One of the most common purposes for a credential evaluation is education. International students make up roughly 6% of enrolled higher education students in the United States, bringing a combination of unique backgrounds, subject-matter expertise and a desire to learn. Higher educational institutions and education-focused organizations work diligently to assist and welcome international students, but it is the job of a credential evaluation provider like International Education Evaluations (IEE) to explain the educational background of prospective students in terms that can be easily understood by admissions officials at a US-based institution. While many credential evaluations are ordered and received by individual clients, credential evaluation organizations also work closely with higher educational institutions across the country to both assist their international applicants and meet the needs of their admissions teams. This article will share some information about the relationship between credential evaluation providers and higher educational institutions, identify what credential evaluation products are available for prospective students and give pointers about choosing the right report so that this important piece of the admissions process is done in both a timely and proper manner.
How Universities Use Credential Evaluations in Admissions Decisions
While some universities have in-house credential evaluation teams, many either require or suggest credential evaluations from international applicants. The credential evaluation gives recipient institutions valuable interpretations of an educational qualification, including information about duration, credits, a GPA and an equivalency, among other things. Be they public, private, for-profit, religious or online, higher educational institutions have identified the value behind credential evaluation providers, who use their knowledge, expertise and experience to provide accurate, fair and useful analyses of educational credentials from all over the world; institutions utilize these services to aid admissions decisions. If you’re a student educated in another country attempting to study at a US-based institution, you may be directed to a credential evaluator like IEE.
The relationship between the institution and the evaluator varies. In some cases, an institution simply requires an evaluation from an organization that is a member of the National Association of Credential Evaluation Services (NACES), a trade association that oversees standards in the credential evaluation industry; IEE has been a proud and active member since 2018. It is always recommended to select a trusted and respected credential evaluation provider, and the NACES affiliation lends certainty and credibility to the evaluation.
Some institutions are more particular, requiring an evaluation from a pre-approved list; in addition to IEE, you may see names like World Education Services (WES), Educational Credential Evaluators (ECE) or Foundation for International Services (FIS), among others.
Lastly, it’s common for universities to have close working relationships with credential evaluation firms, in which the universities accept reports from one exclusive provider; IEE maintains many partnerships of this nature with several universities across the United States.
Common Types of Credential Evaluation Reports Required by Universities
Selecting who will do your credential evaluation isn’t the only task at hand. The university may require a specific type of report as well. Credential evaluators across the industry have many offerings available. They vary by price, content, format, purpose or document requirements. The type of report you choose may be contingent on the needs of the university receiving your application; the needs may be determined based on program, level of study or department, so it is always best to find out what is needed by checking the requirements with the college or university.
Document Evaluation Report
Sometimes, a university needs a simple “Document” report. This report contains basic program information, such as admissions requirement, duration, field of study and conferring institution. This type of report is best if the equivalency is the content that the university needs or values most.
H3: Document + GPA Evaluation Report
In addition to the “Document” report, IEE also provides a “Document+GPA” report. It has the same content as above, but it also contains a grade point average (GPA) converted into the US 4-point scale. Institutions may ask for the GPA to see more specifics about the individual’s overall performance in their program.
Course-by-Course Credential Evaluation
Other times, a university will want specific information about coursework. A common report completed for universities is the Course-by-Course Analysis. This report has the same information as the Document reports, but it also reveals each course taken, along with a converted US grade and credit amount. At the end of the report, you will see the total amount of credits, the cumulative GPA and a grading scale to explain what the grades mean, in US terms. Universities may want to see how you did in each course and how much credit you accumulated in certain subjects; this gives them a sense of both the rigor of each course as well as your performance in specific areas. This type of evaluation will require a transcript or other document showing all of your grades, so be sure to check the credential evaluator’s document requirements for each country and report type so that there is no delay in the construction, completion and delivery of your evaluation.
Beyond these reports, IEE works with recipients to provide additional content as needed or requested, such as an expected date of graduation, the language of instruction or distinctions between lower and upper-division coursework.
