I
joined Bank of Kathmandu, one the top five commercial banks in Nepal, on 18th
May 2009. Busy with my work I finally got enrolled in GMAT in November 2010. I
had good grades earlier, some working experience as well and now with a good
score in GMAT I was hoping I could get some scholarships as well. The rules
regarding the GMAT had changed since 2011 and the passport was made mandatory.
Unaware I registered for my exams for February. Since I did not have a passport
at that time, the whole fee was wasted.
Finally
I got my passport at the end of February and registered for GMAT exam again for
18th March. I had been a bright student in GMAT class as well. But
with the events that unfolded between my classes and exam, I was not well
prepared. Contrary to what we had practiced in class, Math was easy and English
weird. It was like reading a blog, almost, I wonder if anything went through my
head. I was disappointed with my exam. I still managed to score 530, not so
good or not so bad score. I didn’t have guts to register for another GMAT exam,
a third time; I didn’t want to waste any more money on that. I thought 530 was
decent enough.
Upset
about the score of GMAT I wondered for months if I should give my TOEFL or not.
Finally got enrolled for TOEFL and gave my exams on 18th September. Uncertain
when the results will come out, I was a bit worried about the speaking part.
Late night before going to bed, it was around 11, I happened to check my mail
and there was an email from ETS. My heart started pounding. When I clicked the
link I was relieved to have scored 101. I believe it is a very good score
indeed. My American Dream got a new life that moment.
So
now I seriously needed to find a college. I was looking for universities in
Mid-West as I felt the universities in east and west coast are more crowded. I
needed to find universities that would offer me scholarships as well. As my
sister resides in Denver, CO and as it is the major hub in the mid-west I
consulted her regarding the universities. Denver University and Colorado
University – Boulder were very expensive. Western Colorado State University at
Gunnison was affordable but still five hours drive from where my sister lives.
Wyoming who most people consider to be middle of nowhere was one of my choices,
other being University of Colorado – Fort Collins.
University
of Wyoming, Laramie was affordable and despite being in another state it was some
two-and-half hour drive from Denver. I decided to apply for both the
Universities in February. Turned out the MBA in Fort Collins was a MBA – GSSE,
Global Social and Sustainable Enterprises! Thought it would have a good scope
in Nepal. After re-writing my essay and little correspondence I thought I had a
good chance. But after almost 8 weeks or so the university rejected my
application citing ‘inadequate related work experience.’ Now I turned to
Wyoming. Had not received any mail from the university this far, it was
now my only hope.
My
application got approved and they told me it will take some time before I
receive my I20. I emailed the university to send me a soft copy so that I could
prepare my other documents based on scholarship if I had got any. Due to
privacy associated the request was denied, but the professor informed me that I
would get ‘some’ kind of scholarship. Finally, I got my I20 in June. To my
utter surprise the scholarship that I was expecting was not mentioned in the
I20!
I
was in dilemma what to do? A guy from the consultancy who studies geography in
UW and was in town said that they never give scholarship in MBA and if they
were to give any kind of assistantship, they will have mentioned it as well. So
I decided to write to the university again. At the same time I came to know
about a girl whose visa was ‘withheld’ because in her first I20 nothing has
been mentioned about scholarship but later she got it and the Embassy wanted it
in I20 itself rather than any other supplementary letter. So I included this fact as
well.
The
university responded positively. My new I20 was on the way. As it could take a
long time I asked them to mail it to my sister so that she could send it me via
Express Mail so that I can get those documents faster. After some hiatus I
finally got my new I20. I got full scholarship on my tuition fees from the
department and now all I have to bear was around $11,000 annually.
Delighted,
I was. I had a good academic record, sound finance and now scholarship as well.
To this day everyone was saying I will surely get the visa and now I had a
similar feeling. Friday the 13th was the day. I was a bit nervous
but hopeful. I got my application rejected because the consular had a ‘feeling’
that I was trying to immigrate to the US. It felt bad, I wonder how my sister
had felt. She must be thinking I couldn’t pursue my dream just because one of
my sibling lives in the US. I decided to re-apply because first, I had never
thought of settling in the US and second, I didn’t want to miss the opportunity
that I was getting.
Unlucky,
again. This time my application was rejected because the consular felt that my
family couldn’t afford my fees! Come on she must have mistaken… I mean I’ve got
full scholarship on tuition fees and you are saying my family can’t afford to
pay $11,000 a year? Add to that the university is looking for assistantship as
well! I was shocked. Everyone was. I decided I am not applying anymore… who
knows if I would be rejected a third time, this time citing ‘I can’t study’ at
all.
Since
the university had granted me scholarship, I thought it was my responsibility
to inform them that I won’t be able to attend the university this Fall so that
they can give the fund to someone else who deserves it. I wrote when was the
best time to reapply for the university to get scholarship as my visa application
has been rejected. What came in reply felt so good. The MBA Director wrote to
the head of International Scholars’ Department :
“Please let me know what we need to do to get Rabin his visa. He will be a great asset to our program and I want to do anything and everything to help him out. I am available to meet with you at any time.”
“Please let me know what we need to do to get Rabin his visa. He will be a great asset to our program and I want to do anything and everything to help him out. I am available to meet with you at any time.”
The
professor decided to write a letter addressing the US Embassy in Nepal. With the
amount of faith he has shown on me I felt I should not disappoint him my not
applying at all. Also by re-applying a second time I would save some precious
months of my life. I don’t think my family’s annual income to change significantly in few months, if I am to apply for January session and I
believe they have sufficient fund to support me; also the best that could
happen would be my scholarships and assistantship fund would be mentioned in my
I20… but as the letter addressed to the Embassy does mention about
assistantship as well… I thought if I apply for visa again I won’t have to live
in dilemma for months… even if I get rejected it would open the road so that I
can continue my further studies here.
Rather
than regret for not trying a final time when so many individuals have supported
me, I have decided to apply for the third and final time. The worst they can do
is ‘reject’ again, but I am used to that now. I remember my sister saying few
days after I got rejected the second time… “I know you got your visa rejected
but still somewhere I feel you are coming.” And when I recall that, you can’t
think how it feels… she’s been waiting too long…
Post
script : I got my next interview scheduled for August 6th, the day I
had planned to leave to the US if I had got my visa the first time... the day
from when my sister’s annual leave begins. I don’t know what awaits me this
Monday but be assured whatever happens I won’t be written off… I ain’t giving
up!
I’ve
got three years of banking experience. An American MBA with specialization in
Energy Management would surely land me in a good position in most of the
financial institutions here. With my family here and a very good career prospective as well
I don’t know why they think I will settle in the US to start from scratch? Or
am I that good that they think the Professors won’t let me out :p
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