ZinoDaniels:
Hello Gurus in the house, how can one pay His or her SEVIS fee here in Nigeria and how much ?

You can’t pay sevis fee in Nigeria unless someone in USA help you or you go to seme border to pay yourself.

Kudos. You nailed it. I was going to reply but you covered it all.

femi312:
First don't be too hard on yourself, life happens. Do you have a masters degree? Do you have research experience? Did you have any contact with any faculty prior to applying? The sad truth is, even with a GRE score of 320, you can still be rejected from Top 10 schools if you apply to all. PhD admission is extremely competitive and I admire your ambition for choosing those schools but you need to have a good spread of schools up to top 60 in your field. However, you cant be applying for PhD a day to deadlines, you need to apply way before deadline preferably ending of Nov. Applying very early helps in some cases.

As regards your SOP, you need more than 'ok' SOP to stand a better chance, you should send your SOP to people to help you review. You need to have a great SOP coupled with great LOR.

For fall 2019, look at University of Kansas, Kansas state University, University of Maryland college park, University of Pittsburgh,Northwestern (There is a young Nigerian prof in the Mechanical department, you can talk to him) and others. By the way if you have the luxury of time and money, you can consider re-writing the GRE to get >320. However if not, just apply to schools between 20 - 60 in the mechanical engineering ranking (If you don't have the ranking, I can send it to you). You need to understand that some crazy Chinese and Indians are applying to those same top 10 schools with near perfect GRE scores, research papers and experience. Try to apply to at least 6 schools (2 Top 20, 3 between 20 and 60) and 1 in the last range and not just 3 schools). Do an extensive research on each school you decide to apply to, go on LinkedIn, connect with international students in the school and ask questions about funding and prospect of getting a direct PhD offer. Make the graduate coordinator your friend, ask questions and be explicit. Search Nairaland to see people who have gotten PhD admission with funding and look up such schools. Getting Phd admission and funding is like looking for a job, you have to give it all

There are some dates opened in july at Lagos consulate right now for those looking to schedule an interview.

All the best

Chidon360:

Yes I was denied of visa on 19th of this month and I have reapplied yesterday being 21st ang got appointment on 31st july

Prepare wella now and get your visa in your second attempt.

You can check the GRE thread. I am going to PhD Mechanical Engineering TAMU College Station. You can check my previous posts and others in that thread. You will gain a lot. Cheers.

FA13:


Thanks for the response. I however do not have a Masters. I will look up the schools mentioned.

LagosismyHome:


is scamming now a good thing or something to justify because i dont understand the second bold

life should be one way , honest and transparent .

If someone cannot support a charity then the person should not do it . Simple . Yes nobody was forced anybody to participate same way nobody forced the donor to do it . It like saying because you are my employer it gives you the right to treat me anyhow as nobody forced me to take the Job. No Sir , as an employee you can still be held to a standard of conduct

I don’t endorse scamming and typing the bold doesn’t mean I am in support but making people realize that this is a funny world.

LagosismyHome:


In summary, from Nov 5 2017 till Feb 23,2018, is about four months ....in an admission cycle who has 4 months . That is some pisstaking

Absolutely ridiculous.... what . 4 months and talking about patient. Justwise is best to ban let people plan with what they have

Yes Ridiculous as you said and believed but I don’t think you can stand all those over reaction words and talk she was saying back then as a lady. There are limit people can endure or take thing as a human.

In November I said if the guy didn’t respond or pay it then I will pay it personally for her before her deadline. Is my commitment not enough for her to believe me and for me to just let peace rain?

I feel you people should just imagine why I pulled back.

For me when I was asked if I took any test I told him I wasn't required to write any cos my waec result had good grades. But u must be sure the school doesn't require standardized test to get admission

mayd16:


??

Walspring:

Materials sent.

thanks and I really appreciate

bookason100:
Guys I need your help!

I started my DS-160 application last month, but didn't complete it. Now the issue is this, I tried logging into my ds-160 page to complete my application, but the message i get each time I put in my application ID is:

"No matching data found"

I would have started a new application, but the issue is, I have already booked an appointment using the old ID.

How do I go about solving this problem
Your input is highly appreciated

After 30 days of inactivity your information is deleted. Start a new application, complete and submit the application. Then send an email to the embassy requesting change of ID on your appointment application. you will get a response within 48 hours max.

Walspring:


Your head is valid in profojah’s voice.

Lol, Ojah na boss o

FA13:
Good day everyone. I need sincere advice from people with more experience here.

I applied for PhD in Mechanical Engineering (Mechatronics option) at up to five (5) different schools for this Fall 2018 in US.
However none granted me admission except one with no funding. I declined the offer.

I have a first class degree in Mechanical Engineering.My GRE score is Verbal-151 Quantitative-160. Total 311.
My SOP should be ok in comparison to others.