Official vs Provisional Evaluations
Furthermore, some institutions may require an official evaluation, in which documents are sent directly from the university or a trusted source like Parchment, GradIntelligence or 100Transcripts; other institutions may accept a Provisional Evaluation, which is based on scans of academic documentation.
Specialized Academic Evaluation Services
Some universities may want specialized academic evaluations. Examples include a verification of the educational credential’s authenticity or nothing but the GPA. IEE has been able to provide these services and continues to work across the higher education sector to help universities seeking solutions for supporting their current or future international student populations.
Ultimately, while credential evaluation providers have various types of evaluations available, the university you apply to sets its own policies for international student applications and their accompanying credential evaluations. They reserve the right to request whatever they deem necessary. The institution may have a landing page, a support article or an application checklist specifying requirements for the credential evaluation. They take their requirements very seriously, so it is important to select both the right provider and the right product.
Why Choosing the Right Credential Evaluationj Report Matters
Like any service, the credential evaluation industry has much to offer. The credential evaluation serves as a method to break barriers, pursue goals and change lives. It can bring you one step closer to your next big opportunity, so it’s important to get it right.
Many universities have an application deadline, and you most certainly do not want to miss this, or else risk your life being on hold for another year (or longer)! By selecting a product that fails to fulfill your university’s needs, you may elongate a process that already takes lots of time, energy, stress and money.
Moreover, changing or fixing a report usually comes with a revision fee. You don’t want to pay extra for something that could have been avoided.
On top of this, if a university receives the wrong credential evaluation and requires you to get a revision, they may disqualify your application if it takes too long. In an event like this, IEE has expedited services to guarantee that your report is sent within 1, 2 or 3 business days. The expedited service, however, comes with a non-refundable fee, so you can avoid this by selecting the right report type from the start, and providing supporting academic documentation promptly.
Additionally, if you order the wrong report type, the evaluation process may be delayed. Credential evaluation staff want to get your evaluation done in an efficient and prompt way, so that you can get started on your next move. If the order does not match the recipient, which evaluators are often aware of due to close working relationships with these institutions, they will be forced to put your file on hold to seek clarification. This delay in service may lead to a missed deadline and an unhappy customer.
Tips for a Smooth Credential Evaluation and University Application Process
Lastly, credential evaluation can be stressful, unclear and difficult for individuals seeking it for the first time. From trusting that the evaluation is completed with favorable results to arranging for documentation to be sent, there are many moving parts and natural anxieties surrounding it. If the evaluation is done in a way that does not correlate with the recipient university’s needs, the process may need to be started all over again!
The process of receiving a credential evaluation can be a tricky one. There are many pieces to this important and valued part of your journey. Therefore, IEE recommends the following to ensure a smooth evaluations experience:
- Identify the needs of the university you wish to attend. Visit their website, speak with an admissions representative and check application requirements. You can even ask specific questions about the credential evaluation, and they’ll tell you what is needed.
- Conduct research about credential evaluation. Find out how to obtain a credential evaluation. IEE’s step-by-step process article outlines a strong introduction to this industry.
- Select the appropriate credential evaluation provider. It is recommended to use a trusted, credible NACES-affiliated institution, as it assures recipients of quality, accuracy and application of industry standards.
- Educate yourself about product offerings, from Document Reports to Course-by-Course Reports. Select the right type of report that meets your university’s needs. Doing this prevents delays, avoids extra costs and reduces the chance of revisions.
- Start the process early. Deadlines come fast, and on top of baseline application components, from personal statements to writing samples to letters of recommendation, this is another piece that can take time. Apply for your credential evaluation and arrange for supporting academic documentation to be sent so that there’s enough time to have the evaluation completed before your deadline. If you find yourself too pressed for time, IEE can accommodate by providing Rush, Special or even Same Day service.
Good luck with selecting your credential evaluation provider and product, and we hope you choose IEE to support your journey to your next level of education!