Rank: Veteran Joined: 7/22/2011 Posts: 1,325
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Hi Wazuans,
I need your advice. I was accepted in one of the top 10 Business schools in the US, a school that is extremely hard to get into and I was very excited. But, the school tuition is literally a house mortgage, and in this economy banks are not willing to dish out money. I am thus at a crossroads, I have 3 choices.
1. Keep looking for a cosignor to get the student loan. This option is extremely tiring because most Kenyans are small minded, and when they hear the amount needed, they instantly come up with other "solutions". If one more person tells me to just do nursing, I will scream. The average person on Wall Street makes 10 times more than a nurse!!!Plus, if I graduate from said school, I will be privy to a very exclusive Alumni network, not to mention my graduation from said school will open doors to the likes of Yale, Harvard, Princeton, Columbia etc etc
2. Gather the information I have acquired in the US and head back to Kenya and start a business venture. The only con to this argument is in Kenya, if you dont have a diploma people dont trust you to do business with them. Plus I dont want to be one of those people who say " I was accepted into so and so school but...."
3. Just enroll in a State University, get the damn diploma and bail. I feel like this option would not do me any good because at the end of the day I am not interested in being someone's employee, so a State dilpoma would just serve as a decoration on the wall.
Please Wazuans, kindly advice me on what to do, which option would you pick?? Are there any other options? Any info, both positive and negative will be highly appreciated.
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Rank: Veteran Joined: 7/22/2011 Posts: 1,325
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By the way Hisah, I just read that you dropped out?? Do you mind sharing more on this?
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Rank: Member Joined: 4/1/2008 Posts: 104 Location: Nairobi
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Have you already considered scholarship opportunities provided by... - the school - professional business networks in the area - the US government - education-oriented NGO's? Généralement, les gens qui savant peu parlent becoup, et les gens qui savant beaucoup parlent peu.
- Rousseau.
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Rank: Veteran Joined: 7/22/2011 Posts: 1,325
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Yes I have, applied for numerous scholarships, very competitive and priority is given to American citizens. I havent tried NGO's though, do you have any pointers? What do you mean by business networks?? Do you mean say go to Verizon and pitch them my resume?
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Rank: Member Joined: 4/1/2008 Posts: 104 Location: Nairobi
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- Focus on applying for the non-US citizen scholarships http://www.peointernatio...ojectsphilanthropiestry If you can find those that assist Africans the odds are even better for you. What amount are we looking at here? If you can't get a full scholarship, consider applying for one to caters for one level of study e.g. http://www.dekarman.org/Qualifications.aspx - There are professional associations that students can join. In addition to helping you network with individuals in the same career, in this case business/entrepreneurship, they also undertake training and sometimes grant scholarships as well. Look up the ones in your area. - When considering NGO's, look specifically for those with educational trusts. Don't forget that churches also grant scholarships too. Généralement, les gens qui savant peu parlent becoup, et les gens qui savant beaucoup parlent peu.
- Rousseau.
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Rank: Veteran Joined: 7/22/2011 Posts: 1,325
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Hey Savant thanks for the info, though I was not able to open up the first link. I had previously tried applying for scholarships to the Gates, Soros and Carnegie foundations. Gates was only open to inner city kids in high school. Soros and I think Carnegie too required that the immigrant have been in the US for less than a year. There is alot of time and effort you have to put in, only to be told NO. I will look into it though.
The amount is $80k to finish the last 2 years of my Undergrad, then possibly another $80-120k to do an MBA. Though, I only plan on pursuing an MBA if I get into an Ivy League, otherwise I would rather just go back home with a Bachelors. Thank you for your input, much appreciated.
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Rank: New-farer Joined: 1/4/2010 Posts: 93
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Boss, why go to a very expensive college that you cannot afford. Humble yourself, join a college in Kenya whose fees are affordable and move on. You sound desperate yet you do not seem to let go. Giving up doesn't always mean you are weak, sometimes it means that you are strong enough to let go.
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Rank: Veteran Joined: 7/22/2011 Posts: 1,325
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Wamutonyi thank you for your reply, I am actually female. Anyways the main reason I want to go that route is the Alumni networking, not to put Kenyan colleges down but I feel like they prepare one to become an employee. I have already learnt alot just by being in the US, so if all else fails, I would rather just go into business, only time will tell if this is a sound decision.
Giving up doesn't always mean you are weak, sometimes it means that you are strong enough to let go.
I like this quote, thanks for your input.
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Rank: New-farer Joined: 7/18/2011 Posts: 19
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Nabwire don't give up, Keep on punching and like Wamutonyi think infers positively and when you have a chance read or get an audio version of the book "who moved my cheese" - The only thing that is constant is Change and sometimes we would rather anticipate it rather than change getting us unprepared. The U.S is a 'changer' and don't I know it! The Top schools might give you the network but it comes at a premium. The the second-tier schools will also give a good education but minus the highend network but what about "living within your means" as they say. Again I have been there in your shoes and in that/this land. Make good choices, all the luck!
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Rank: Member Joined: 12/3/2008 Posts: 113
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"...not to put Kenyan colleges down but I feel like they prepare one to become an employee...." you will be amazed by the number of successful entrepreneurs who went through the same Kenyan colleges.its all in your mind.
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