Visa Type: F-1 (Regular)
Visa Status: Issued
Interview Date and Time: August 3, 2022; 1:30 PM
CEAC Status: Issued on August 4, 2022; 9:00 AM
Passport Collection Email: August 4, 2022; 3:30 PM
Passport Collected: August 7, 2022; 2:00 PM
Passport Collection Email: August 4, 2022; 3:30 PM
Passport Collected: August 7, 2022; 2:00 PM
--------------------------------------------------------------------------
Intended Term of Entry: Fall 2022
Intended University: University of Florida, Gainesville, USA.
Funding Status: Fully Funded [Graduate Assistantship (GA, 1 year TA, 3 year RA) + Full Tuition + 100% health insurance coverage] + $8K Surplus
--------------------------------------------------------------------------
Visa Priority: Regular
Initial Visa Interview Date: August 3, 2022
Applied for an Emergency Visa Appointment: June 12, 2022;
Emergency Visa Appointment Request Refused: June 15, 2022;
--------------------------------------------------------------------------
Pre-Interview Procedures
Scheduled Interview Time: 1:30 PM; August 3, 2022
Arrived Embassy: 12:00 PM
Entered the Embassy: 1:30 PM
Documents Checked: Visa Interview Appointment Confirmation Letter, Passport, I-20
Documents Carried: Visa Interview Appointment Confirmation Letter, Passport, I-20, SEVIS Confirmation Page, DS-160 Confirmation Page, Visa Application Fee Cash Deposit Slip (EBL Bank Slip), Admission Letter, Offer Letter, Original Certificates and Transcripts (B.Sc. + HSC + SSC), IELTS Scorecard (TRF), Photographs (2″ × 2″ and PP Size = Two Copies Both), National ID, Birth Certificate, COVID-19 Vaccination Certificate.
--------------------------------------------------------------------------
Security Checks:
Checkpoint 01 (Entry Gate): Visa Interview Appointment Letter, Passport.
Checkpoint 02 (Entrance of Embassy Building): Appointment Letter, Passport.
Checkpoint 03 (Inside Embassy Building): File and Documents Scanned; Body Scanned.
Checkpoint 04 (Beside Waiting Room): A Bangladeshi Guy checkedthe Appointment Letter and Passport (Attached DS-160 ID Number witha Barcode sticker on the back of the Passport).
Checkpoint 05 (Counter 02, Bangladeshi Guy): Passport + Checked face.
Checkpoint 06 (Counter 03, White American Lady): Passport + Took Fingerprints.
--------------------------------------------------------------------------
Interview Counter: 11
Interview Started: 2:20 PM
Visa Officer Description: A Middle-aged, White American Guy.
Interview Duration: 1.5 ≈ 2 Minutes
Conversation with VO:
Me: Hello, officer! Good afternoon.
VO: Good afternoon. Pass me your I-20 and passport, please (gloomy).
Me: (Passed). Here it is!
(He took the documents, scanned the bar code, and had a deep look at my I-20. Then he appeared with a smiley face.)
VO: Congratulations! You got fully funded admission to the University of Florida. It is a very good research university.
Me: Thank you. (with a smile)
VO: (saying something in low voice)
Me: Sorry, I didn’t get you. Can you repeat that?
VO: Nothing serious. Let that go. Do you know that a lot of students are going to UF this year?
Me: Yes, I know some of them through social media.
VO: What are your research interests?
Me: My research is related to computational mechanics. To be specific, heat transfer enhancements in semiconductors.
VO: (nodded). Okay! I am approving your VISA. Congratulations!
Me: Thank you. Thanks a lot!
VO: Please collect your passport within two weeks from the pickup point after receiving the email.
Me: Sure. If you don't mind, can you give me a blue leaflet?
VO: Yeah, sure.
Me: Have a good day!
--------------------------------------------------------------------------
My Credentials:
Master of Science in Mathematics from the University of Barishal.
(CGPA 4.00 / 4.00; thesis; applied with enrollment certificate as the result wasn't published at that time.)
Bachelor of Science (Hons) in Mathematics from the University of Barishal.
(CGPA 3.87 / 4.00, without minors - 3.89, first position.)
GRE: Applied only for GRE-waived programs.
IELTS: 7 (L: 8, R: 7, W: 6.5, S: 6.5).
Publications: 7 (4 First Authored Articles; 1 Scopus Indexed Book Chapter).
