my presence is with you.
Ans: (Smile and respond while making eye contact) I
Eat before going (at least some snacks)
Wear my African wear, the one I used for the VISA
applica on (pick an ou it that makes you look like
what’s indicated in your documents. Just make it
simple and decent.
Be confident. Make eye contact always, it shows
confidence. Be comfortable, easy to communicate
with
It’s not a life or death situa on. Eye contact can
make or break an interview
Make sure you have a confident smile when you
interact
Don’t let fear stand in your way. Be smart
Research South Dakota State University. Get to know
li le important details
Short, direct answers will be much appreciated by
the consular officer
Make sure to speak slowly than you would normally
Be there in at most an hour to at least 30 minutes
Never give out informa on or documents when it’s
not asked
REHEARSE!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
WHEN INVITED IN FOR YOUR INTERVIEW……
SMILE at the consular with a gree ng like……Hi,
Hello. FIRST IMPRESSION DO REALLY MATTER THE
MOST
Que: Good morning. How are you doing today?
am doing pre y good Sir! How about you?
Que: What do you know about American
universi es? / Why study in US, why not UK or
Canada?
Ans: American universi es are known for their
quality of educa on and research opportuni es.
Creden als of US are very much respected in Ghana
and has global recogni on.
Their programs are well designed to balance theory
with prac cal skills.
Que: Which school are you going to?/ What
Ins tu ons did you apply to?
Ans: South Dakota State University, Brookings, US
Que: Why did you select this/these ins tu ons?
Que: Why South Dakota State University?
Ans: The structure of their program suits my future
career and research interest. I received a Graduate
Teaching Assistantship scholarship too.
Ques: How may courses have you registered?
Ans: Three ( 3 ) They are:
Numerical Analysis1
Opera ons Research1
Topology
Que: What is the purpose of your travel?/
Why do you want to come to us?
Ans: To pursue my Master’s in Mathema cs
Que: What will be your specializa on/major in MS?
Ans: Applied methema cs-modeling of diseases.
Que: Which school did you a end?
Ans: University of Cape Coast and currently African
ins tute for mathema cal sciences.
Que: why do want to do masters again?/ Currently
what do you do?
I aim to try my hands on teaching and do
interdisciplinary –having ideas from different areas of
science will help me to excel.
Que: What did you study?
Ans: Mathema cs with Economics
Que: What do you want study?/
Que: Why did you select this field of study?
Ans: Masters in Mathema cs
Q4: Who is sponsoring you?
Ans: South Dakota State university through the
Graduate Teaching Assistantship scholarship.
Que: What are your plans a er gradua on?
Ans: come back to Ghana and take posi on at the
department of mathema cs university of cape coast.
Que: Are you sure you will be coming back to Ghana
a er studies?
Ans: Yes! Ghana has great opportuni es in the field
of my study. The advance degree I get will be a great
asset in advancing my career here in Ghana.
Que: Tell me about the school?
Ans: South Dakota State University is research
University located in Brookings South Dakota State.
The department has many research areas:
computa onal biology, computa onal finance,
molecular dynamic simula on, opera ons research
and op miza on, ramsey number theory. It is a good
school for me specialize in applied mathema cs.
I have interacted with few professors who are doing
ac ve research in my area of interest.
Que: Do you happen to know about the city you will
be going?
Ans: Brookings South Dakota State. My friend s have
filled me in on the weather condi ons at specific
mes and will help me adjust perfectly.
Que: How many universi es did you apply?
Ans: Two(2)
Que: Which universi es did you get admission?
Ans: I got admission from 2 universi es (South
Dakota State University, US, and Cleveland State
University,us)
Que: Why were you awarded so much?
Ans: I have teaching experience; currently I am a
Teaching Assistant at the Department of
Mathema cs and Sta s cs.
Que: Do you have any work experience?
Ans: Yes I do. I have been working as a Teaching
Assistant at the University of Cape Coast a er
gradua on
Que: How was your experience working at the
University?
