NewStats: 3,261,642 , 8,174,610 topics. Date: Thursday, 29 May 2025 at 09:45 PM 6p3n1g

kastgeraldino:
There's a reason why a PhD in the US is for at least five years. It is because the programme contains both requirements for the Masters and PhD together. The first two years usually qualifies you to earn a Masters. For those who decide not to continue in academia, they can simply drop out after two years and earn an MSc, MA or whatever masters. I dunno if I'm making sense but it's not as if you are skipping Masters and going straight to PhD, but it is just that the way the US does it is that after undergrad (BSc, BA, et al), you just apply for PhD programme in which the Masters requirement is part of the PhD. Somewhat different from UK and Nigeria, but still the same when you consider the fact that Masters is about 2 years and the PhD proper is 3 years in UK and Nigeria.

I fully understand sir.

Pls anyone done interview from Lagos consulate today ??

Please does anyone have interview tomorrow

Tomison:
Please does anyone have interview tomorrow

Is there an interview in Lagos tomorrow?

There are December dates in Abuja. You can and check now.

Hi guys, I was rejected yesterday but saw on my home page that "Your port is still with the US embassy". What could that mean? or was there a mistake?

GreatMage:


Pls I have a bachelor with a first class...

Can I apply for PhD with it?

I don't understand how it works without a masters

It depends on the school and the program you're interested in.

From what I gather, most programs in the US will allow you enrol in a PhD directly with a BS. I personally do not recommend it if you're interested in a very complex program such as the types you'd find in Physics or Maths or Chemistry, say - unless of course, you got your degree from a US or Canadian or Western Europe or Chinese college (this list is not exhaustive). For all programs in Engineering, Statistics etc, you shouldn't have much of an issue adapting. Please be mindful that I am writing from the perspective of a STEM graduate.

@AkinOseni
Congratulations Man

Paragontek:
There are December dates in Abuja. You can and check now.

The earliest I can see is January 4

Hi guys, my Visa was denied in November, reapplied but available dates are in March. I'm still hopeful for Spring. Do you think I should pick a date and book an emergency appointments, even tho it's clearly stated on the website that if you have been denied a visa on an emergency appointment your next won't be approved or I should continue keep on checking to see if they release available dates in December/ January.
cc: zeeLady, UNCG, tarantino1

Paragontek:
There are December dates in Abuja. You can and check now.

Thank you for this. I got Dec 21. I am not sure it asked me if I was previously denied or not because I did it in a rush after seeing your message.

I like how you simply turned it into a chat.... welcome to America

AkinOseni:
Good morning all. Now I'm done catching my breath. Here goes the transcript:



School : Bowling Green State University, Ohio
Programme: MA (Literary and Textual Studies)
Visa : F1
Status : Approved
Funding: $25508
Deficit: 3K


I was attended to in an anteroom by some white male VO

VO: How did you know about Bowling Green ( being the first question, while seeming not to have heard my greetings).

Me: I read about BGSU in Princeton Review. EducationUSA and through some random google searches.

VO: How many schools did you choose?

Me: I chose two schools— Alabama and BGSU

VO (cuts in ) so BGSU gave you more money than Alabama and that’s why you are choosing BGSU?

Me : (confused and almost lost for words) No, not really...ermm... I had actually chosen BGSU because the university is rated high in of teaching quality, not only in Ohio but also in the United States as a whole.

VO: No (speaking assertively) you have chosen BGSU because of the money, or did Alabama offer you any money? How much did Alabama offer you?


Me: (almost dumbfounded) not really because of the money ...


VO: No, it may be because of the money. There is nothing wrong about that. $25508 is a huge money.


VO: Where do you stay?

Me: Ikorodu here in Lagos

VO: Oh OK, you are a teacher?

Me: Yes I am a teacher. I teach Literature at Eppie International School

VO: What?

Me: Eppie International School at Ikorodu

VO: How many students do you have?

Me: you mean the number of students I teach or you are referring to the school capacity?

VO: Yes, I mean the school capacity


Me: 120 in all

VO: What? (sounded stunned)

Me: Yes, 120. It’s a high-paying school.

VO: What do you teach?

Me: I teach Literature and I also freelance for Digirature (I don’t think he heard the latter)

VO: So who is your favourite author?


Me: William Shakespeare (I actually fancy Alexander Pope the most but Shakespeare surfaced first in my heart and I did not want to engage in any internal conflict, not at that moment)


VO: so you did English Literature (or something like that)

Me: Yes I did. In fact, I taught Shakespearean texts during my national youth service scheme at the department of English, Zamfara College of Arts and Science.


VO: Do you know Nnedi Okorafor


Me: (Just heard the name for the first time). ‘No I don’t.

