Omamode recalls his journey from Nigeria to the US:Shiksha Success Stories
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Studyabroad.shiksha.com got in touch with one of the international student we counselled – Omamode Ohwofa, who got admission to American University in Washington DC, US for the MBA course.
Q: Was US your only choice as study destination or did you consider other countries as well?
Omamode Ohwofa: The American education system is very valuable and I get to experience it now. I have had a diverse experience in education as I have studied in Nigeria and UK. I was looking for a diverse society and culture which is why I chose US.
Q: Did you have any apprehensions when you signed up for Shiksha study abroad counselling service?
OO: As far as not meeting the counsellors in person is concerned, I had nothing to lose as everything was done through e-mails or WhatsApp. So I thought why not go for it and we’ll see whatever becomes of it. Even though there was no physical presence of the Shiksha counsellor, my experience of working with him was great.
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Q: Did you hire the services of any other counsellor before you discovered Shiksha?
OO: My experience with Shiksha was special. Back in Nigeria, there are a lot of counsellors who help you with applying to universities abroad. I did visit a couple of them but for some reason or the other things didn’t work out. There was no connection, no zeal shown by the counsellors, it felt like a task. But my Shiksha counsellor was very professional and friendly. He kept reminding me of the deadlines and made me follow the timelines. I would get tired but he would push me and motivate me to get my things together. Writing the statement of purpose took a while because I was working at the time but we managed to make it work.
My Shiksha counsellor kept me going, he would call me to follow up on the timelines and deadlines. He and I are friends now, it never felt like a business relationship.
Q: How did you approach your Statement of Purpose (SoP) and Letters of Recommendation (LoR)?
OO:Everyone has a general style of writing statements of purpose, which could be based on your experience. I did that part and passed on my draft to the editor at Shiksha. She gave me recommendations on how I could focus on specific things like goals and aspirations. Those tips and advice did help me a lot. I also got a very important feedback on how you have to change your writing style according to the country. In America, they have a different way of phrasing their sentences and writing overall. So I kept that in mind and made the changes accordingly.
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Q: According to you, which was the best thing about the Shiksha counselling services?
OO: I would say the speed of communication, the promptness of the counsellors to get back to me whenever I tried to contact him. If you have a laptop, internet connection and a phone you are good to go with the Shiksha services. I never felt the need to have a meeting in person and even if I did, I knew there is internet and Skype and I could talk to the counsellor anytime. Shiksha has the potential to help anyone anywhere in the world. Initially my counsellor told me that the services were exclusively for Indian students but he took the initiative and said let’s give it a try. It proved to be quite successful as I’m at the college of my choice right now!
Q: What was the most challenging part about applying to universities abroad?
OO: It would depend on which stage the person is at the time. I was working and creating my application. I was juggling between my work hours and writing statement of purpose, and to write it you need to sit down and relax, then focus on how you are going to frame the content. You could be applying to one or five colleges, and you need to tailor your application for each one of them accordingly. I wouldn’t say writing SoP was a challenge but it took a lot of time.
Q: How is your experience of living in the US so far?
OO: I have been here for almost one and half months now. It is a new experience, a completely new society. I have to fit in here as I came here primarily to study and get good grades. Right now I’m soaking everything in and I’m open to new experiences. I also know that I have to put in my best and work hard as the academics are really competitive here.
Q: Do you have any advice for prospective international students?
OO: You need to start early with your applications. In my case I started quite late and I thought I would make it but most of the intakes were closed by the time my application was ready, and it would help if you start early. You will have time to correct any mistakes and you will get to choose from a lot more college options. So plan at least a year ahead and stay on track.
I would say Shiksha is the best way to go about for anyone considering studying abroad. I have recommended Shiksha services to 3-4 friends already.
Read more Shiksha Success Stories:
- How Priyanka scored a scholarship to study in US
- P. Gopinath's journey to making to the course of his choice at Sweden
- Sourabh shares his experience of successfully applying to universities at US and Canada
- Shubhansh's journey from quitting his job to getting into NJIT
- Vaibhav on why European universities were his exclusive choice
- Why Aishvarya chose a Canadian university over American colleges
- How Ankit made it to Lakehead University's most popular course
- How Medha made the decision between pursuing MBA and MS
Q: What GPA is required for the University of South Dakota?