Ans: Challenging and interes ng. I love it
Que: Why would you like to pursue your studies in
the US? / Why, because there are many programs in
Ghana?
Ans: The educa on system in the US is known for its
academic excellence. On top of that having a degree
there has global recogni on.
Que: Who is sponsoring your studies?
Ans: South Dakota State University, US through a
Graduate Teaching Assistantship scholarship
Que: Can you pass those suppor ng documents?
Ans: Definitely! (Pass GTA, bank statement and
sponsorship le er)
Que: Who is your uncle? And what does he do?
Ans: My uncle is Emmanuel Kwame Essel and he is a
lecturer
Que: Where does he work?
Ans: University of Cape Coast
Que: Why would a lecturer want to sponsor you?
Ans: Because I am his nephew and he has taken care
of me since a er my Senior Secondary days through
undergraduate. He, in fact, was the reason I chose a
profession in Mathema cs, for that ma er actuarial
science; it was a recommenda on from him.
Que: How do you plan to finance your educa on
a er the first year.
Ans: I plan to perform well in other to be worthy of
the graduate research assistantship scholarship the
school offers to second year students. Aside this, my
uncle will foot the expenses if need be.
Que: Why did you select this program?
It has many research areas which fit my future career.
Que: Does this degree help advance your career?
Ans: Absolutely. Earning an advance degree from US
will definitely serve as a great asset in advancing my
career and enhancing my skills.
Que: Your family is in Ghana, why do you choose to
leave everything and pursue further?
Ans: In today’s compe ve world, I feel that my
decision to pursue graduate studies in the US is a
smart way to advance my career. While I invest some
me and money into this valuable educa on, the
payoffs will be well worth my me and money.
Que: What are your summer vaca on plans? Will
you return home for the summer?
Ans: No. I prefer to get an internship experience
during the summer
Que: What will you do if your visa was rejected?
Ans: I will reapply provided the next available date
for visa appointment comes before 16th August,
2015, the repor ng date for my GTA scholarship.
Que: Great! I approve your visa! Enjoy your me in
the US!
Ans: Amazing! That’s great news Sir! Thank you!
Have a blessed day!
GLORY BE TO GOD!!!
MOOOOOOOOORE PARTY
BOOM BOOM CHA BOOM BOOM CHA
REAL QUESTIONS ASKED
The actual interview took less than 3 mins. I was
asked 4 simple ques ons. GOD was in it
I was called up to meet my interviewer (crucifier). He
smiled at me and greeted me ‘Hi, how are you doing’
first.
I responded ‘I am doing very fine Sir. How are you
too?’
Q1: Which school are you going to?
Me: Illinois State University
Q2: Which school did you a end?
Me: University of Cape Coast
Q3: What did you study, and may I see your
documents?
Me: Actuarial Science, I pushed my transcript and
Degree Cer ficate to him (since I did not know which
docs he wanted)
He flipped through my transcript, shakes his head
and hands them over to me
Q4: Who is sponsoring you?
Me: Illinois State University through the GTA
scholarship (I tried to play smart knowing very well
what he meant)
He asks again….
Q5: I mean, who is covering the other part of your
expenses?
Me: Mr. So and So…(I did not say much…It was
Professor something but if I had said that he would
have probed further knowing most likely the
Professor would be my teacher instead of my
supposed uncle)
Q6: May I see documents?
Me: (I pushed my endorsed bank statement and
sponsors le er to him. He reads sponsors le er and
flips through bank statement, smiles and writes
something on a s cker and pastes it on my passport)
Interviewer: Congratula ons (as he hands a copy of
the s cker to me). Come here next week for your
VISA
Me: Thank very much Sir. (I took the s cker, turned
my back and pumped my hand into the air)
Finally the D day came and I was asked the following
ques on;
Ques ; Why south south Dakota state university;
ans. I chose SDSU because of the structure of the
Maths program
ques; what is the structure?
Ans ; they specialize in applied maths diseases
modelling
Ques; how do you do that?
Ans; we use differen al equa ons to capture disease
propaga on ………………..
He then looked at ucc transcript and approved my
visa.