From Egypt to West Virginia: What One International Student Had to Say About Pursuing Two Advanced Degrees at WVU

Here at West Virginia University, the Admissions Team thinks it’s really important to highlight students who excel academically but who are also diverse in a variety of ways.

That’s why we reached out to Sally Ayob, an international student who came all the way from Egypt to pursue her master’s (and now her Ph.D.) at West Virginia University.

Here’s what Sally had to say.

Tell me a little bit about yourself. What’s your name/age, and where were you born?

SA: My Name is Sally Ayob. I was born in Egypt, and I’m a wife and a mother of two kids. I moved to the U.S. with my husband and my two children in 2011.

Where and in what did you pursue your undergraduate degree?

SA: My undergraduate study was in Egypt, and it focused on instructional technology. While in Egypt, I also got my first master’s degree in the same field in 2005. I worked as an assistant lecturer for 13 years until I got an opportunity to study my master’s degree in the U.S.

When I came to the U.S., I started my second master’s degree in the fall of 2011 in the Curriculum and Instruction graduate program at WVU in the College of Education and Human Services. I finished this second master’s degree in the spring of 2014.

What are you studying at West Virginia University?

SA: Currently, I’m pursuing a doctoral degree in Instructional Design and Technology at WVU, and I hopefully will graduate this year!

Are you involved in any graduate assistantships at WVU? If so, which one?

SA: I have been working as a graduate assistant in the Office of Accreditation and Records in the College of Education and Human Services since December 2011.

Why did you choose to study at WVU?

SA: The Learning English as a Second Language program at WVU provided a great opportunity for me to enhance my language skills before starting my graduate degrees, and that is how I first became interested in WVU and the programs offered here.

What kind of skills are you learning in WVU’s program that you hope to use in your career?

SA: I’m learning that nothing is too hard to learn, even it seems to be in the beginning. If you start with a positive attitude for learning, you may learn more than you expect! In my career, I’m learning how to have an open mind to any new software or applications. During my time at WVU, I have had to learn new software quickly — and maybe even teach the new software.

What do you hope to pursue professionally upon graduation?

SA: I hope to find an opportunity to practice what the skills and knowledge I learned in the Instructional Design program.

How did WVU’s professionals make the admissions process easy for you?

SA: I met many professionals who helped me in the admissions process. When I first arrived, it was very hard to understand how the process goes, and I really appreciated how WVU’s Admissions Team facilitated the process by advising, helping, being patient, and answering all of my questions.

What was the hardest thing about enrolling at WVU?

SA: The hardest thing I faced when enrolling at WVU was attempting to get the required scores in the national tests like TOEFL and GRE and then submitting those scores before the enrollment deadlines (you have to be careful because there is a different applying date for each program!). So, there were two main challenges: first to get the required score and then to get submit it at the appropriate time.    

If you could give one piece of advice regarding the WVU application process to an international student, what would it be?

SA: Don’t struggle with any piece of the application by yourself! Just contact the professionals in admissions, and they will find a way to help you. Read the instructions and the requirements for the program that you apply for very carefully. This will save a lot of time in the admissions process.

If you want to experience West Virginia University for yourself, and if you want to explore the graduate assistantship options that Sally did, check out our free, downloadable resource — A Guide to Graduate Assistantships at West Virginia University.