MY MIT PhD APPLICATION, AND THE 3 IRREFUTABLE BIOLOGICAL LESSONS OF HISTORY.

First, life is competition. Here is Will and Ariel Durant in their 1968 book: Lessons of History

“Competition is not only the life of trade, it is the trade of life – peaceful when food abounds, violent when the mouths outrun the food”

I have met folks who have repudiated competition, at almost every level. “I dislike competition” so they will say. Even more ridiculous, “I don’t compete”. As if nature request an opinion to make her decisions. The pith is, whether you like it or otherwise, you are in for a great deal of competition, long before you are conceived: remember, the races of the spermatozoa is an upstream one. I applied to a PhD program at the MIT last fall, I thought I had a chance, and maybe I was right. But here is the reply I got:

“You a very fine candidate but due to copious amount of applications, we could not grant you an admission”

Well, that’s probably how an African young man ‘competes’ with a “Lui Chi Tang” in faraway Asia or a nerd from an ivy league. Don’t be fooled life is replete with competition.

Second, life is a selection:

“We are all born unfree and unequal: subject to our physical and psychological heredity, and to the customs and traditions of our group; diversely endowed in health and strength, in mental capacity and qualities of character”

Well, what’s is the odd of you being “successful” if you are born in the US versus a sub-Sahara African country. Or what is the odd of you becoming rich if you are born into a family of billionaires? High right? However, this is not to imply that once you are born poor you remain so. On the contrary, life is also replete of improbable success stories, albeit a deviation from the norm.

Third, life must breed: Durants wrote:

“Nature has no use for organisms, variations, or groups that cannot reproduce abundantly. She has a passion for quantity as a prerequisite to the selection of quality”

I remembered my social studies tutor in high school made us memorize functions of humans, and guess what number 1 on the list was: PROCREATION!

         

ROAD TO GRADUATE SCHOOL IN THE UNITED STATES OF AMERICA: PART 2

This post is a continuation of the post:  Road to graduate school in US, part1 

FINANCIAL AID AND SCHOLARSHIP

One of the disparities between the US graduate school application and for countries like the UK stems from their financial aid methodology. The financial aid and scholarships in the United States are usually on a rolling basis and you can apply at any time during the application for admission. However, some graduate schools only accept applications at certain time of the year usually fall (August).

Majorly, US graduate school scholarship subsume the following:

1.      A partial tuition fee waiver: The graduate school waive a certain percentage of the school tuition.
2.      Full Tuition scholarship: All tuition are waived
3.      Full Tuition scholarship and Assistantship: This is the acme of most US graduate school scholarships where all tuition are waived. In addition, there will be an employment with the university in the form of a Teaching assistantship or Research assistantship or Graduate assistantship with a certain amount to be paid  that will help cover the cost of living in the United States.

SCHOOLS

Searching for schools is one of the most inundating stage during the US graduate school application. Some people pay some institutions/agencies for this service, however, I would stoutly advise to do it personally. First, you delve for schools that offers your proposed course of study. Make good use of google and other search engines to search for schools.

There are plethora of websites for searching US graduate school on the internet.  Second, make sure you contact each and every one of them primarily through email (Emails are always conspicuous on the school / program website and phone calls could also be made) Enquire about the graduate program, financial aid, exam requirements, academic profiles and a host of others. Below is a template of an enquiry e-mail. 

Subject: Prospective Student

Hello, I am xxxxx from Nigeria I had my Bachelor’s degree in xxxxxx from xxxxxx university. My final C.G.P.A is xx/4.0 or xx/5.0. Am keenly interested in the graduate(M.S/ PhD)  program in xxxxxxx in your university. I will love to enquire the following about the program/graduate school: (i)Can I apply to this program with my Bachelor’s degree? (ii)How can I be eligible for the program's financial aid? ……….

 xxxxx

THANK YOU.

The paramount decision you will make is your choice of graduate school. If, for example, you are applying to 4 schools, I would apply to a top ranked school, 2 middle ranked school, and one lower ranked school in order to maximize opportunities. Let me reiterate the importance of contacting graduate schools before application, this will prevent wasting application fees and most importantly time on schools that would not grant admissions.

In conclusion, from my stated opinions and experiences there is quite a great deal of disparities in the requirements for graduate schools, therefore the examinations you take and the application procedure will be dictated by your choice of school.

ROAD TO GRADUATE SCHOOL IN THE UNITED STATES OF AMERICA: PART 1

Below I highlight the basic information needed for admissions into graduate school in the United States: This first part covers planning, preparation of transcripts, and examinations, while the second part will cover scholarship and application information.

PLANNING

Application to graduate schools in the United States is relatively lengthy compared to equivalents in countries like the United Kingdom. Therefore, I would advise to start preparation around 12 months before your proposed start date for optima results. For example, if you are planning to start your program by Fall 2016 (August)  it’s very imperative you start taking examinations around August 2015 and delving for schools much earlier before that date: this is very essential for doctorate programs.

Planning essentially involves taking the required examinations, preparation of academic transcripts, searching for schools and, of course, applications.