The only shortcoming of my application that i know of is that most were submitted on the deadline dates due to some challenges I faced then. Could only this be the reason for not getting funding?

Also other factor that might have affected me is that most of them were top schools including: University of Southern California, University of Michigan Ann-Arbor and Texas A & M College Station.

I need your advice as I am planning to apply for Fall 2019. Also which likely schools have higher probability of admission and funding?

Thanks in advance.

That GRE score is too risky for a PhD in such schools... A 320+ GRE will be safer. My advise is for you to rewrite the GRE and apply next year.

Don't apply to same schools that rejected you. Some schools view re-applicants somehow. You can increase your option to 8 schools - 3 ambitious schools (none of the ones you applied earlier), 3 moderate schools and 2 safe schools... You should be fine.

If I'm going for a second interview can my answers in the first interview be recalled and used to question me on why I said it before and changed

I think the most important thing in a phd application is establishing a relationship with a potential supervisor. once your quantitative matrix beat the general cut offs, and a prof wants you, then you are fine. so first, write to profs whose research interests you.

Chidinho10:


That GRE score is too risky for a PhD in such schools... A 320+ GRE will be safer. My advise is for you to rewrite the GRE and apply next year.

Don't apply to same schools that rejected you. Some schools view re-applicants somehow. You can increase your option to 8 schools - 3 ambitious schools (none of the ones you applied earlier), 3 moderate schools and 2 safe schools... You should be fine.

NefT:



Do we have dates before 24th of July. I need a date date before my sevis fee will expire 24th of of July.

Yes please. Check..

Nrosemary:
This is my transcript. I got interviewed by middle aged white guy(lagos embassy) 6.45am. Please do not let fear get the best part of you and always smile.

VO- good morning and how was ur night?
Me- Am ok and urs and he replied.

VO- why are you going to the u.s
Me- To study at the West Virginia State University

Vo- What course do u intend to study
me- business administration and management

Vo- why this course?
Me- Studying business administration and management is having a broad knowledge on the principles of marketing, economics, commerce, human resource and statistics. With these broad knowledge you have a wide range of career opportunities in both large and small industries, profit and non profit organization and government organization.

Vo- aside from West Virginia State University how many other school did u apply to
Me- Clayton State University and sleepy rock university

Vo- what does this schools have in common
me- population size. They are relatively small in population which gives the possibility of having and one on one interaction with your professors

Vo- how did u get to know about the school
Me- my colleague at work who is also an alumni of the University told me about the school told me about great experience she had during her school day plus I made further research and discovered that they teach skills required for leadership position in today's business world.

Vo- who left high school in 2010 what have you been doing since then
me- had a diploma in computer in 2011, went for my national diploma in 2012 studying banking and finance (tried to pass my ond result but he said he doesn't want to see it) graduated 2014 since then I have been working with learn Africa Plc.

Vo-who is ur sponsor and what does he do
me- my dad and he is a building constructor and estate developer

Vo-may I see his bank statement
me- passed it to him and he typed for a about 30sec

Vo- are you married
me- no

Vo-do u have kids
me - no

Vo-okay ma'am. Would be holding on to ur passport, u can have ur 120 and bank statement plus the white paper, then he marked my pick up address. Thank you.

Was so excited that I completely forgot the way out.

congrats! I tap into your grace.

iceberge:
I think the most important thing in a phd application is establishing a relationship with a potential supervisor. once your quantitative matrix beat the general cut offs, and a prof wants you, then you are fine. so first, write to profs whose research interests you.

Guy you are a wise man...
This is what i have been preaching since...

Or even if your research area tallies with any of the prof's own, and you can explicitly explain this in your SOP...

You are good to go...

Like i said earlier, a friend of mine applied for an MS Mechanical Engineering at TAMU, College Station and he received a PHD offer (his GRE score was 315 or so)

Hmmm

Materials Engineering
Applied Nov., 2017
gpa: 3.53/5.0
GRE: V=156, Q=157

presiade:


What course are you going to study and when did you apply? Could you share your profile?

Walspring:


Send someone from Abena hostel or blue house junction or container or faabest.

If you know you know.

Are you in the same union with Mandela or HarryPotter?

Lol... Are u an alumni of AAUA? well, I know Mandela and Harry Potter �but what I need now is help �

tolatof:


Guy you are a wise man...
This is what i have been preaching since...

Or even if your research area tallies with any of the prof's own, and you can explicitly explain this in your SOP...

You are good to go...

Like i said earlier, a friend of mine applied for an MS Mechanical Engineering at TAMU, College Station and he received a PHD offer (his GRE score was 315 or so)

Yeap my brother-in-law even had Less GRE score and got into college station full funding.

