How do you transfer credits from foreign colleges?

I've taken some courses at a foreign college and I'm wondering how to transfer those credits to a U.S. university. What steps do I need to follow? Are there specific agencies I should contact?

The process for transferring credits from a foreign college to a U.S. university involves several steps. Here's a broad guide, but always remember to verify this with your specific U.S. university as the procedures can slightly differ from one place to another.

1. Course Equivalency: Most American universities would have a designated office or person handling international credit transfers. Typically, the Registrar's Office, or sometimes International Admissions, should have this information. If your university has an established relationship with the foreign college you attended, they may have a list of pre-approved courses for which they will grant credit.

2. Transcripts: You'll need a copy of your transcripts from your foreign college. These should include all coursework completed, grades received, and examination results. Ideally, your transcripts should be in English, but if not, translation services are typically required.

3. Evaluation: Since educational systems and accreditation aren't consistent worldwide, you'll likely need to go through a U.S. evaluation service unless your U.S institution already recognizes the courses from your foreign college. These services help U.S. institutions understand the academic equivalency of your foreign coursework. Two popular evaluation services are World Education Services (WES) and Educational Credential Evaluators (ECE). Once the agency has evaluated your transcript, they'll send a detailed report to your U.S. college.

4. Course Descriptions: Sometimes colleges ask for additional documentation, such as course descriptions or syllabi, to understand the rigor and content of the classes taken abroad.

5. Transfer Credit Application: Once you've all the necessary documents and evaluations, your university will make a final decision on what credits will be accepted.

Lastly, timeline is important. It's advised to start the process well in advance as it can take some time to gather all the required documents and evaluations. Don't hesitate to reach out to your university for guidance since they may have specific requirements not outlined here. Best of luck!