Please, is there anyone planning to sell his or her Magoosh subscription? I know someone ready to buy. Kindly let me know if you or someone you know is. Thank you.

abmendozer:
Hello guys...I plan to write my GRE exam in April. I need someone who needs a study partner. I'm based in Lagos. If you are interested please holla.

plannin to write in April too

Haha @ fret not, didn't know it was that obvious, the irony of it all is that the last two years were my worst. I'm not overly worried as I have decided to do an MBA or Msc Management first in Canada, then proceed to the US for PhD if need be. I just need to focus on acing the GRE now. Thank you so much

Scholastica16:


That's a rough estimate. I wager it could be higher if the real evaluation is done but that will only be necessary if your schools asks for it as WES evaluations are on the high side cost wise ($212).

I have noticed that 3.0/5 in Nigerian schools usually still comes close to or is above 3.0/4 and besides, the schools you apply to may only take note of your final 2 years (as that is when the core courses were done). So fret not.

Are your last 2 years better? The CGPA. Try calculate for year 3 and 4. If much better, please state that in your application, the optional statement, even if they didnt ask you.

I did that in all my applications because my last 2 years result was really good.

Aig84:
Thank you, just calculated and it's a 2.91/4 scale

Mine were terrible, lost focus in my 3rd year

OGreene:
Are your last 2 years better? The CGPA. Try calculate for year 3 and 4. If much better, please state that in your application, the optional statement, even if they didnt ask you.

I did that in all my applications because my last 2 years result was really good.

abmendozer:
Hello guys...I plan to write my GRE exam in April. I need someone who needs a study partner. I'm based in Lagos. If you are interested please holla.

I'm writing in April, I saw ur PM and would contact u again shortly

Please, I have a question for the house.

Events that have occurred...

I got a mail from a faculty some days back. I was informed that I can be admitted into the graduate program but might not be funded.
Then, I inquired if there was funding for fall 2017 applicants and I was told there was funding. Hence, I replied that I was interested in being funded. Since then, no reply...

Next, I got a mail from the same school asking for Affidavit of Financial Support form and official transcript. They asked for WES and I have sent that since last year, so why ask for an official transcript? And I was hoping for funding.

How do I reply that mail because I have no one kobo to sponsor myself. And I am not ready to send any official transcript.

In fact, I do not want to regret applying to that school .

Okay. There is also the option of explaining reason for low grades if you wish to.

Since you have opted for Canny, that's great too All the best!

Aig84:
Mine were terrible, lost focus in my 3rd year

andradaeze:
Please, I have a question for the house.

Events that have occurred...

I got a mail from a faculty some days back. I was informed that I can be admitted into the graduate program but might not be funded.
Then, I inquired if there was funding for fall 2017 applicants and I was told there was funding. Hence, I replied that I was interested in being funded. Since then, no reply...

Next, I got a mail from the same school asking for Affidavit of Financial Support form and official transcript. They asked for WES and I have sent that since last year, so why ask for an official transcript? And I was hoping for funding.

How do I reply that mail because I have no one kobo to sponsor myself. And I am not ready to send any official transcript.

In fact, I do not want to regret applying to that school .

I suggest you keep sending all the documents they ask of you. It could be that the department is currently not financially bouyant and is expecting more resources to fund its new intakes.

Jayroland:


I'm writing in April, I saw ur PM and would contact u again shortly

Okay bro

Scholastica16:


Igbosere in Lagos. N200 per page but it is all about bargaining. There are alot of Notary Publics there so it helped. I am saying this because some guy in VI wanted to charge me 5k for 2 documents and I thought he was doing me a favor till someone recommended Igbosere to me

That's quite cheap, may be I should come and learn some bargaining skills from you. I called a friend and he told me he spent about 10k to have his notarized at Ikeja in 2014, I promptly called it off; I always thought it shouldn't be that expensive.

