The Lived-Experience Checklist: How to Start Today
If I could go back and do this all over again, here is the exact timeline I would follow to avoid burning out or wasting money:
Step 1: Get your International Passport.
Do not wait until you get a scholarship to apply for a passport.
Immigration delays in Nigeria can ruin your timeline.
Step 2: Collect your Transcripts.
Go to your secondary school or university and get your official transcripts.
Ensure they are scanned clearly into PDF format.
Step 3: Study for Standardized Tests.
Do not assume because you got an “A” in WAEC English or Further Maths that you will ace the SAT or GRE.
The structure is completely different. Use free resources like Khan Academy.
Step 4: Rewrite your Story.
US admissions officers does not want a robotic CV.
They want to hear about how you survived the ASUU strikes, how you started a small business on campus, or how you taught yourself to code because your school lacked computers.
Your resilience is your superpower—use it in your essays.
The road isn’t easy, and you might face a few rejections along the way.
But remember: you only need one university to say yes to change the trajectory of your life forever.
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Are you applying for an undergraduate degree (Bachelors) or a postgraduate degree (Masters/PhD)?
Let us talk about your target schools and figure out your strategy together.