Got my WES foreign transcript evaluation....

Hi everybody!

I did one semester at a French College in Canada 8 years ago and sent it to WES to have it evaluated.

I had my transcript translated in English and WES sent me back the evaluation using the exact words the translator used, and on their site, it say they will match it to an ‘equivalent US course’…they didn’t do that. Also, my grades went totally down the drain; courses I received a B in Canada, now are a grade D, how is that? Here is an example….

From WES: Intro to Sociology: US. Semester credit 2.0 and US. Grade 'D'
On my French transcript: Intro to Sociology : 2.00 units with Grade 'B'
(1 unit is worth 45 hours at the College I attended)

WES gave me only 2 credits for my official language which is French… I see a CLEP testing for 12 more credits coming!

Can someone explain how the US grade system works?
I realize it is up to a school to accept foreign credits but could a school reject the courses with a grade of ‘D’ or does it only affect your GPA? Could they grant me the credits on this WES transcript anyway – which totals 14.5 all together?

I am very disappointed of WES’s evaluation. I was expecting a totally different evaluation base on the US school system. Not just a letter from them ‘officially’ attesting the translated copy - I feel it is basically what they did, except lower my grade.

 

This happens. On the plus side, they aren't the only evaluator on the planet. I would first look at the schools you are interested in attendind and seeing what evaluators they accept, then do some phone calls to them or emails and try to pry some information out of them. It's important they have experience not only in translating but have real true knowledge of the school system you came from. They won't like to field calls or emails but you will get some feedback and get a feeling for who will be more favorable than others. WES is actually known to be very strict and ECE too has been known to infuriate people.

Good luck.

 

Give them the facts and ask them to do it over again. Somebody is assuming that all schools in Canada operate on the American system. Obviously there are differences.

A "B" to a "D" - I wonder what the reasoning was there?

 

I think just like you Dennis... how they can they go from B to D .

Another example on my evaluation; I was exempt from 'Elementary English', went straight to 'Intermediate English' and WES gave me 'Fail grade' for BOTH courses.... doesn't make sense to me. I will write to WES and ask for some answers.

Is there any good Foreign Credential Evaluator(s) that someone could recommend or have use?

 

The website below list many credible Foreign Credential Evaluators

http://www.naces.org/members.htm


In UK system of grading 40% is a pass mark and 70% is distinction grade but in US grading system 70% is passing mark with a letter grade of C, 80% is B and 90% is A.

I am not sure of grading system in Canada.

Peter Chin

 

If grade issue base on percentile, 40% may be A in some subject and 80% may be D in another subject. I don't think he can convert from a "B" to a "D" on that basis.

 

From talking to the admissions staff when I was applying for my PhD, they told me that not only do each of the evaluation services differ, but even within the same service the evaluation will differ depending on the person doing the evaluation!

I've used IERF before. (International Education Research Foundation) They did a good job, but were very slow in doing it. Their website is www.ierf.org. You might want to give them a try if WES won't redo theirs.

 

Well According to WES Canada, an A=A and a B=B, hmpf, go figure. Sounds awfully complicated .

http://www.wes.org/ca/wedb/usa/ushigher.htm#grading

 

Humm... very interesting indeed Bob!

I looks like WES is just a company out to get people's $$$.

 

Daisy,

I assume when you say that you went to a "French College" you mean CEGEP? I ask because I have wondered how CEGEP credits would be viewed in the US.

I have a friend who received 2 years academic credit at University of Manitoba for 2 years of CEGEP studies. That seemed very generous, but good for him.

 

Could there have been a simple mistake (although probably unlikely) in converting between the French and US systems?

For example, German secondary school has a grade scale from 1 to 6 with 1 being the highest/best grade and 4 being unsatisfactory. So it is inversely proportional (well not exactly) with the US grade point scale of 4 to 0, where 4 is the best grade.

 

Maybe that's the story.

The person deciding your academic fate doesn't know there are French speaking people in Canada and assumed it was France.

 

Like any corporation, profit or non-profit, it might be possible that WES has a political affiliation with a particular school or institution. An A grade from a school like McGill or Western Ontario will be interpreted as an A and an A grade from any other school will be interpreted as a D.

 

novemberdude,

Your friend's credit transfer seems right. The education system in Canada is different then in the US. I much prefer the US way - it is easier to understand. No pun intended to fellow Canadians here eh!

Two years at a Cegeg or College (they are the same) or two years at a University means a student will take the same courses at either institution... it is a little complicated to explain how degree programs work in Canada.

In the US, the 1st & 2nd year, you take GE courses. I did two 4th year courses in that 1st semester. Strange eh!

 

Thanks Daisy,

I wasn't clear. I live and was educated in Quebec. I have a CEGEP diploma. I just wanted to clarify to make sure you were talking about CEGEP.

Mostly I found the courses to be equivalent to easy intro level university courses. The problem of course will arise because (as you know) they are described as 2 credit courses on your transcript.

As far as my friend getting 2 years university credit for CEGEP, he was pleased because none of the other schools he'd looked at had been than generous, mostly it was 1 year University credit for 2 years CEGEP.

Thanks for answering my question.