As an international student, I'm confused about transferring my college credits to a U.S. university. Can someone break down the steps or share a helpful resource?
Hello there! The process of transferring international college credits to a U.S. university isn't too complicated, though it does require some steps:
1. College Admission: Firstly, you have to be accepted by a U.S. university. This may entail a different application procedure from domestic applicants, so be sure to look up admission information specifically for international students.
2. Course Evaluation: Once accepted, you can request that the university reviews your prior coursework. This is usually done by an international credential evaluations department or a third-party evaluation service.
3. Document Translation: Any credits earned abroad have to be translated and evaluated to determine their U.S. equivalence. Universities often require an official translation for academic records that are not in English. If the university doesn't offer this service, there are third-party agencies available to do this for a fee. Look for agencies that are members of NACES (National Association of Credential Evaluation Services) or AICE (Association of International Credential Evaluators).
4. Course Match: The evaluator (whether in-university or third-party) will determine if the courses you took match the academic standards of the accepting university and whether they match any courses in their catalog.
5. Credit Acceptance: The university will then decide whether to grant you credit based on the course equivalence determined by the evaluator. Some of your courses might transfer as elective credits, general education credits, or credits toward your major.
It’s worth mentioning that each university has its own policies regarding transfer credits, and some may be more liberal than others in recognizing international coursework. It's always beneficial to contact the admissions department or international student services at the universities you're considering. They will be able to give you the most current and accurate information about their policies.
Good luck on your journey!
CollegeVine’s Q&A seeks to offer informed perspectives on commonly asked admissions questions. Every answer is refined and validated by our team of admissions experts to ensure it resonates with trusted knowledge in the field.