VISA EXPERIENCE
Status – approved
Date – 06/06/2018
Time - 12:50
+2 aggregate
percentage-83.6
SAT I- 1380 [Not
asked]
SAT II- 800 (Math
level II) and 790 (Physics) [Not asked]
University-
Youngstown State University
Major- Physics –
Astronomy combined major
Scholarships- 13k
Feel the magic in
the air aale aale aale
Dangal Dangal
I was listening to
these songs while heading towards the American Embassy with my
parents because I just didn’t want to think about the consequences
of my interview. We reached there before an hour of my interview. The
security guards told us to come before ten minutes of the interview;
therefore, I and my parents stayed in a cafe for around forty-five
minutes.
It was time to enter
into the embassy. I was told to take out my passport and appointment
confirmation. I was having goosebumps at that very moment – This is
the opportunity to make my hard work of one whole year fruitful.
Waiting in the queue, I was having an eye on people around me and
their dress codes( I was actually comparing others’ dress code with
mine), but I did not talk to anyone of them as I had plotted the day
before my interview. After 15 minutes, I had my security check. Then,
I entered into the waiting area with beautiful flowers around it. The
US embassy should be applauded for arranging such comfortable seats.
LOL. I was really enjoying the time there looking at the flowers.
Everyone there was
playing a game there. We were asked to shift places after every 3
minutes as some of us were asked to move towards the compartment
where the Visa officers were: THE DANGER ZONE.
So finally, it was
time for the litmus test.
I entered into the
area where applicants ere facing interview. I got a my ds-160 code
attached on my passport. After a while, I faced the finger print test
and then stayed on the queue to take the interview. I saw a young
lady in one of the counters and I just wished she were my
interviewer, since women are actually more friendly. I was not
looking at others’ interview. I was just reciting in my mind that I
am the best and I can do it. The assistant beside me told to go to
the counter with free space and I intently went to the counter of the
young beautiful lady. Not very much though!!!!!!!!!
VO: Namaste
I : Namaste, How
are you ma’am?
VO: I am good. So,
Which universities did you apply?
I don’t know why
but my tongue twisted between answers of which universities I applied
and which universities I got selected. I did not stop. Though I knew
she was not understanding my answer, I kept on speaking. Then,she
requested me repeat my answer and I was like,”Ohhhhh, calm down.”
I : I applied to
11 universities. I was accepted at six universities.
VO: In which
universities did you get accepted?
I : Apart from Youngstown State university, I was accepted at
Howard University, Whitman College, University of Texas at
Arlington, Minnesota state university, Mankato, and St.Cloud State
University.
VO: Which were the
universities you desperately wanted to go but did not got accepted?
I : Those were
Rice University and Emory university.
VO: tell me about
your plan after graduation.
I : After being
graduated, I will first of all invest my few months in National
Center for Photovoltaics, USA to gain experience in engineering
aspects of solar energy. Then, I will take the public service
commission examination and work as a technical officer in the
government department called Alternative energy promotion center.
In Nepal, everyone
of us only talks of about the hydro power, but during my research for
writing an article for my school magazine, I came to the fact that
just by utilizing 0.5 % land of Nepal for installing solar panels we
can produce 1,50,000 gigawatt hours of energy every year (The VO was
surprised as I had anticipated) which is more than the annual demand
of Nepal including fuel demands.
So being a technical
officer, I will work on improving the efficiency of solar panels in
Nepal. I will introduce the multi-junction photovoltaics cells which
have thrice efficiency than the conventional poly-crystalline silicon
solar cells used in Nepal at present. I will also promote the use of
hydrophobic coating of solar panels which is one of the cheapest
method to protect solar panels from dust particles. Doing this, we
can increase their efficiencies by 30% more
I want to make my
country a gasoline free country. In last fiscal year, the total
import of petroleum products of Nepal exceeded the whole export by 45
billion Nepalese rupees. If we are able to produce solar energy in a
huge amount and promote solar cooking, electric vehicles, and other
electric devices, we can make our industries, our homes, our offices
everything on 100 percent green energy which is solar energy.
(Throughout this
answer, I was looking at my facial expressions and hand gestures on
my mirror’s reflection and they were as good as I wanted them to
be)
The VO had already
started typing something looking at my i-20 and I thought Now no one
can stop me from getting me the visa
VO: How much has
your family saved for your education?
I : My family has
saved around 40k USD in the form of different fixed deposits and
saving accounts.
VO: Who are your
sponsors?
I : My parents
and my elder brother are my sponsors.
VO: What do they do?
I : My elder
brother is a doctor. He earns 15k dollars per year. My father is the
secondary level teacher of social sciences. He earns around 8k
dollars per year. My mom looks after the cattle field which is near
our hometown. From there, we earn around 10k per year. We have also
given 8 rooms in rent in our another house and doing this we earn
around 7k per year So, total income of my family is 40k per year
VO: Do you have any
other siblings?
I : No ma’am.
I only have an elder brother who is a doctor.
VO: Okay I am
signing your passport. After hearing this, I did not try to hear
anything. I knew that she would be telling about counter no. 11. I
thanked her and said, “ You made my day.”
After my interview,
the man standing behind me who also got the visa told me that
everyone was laughing at me listening to my English accent. He said
it was not the way Nepalese speak English. You got the visa because
of your confidence. I thought,” Really.”
Tips:
-
The first and the most important thing is think that the VO actually knows nothing. He/she is just a person who is curious about your future. You are the hero, the superstar, of the interview
-
Do not stop if you think my answer has gone wrong. Being silent means end of the interview.
-
For why this university question, describe research facilities, scholarship,and most importantly target a professor of your department and find the research the professor is doing( Note: It should have link with your future plans)
-
For plan after graduation, it’s better to work in a government institute or very well recognized private institute closely related to your field rather than saying I will start my own. VO’s not only want that you contribute to the society but also get the huge investment back you have done on your education.
-
Add an internship or master’s degree program between your graduation and return to Nepal. It shows that you are career oriented student.
-
For why this major, do not go waste too much long time in the background information like since my childhood…… , try to come to your plan after graduation as soon
-
Do not hesitate to tell lies, but tell which are realistic. Hand gestures, facial expressions, fluency of English, and self-confidence – these are the things you need for nailing the interview.
-
Get ready for counterattacking questions. I had prepared for questions like why not hydro power, what have you done in physics, tell me about the city your university is located , why not Nepal etc
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