Support Victor to Carnegie Mellon University

My Journey to CMU Africa

There’s an African proverb that says, "Only the things we've struggled for will last." After months of anticipation and writing around 30 essays for admissions and scholarships, I finally received an update on my application on April 26, 2024. I am thrilled to share that I have been accepted into Carnegie Mellon University’s College of Engineering in Kigali, Rwanda, an institution ranked as the 24th best school in the world.

LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/victormiene/

Exciting News with a $3000 Outstanding Tuition Balance

Upon opening the email, I discovered that I had been awarded a scholarship from the Mastercard Foundation for my Masters in Information Technology, covering $21,000, which is 87.5% of my tuition. While this was incredible news, it also meant I needed to find a way to cover the remaining $3,000 (Approximately £2,400) which represents $1,000 for each of my three semester.

Overcoming Setbacks

I have been working as a software engineer in Lagos, Nigeria, for over two years. Unfortunately, I lost my savings covering medical expenses after my father suffered a severe illness for the second time in the past two years. Despite these challenges, I hold onto my grandmother’s words: "Only good things will come to a child that has decided to go all out for his parents." These words have been a source of comfort amidst my financial struggles. After waiting eight months for my Nigerian passport, I learned to start believing in signs. Interestingly, I received my passport the same week applications to Carnegie Mellon University opened.

My Background

In July 2021, I graduated as the best student with a Cumulative Grade Point Average of 4.61/5.00 (First Class Honours) in Electrical/Electronic Engineering from Niger Delta University in Bayelsa. Since then, I have been working in Lagos, Nigeria, as a software engineer, developing Physical Address Verification software for a company here in Lagos. Making the decision to pursue graduate school wasn't easy, but it has been worth it as it aligns with my career aspirations of becoming a Machine Learning Researcher.

Taking Ownership of My Journey

Since May, I've utilized every bit of monetary assistance to secure a flight to Kigali, Rwanda, with a strong determination not to give up on my dream of going to graduate school. I have also made plans with other students to live as frugally as possible to successfully complete my program. Over the past month, I have applied for remote jobs but faced rejections due to my location in Nigeria. Additionally, I have written numerous essays applying for more scholarships in a bid to help cover my remaining balance.

I am reaching out for your support to help cover my remaining tuition. Your contribution will bring me one step closer to achieving my dreams at Carnegie Mellon University.

Bank Details

0061009733

Victor Miene

Access bank

Thank you for being a part of my journey.

Regards,

Victor Oyindouye Miene