longest time. How are u doing.

slimmy05:
selfstudy360@gmail.com still works fine.

Yea. Sure I'm getting set for classes. Can't wait to show 'em indians Naija pepper.
I see this CGPA conversion thing is really confusing. Each 5 point-scale GPA has its
own equivalent on the 4-point scale. As the 5-point GPA reduces so does the 4-
point GPA. And no, the credit units are not reduced or increased during conversion.
The only things changed are the grades and grade units.
For eg, FOR WES translation ,
our A is their A = 4 points.
Our B is their B+ = 3.5 points.
Our C is B = 3.0 points.
Our D is C+ = 2.5 points.
Our E is their C = 2.0 points and
Our F is F = 0.
For WES' conversion list, there are no Ds and Es on their US 4-point scale. All our
Ds and Es are converted to C+ and C respectively thus adding extra points to the
person's equivalent new CGPA. That's why WES is considered the best.
Now, the higher the CGPA, the lower the add in extra points to the final because the
5-point GPA is likely to have more As, Bs and Cs than Ds and Es(the very two
which add extra points to the overall). And the lower the CGPA the more the add in
possible points from Ds and Es because the person's transcripts is likely to have
more Ds and Es than the first example, thus adding a little more points to the
person's 4-point CGPA since the many Ds and Es will be converted to higher C+
and C.
I'll give you a quick break down of Naija GPAs I've seen converted by WES to the
4-Point scale so you can quickly place for yourself where 3.08/5.0 will land.
Nigeria. US
4.10/5.0. 3.53/4.0
4.08/5.0. 3.52/4.0
3.73/5.0. 3.37/4.0
3.68/5.0. 3.29/4.0(Your own conversion.
3.20/5.0. 3.06/4.0(Kunle's conversion)
3.12/5.0. 3.05/4.0
2.99/5.0. 2.99/4.0
2.33/5.0. 2.50/4.0

stolid:
What's up, bigfrancis21? Here is an excerpt of a post of yours years back.



Please, does this mean 3.83 GPA should land me around say a 3.3-3.4 on a 4.0 scale?
Asking cos you said something about it coming down to a 3.2 earlier. I eventually wrote the GRE and had a 314(161Q 153V)

BloodyMitch:
Hi everyone, thought i let u guys know that fidelity bank charged me 198.9 naira a dollar yesterday.

bigfrancis21:


I laud your great effort in pulling out this post from long long ago!

Congrats on your GRE score. It is great. You should get admission + assistantship with such a score.

A 3.83/5.00 CGPA will come out to be between 3.2 to 3.4 on the 4-point scale. I say this because my fellow colleague and course mate from UNN who had a 3.83/5 CGPA had a 3.3 GPA after conversion to the US 4-point scale.

You can quickly do a conversion using the grading scale I have provided and see what yours turns out to be. It should fall in the range I mentioned above.

What schools are you applying to? You have any in mind yet?