Little Bro Joins Schwarzman Scholars Programme-Blaise Buma

Should President Paul Biya get worried? I wonder!!!

He is full of wonder and a few words are all I have: Never ever stop working towards that biggest goal-you know it. Stay focused, stay disciplined and get to the helm you've always dreamt of.

Once again, congrats!!! I will repeat Va here. "Even if it falls your lot to be a street sweeper, sweep streets even as Michaelangelo painted, or Beethoven composed music or Shakespeare wrote poetry. Sweep streets so well that all the hosts of heaven and earth will have to pause and say, 'Here lived a great street sweeper who swept his job well. For it isn't by size that you win or fail, be the best of what ever you are." 

I recall years ago when I interviewed you, and you gave tips on how to attend college for free. 

Youths from developing countries seek means to enhance their knowledge and compete with counterparts from across the world. They too often miss the crucial aspect of securing funds so as to concentrate on their studies in order to unravel their real academic potentials. This has often led to many as carers, cleaners; many of whom spend their time to look for part time jobs while undertaking their studies. The outcome sometimes are catastrophic on their academic results as they joggle between school and work: they work to raise money to pay their fees. For some, their academic output tend to be grossly affected and like I hear many say, ‘if I could pull this degree with the so many things as catering for bills, rents, and tuition fees, then, I am great’. The issue is not ‘pulling off’ a degree; the issue is obtaining a degree which reflects your genuine intellectual capacity.There is therefore every need to prioritize; lay your financial realities on your table before you embark on any studies abroad. Below is an interview I had with a Cameroonian student Blaise Buma who secured funding from Washington and Lee University in the US and is currently on a year’s course at the London School of Economics (LSE). The purpose of this interview is to inform students from developing countries who come from low-income families to prioritize and seek funds before and during their application process.

 Here are excerpts of the Facebook chat interview I had with Blaise Buma.

 What advice would you give students applying from developing countries to study abroad?

 My advice to them would be to make sure they have all necessary documentation. And take all required exams. The two most important things to bear in mind when applying to study abroad are, 1) to have admission to your target school and 2) to secure funding. Do not go out there not knowing where funding will come from. A promising future could turn out to be a nightmare if you run short of cash

 What approaches should they take to secure funding given the realities that many bright students from Africa do not know about funding possibilities to study abroad

 Well, they should do research. You cannot set out to study abroad without knowing what you are getting yourself into. There are several organizations that offer scholarship and funding opportunities. But a student’s best bet lies with the university. Some universities, especially in the US, offer various financial aid options to their students through a combination of loans, grants and scholarships. The opportunities exist, the students just have to work hard to get them.

 You have had the opportunity to study across USA and Britain can you compare your educational satisfaction looking at the input of the lecturers and their strategies

 You mean to compare the two educational systems? My experience is unique: I’ll explain why later

 My US educational experience is more interactive. The class sizes are small – maximum of 15. I get to have a 1-1 rapport with the professor, engage the classroom in a discussion, if the opportunity arises. In the US, students can ask questions to their professors, challenge their concepts and engage in a lively classroom discussion. Learning then, is a two way interaction. But, I was surprised to find that’s not the case in the UK. The lecture halls are bigger, class sizes, or lectures range from dozens up to hundreds of students. Learning then takes a top-down approach, and students have little or no input in the learning process.

 is that the case at LSE?

Yes, that is the case at LSE, and I would presume most other universities in the UK

But I think it’s different at the graduate level where class sizes are smaller. I think this doesn’t encourage critical thinking on the part of the students because they just take everything they are being told. Even if they have questions, they hardly have the opportunity to ask

 I am shocked because my relationship with my supervisor at Brunel University has been an interactive one, more of what I do with my thesis than what he wants. He just adds or subtract what is needed or not required and coaches me on what I should be doing.

 What sets LSE apart is, the students are first of all smart. So when they go home they can learn the material and still pass their exams. But what I’m trying to get at is, learning is not just about passing exams. It’s about applying the skills we learn in class at everyday problem solving. Even in Cameroon, my high school was more interactive. Well, that is only for the lectures though. There are classes, which are smaller in size. There you can ask questions and critique. But the classes are taught by PhD students, not professors. And mostly what they do is solve homework problems.

Tell me about your first days in the US compared to your first days in Britain

 My first US experience was good. I met my classmates from all over the US and from all over the world. We attended orientation, went to parties, and got acquainted with each other out campus. It was the same for the UK

You are on a scholarship at Washington and Lee, what do you think gave your application greater potency compared to others.

 I have that kind of attitude towards anything that I want to do. Not taking no for an answer and not taking failure as an option. That doesn’t mean I am fail-proof. Just to say, if I fail, I get up and continue. The motivation, determination and drive is what got me to where I am today… and I’ve got a very very long way to go

 As far as intern-ships are concerned how can international students go about securing intern-ships abroad knowing that you got yours at Deutche Bank.

 As far as internships go, students should first of all know their industry and secondly, gauge the competition they are up against watch out for deadlines… and finally, networking

One last word for anyone wishing to study in the UK

Goodluck!

For studies in the US, there are need blind schools admitting students purely on financial circumstances you can find more on search engines like Google. Below are some links to finding out scholarships in the UK and everywhere else in the world. Best wishes in your search.

http://www.scholars4dev.com/

http://www.scholarshipwarrior.com/