Need suggestion!!

I am on work VISA (H1B) and trying to get into MBA in Texas A&M.I have 3 year Bachelor degree and one year PG dip in Mgt.

I got my degrees evaluated by one of the companies (FSCA)suggested by school.

As per evaluation, 3year B.com and 1 year PGDM is equivalent to US, Bachelor of Business Admn.

Yesterday I submitted my original transcripts and credential evaluation and I was told that, I do not qualify for MBA as my bachelor is not four year and they refuse to accept evaluation from FSCA.(FCSA is one of the official evaluators for University as per their website).

She even suggested that PGDM not even masters program (I told her that in south asia PG mean post graduate and it can only be done after Bachelor.

Please suggested me whats the best course of action as the classes are starting Jan14 and there are very few days left

She told me I can always appeal but I could make out my application isn't going anywhere.she also said they I can appeal to her (Via email) and she will send to right person.

Please suggest me whats the best coarse of action so that I can resolve it ASAP, as classes are starting under month.

Can I talk to someone else or I have to go through her only?

Thanks

Hello,

Do you know or have you read the official evaluation process/policies at Texas A&M for
international credentials? If so, can you give me a link to that page/policy?

Also, who are you talking to at Texas A&M, Is it the admissions department; the MBA department; the registrar's office; the dean's office; the bursar? Who has denied your request for an international bachelor's equivalency ruling? Many offices can be involved in the assessment of international credentials and many offices may rule on them.

If you can locate the official policy there will also be a way to "petition for exception" to any policy but to do this you need to know the policy and who ruled on it and then ask who you may petition to you for an exception or new ruling.

Colleges generally follow guidelines and policies on these things and so you need to locate the policy and the person(s) who rule on it and follow the policy steps.

No college has to accept anyone or any degree; but they do have to follow their own policies and give students ways to appeal or petition when they believe the policy ruling is wrong.

In many cases schools will allow a student to "provisionally" enroll in up to 2 courses PENDING formal policy reviews and prior to being admitted to a degree program. Ask about that policy also. It may be possible for you to enroll in a course or two while you wait for a ruling on formal acceptance into the degree program.

Good Luck!
Vicky Phillips
Founder - GetEducated

Dear Vicky,

Thanks for the quick reply.

I could not sleep the whole last night.

I have attended one of TAMUC's seminar and they told me to get my degree evaluation done from one of the agencies on their website.

web.tamu-commerce.edu/academics/graduateschool/documents/evaluationAgencies.pdf

My evaluation clearly mention that my qualification is equivalent to US Bachelor of Business Management.

It also states:

US Semester Hours/GPA:

Undergraduate:134 Hrs/2.87

Upper division 62 Hrs/3.10

The person I talked to is :

Suzanne Giossi
Graduate Programs Specialist
Texas A&M University-Commerce
Office of Graduate Studies
P O Box 3011
Commerce, TX 75429-3011
903-468-6049
903-886-5165 (fax)
Suzanne.Giossi@tamuc.edu


She offered me to appeal the decision via email and she will forward it to concerned person.

I understand your point that any university can refuse admission but the basis which she is offering is "Equivalency Factor" which I feel is not true.

Please suggest what should I be doing?

Thanks

HI Go Figure,

Thank you for the information.

What you list does indicate that your international degree ought to be the "equivalent" of a US bachelors. And you use an acceptable agency for the review, it appears.

You have 134 hours and an American bachelors requires 120-124; you have a 2.87 GPA <note here that some programs require a 3.0 GPA for entry at the maters level -- did he mention this as an issue?; you have upper division junior/senior units of 62 whereas 45 is usually the required minimum.

From what you have told me I do not see why your credentials would not be acceptable as bachelors level credentials in the US.

You have done the right thing -- and they have sent this to a person higher up for appeal.

Find out exactly why they are rejecting it. What would they need you to do to show "equivalency" under their admissions requirements? Do they need a new second evaluation from another agency? Do they need you to take some undergraduate pre requisite courses?

What do they need from you?

In the meantime, ask if you can be admitted "provisionally" to the MBA degree program and take a course or two while you wait for the appeal.

Most programs will allow students to take a course or two while awaiting the results of a appeal. You won't be allowed to earn an entire degree unless you are formally admitted but you can start the degree.

However, if the issue is your VISA I can't advise you if taking courses provisionally would meet your needs. You will need to talk to the VISA advisor at A&M and seek their help and suggestions on that issue and the requirements in your case for VISA extension.

Vicky


GoFigure wrote:
Dear Vicky,

Thanks for the quick reply.

I could not sleep the whole last night.

I have attended one of TAMUC's seminar and they told me to get my degree evaluation done from one of the agencies on their website.

web.tamu-commerce.edu/academics/graduateschool/documents/evaluationAgencies.pdf

My evaluation clearly mention that my qualification is equivalent to US Bachelor of Business Management.

It also states:

US Semester Hours/GPA:

Undergraduate:134 Hrs/2.87

Upper division 62 Hrs/3.10

The person I talked to is :

Suzanne Giossi
Graduate Programs Specialist
Texas A&M University-Commerce
Office of Graduate Studies
P O Box 3011
Commerce, TX 75429-3011
903-468-6049
903-886-5165 (fax)
Suzanne.Giossi@tamuc.edu


She offered me to appeal the decision via email and she will forward it to concerned person.

I understand your point that any university can refuse admission but the basis which she is offering is "Equivalency Factor" which I feel is not true.

Please suggest what should I be doing?

Thanks

Hi Vicky,

You were right.I appealed to them and I just got email from them that they are accepting my application based on the Credential Report.

I must thank you for your suggestion of appealing and give reference about "Policy and Procedure".

It worked.

Yeah! Good show!
Mos people just give up when they get a "no."
They don't realize that they often need to appeal a decision or get
someone else to look at it in the university.
When they do appeal, most, like you, are successful.
Good luck in the program.
Hope you like it!

Vicky


GoFigure wrote:
Hi Vicky,

You were right.I appealed to them and I just got email from them that they are accepting my application based on the Credential Report.

I must thank you for your suggestion of appealing and give reference about "Policy and Procedure".

It worked.