Translating Russian University Degree

[BatmanUSA 105]

anyone know of a company and/or how university degree from Russia translates into English..

[moroccogirlny 100]

I've heard WES is good - http://www.wes.org/index.asp

[SMR 368]

There are a couple different companies/organizations that do this. As was mentioned WES is good. However, it depends on what you want the translation for. For continuing education, for instance, a lot of colleges and universities in the US request a certain translation organization (possibly WES). Basically, if you are planning on showing the translation to someone in particular, make sure they don't have a preference before you go and get it translated and then have to redo it because they wanted something different.

If they don't have a preference, WES is not a bad choice.

[BatmanUSA 105]

Thanks for the replies...

She is looking to work as an adjunct professor at a local college.... I guess we will contact them to ask what they want.

[Gary and Alla 3,694]

anyone know of a company and/or how university degree from Russia translates into English..

Are you asking about a TRANSLATION or an EVALUATION?

We used "ECE" to evaluate Alla's and Sergey's educational experience. (Google ECE) Both of their educations were evaluated as equivilent to a US College degree in those same majors. This does not mean ALL educations would be evaluated as equal. You also need a course by course transcript, not just a diploma. These need to be TRANSLATED to English and sent to one of the evaluation organizations. WES is another one.

While evaluated as "equal" Alla's degrees in English and Russia lacked education in some sciences which are required by US colleges in those same subjects. When she went for her MA in English here she had to take a math class, a science class and Sociology. They thought it was "stupid" but she had to do that. FSU educations tend to be strongly focused. If you are after a Language degree you will not spend time on Biology and Statistics.

In Alla's case, she was cut from the herd to be a language teacher in 8th grade (they did this in the Soviet Union...chose your job for you) and never had math or science after 8th grade, she was focused on languages and literature for "high School" and University. It is a little less so, now, but still...Sergey has an MS in Physics from MIPT and he never had Russian, Sociology or any other non-math/science courses. He got a masters degree in 5 years which was evaluated as equivilent to an MS here in 6 years.

It would go a long way in OUR college educations to drop all the nonsense and reduce costs. We had to pay "full tuition" for Sergey at MIPT as he was a "Foreign Student" $4000 per YEAR...tuition and room & board. A Russian would get the education FREE. We did not worry about the interest rate of student loans.

His doctorate at Rice costs more than $60,000 per year, tuition, room and board. Fortunately he got a scholarship for that!

For those of you waiting for your petition to be approved, gathering this information and getting it translated is something to do while waiting. Alla's education was evaluated and sent to universities here long before our petition was approved or she arrived. She began her MA program here 5 days after arriving in the USA.

Better than checking never changing online "updates"

[Gary and Alla 3,694]

Thanks for the replies...

She is looking to work as an adjunct professor at a local college.... I guess we will contact them to ask what they want.

Yes, that is good, but a general evaluation will be necessary at some point for some job or some education.

Think about it. She is moving from Russia to America. YOU have evidence of your education, right? She needs evidence of hers. Get her transcripts, get them translated and get them evaluated. A course by course evakuation by ECE was about $135 if I recall. They send the results to the schools directly, you choose the schools you want to have them. You also get a copy for yourself.

She will likely find that in order to teach here, her education will be accepted at face value but the University may require education in some subjects. To get an MA here, Alla needed math, science and sociology. To work at a local university she needed a "special ed" class and US history class. They may hire her for a position with a stipulation that she attend these courses within 6 months, for example. Those things are determined by the individual school and/or state.

You need BOTH an evaluation and to follow whatever a potential employer may require.

[BatmanUSA 105]

thanks, I did contact a local university, the suggested WES and ECE... they didn't mention needing a course by course evaluation. since she will be applying for work, they said she only needs to be able to verify her degrees... now if she wants to teach in public school in florida (K-12) she would need to obtain a teaching certificate....

[Gary and Alla 3,694]

thanks, I did contact a local university, the suggested WES and ECE... they didn't mention needing a course by course evaluation. since she will be applying for work, they said she only needs to be able to verify her degrees... now if she wants to teach in public school in florida (K-12) she would need to obtain a teaching certificate....

Schools have different requirements. So do employers. School districts and states have different requirements for teachers. Universities are actually usually easier to qualifier for as a teacher. Though the competition is greater.

We went with the "course by course" evaluation since some schools require it and for a little extra money you get something acceptable by everyone. It was FAR easier to do it when Alla was still in Donetsk and could take the tram over to Donetsk State University and get her transcripts. We were applying to several schools who had different requirements and went with the more detailed evaluation.