PREPARATION OF ACADEMIC TRANSCRIPTS

The United States uses the 4.0 scale grade point average system while we use 5.0 scale in Nigeria. Therefore it may be important to convert your C.G.P.A to the American format i.e 4.0 scale. To know your American G.P.A you have to evaluate your transcript through World educational services (WES). The synopsis of this process include: send the transcript for your bachelor’s degree to WES, at a specified fee, they will convert your G.P.A on a course by course basis to generate the 4.0 scale American G.P.A. Afterwards, WES would be the institution to forward transcripts to the recipient schools for application. Visit www.wes.org for more details. Note that evaluation methods depends on the school you are applying to; while some schools will require you to do it, through WES, some universities do it themselves by charging a fee during the application process.

EXAMINATIONS

The Graduate Record Examinations (GRE) is one of the most imperative examinations required by graduate schools in the United States. They are of two types: (i) the revised general GRE test, this examination basically test your quantitative, verbal and writing skills. This is required by all graduate schools (Some graduate school do not require the GRE especially if the applicant is not applying for financial aids) (ii) The GRE subject test: it’s an examination on a specific subject relating to the proposed graduate studies; for example, a person who is applying for a graduate program in molecular biology might be asked to provide a GRE Biochemistry subject test score, however, this is rarely required. www.ets.org/gre is the Uniform Resource Locator for the GRE test. You can get all information needed about these examinations on the website. Based on personal experience, the revised general GRE test is an exam that should not be rushed. If you are ill-prepared you will do a bad job really good. Most people advice to prepare for 6 months.  

Another examination that could be required is Test of English as a Foreign Language (TOEFL), it is a test for English proficiency. A very good alternative to this exam is International English Language Test System (IELTS). From my point of view the best accepted English proficiency test for US graduate school is TOEFL. (Some schools accept IELTS as an alternative, however, I think IELTS is more accepted in the UK and other European countries.)

This will most likely be beneficial if you are applying or some sort of scholarship for example most prospective international students that seek teaching assistantships will have to submit an English proficiency score.    

TOEFL is quite an easy exam that essentially test your speaking, reading, listening and writing in the English Language. Again, www.ets.org/toefl is the Uniform Resource Locator for TOEFL. You can get all information needed about these examination on the website.

MY 4.49 GRADE POINT AVERAGE; $200,000 GRADUATE SCHOLARSHIPS; AND THE ADVANTAGE OF A DISADVANTAGE.

                                                              1.

"...And they drew Joseph up and lifted him out of the pit, and sold him to the Ishmaelites for twenty shekels of silver. They took Joseph to Egypt..." Genesis 37:28

...

“They have posted [released] our final results” a friend told me in a very very trepid but rather familiar tone. I had to contend with the ever epileptic internet connection to check my results. “Did I make it, Did I not?” I thought, with my heart palpitating. Finally the internet ‘conceded’, and my eyes got fixated on a 4.49 Cumulative Grade Point Average (CGPA) on my computer screen, my breath ceded for a sec ... “4.49?!!! How [the h$%] did this happen?” I have never been so perturbed my entire life. Just some few days ago, I was quite confident of a first class CGPA.

A quick probe finally led out the facts: few months prior, a friend had helped to submit an assignment for one of the classes I offered in my last semester at Obafemi Awolowo University (OAU) in Nigeria. Unfortunately – or rather not – the assignment was submitted with an incorrect matriculation [identification] number. Because of this peccadillo, the 5 marks allocated for the assignment (which I still believe I am totally entitled to) was not added to my class grade; as such I ended up with a 67B in the class (which led to a 4.49 CGPA). Had my 5 marks been added, it would been a 72A, with the much anticipated First class honors.

Well, this got really messed up by the ‘ridiculous’ obstinacy of a university professor in my department, who insisted I WAS NOT A ‘FIRST CLASS MATERIAL’ and a 4.49 cGPA was my rightful place. I was forlorn, to say the least. Finally, my only chance of graduating with a first class honors from OAU got slid off right in my face.

If you are not familiar with the Nigerian GPA system used in most varsities, this is how it works: If you are fortunate to garner a GPA from 4.50-5.00, that’s a first class honors. With a 3.50-4.49 cGPA, then you land yourself in a second class upper division.

In a country replete with unemployment, and deplorable investments in science jobs, trust me on this one: a 4.49 cGPA is the last thing you had wish for.

Not surprising, looking back at my struggles at OAU, I developed a very strong aversion towards the decaying educational system. [Which I believe is characteristic of most tertiary institutions in Nigeria, after all, OAU has constantly ranked the best] Here is why: I will fail woefully, if I try to count the number of lectures I received while standing on my feet because of the lack of available seats in a university lecture hall; or the number of candles I used up for my readings because of the epileptic power supply. In fact, the latter would be an impossible challenge.

I once told some of my American friends that I read with candles throughout college, the utter shock their countenance posited was one to remember. This is very sad, because to some of us, we have grown to think that this is the norm, which reminds of the popular Fela Song: suffering and smiling. That’s why I was critical about the argument that a person submitting an assignment for me was lack of academic integrity. On the contrary, considering the gross ineptitude of university management in Nigeria. Our ‘leaders’ should be reprimanded for any poor academic performance, certainly not otherwise.