OluDare01:

Oh my bad,UTK is a well funded school.
Wish you all the best

I don't know the devil that pushed me against applying to UTK in 2014 after sending my GRE scores and filling the application, I suppose that's one of the cons of having inadequate preparation.

andradaeze:
Please, I have a question for the house.

Events that have occurred...

I got a mail from a faculty some days back. I was informed that I can be admitted into the graduate program but might not be funded.
Then, I inquired if there was funding for fall 2017 applicants and I was told there was funding. Hence, I replied that I was interested in being funded. Since then, no reply...

Next, I got a mail from the same school asking for Affidavit of Financial Support form and official transcript. They asked for WES and I have sent that since last year, so why ask for an official transcript? And I was hoping for funding.

How do I reply that mail because I have no one kobo to sponsor myself. And I am not ready to send any official transcript.

In fact, I do not want to regret applying to that school .

1. The school has admitted you for the session you initially asked for which is not Fall based on what you said.

2. Your second proposition to be moved to fall because of funding might or might not be relayed to the relevant authorities because that's one way we could interpret their silence. But it doesn't mean the door is shut completely.

3. For the school to ask for an affidavit of Financial support that will be like a precondition to obtaining the I-20 which is why I felt they have already given you the admission but without funding. They want to prove you can afford the expenses for the first semester or year pending when funding becomes available in fall or after it.

4. I don't think schools use WES in lieu of the official transcript. I think WES is a lazy way of school's interpreting your transcript in the US-scale. Some schools do the evaluations themselves these days because they may still need to look at certain individual courses that are prerequisites to partaking in your program.

Personally, I think you can tell them you would only be willing to pay for the official transcript to be sent to them when you see a concrete letter of admission and/or funding (depending on how bold you are) because from what I can tell, they want to offer you the admission without funding and it makes no sense that you would send your official transcript to them when the likelihood exists that you would not take the offer.

towbaynah:


I suggest you keep sending all the documents they ask of you. It could be that the department is currently not financially bouyant and is expecting more resources to fund its new intakes.

Thanks, I have noted your suggestion but I feel it makes no sense to spend extra money when I am not sure of funding.

But I thought you are a PhD applicant?
If one is good for a PhD spot in a program, then one is good
for funding there as well. Most schools do not accept PhD
students they cannot afford to fund. Make it clear to them that you cannot
do an unfunded PhD. Who does that?
The person with the most reliable information on this is the graduate program
director. You need to talk to him. PhD is hard enough than you thinking about
finances while pursuing one. Wish you the best.

PS: Applicants should not be timid while emailing grad coordinators. Let them know
in advance that you need funding to attend their school, there is nothing wrong
with that. Once they get the vibe that you are not particular about funding, they
might assume you have some international scholarship like USAID or government scholarship
from your country. Only people you should be witty with while discussing funding with are
the faculty as those ones are weary of desperate applicants and might not even reply
your email once they know funding is all you are after.

andradaeze:
Please, I have a question for the house.

Events that have occurred...

I got a mail from a faculty some days back. I was informed that I can be admitted into the graduate program but might not be funded.
Then, I inquired if there was funding for fall 2017 applicants and I was told there was funding. Hence, I replied that I was interested in being funded. Since then, no reply...

Next, I got a mail from the same school asking for Affidavit of Financial Support form and official transcript. They asked for WES and I have sent that since last year, so why ask for an official transcript? And I was hoping for funding.

How do I reply that mail because I have no one kobo to sponsor myself. And I am not ready to send any official transcript.

In fact, I do not want to regret applying to that school .

Scholastica16:


1. The school has admitted you for the session you initially asked for which is not Fall based on what you said.

2. Your second proposition to be moved to fall because of funding might or might not be relayed to the relevant authorities because that's one way we could interpret their silence. But it doesn't mean the door is shut completely.

