horlahsunbo225:

I had A in both courses...and wes will not evaluate 6unit for during the normal Wes evaluation

Alright. Thanks for the Clarification.

gaeul:
Hello Everyone,

Please, I need safe schools suggestions for PhD in Management (Focal study area; Organization Structure/Human resources).

I went through the thread and found about 20+ Uni offering PhD in management for fall 2021 but one thing that kept popping up on this thread is Safeties.

I have plans to apply for 3-4schools. Please anyone with info on these safeties, Please help a sister...Thanks in advance

I just read some of your past posts and it seems you have not taken the GRE or GMAT (in the case of business schools).

My view is that you have a good profile as far as BSc/MSc GPA goes. I strongly believe that you could get into a, yes, very good ranking university in the US if you can get a solid GRE/GMAT score, in addition to your profile and of course exceedingly great recommendation letters. However, if you don't have plans to take this test, then you could search for the schools that have waived standardized tests for this application cycle and apply to them. Yes, also search for safeties.

But, given my experience, I just strongly believe your profile is good/very good and with a strong GRE/GMAT score and other things, you could hit top 50 program, even top 30, in your area. And yes, I said it.

Admitwithschola:


Even, I think WES made a little rounding error, lol. 4.18/5 should be around 3.55-3.6.

But grades are mostly curve in the US, not same in Naija - at least when I went to school. This could make the grades of some otherwise okayish students in the US to look good, even very good. An example of curving is giving A to the person with the highest score in the class....That highest score does not have to be the highest possible score that is needed to get A...In fact, it can change from year to year, that's what gives a student an A.

Whereas in naija, we once did a course and nobody got A because all scores <70. In a curved system, the highest score would get A and even some scores slightly lower.

That's why a letter of recommendation describing your rank in class is very important

This really got me wondering.
Does being the best graduating in your class but not a first class really boost ones chance of getting a scholarship abroad or is getting a first class but not the best in class better?

Sir please relax yourself and give me a detailed answer lols. I will really a be grateful Sir. Thanks you

KlausMichaelson:



This really got me wondering.
Does being the best graduating in your class but not a first class really boost ones chance of getting a scholarship abroad or is getting a first class but not the best in class better?

Sir please relax yourself and give me a detailed answer lols. I will really a be grateful Sir. Thanks you

If your professors can argue this, yes and yes. Many profs don't know how to play this game, but for those who know how to play the game with letters, they can greatly help their students.

I like your question!

So, to answer your question, a first class (with A's in the right courses oo) is always good. If I were to choose, for sure a first class (with A's in the right courses) will be chosen. However, a 2:1 that is the best in class is not a disadvantage. It all depends on how this is sold.

In fact, a 4.4 with A's in all the right courses and a 4.6 with B's in the right courses and A's in the "second" right courses, the 2:1 will not! be a disadvantage in this case, and I'm talking about PhD admissions. We look at where you got the A's, not just "Bola get first class". No oo.

Take PhD econ admission for example. If Bola and Eze studied econ and Bola scores wonderful A's in all those accounting, sociology, business courses and a mixture of B, A, and C in hard math, econ, and stats courses, while Eze focuses on the hard stuff and scores A's in all the hard math, econ and stats courses while getting C and D and B and maybe A in the other courses. Assume Bola gets 4.62, first class, and Eze made 4.41, 2:1, it will be hard for a US program to ignore Eze for Bola in PhD econs admissions, all else constant.

I think I have gone into too much detail, but I am sure you get the point. First class is always good and you should get it, but 2:1 is not always a disadvantage even in the presence of first class. We look at the courses!

If you have more questions, ask. i have time today.

Again, good question you have asked.

Admitwithschola:


If your professors can argue this, yes and yes. Many profs don't know how to play this game, but for those who know how to play the game with letters, they can greatly help their students.

I like your question!

So, to answer your question, a first class (with A's in the right courses oo) is always good. If I were to choose, for sure a first class (with A's in the right courses) will be chosen. However, a 2:1 that is the best in class is not a disadvantage. It all depends on how this is sold.

In fact, a 4.4 with A's in all the right courses and a 4.6 with B's in the right courses and A's in the "second" right courses, the 2:1 will not! be a disadvantage in this case, and I'm talking about PhD admissions. We look at where you got the A's, not just "Bola get first class". No oo.