VO: (looked astonished) you don’t? s/he is a Nigerian. S/he wrote the novel — Lagoon.

Me: Oh, I don’t know her. There are many great Nigerian authors such as Sefi Atta, Chimamanda Adichie, Lola Soneyin, Chogozie Agbim (Obioma intended but I ended up calling the name of a Nigerian goalkeeper but I mustered that divinely inspired confidence ) and a couple of others – pulling this as a stunt not to appear blank and stupid on home front .

VO: But you don’t know Nnedi Okorafo?

Me: what text did you say he wrote, again?


VO: Lagoon

Me: I don’t get that. Could you spell please?

VO: Lagoon like where we are ( referring to the location of the consulate on the Island)

Me: Oh OK. When was that published?

VO: it was published in 2014, no sorry 2015. It is about some aliens who came from ... hesitated


Me : (I quickly filled in an attempt to take charge of the conversation and make up for my ignorance about the author) ... from the space


VO: Yes from the space. It is quite interesting. Muttered other words but I could only hear so when you get to .... don’t blah blah ... Goodluck to you...


Actually, I didn’t know what his decision was but he gave me a white paper and retained my port and I was sure he had approved my visas.


Epilogue (Comedy of Error)

The guy at the door told me congratulations (perhaps he had heave-dropped the VO). I was happy too until I got out and read the paper:


The consular officer refused your visas due to CGI reason. You need to submit additional documentation and maybe schedule another appointment. My hair stood on end. I couldn’t get the drift. I knew if I had my visas denied, he should not be with my port. Many thoughts were competing for attention in my heart, the most prominent of which was that I had been denied the visa because I did not know the Nigerian author – Nnedi Okarafor. But I was not too convinced about the refusal since he retained my port and offered a white paper after the interview.

So I took everything to the CGI point for further clarification.


The woman who attended to me asked: what did the VO tell? Did he say your visa has been approved or did he tell you to provide any document? ‘ I couldn’t even get him because he was rushing towards the last part of the interview,’ I said. But he has my port with him. ‘ He has your port with him?’ the woman asked. Yes.

OK, bring your Confirmation. I gave her. She came back some 10 minutes later with a man, both smiling. ‘I’ve got some good news for you, said the woman. ‘You will go in again and meet my colleague, the man added.’

I was led to the interview room again. I had thought it would be another round of quizzing. But on get there, the guy quickly spotted me and led me to a woman. He was the one given the wrong paper. It was a mistake, the VO wanted to give you your pick up note — your visas has been approved.

She took the other paper from me and gave me white paper for Issued visa delivery. If you want somebody to collect your visas on your behalf, fill the back paper (blah blah blah)

, a fellow posted something like being initially denied and later called back? I did not altogether believe but I had a change of mind yesterday after the spectacles of comedy of error.

Note : Prepare well and don’t rely solely on regular questions. My interview did not altogether take the regular route. some very basic things in your field too. Who knows if the VO has just bagged a degree in International Relations and may be willing to test your knowledge on the most basic thing about the discipline?

Most importantly, pray, pray and pray as if that is the only thing you are taking to the interview. Our God is able. Alhamdulillah. I pray Allah, our God ease the affairs for those having their own interviews in coming days.

wahabaa:


Thank you for this. I got Dec 21. I am not sure it asked me if I was previously denied or not because I did it in a rush after seeing your message.

Lucky you.

Guys I have a question

My school said I must get a visa appointment by December 18th for me to retain my offer. When I scheduled earlier, the earliest I could get was January 20th, which I did. Then I requested for emergency appointment (still pending response).

My question is this, if I randomly and see earlier dates like December 21, January 4 etc., and I reschedule. Will I still be able to reschedule to an earlier date if my emergency request is approved?

Thanks Thanks.

Do ALL schools use the last 60 credit hours? Just curious to know...

iWise:


If indeed he was denied ission due to low GPA, it must be the case that his GPA from his last 60 credit hours did not measure up. Overall GPA is of little import when it comes to graduate ission.

Ajibade105:
Do ALL schools use the last 60 credit hours? Just curious to know...

I can't say for sure, but, its a pretty standard practice.

iWise:


It depends on the school and the program you're interested in.

From what I gather, most programs in the US will allow you enrol in a PhD directly with a BS. I personally do not recommend it if you're interested in a very complex program such as the types you'd find in Physics or Maths or Chemistry, say - unless of course, you got your degree from a US or Canadian or Western Europe or Chinese college (this list is not exhaustive). For all programs in Engineering, Statistics etc, you shouldn't have much of an issue adapting. Please be mindful that I am writing from the perspective of a STEM graduate.

I am in the STEM field...

Data science and my degree is from a European country...

I have some time left before I am made to leave and I was considering the USA doctorate

AkinOseni:
Good morning all.

