What is meant by 'Qualification'?

Discussion in 'General Distance Learning Discussions' started by Roscoe, May 17, 2003.

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  1. Roscoe

    Roscoe Guest

    A school in South Africa has asked me to submit certified copies of my qualifications and transcripts as part of my enrollment.

    I know what they mean about transcripts, but what in the world is a certified copy of my qualifications? Is it a copy of my resume or diploma? Neither of those are "certified," according to my understanding of the word.

    Hope someone here has an answer.

    Thanks.

    Roscoe
     
  2. MarkIsrael@aol.com

    [email protected] New Member

    I think they must mean notarized copies of your diplomas and certificates. The notary writes "I certify that this a true copy of the original document, which I had at hand to view" or words to that affect, and applies his stamp or seal and signature.

    You'd better check with the school, though.
     
  3. Jack Tracey

    Jack Tracey New Member

    Your "qualification" is your earned degree. If you've earned a BA and an MA then you have two qualifications. The school wants you to send certified copies of your diplomas. If you can get your alma maters to do this for you then you're doing better than I ever did. This is what I did:
    1) make some nice clean xerox copies of your diplomas.
    2) write a letter stating that this is an "honest to God really really really real copy of my diploma" and you might want to point out that your transcripts state clearly that you earned this degree (make sure they really do say this) and maybe list the names of a couple of people in the registrars office of your universities who can verify all this, and maybe point out that this may be a common request in some countries but it's an uncommon request in the USA, and then attach the letter to the copy of the diploma and get it notarized. It shows a good faith effort to comply with application procedures even if it falls slightly short of the mark. It worked for me, maybe it will work for you too. Good luck,
    Jack
     
  4. JLV

    JLV Active Member

    Roscoe,

    my wife faced a similar problem when applying to a European university PhD program several months ago. She had to provide notarized certification of her American academic credentials. She contacted her former universities, paid a little fee, and, voila, a few weeks later she got a copy of her diplomas plus a copy of her transcripts signed by the Department of State (in CO and OH). American bureaucracy works incredibly fast.

    One more curiosity. Even if you got your "qualifications" from the most ridiculous degree mill in the States, the Department of State would sign it as well, a fact that many have used to prove the "legitimacy" of their degree. I assume the university you're applying to knows to distinguish a real university from a fake one.

    Good luck
     
  5. Roscoe

    Roscoe Guest

    Thanks to all of you!

    For a moment I started to panic since I can't locate any of my diplomas. Over the years, I've done a lot of traveling and moving and somehow, those precious diplomas got lost. Too bad I never placed them in frames and displayed on the wall.

    Guess I'll just contact the schools and ask them to reprint the diplomas. At this point, I'm desperate enough to pay any fee they charge.

    One other question ...

    After taking another look at my papers, I see that "identify papers" are also required. Don't know if the person meant "identiTY papers." At any rate, I'm clueless as to what they mean.

    Any thoughts?

    Roscoe
     
  6. MarkIsrael@aol.com

    [email protected] New Member

    identification papers

    Birth certificate and passport?
     
  7. Jack Tracey

    Jack Tracey New Member

    Re: identification papers

    I used these two plus I included a copy of my drivers license.
    Jack
     
  8. Roscoe

    Roscoe Guest

    You guys have been very helpful.

    Thanks.

    Roscoe
     
  9. Bill Grover

    Bill Grover New Member

    Roscoe

    I was required to send copies of diplomas.
     

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