Take PhD econ admission for example. If Bola and Eze studied econ and Bola scores wonderful A's in all those accounting, sociology, business courses and a mixture of B, A, and C in hard math, econ, and stats courses, while Eze focuses on the hard stuff and scores A's in all the hard math, econ and stats courses while getting C and D and B and maybe A in the other courses. Assume Bola gets 4.62, first class, and Eze made 4.41, 2:1, it will be hard for a US program to ignore Eze for Bola in PhD econs admissions, all else constant.

I think I have gone into too much detail, but I am sure you get the point. First class is always good and you should get it, but 2:1 is not always a disadvantage even in the presence of first class. We look at the courses!

If you have more questions, ask. i have time today.

Again, good question you have asked.

Sir I really appreciate your response. I'm grateful.

I can see that it will make no much sense to compare tho. But tell me sir, what are the advantages of being a best graduating student but not a first class in terms of MSC Scholarship because I have seen scholarship eligibility asking the applicants to make sure they are top 5% of their class. Imagine a class where there are no first class?

So to reiterate Sir, what are the advantages of being the best but not a first class in terms of MSC Scholarship Application?

If possible Sir, tell me about someone who was in that same shoe but still managed to get a scholarship.
Thank you.

KlausMichaelson:


Sir I really appreciate your response. I'm grateful.

I can see that it will make no much sense to compare tho. But tell me sir, what are the advantages of being a best graduating student but not a first class in terms of MSC Scholarship because I have seen scholarship eligibility asking the applicants to make sure they are top 5% of their class. Imagine a class where there are no first class?

So to reiterate Sir, what are the advantages of being the best but not a first class in terms of MSC Scholarship Application?

If possible Sir, tell me about someone who was in that same shoe but still managed to get a scholarship.
Thank you.

As I wrote before, in a class with no first class, you can see that any student better than 95% of the class is indeed a top 5% student.

In a scenario where grades are curved, there will almost always be someone with summa cum laude (top first class). But in naija, it's possible to have zero first class because grades are generally not curved and nobody got the mark.

I don't know if MSc admission and scholarship is as thorough sha, but for PhD, we look very deeply!

Many people I know, with 2:1 and around the best in their classes, got PhD scholarships. So, it's possible, very possibly. A way to play the trick is to have a professor who will explain everything in letters. This is usually time consuming and only lecturers or profs who want to help a student will do this.

Again, first class is good...But there are many instances where it may not be the 'be all and end all'. Sometimes we carefully go over where the A's are gotten

Admitwithschola:


As I wrote before, in a class with no first class, you can see that any student better than 95% of the class is indeed a top 5% student.

In a scenario where grades are curved, there will almost always be someone with summa cum laude (top first class). But in naija, it's possible to have zero first class because grades are generally not curved and nobody got the mark.

I don't know if MSc admission and scholarship is as thorough sha, but for PhD, we look very deeply!

Many people I know, with 2:1 and around the best in their classes, got PhD scholarships.
So, it's possible, very possibly. A way to play the trick is to have a professor who will explain everything in letters. This is usually time consuming and only lecturers or profs who want to help a student will do this.

Again, first class is good...But there are many instances where it may not be the 'be all and end all'. Sometimes we carefully go over where the A's are gotten

Sir from the Bolded, do you mean they got a direct Scholarship to PhD with just their 2:1 BSC ??

KlausMichaelson:


Sir from the Bolded, do you mean they got a direct Scholarship to PhD with just their 2:1 BSC ??

2:1 BSc in the right courses + strong GRE + Other Strong things like high sounding letters, research exp etc = US scholarship for PhD...It happens well

UK, Europe and elsewhere, that's hard. This is because, as you may know, PhD in the US is >=5 years. First 2 years is where you take some deadly courses, which can pass for MSc, even Mphil, then next 3+ years is for the research. People who don't do well in the first two years but did not too bad, they dropout of the PhD after 2 years with an MSc in hand. Someone just sadly told me last week that this is their situation..

Admitwithschola:


2:1 BSc in the right courses + strong GRE = US scholarship for PhD...It happens well

UK, Europe and elsewhere, that's hard. This is because, as you may know, PhD in the US is >=5 years. First 2 years is where you take some deadly courses, which can pass for MSc, even Mphil, then next 3+ years is for the research. People who don't do well in the first two years but did not too bad, they dropout of the PhD after 2 years with an MSc in hand. Someone just sadly told me last week that this is their situation..