School : Bowling Green State University, Ohio
Programme: MA (Literary and Textual Studies)
Visa : F1
Status : Approved
Funding: $25508
Deficit: 3K

Most importantly, pray, pray and pray as if that is the only thing you are taking to the interview. Our God is able. Alhamdulillah. I pray Allah, our God ease the affairs for those having their own interviews in coming days.

Wonderful!
CONGRATS

Ajibade105:
Do ALL schools use the last 60 credit hours? Just curious to know...

Not all schools. Some schools use overall GPA without even considering the last 60 credit hours, while some do lay emphasis on it.

GreatMage:


I am in the STEM field...

Data science and my degree is from a European country...

I have some time left before I am made to leave and I was considering the USA doctorate

I'm not sure there are a lot of stand-alone PhD in Data science programs in the US, so I'll be assuming that in general they are housed within the Statistics program. Under this assumption, the only hard math (hard being relative) you will be required to take is measure theory - it can get a bit nasty if you're not given to abstract reasoning. So I think it's safe to proceed to a PhD program with your European BS.

FutureSenator:
Guys I have a question

My school said I must get a visa appointment by December 18th for me to retain my offer. When I scheduled earlier, the earliest I could get was January 20th, which I did. Then I requested for emergency appointment (still pending response).

My question is this, if I randomly and see earlier dates like December 21, January 4 etc., and I reschedule. Will I still be able to reschedule to an earlier date if my emergency request is approved?

Thanks Thanks.

You can only reschedule once with same MRV fee. So if you reschedule, then you would have exhausted the option to reschedule and the option won't be there anymore. However, I think when your emergency appointment is approved, the reschedule option will show up again even if it was previously exhausted. I peak only from my previous experience.

December dates are currently available at the Abuja embassy.

iWise:


I'm not sure there are a lot of stand-alone PhD in Data science programs in the US, so I'll be assuming that in general they are housed within the Statistics program. Under this assumption, the only hard math (hard being relative) you will be required to take is measure theory - it can get a bit nasty if you're not given to abstract reasoning. So I think it's safe to proceed to a PhD program with your European BS.

Thanks

zeeLady:
December dates are currently available at the Abuja embassy.

Regular or previously denied?

The only time he may have issues is if he goes for a PhD in a field for which he does not have sufficient undergrad preparation. The first 2 years is usually Masters-level stuff. I get your point sha cos American schools (especially top ones) can be really intense as they give you no breathing space.

iWise:


It depends on the school and the program you're interested in.

From what I gather, most programs in the US will allow you enrol in a PhD directly with a BS. I personally do not recommend it if you're interested in a very complex program such as the types you'd find in Physics or Maths or Chemistry, say - unless of course, you got your degree from a US or Canadian or Western Europe or Chinese college (this list is not exhaustive). For all programs in Engineering, Statistics etc, you shouldn't have much of an issue adapting. Please be mindful that I am writing from the perspective of a STEM graduate.

wahabaa:


You can only reschedule once with same MRV fee. So if you reschedule, then you would have exhausted the option to reschedule and the option won't be there anymore. However, I think when your emergency appointment is approved, the reschedule option will show up again even if it was previously exhausted. I peak only from my previous experience.

Thanks my brother, maybe I will risk rescheduling to January 8. Hoping the reschedule option will show when my emergency request is approved.

zeeLady:
December dates are currently available at the Abuja embassy.

The earliest here is January 8.

Sorry do u knw hw GPA is calculated using ssce, Using USA grade point of 4.0 max

Sasnigs:
Sorry do u knw hw GPA is calculated using ssce, Using USA grade point of 4.0 max

You can use WES GPA calculator

kastgeraldino:
The only time he may have issues is if he goes for a PhD in a field for which he does not have sufficient undergrad preparation. The first 2 years is usually Masters-level stuff. I get your point sha cos American schools (especially top ones) can be really intense as they give you no breathing space.

Well, if you read what I wrote carefully you'd realize that your comment is in some sense a subset of mine.

Babatill2023:

See one here

So how should one print their DS-160 ? Everybody keeps saying those hustlers hustling for money keeps telling them they need to reprint their DS-160 why isn’t anyone saying the right printout they finally got so we know and go with the right printout.

Hi guys..
I have a friend whose interview was rescheduled to 15 of Jan. Can he cancel his appointment and still use the same MRV to get early date either in Lagos or abuja.
If it's abuja how does he goes about it as he has initially filled Lagos for the MRV payment.

Pls I need urgent response..
Scholars in the house pls help a friend who could lose his full funding if he doesn't get his interview done sooner.
Thanks.

Good evening everyone, please can someone help me with graduate application fee waiver for Georgia State University. Thanks