3. For the school to ask for an affidavit of Financial support that will be like a precondition to obtaining the I-20 which is why I felt they have already given you the admission but without funding. They want to prove you can afford the expenses for the first semester or year pending when funding becomes available in fall or after it.

4. I don't think schools use WES in lieu of the official transcript. I think WES is a lazy way of school's interpreting your transcript in the US-scale. Some schools do the evaluations themselves these days because they may still need to look at certain individual courses that are prerequisites to partaking in your program.

Personally, I think you can tell them you would only be willing to pay for the official transcript to be sent to them when you see a concrete letter of admission and/or funding (depending on how bopd you are) because from what I can tell, they want to offer you the admission without funding and it makes no sense that you would send your official transcript to them when the likelihood exists that you would not take the offer.

Thanks for the reply. But I applied for fall 2017.

Topiipii:

That's quite cheap, may be I should come and learn some bargaining skills from you. I called a friend and he told me he spent about 10k to have his notarized at Ikeja in 2014, I promptly called it off; I always thought it shouldn't be that expensive.

LOL, I experienced beginner's luck.

They usually charge based on eye-evaluation but it is harder for them at Igbosere because many others will be clamouring for you just like it is done in rowdy markets. I think the cost could get so high based on the price you agree on per page. Some may initially tell you N1000 per page but as long as they start there then any other thing will just be based on your own stubborness.

sirRiddy:
But I thought you are a PhD applicant?
If one is good for a PhD spot in a program, then one is good
for funding there as well. Most schools do not accept PhD
students they cannot afford to fund. Make it clear to them that you cannot
do an unfunded PhD. Who does that?
The person with the most reliable information on this is the graduate program
director. You need to talk to him. PhD is hard enough than you thinking about
finances while pursuing one. Wish you the best.

PS: Applicants should not be timid while emailing grad coordinators. Let them know
in advance that you need funding to attend their school, there is nothing wrong
with that. Once they get the vibe that you are not particular about funding, they
might assume you have some international scholarship like USAID or government scholarship
from your country. Only people you should be witty with while discussing funding with are
the faculty as those ones are weary of desperate applicants and might not even reply
your email once they know funding is all you are after.

My dear oh, I am a Ph.D. applicant. That is why I am very surprised. In fact, it seems to me that I am in a dream and it is not real. Ph.D. without funding?

andradaeze:


Thanks for the reply. But I applied for fall 2017.

Then they have no reason not to fund you just like SirRiddy said. I think it is criminal for anyone to do graduate work, let alone a PhD without funding from the school.

That is why I reiterate applicants asking grad coord about funding before even
considering a school. Any school that will even allude to you being in their
PhD program without funding have issues and you should not even waste
your time on them. As a GA, you will be doing very boring but unavoidable
duties like proctoring mid terms, grading horrible written codes, teaching labs
while there is a pile of assignments to complete and papers to read. So, it is a
part time job. Do not be equivocal while discussing funding issue with any school
as a PhD applicant. Na MS applicants need to dey play chess on that level.
Mail that program director now.

andradaeze:


My dear oh, I am a Ph.D. applicant. That is why I am very surprised. In fact, it seems to me that I am in a dream and it is not real. Ph.D. without funding?

Scholastica16:


Then they have no reason not to fund you just like SirRiddy said. I think it is criminal for anyone to do graduate work, let alone a PhD without funding from the school.

I have typed a reply already. But, I needed suggestions from family here. So now, I would do two things right now. Send an email to the graduate coordinator requesting for funding. Then send another mail to the Graduate school notifying them that I would only send the aforementioned documents when I see an admission with funding.(I have no money ). Well, whatever the outcome, 1 out.

sirRiddy:
That is why I reiterate applicants asking grad coord about funding before even
considering a school. Any school that will even allude to you being in their
PhD program without funding have issues and you should not even waste
your time on them. As a GA, you will be doing very boring but unavoidable
duties like proctoring mid terms, grading horrible written codes, teaching labs
while there is a pile of assignments to complete and papers to read. So, it is a
part time job. Do not be equivocal while discussing funding issue with any school
as a PhD applicant. Na MS applicants need to dey play chess on that level.
Mail that program director now.