Wow, this is one reason I like asking questions. I never knew that it's possible to get a PhD Scholarship directly from BSC in the USA. Thanks a lot for the infos, I really appreciate your time and swift response, remain Blessed Sir.

KlausMichaelson:


Wow, this is one reason I like asking questions. I never knew that it's possible to get a PhD Scholarship directly from BSC in the USA. Thanks a lot for the infos, I really appreciate your time and swift response, remain Blessed Sir.

Nice, thanks for your kind words.

But you should do more research online. These are well known facts.

Some "sharp" people who don't want PhD, some even pretend they wanted to do a PhD so they can get full funding....Only for them to drop out after two years with masters.

You should ask questions, that's a good thing to do. Also a good idea to do more research online too. You will find a lot.

Go here - https://www.urch.com/forums/phd-economics/

Look at most profiles for PhD...Very few have MSc

Muleriders:
I urgently need USD but I'm scared of hushpuppis

Any one in US who wanna exchange USD for naira??,
quote or PM me with your rates.

I work for an asset management firm in Nigeria, and we occasionally have USD to sell at the current rate...
Kindly pm me, so I can send you our email address..

Just arrived here!!!

Such a long thread (500+ pages), I think I have to read from beginning to end.


I'm a second year student of mechanical engineering in a federal university, I'm hoping with the aid of this thread and mentors I hope to meet here, I would get a Scholarship upon graduation to do my MSC/PHD.

saheedniyi22:
Just arrived here!!!

Such a long thread (500+ pages), I think I have to read from beginning to end.


I'm a second year student of mechanical engineering in a federal university, I'm hoping with the aid of this thread and mentors I hope to meet here, I would get a Scholarship upon graduation to do my MSC/PHD.

Yes, you can get full scholarshipS.

Since you're still second year, focus on doing the following

1. 5/5 from now on every semester
2. Researching with your lecturers/professors and try to write papers with them
3. Cramming and reading and understanding GRE for the next 3 years so that you can get top scores when you take it. No matter how hard, any exam can be blasted if someone prepares long enough for it, even if that person no too smart. If the GRE is finally cancelled, then no wahala. No knowledge is wasted.
4. Making friends with the most research-active lecturers/professors, working research stuff with them, let them know you, make them invested in your successs. This is important because these are the people that would write you big big big letters and send you to MIT in years down the line
5. Keep praying hard, doing right, and working hard and having faith in yourself. I'm also speaking to myself with this last line

Good luck

Admitwithschola:


Yes, you can get full scholarshipS.

Since you're still second year, focus on doing the following

1. 5/5 from now on every semester
2. Researching with your lecturers/professors and try to write papers with them
3. Cramming and reading and understanding GRE for the next 3 years so that you can get top scores when you take it. No matter how hard, any exam can be blasted if someone prepares long enough for it, even if that person no too smart. If the GRE is finally cancelled, then no wahala. No knowledge is wasted.
4. Making friends with the most research-active lecturers/professors, working research stuff with them, let them know you, make them invested in your successs. This is important because these are the people that would write you big big big letters and send you to MIT in years down the line
5. Keep praying hard, doing right, and working hard and having faith in yourself. I'm also speaking to myself with this last line

Good luck

Thanks a lot for the words.

As regards number 2
(1) there is usually a communication gap between students and my lecturers(because most of them just teach and leave the class) I hope to close that gap soon by participating actively in class activities and asking questions.
(2)I don't even know anything about research papers though but will start making research from today.

Thanks for the advice once again.

saheedniyi22:

Thanks a lot for the words.

As regards number 2
(1) there is usually a communication gap between students and my lecturers(because most of them just teach and leave the class) I hope to close that gap soon by participating actively in class activities and asking questions.
(2)I don't even know anything about research papers though but will start making research from today.

Thanks for the advice once again.

Read hard before classes and participate hard.

Then try to get rumors about the ones that are active in research. Go to those ones and offer free service. They would love it. I love it when people say they want to do research with me, for free..Lol..But I still pay something sha.

Yes, search for papers on anything you learn in class and discuss with these identified lecturers. Tell them you will be happy to do something similar with them, etc.

In all these, don't sacrifice your GPA sha.

If you execute all the points well, in 3-4 years time, you will be among the students in a US top 5 program in your field by God's grace. You have advantage, because you're getting this information 4 years earlier!

Good luck

Admitwithschola:


Yes, you can get full scholarshipS.

