Going back to school

[SabrinaFrance 8]

I will be entering USA sometime beginning of 2010. I would like to pursue my education with a maters degree in the fall 2010.

I currently have a diploma from a French business school, which is unable to provide me with english transcripts.

From my understanding I am going to need to have these transcripts translated into English, and then have my diploma "translated" to American standards.

I would like to know from those who went back to school in the States if you had to take additional classes because your degree wasnt American?

My school was 3 years, instead of 4 for a bachelors degree in the States. But I had a lot more hours per week than an American school, about 35 hours instead of 18/20 hours in the States. Right now in France I could enter into a masters degree after these 3 first years of studies, but I am afraid that an American university will disregard this number of hours, and require me to take extra classes before I can apply to a masters program.

Does anybody have any experience with this?

Thanks

[canadian_wife 1,822]

Each University is different. The one I went to in Georgia required my Canadian transcripts to be evaluated by the World Education Service (any other one wouldn't be accepted). Yes, I had to take additional courses. Some American schools require certain courses (like US governement) to be taken by all students - regardless of degree program.

What you'll have to do is check with the international student advisory board with the school you want to apply to in order to see what they require and how your degree from France will be evaluated. Mine was a pain in the keister but it worked out in the end.

Good luck

[Kirsten UK 2]

I too had to get my UK qualifications translated, by ECE, in order to sit my state/national registration exams. All of my qualifications translated into the equivalent in the States, my BSc degree was also 3 years but like you I spent alot longer over the course of three years than an American 4 year degree, the evaluators take it into consideration but you must provide them with transcripts in order for them to do that. Each Educational Evaluation company have different requirements in order to evaluate you, for instance some will require you have sealed transcripts from the insitiution, some will only require a faxed copy of your certificates and transcripts.

Unfortunately for me, although my qualifications are the equivalent, I have come up against a few brick walls in some aspects of my field of work, which would require me to go back to school here at an advanced level to sit my BSc exams again for radiography in order to get registration. Luckily I am also qualified at an advanced level in another field that does not require that, so I will simply specialise in that field. It can be complicated over here, you really have to do your homework in the area you are qualified in to establish what you need to do. I know in the 80's my aunt moved to NYC and had a Master's in English but had to go back to school in order to teach English over here! That may have changed now, I don't know. Good luck, I hope you find the answers easily!

[SabrinaFrance 8]

Thanks a lot. It confirms what I thought, that it wont be easy!

I am going to contact the school I am looking at before even leaving France and see what they say. The university is very different over here, there is no official or sealed transcripts, they post your grades on a wall, and it is your job to check them. Even if I know they keep a record of it.

But from what I understand there is no need to have your degree translated into the equivalent in the States, as each university might require it to be done by a specific organisation.

So first step getting my transcripts, then have them translated in English, and then see with the university what they want to do with them

Thanks a lot.