The schools may also require either a TOEFL and/or GRE test to establish her English ability. This may not apply to where she is applying now...but could apply to another school in the future. These are available overseas and both Alla and Sergey took these before they came. Cost was about $125 each for the tests. This is usually not needed for community college level courses or non-degree courses. Either test can also be taken here.

The thing is, she may decide she wants to apply to a particular job or decide she wants to continue education here. She will be up against application deadlines and suddenly have need for a course by course eval., or GRE or TOEFL results. Oops. Wait until next year, I guess. I just like to use this long period waiting for the petition to be approved to do useful things.

We covered all the bases....course by course evaluations for both and both GRE and TOEFL tests for both. Once you have one of these evaluations done, they keep it on their files for many years and you can call them and order more copies to be sent to schools or employers as needed in the future. Schools and employers usually prefer it to come directly from the evaluator.

FYI ...anyone who has less than 7 years of their education in English can use either GRE, TOEFL or SAT/ACT results for college entrance at most schools. Pasha took all the exams and we went with his SAT/ACT scores.

Google "TOEFL" and "GRE" for locations and dates and costs.

[BatmanUSA 105]

_{Thanks.... Lena only has her degrees with her.... She will ask her sister to try to get a copy of official class transcripts...}

[Gary and Alla 3,694]

_{Thanks.... Lena only has her degrees with her.... She will ask her sister to try to get a copy of official class transcripts...}

Transcripts also show her grades and that can pay off. Alla received a 50% scholarship right off for her MA degree by qualifying with a high GPA and as an immigrant. Check scholarships if she intends to go to school. There are abundant scholarships for immigrants, and most especially if they are interested in the medical field or teaching.

Private Universities often have the highest endowments and most generous financial aid. They also have no "residency requirements" (unless they make their own) I just read today that students graduating from Princeton have the lowest student loan balances of any school! Sergey got a full ride at Rice AND a stipend for living expenses in return for being an assistant teacher, which is also part of his education.

Alla ended up with nearly an 80% grant after all was said and done, not all in the first semester but she started with a 50% grant. Course by course evaluations help get those things.

I know you rinterest now is employment but do not be surprised when she wants to further her education here. I know Alla takes great pride that she got an ENGLISH degree in te USA. When you find that it may be easy for her to qualify for this because many of her classes will transfer, don't be surprised if she wants to go back as a student also.

Good luck

[ONA 133]

Thanks for the replies...

She is looking to work as an adjunct professor at a local college.... I guess we will contact them to ask what they want.

What does she want to teach?

I did my evaluation through ECE and their report says that I have an equivalent of a Bachelor's degree in Secondary Education and an MA in English Linguistics.

I started looking for a job as soon as I received their report and have been working as an ESL Instructor and a TOEFL TCA at a language school in DC for about a year and a half now.

I would love to go back to school and get my doctorate, but that's just me. A lot of other people would be more than happy with what I have right now.

[BatmanUSA 105]

She has degrees in, Math, computer science and economics... She taught math and computers at the university level.... she is thinking to work part time teaching mathematics and Russian/English..

[BatmanUSA 105]

she says she has advanced degree in mathematics and not sure if it is the equivalent of a Masters or a Phd... a friend of hers said it depends on who does the eval as to how it will be transcribed...

[Gary and Alla 3,694]

she says she has advanced degree in mathematics and not sure if it is the equivalent of a Masters or a Phd... a friend of hers said it depends on who does the eval as to how it will be transcribed...

I do not think it depends on anyone's trascription or eval.

Alla has what are called "Specialist" degrees in Ukraine in both Russian and English. She got a full transcription of her classes and the credit hours equivllent and her grades in each course. ECE then evaluated these as being equal to an MA in those subjects in the USA. It is going to depend on her course work, which is why I say get the transcripts and do a course by course evaluation.

Even then, to get a teaching certificate in Vermont, she needed US history and Sociology and "Special Education" classes. Alla taught middle school English and Russian in Ukraine before the end of the USSR and for some period after Ukrainian independence. Then later went into private business. she als had references from the schools she taught at which helped with employment but not with evaluations.

Alla taught ESL for about 2 years here in the US, then concentrated on her own business of interpretting and translation. She is now back in school for nursing and put all that on hold.

she says she has advanced degree in mathematics and not sure if it is the equivalent of a Masters or a Phd... a friend of hers said it depends on who does the eval as to how it will be transcribed...

Sergey has an MS from MIPT in Physics and it was evaluated as such here also. Again he needed a course by course evaluation and is now a doctoral student at Rice University. Rice wanted the course by course evaluation.

[BatmanUSA 105]

Lena needs translation and evaluation.... apparently she has the original degrees and transcripts... however she says since they are difficult to obtain, she does not want to sent the originals to anyone.. Uggg.... !