Since you're still second year, focus on doing the following

1. 5/5 from now on every semester
2. Researching with your lecturers/professors and try to write papers with them
3. Cramming and reading and understanding GRE for the next 3 years so that you can get top scores when you take it. No matter how hard, any exam can be blasted if someone prepares long enough for it, even if that person no too smart. If the GRE is finally cancelled, then no wahala. No knowledge is wasted.
4. Making friends with the most research-active lecturers/professors, working research stuff with them, let them know you, make them invested in your successs. This is important because these are the people that would write you big big big letters and send you to MIT in years down the line
5. Keep praying hard, doing right, and working hard and having faith in yourself. I'm also speaking to myself with this last line

Good luck

Hello, I know this ain't a GRE thread, but do send me a link of GRE materials or link to access it.

PS: I have some, but would appreciate some recommendations. I've got two years to prepare. 335 is the target.

Hannania:
Hello, I know this ain't a GRE thread, but do send me a link of GRE materials or link to access it.

PS: I have some, but would appreciate some recommendations. I've got two years to prepare. 335 is the target.

Do a search here and ask people for GRE material, people who did exam yesterday, last week, etc.

I prepared for GRE 12 years ago!

Thank you so much. I appreciate. I have plans to take the GRE but was just following advise here that says we should apply to at least one or two safeties..

Thanks for the detailed information. Much appreciated.

Admitwithschola:


I just read some of your past posts and it seems you have not taken the GRE or GMAT (in the case of business schools).

My view is that you have a good profile as far as BSc/MSc GPA goes. I strongly believe that you could get into a, yes, very good ranking university in the US if you can get a solid GRE/GMAT score, in addition to your profile and of course exceedingly great recommendation letters. However, if you don't have plans to take this test, then you could search for the schools that have waived standardized tests for this application cycle and apply to them. Yes, also search for safeties.

But, given my experience, I just strongly believe your profile is good/very good and with a strong GRE/GMAT score and other things, you could hit top 50 program, even top 30, in your area. And yes, I said it.

Admitwithschola:


Hello Predstan

I'm fascinated by your story and it's interesting to know you've achieved all you said. Well done. I have two questions

1) Are you doing master's, phd or bsc with your HND?
2) Do you have a full scholarship?
3) If 1) and 2) are true, can you give a long list of schools that give full scholarships with HND from naija? Did they require GRE?

I have 2 people I really want to help with information. One has distinction ond and hdn in statistics; another has upper credit ond and hnd in computer science..Both went to top 5 polytechnic in naija...I'm show you can guess where.

If you can give me detailed information, we could have have these two people take the GRE before December and follow through with the other process.

Let me hear from you soon. If you want, you can drop an email where I can email you, get your number and then speak.

Many thanks

With all due respect to you, kindly invite them to this thread to glean information by themselves. Hinder them not. Show them the fountain of water and let them not fetch from a bucket. Thank you!

@ predstan, I trust you are doing well.

TheNoble007:


With all due respect to you, kindly invite them to this thread to glean information by themselves. Hinder them not. Show them the fountain of water and let them not fetch from a bucket. Thank you!

@ predstan, I trust you are doing well.

This is good advice. Nonetheless, answering those questions will help all HND holders who visit this thread.

gaeul:
Thank you so much. I appreciate. I have plans to take the GRE but was just following advise here that says we should apply to at least one or two safeties..

Thanks for the detailed information. Much appreciated.

Ok. Be sure you're taking the right test that is valid for your program of focus. If I remember well, management, strategy, accounting, finance, and others are done at the business school. Verify that it is GRE they need and not GMAT. If it's either, then I'd research which is easier to pass and take that.

I suggest spending 3-4 months, 6 hours per day, if time still permits you, preparing well for the test. Yes it's math and english and writing, but no it's not just math and english and writing.

When you have the solid GRE or GMAT score, with your other documents, reach out to me privately - it's possible for me (if time permits) or someone equally experienced to do 'application strategy' with you. As I told you, with your profile, top 30is/50ish is possible, and your field is very good. You won't find it hard getting a tenure track AP position after 5 years of PhD in the US. AP pay for business school people is also 'atrocious', it's really damn good, and the research budget and exposure are also added perks. So I encourage you to make all the sacrifices required to get admitted into a solid program which will mostly fully fund you.

All the best

India has finally opened for F-1 visa. http:///3fTx6fN

I don't think India has even opened their international borders yet but the embassy opened.

This might be a good news for those that are still interested in going this fall.

Friedpotato:
I don't think India has even opened their international borders yet but the embassy opened.

