Someone you know has left or is planning to leave. 1,000 Ways To Japa will speak to real people and explore the infinite number of reasons and paths they use to get to Japa.
Nehemiah started dreaming of moving to Canada in 2020, but his dreams changed when he got a funding opportunity to study in the US. In this edition of 1000 Ways to Japa, he shares tips on how to apply for an assistantship opportunity in the US in 2025.
Where do you live, and when did you move out of Nigeria?
I live in Virginia, United States (US). I moved out of Nigeria in January 2025.
That’s very recent. Congratulations!
Thank you.
What was the motivation behind the move?
I’ve always wanted to pursue a master’s degree. I also wanted to do it with a scholarship, so when I was an undergraduate, I tried to secure a first-class degree. Unfortunately, the first-class degree didn’t secure me back. But I still finished with good grades, so when I got a funding opportunity to study in the U.S., I took it immediately.
So, did you get the scholarship you wanted?
It’s more of an assistantship, but I got it after several rejections and heartbreaks. I finished my University education in 2020 and I planned to get a scholarship and start my studies immediately. I was also set on going to Canada so I started by applying to seven schools there but was rejected by all of them. At that point, I didn’t want to try anything US-related because of the low success rate of their interviews. Despite my misgivings, I applied to some US schools anyway; I got congratulatory emails but got no funding.
I kept applying to different schools and paying different application fees. The least amount I paid for an application in Canada was $100, and $50 in the U.S. Despite all of that, I kept getting rejections. I even tried some schools in the U.K., but I was still met with rejections. However, one of the schools I applied to in the U.S. finally gave me an offer and an assistantship. It was the happiest day of my life!
What’s an assistantship?
It’s like a job that you do while studying. You could be working as a teaching assistant, research or administrative assistant. It’s all under the umbrella of graduate assistance.
ALSO READ: He Lost a Fully-Funded UK Scholarship and Found Free Tuition in the US
Congratulations. What advice do you have for people who want the same funding opportunity?
I suggest that you build rapport with your potential program director. Create a list of schools that you want to apply to, do your research, find out who your program directors are, and build rapport with them. They are usually open to helping as much as they can.
Another thing you should do is refrain from submitting the same application to different schools; It’s a red flag. Spend long hours researching each school and get various people to review your application.
One more thing— Always be yourself when it comes to your visa applications. Don’t seek advice from too many people because conflicting views can discourage you. Follow your gut and put God in everything as well.
What makes an application solid enough for schools in the US?
They mostly pay attention to your story and how it aligns with the program goals. Whatever you have in your Statement of Purpose must be consistent with whatever you have in your CV. Remember that the people reviewing your application know nothing about you. They can only get to know you from the documents you submit. Trust me when I say telling an authentic story about yourself works; believe me. Just ensure your introduction is catchy enough to grab the readers’ attention and maintain a good flow.
Can you share the name of your school?
It’s James Madison University. My assistantship doesn’t fully cover my fees, but it covers between $32,000 and $38,000. I only had about $3,000 to show as the deficit, so before I left Nigeria, I used a relative’s bank statements to prove that I could cover my living expenses.
I know you’ve only been in the US for a month, but I’m curious to know what your life is like now.
The orderliness in this country is just out of this world. The only thing I’m struggling to get used to is the weather. When I stepped out of the airport the first time, I ran back inside because it was so cold. But it’s a great country with a solid working system, and I get why people come here.
How happy are you in the U.S?
I’m so happy. It’s a dream come true.
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