...

As I was called upon to receive the best graduating student’s prize for the department of Microbiology in 2012, I had a very rare ambivalent feeling: I was gleeful – my achievement was one that I am totally proud of – at the same time, irked: I felt cheated.  There and then I promised not to enslave myself in an educational system that almost frustrate effort; more often than not, fail to reward hard work; and needless to say, tainted by some mentally challenged university professors that should have lost their jobs long before we are even born.

                                                              2.

"They tried to bury us. They didn't know we were seeds"

...

Little did I know that a 4.49 GPA could be a potential advantage – an advantage of a disadvantage. Soon after my final exams, I headed to the NYSC, harmed with little information, I began to delve for graduate schools abroad. I have believed that my success will be the best revenge, and that I had no options except for the very best. Several months went by and I constantly spent half of my allawe (monthly stipend the government pays NYSC corpers) on MTN modems to surf the internet so I can garner as much information as I needed on graduate schools. Even though the internet supply was an epileptic one, I wouldn’t give in. Just within few weeks, I had sent over 200 emails to graduate schools abroad enquiring about educational opportunities and scholarships. In short, I have never been so focused!   I did all the required exams, and in the end I applied to more than 10 graduate schools abroad. A friend once told me “that was way too much effort Bif”. To which I replied “I think I should have done more, you need to graduate with a 4.49 cGPA to think the way I do”

Praying for the best and expecting the worse, I had saved some money doing my NYSC to repeat the process again, the next year. And I am damn sure I wouldn’t be hesitant to do it the third time even if I failed the second attempt.

As God will have it, it went through during the first attempt. I got admissions in all the schools I applied except one; with scholarships from the University of Newcastle and The Catholic University of America (CUA) in Washington DC. Shortly after my NYSC I left for Washington, DC.

Few months ago, I graduated with a MS degree in Biotechnology from CUA with a 3.95 CGPA, (4.0 scale) an almost perfect cGPA; a wonderful research in the field of functional yeast genomics with Dr. John Choy; and Doctorate scholarships from 4 graduate schools!

Permit me to put on my economist cloak, and put a value on all the graduate scholarship I have been offered since my graduation from OAU: it will be well over $200,000.

These are the lessons learnt:

One, In Malcom Gladwell’s words: “We have ... a very rigid and limited definition of what an advantage is ... We think of some things as unhelpful that in reality leave us stronger and wiser.” This is the apt pith of this piece. My 4.49 cGPA left me stronger! No doubts

Two, someone opinion about you doesn’t have to be your reality. Take Charge!

In conclusion, Taking glory for all the positives that have happened would be fatuous and almost suicidal. After I lost the 4.49 ‘battle’ at OAU, several professors, families and friend stood by me, and gave very inspiring messages. Their words and support kept me going.

More important, is the story of a man who think he can do it alone and found himself swimming in a big ocean against the tides. Soon enough he drowned. He forgot that when God is on your side the tides moves in your direction.

KEYSTONE HABITS AND HOW I KILLED 3 BIRDS WITH ONE STONE

 

Last summer I had a plethora of important goals to achieve; I had to quickly recruit some germane arsenals to boost my focus – the subject, which has unarguably become a rare commodity in our world today (You probably don’t have to own an iPhone to fathom this). I did a will-power experiment, scored myself holistically on a weekly basis – as bona fide as I could – just for a sole reason: as a vessel for motivation.

Few months after, I was listening to an audiobook, The Willpower Instinct by Kelly McGonigal. In the book, she pointed out to some research that showed how exercise incited several positive habits like eating healthy, increased productivity, smoking less, amongst others.

Hurriedly I stretched for my last summer will power experimental data and to my astonishment, a trend emerged.  Oblivious to me, I had killed 3 birds with one stone – The morning I ran; One, I was more likely to stick to my almost-tasteless oats meal versus a carbohydrate-laden food; two, read an extra 30 minutes; and three, spent less time wasting away on the internet. In short, the positive correlation between my exercise regimen and will power was almost absolute!

Charles Duhigg in his best seller book – The Power of Habit –  calls activities like my last-summer-exercise “Keystone habits”. Here is the book:

“Keystone habits start a process that, over time, transforms everything...Keystone habits say that success doesn’t depend on getting every single thing right, but instead relies on identifying a few key priorities and fashioning them into powerful levers...The habits that matter most are the ones that, when they start to shift, dislodge and remake other patterns”

Apart from physical exercise, here is another example: Food journaling. Studies has shown that people who kept a daily log of food consumed, has a much higher chance of eating healthy, and consequently lose more weight; only with the use of food journals.

In fact, Duhigg in his book stated that some studies has shown a positive correlation between making your bed every morning and developing apt budgeting skills, a sense of well-being, and increased productivity. Lastly – and more important – is the habit of positive thinking. This will probably have one of the greatest positive ripple effect I can imagine.

The gist is, look for a habit that will give you the ripple effect that you desire: I had guess if you had the opportunity to kill 3 birds with one stone (versus 3 stones), you’ll grab it.