This might be a good news for those that are still interested in going this fall.

Fall is gone. I think Indian airspace is open and it could be for few countries for now. But I read a write up and entering from US is allowed.

Can someone help me with the current price for GRE. I'm having conflicting prices

Wow..thanks a million...Most school accept either and GRE is easier to pass...

Thanks for the offer too...I am grateful..

Admitwithschola:


Ok. Be sure you're taking the right test that is valid for your program of focus. If I remember well, management, strategy, accounting, finance, and others are done at the business school. Verify that it is GRE they need and not GMAT. If it's either, then I'd research which is easier to pass and take that.

I suggest spending 3-4 months, 6 hours per day, if time still permits you, preparing well for the test. Yes it's math and english and writing, but no it's not just math and english and writing.

When you have the solid GRE or GMAT score, with your other documents, reach out to me privately - it's possible for me (if time permits) or someone equally experienced to do 'application strategy' with you. As I told you, with your profile, top 30is/50ish is possible, and your field is very good. You won't find it hard getting a tenure track AP position after 5 years of PhD in the US. AP pay for business school people is also 'atrocious', it's really damn good, and the research budget and exposure are also added perks. So I encourage you to make all the sacrifices required to get admitted into a solid program which will mostly fully fund you.

All the best

TheNoble007:


With all due respect to you, kindly invite them to this thread to glean information by themselves. Hinder them not. Show them the fountain of water and let them not fetch from a bucket. Thank you!

@ predstan, I trust you are doing well.

Man I have been good. Been a while how is studies going?

.

People, while trying to gather information for some people we're trying to place in major programs, I came across this wonderful post on redddit.

It would prove useful for anyone who nurses the ambition scoring pretty high on the GRE

https://www.reddit.com/r/GRE/comments/i63eg6/v_163_q_170_awa_50_from_a_european_with_a_stem/

Enjoy reading and, mostly importantly, following the tips.

I'm currently in my final year,and the thread is long can someone please give me the steps to study abroad for the first procedure??

Heylonmusk:
I'm currently in my final year,and the thread is long can someone please give me the steps to study abroad for the first procedure??

Seriously?

I wish I had a thread 4 times as long as this one many years ago when I was just launching out. You don't know the gold you have in hand.

Anyway, if you're a poor guy like I was years ago, then the first step to studying abroad would be to get a fairly competitive GPA. If however you're not poor, or better still if you have the financial means, then the first step would be to start searching for schools that have the course you want to study. In my experience, many schools in the UK will admit you today or tomorrow once you can cover your expenses.

But this thread is mostly US focused, hence you would normally need a GRE score plus your GPA plus letters and others to be able to study in the US. Many schools are cancelling GRE these days, but it's still a great idea to take it and 'wound' it if you're dreaming of getting a full scholarship (and this is not impossible, fellow Nigerians get full scholarships to US schools, plus the very top schools, every year).

If you're the high-achieving, ambitious type, with a very solid GPA, and you have plans to reach the end of formal education (read PhD), then I would suggest you, as I already wrote in a previous post, start befriending your lecturers, offering to work for them as a research assistant, write papers with them and get them invested in your growth and success. If all goes well, this move will get you extremely solid letters from them when the time comes. With these letters, research experience, possibly research articles, your GPA, and strong GRE, you can walk into many US PhD programs fully funded.

Ok, to make things more real, let's assume you want to do engineering, below, I give the profile of one girl who recently got into a US top 3 engineering, PhD...It will give you an idea of what to do and you can adapt to your own situation..

BSc engineering + solid GRE + 3 solid letters from naija profs + research experience with these profs + wonderful SOP + some luck= full scholarship in US top 3

So, in your case, although you didn't give much information, let's assume you have a CGPA of 4.3 in engineering and maintain this into graduation (or even increase it to like 4.4). If you get a GRE of, say, 165Q/155V/4.5, plus research experience, plus maybe some nontrivial articles and, importantly, have strong letters from 3 of your professors saying you're the next best discovery after slice bread, then it will be hard for you not to get into some very good or even top engineering departments in the US.

Anyway, I'm sure this gives a preliminary answer to your question. The bottom line is that it's indeed possible to study abroad, and on full scholarship too, if that is your target. Many Nigerians continue to achieve this every year. You too can do it. Just keep sourcing for information by taking time to read as much as you can. It's when you can't easily find something that you should ask questions. Not because threads are long.