Sirriddy, thanks a lot. I would do that asap.

andradaeze:


I have typed a reply already. But, I needed suggestions from family here. So now, I would do two things right now. Send an email to the graduate coordinator requesting for funding. Then send another mail to the Graduate school notifying them that I would only send the aforementioned documents when I see an admission with funding.(I have no money ). Well, whatever the outcome, 1 out.

That is the only time it makes sense to pay a dime to send official transcripts to them. Like I said, it depends on how bold you are. I won't hesitate to send that mail in the same position because after graduate work, everything you contribute to the school will be owned by the school including patents. In the same vein, the school should be willing to invest their money in me till that time comes (I will put a period here)

Scholastica16:


That is the only time it makes sense to pay a dime to send official transcripts to them. Like I said, it depends on how bold you are. I won't hesitate to send that mail in the same position because after graduate work, everything you contribute to the school will be owned by the school including patents. In the same vein, the school should be willing to invest their money in me till that time comes (I will put a period here)

Scholastica16, sirriddy, and towbaynah, I appreciate all your enormous advice. Just sent the email to graduate school. I am working on that of the Graduate coordinator. Scholastica16, I agree with you, I cannot imagine doing a Ph.D. without funding. From what sirriddy have said, I have deduced that any school that is equivocal about funding should be avoided. I hope this would help future applicants to avoid similar schools. Thank you all.

A beautiful evening to this lovely e-family. I will be making some application payments using my debit cards and I don't know how secured the web page of these schools are. I will be glad to hear from veterans in the know,here,whether my concern about this is well- founded.

SilaV:
A beautiful evening to this lovely e-family. I will be making some application payments using my debit cards and I don't know how secured the web page of these schools are. I will be glad to hear from veterans in the know,here,whether my concern about this is well- founded.

I think it is quite safe, I did with mine and also with a friend's who also applied for Fall '17; No one here has complained of any issue either.

Topiipii:

I think it is quite safe, I did with mine and also with a friend's who also applied for Fall '17; No one here has complained of any issue either.

Thanks a lot, @Topiipii.

bjhaid:
plannin to write in April too

I plan towrite in march too.
I need a study partner too,but im based in Ibadan.
Can we work something out?

Time2Smile:

No, no, no, no I don't agree with the bolded. You have to do away with that mindset, where is your faith and resolve? Why did you apply to 3 schools,is it not to spread the risk? You got a reject which means you still have 2 schools which would probably give you admission. Please you have to be a lot more positive and optimistic. I read your test transcript and you seem to hint that some forces are against you. I am a firm believer in the power of positive thinking. Let me put it this way "You would meet God where you put him" . If you believe you would get admission after putting in the necessary work, then you would, but if your attitude is defeatist, then ..........................

Thank you very much Time2Smile. I made the post out of despondency most probably because its my first experience. But later, I became remorseful about my words, reflecting on how God has been there for me. Seeing your post, I have also thought of great achievers who at some points fail along the success ladder. I hereby retract every pessimism I had expressed. I deeply appreciate your kind input. MORALE, HIGH!!! Lol...

Scholastica16:
Will respond to my mentions in a wee bit.

Just saw your post and thought to chime in.



Emory has a history of not accepting international students. If I had known you were applying there I would have told you point blank not to waste your time. I guess the application fee waiver was an incentive.

If it would act as a form of consolation for you, most applicants on grad cafe forum for Emory University are reporting rejections and the consensus is that Emory generally has a reputation for preferring American citizens never mind the low acceptance rate. In other words, it is not your AWA or SOPs and so on that limited you.

Thank you very much scholar. Yea, you guessed right...I had the application fee waived.

please add me to the facebook page. gbengakehinde@gmail.com