Work and Research Experiences: 1.5 Years in 3 different research projects including honors project + Continuing Master's Thesis (application time)+ Some verified peer review experience + 1.5 years of remote working experience as a Mathematics content moderator (K-12 level) for Brainly.Inc.
Related Tool & Coding Experience: MATLAB, Fortran, Ansys FLUENT, COMSOL Multiphysics, SolidWorks (initial level).
Related Tool & Coding Experience: MATLAB, Fortran, Ansys FLUENT, COMSOL Multiphysics, SolidWorks (initial level).
SOP: Relatable / Strong (Persuasive).
LOR: Relatively Strong (Diverse, Covering Research, Academic, and Extra-Curricular Sectors).
To know more about my credentials, you can visit my personal website link: https://hahmed.cf/
--------------------------------------------------------------------------
Total Universities Applied: 20
USA: Fall 2022:
1. University of Florida - Ph.D. in Mechanical Engineering (Graduate Assistantship (1 year TA, 3 year RA) + Full Tuition + 100% health insurance coverage) - Central Application, then Professor knocked me.
3. Case Western Reserve University - Ph.D. in Applied Mathematics (Graduate Assistantship + Graduate Fellowship as Full Tuition) - Central Application.
4. University of Delaware - Ph.D. in Mechanical Engineering (Teaching Assistantship + Full Tuition Waiver + 100% health insurance with optical vision and dental plan) - Central Application.
5. University of Delaware - Ph.D. in Applied Mathematics (Departmental Fellowship + Full Tuition Waiver) - Central Application.
6. University of Maryland, Baltimore County - Ph.D. in Applied Mathematics (Teaching Assistantship + Full Tuition Waiver + 100% health insurance) - Central Application.
7. Rochester Institute of Technology - Ph.D. in Mathematical Modeling (Graduate Assistantship + Full Tuition) - Central Application and Interviewed.
8. Clarkson University (merit-based 30% tuition scholarship) - Central Application.
9. Michigan Technological University - Ph.D. in Mathematics - Accepted but no fund.
10. University of New Hampshire - Ph.D. in Applied Mathematics - Accepted but no fund.
11. Northeastern University - MS in Mechanical Engineering - Accepted but no fund.
12. Northern Arizona University - Ph.D. in Mechanical Engineering - Accepted but no fund.
13. Temple University - Ph.D. in Applied Mathematics - Waitlisted but later rejected.
14. Case Western Reserve University - Ph.D. in Mechanical Engineering - Waitlisted but later rejected.
15. University of Rochester - Ph.D. in Mechanical Engineering - Interviewed and seemed very positive, but rejected.
16. New York University - Ph.D. in Mechanical Engineering - Rejected.
17. University of Colorado, Boulder - Ph.D. in Mechanical Engineering - Rejected.
18. University of Maryland, College Park - Ph.D. in Mechanical Engineering - Rejected.
19. George Washington University - Ph.D. in Mechanical Engineering - Rejected.
20. Dartmouth College - Ph.D. in Mathematics - Rejected.
--------------------------------------------------------------------------
Tips and Suggestions for Future Aspirants:
I consider myself really fortunate to have received so many responses from universities. Throughout the whole application process, I attended around ten professor interviews.
The advice and recommendations below are entirely based on my personal experience. Other perspectives are conceivable.
The advice and recommendations below are entirely based on my personal experience. Other perspectives are conceivable.
1. Obviously, CGPA is the most important factor, but if your undergrad CGPA is ordinary rather than outstanding, make up for it by getting the best GRE scores and research you can.
2. Make an effort to publish at least one original, peer-reviewed work as the primary author. The quality of journals is more important than the number, but what they truly want is that if you have a genuine enthusiasm for research, you at least tried it out and prevailed. They don't anticipate that you will publish in the Q1 journals when you have just finished your postgraduate studies.
3. Balance your extracurricular interests with your academic success while maintaining variety. It gives the impression that you are a self-driven person.
4. Prior to your interview for a visa, remain composed and confident. Although you could get anxious within, appear confident to others. It certainly aids!
5. The paths to higher education in the USA might sometimes appear to be hazardous. Maintain your drive, be self-directed, and show patience and perseverance. You will eventually be successful.
--------------------------------------------------------------------------
Thanks a lot. Hope it will be useful!
0 Comments