There always a difference between textbook and real life , hence I just shake my head when i see go write another GRE... some times it not just about numbers. Building networks and relationship is key as well and working on our whole package

lasthero:


i graduated in 2010. the name "harrypotter" sound familiar, i think i remembered his advert for a student union election. i am not familiar with the second name.

Mandela was the sug president in 2012. I am 2014 set... Nice to know you guys passed through the same system with me. Biko, make we dy assist one another for here o especially we wey still get admission and visa bridge to cross

Don’t play yourself I don’t want to quote. Get a better Gre score if you can. All those advisor bants for PhD doesn’t cover Naija

Walspring:


Mandela was your SUG president then while harrypotter was the PRO

No jor, lol... I remember Mandela was in 400level while I was in 200l. We were in same department (History).

FA13:
Good day everyone. I need sincere advice from people with more experience here.

I applied for PhD in Mechanical Engineering (Mechatronics option) at up to five (5) different schools for this Fall 2018 in US.
However none granted me admission except one with no funding. I declined the offer.

I have a first class degree in Mechanical Engineering.My GRE score is Verbal-151 Quantitative-160. Total 311.
My SOP should be ok in comparison to others.

The only shortcoming of my application that i know of is that most were submitted on the deadline dates due to some challenges I faced then. Could only this be the reason for not getting funding?

Also other factor that might have affected me is that most of them were top schools including: University of Southern California, University of Michigan Ann-Arbor and Texas A & M College Station.

I need your advice as I am planning to apply for Fall 2019. Also which likely schools have higher probability of admission and funding?

Thanks in advance.

Life is first come first serve, so is PhD programs. If I have $10 to share for 5 people and I have 10 applicants for this fund, I will stream using different tactics. #1. Is definitely qualifications as they roll in. You CANT submit application on deadline date and expect anything positive (that’s a gamble)...except in schools that they still have funding left...which is possible but “how would you know which schools?” Turn in applications “if possible on the first day they get opened” (I’m exaggerating so you can see my point)...also, apply to MANY schools...and of course, ask God for guardians.
BTW, your GRE score isn’t the problem. Don’t think you should write another one at all. I know so MANY PEOPLE (engineering) with lower GRE scores than yours... and yes did PhD or about to round up the program or still on it. It isn’t the score...Your SOP, maybe it needs editing I don’t know...I am 100% sure it isn’t your GRE...



I’m back

ponpon:
Don’t play yourself I don’t want to quote. Get a better Gre score if you can. All those advisor bants for PhD doesn’t cover Naija

Sometimes it does...actually know a couple of people it worked for...didn’t work for me too but I am sure sometimes it works from Naija...you even get a Skype interview...that score is not a bad score (my lame thoughts)

Danielaz5:
If I'm going for a second interview can my answers in the first interview be recalled and used to question me on why I said it before and changed

Good question...your record is already existing in the security (with all your former answers)...you may change it with some good backing up reasons and even you can say something like “oh I know that I previously said blah blah but my current situation makes blah blah impossible because....(JUST DONT LIE) and be confident. You gat this! Good luck

pcb2bad:
Pls guys I need ur advice. On Wednesday 20 th June, my visa was denied and I was given a blue paper. Pls bear it in mind that I’ve been to the us twice on b2 visa and I still have a valid b2 visa. I wana know if maybe there’s a problem. I was admitted to study nursing at pv Amu university in Texas. But not for masters another undergrad as I finished my previous undergrad last year and decided to change to another course .
When asked what other schools I applied to I mentioned a community college. Pls is there a restriction for people that want to do another undergrad . During my interview , I was very nervous and I didn’t write any standard test and when I was asked what will the degree do for me. I messed up the answer as I wasn’t able to complete my sentence . Pls help me .. should I reapply for another interview?

So so sorry about that...community college (to the best of my knowledge) are red flags...sounds like you don’t even know what you doing because community college is like Naija technical schools...another thing, PREPARE for your interview like I mean PREPARE. Write your answer to every kinda question, practice in front of a mirror, record on your phone your answers and listen to them over and over. I know that facing someone who is about to judge you can be nerve racking and that’s why you prepare because even when you fumbling, the resounds (of d records replayed over and over) will kinda by default come to you and you can recover from mistakes during the interview. Take your time, prep well and try again...don’t give up, you can do it!!!

Chidon360:

Yes I was denied of visa on 19th of this month and I have reapplied yesterday being 21st ang got appointment on 31st july

This visa process is not fair on me joor. I was denied almost a month before you yet no date for me. Did you use a new login or same old one? Abeg how did you go about it?

iceberge:
Materials Engineering
Applied Nov., 2017
gpa: 3.53/5.0
GRE: V=156, Q=157

Please, do you have any publication?

.