The University of South Dakota expects a GPA score of 2.5 from undergraduates and 3 from postgraduates on the 4-pointer scale. Along with the GPA scores, undergraduates must meet the basic eligibility and submit an ACT score of 21 or higher and an SAT score of 1070 or higher. In addition, they must submit the required documents, such as academic history, transcripts, letters of recommendation, English language scores, and more.
Q: What GPA is needed to go to Ohio State?
There is no minimum GPA score for UG admission at Ohio State. However, International students must have a cumulative GPA of at least 3.0 (on a 4.0 scale or equivalent) for graduate admission. Applicants may submit a standardized test score (GRE or GMAT) if their cumulative GPA is below 3.0 for the last degree.
Q: Is it hard to get into the UTSA in San Antonio Texas?
According to various sources, University of Texas San Antonio has an overall acceptance rate of around 87% which makes it somewhat selective for international student admissions. Some of the general requirements to be considered for admission are given as follows:
- SAT/ACT scores
- Overall Student's GPA
- Letters of Recommendation
- High School Class Rank
- Additional Academic Records
Q: Is University of North Dakota good for Indian students?
The University of North Dakota is one of the top choices for international students to pursue their higher education. The UND warmly welcomes its international students as they have contributed a lot to the success of the university. Moreover, the university offers a top-notch environment, the best academic opportunities, technical & career training, etc. The university boasts over 1000 international students who represent more than 95 countries. Additionally, international students highly enjoy the facilities provided by the University of North Dakota. The UND is one of the largest research universities in the United States for international students.
Q: How much is the application fee for Alabama University?
The Alabama University application fee for International students vary by application type. Mentioned below are the application fee for UG and PG applications at Alabama:
- UG: USD 40 or INR 3,342.14
- MBA: USD 80 or INR 6,684.28
Q: Can I get into Oregon State with a 3.5 GPA?
International students must have at least a GPA between 2.5 and 3.0 on a scale of 4.0 for UG and PG admission at Oregon State. Therefore, candidates are eligible to get admission to the university with a 3.5 GPA in their academics. Oregon State University GPA requirements are different for undergraduate and graduate admission. Mentioned below is the range of GPA required for Oregon State University admissions:
| Program | Minimum GPA Required (on a scale of 4.0) |
|---|---|
| Undergraduate | 2.5 - 3.0 |
| Graduate | 2.5 - 3.0 |
Read about the Grading System in the USA
Q: What is Northwest Missouri acceptance rate?
The Northwest Missouri acceptance rate for international students is around 80%. This shows that the university follows a moderate selection criteria when it comes to admission. However, the moderate selection criteria does not imply that the university accepts every application. International students must showcase their excellent academic performance, score high GPA, submit standardized test scores and English language proficiency test scores. In addition, if a student has a history of participation in relevant extracurricular or experience, their selection probability increases by 50%.
Q: What GPA do I need to get into Northwest Missouri state?
Northwest Missouri State University expects a cumulative GPA of 2 for UG programs and 3 for PG programs on a scale of 4. GPA is one of the top factors when considering students for university admissions. Along with GPA, the university expects a student to provide high school transcripts from previously attended university or school, standardized test scores, English language proficiency test scores, and more. In addition, students with relevant experience in the chosen field are preferred over the studious students.
Aishwarya is a professional Writer currently working as a Study Abroad Expert in the Editorial Team at Shiksha. She has over 5 years of experience and is skilled at creating Online Content with leveraged knowledge i... Read Full Bio
Syed Nazrul Hassan, an MA graduate in International Relations, is an adroit counselor who believes in the philosophy of putting himself in student's shoes in order to provide honest and sincere counseling services. ... Read Full Bio
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Statement of Purpose
Letter of Recommendation
Student Visa Application
Admission Essay Writing
Student Curriculum Vitae