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I have a bachelor degree from another country New Discussion
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Parents Forum 09-23-2015 at 8:47 pm · in College Admissions

Colleges and Universities I was of another country's citizenship and completed a bachelor degree from a four year college. I
immigrated to U.S over 10 years ago and have received my U.S citizenship and gave up on my prior
Ivy League citizenship. Now I am going back to school and want to start from getting a fresh bachelor degree. It says
seventeenyears that I will need to report all college work and degrees earned in the application form, but it fails to mention
Registered User whether that includes overseas college work or degree? Could I take advantage of that vague language by
Posts: 12 not reporting what I did in another country before becoming a U.S citizen?
New Member
Please do not give me a moral talk, or say something like "somehow they will find out", has anyone really
seen its been found out? Does the admission run an international check on all colleges in the world on
every applicant? If you don't know, could you point me to the right direction to get an affirmative answer?
Your help is greatly appreciated.

Reply

Replies to: I have a bachelor degree from another country « 1 2 3 »

#1

09-23-2015 at 9:20 pm
No. You need to tell them. If they find out, they will rescind any U.S. credits and your degree, and you will
 have wasted your time and money. If an employer finds out, you could very well be fired.

Why don't you acknowledge it? If is even possible you could transfer some credits from your last degree.
You wouldn't be the only person who wanted 2 bachelor degrees.

intparent Reply
Registered User
Posts: 31,700
Senior Member

#2

09-23-2015 at 9:20 pm
It doesn't have to specifically state "no matter where in the world you took those classes" because that is
what is meant by the words "all college work and degrees earned"! All means all.

Whenever you apply to a degree program at an accredited college or university in the US, you are obligated
happymomof1
Registered User to provide official transcripts from college and university that you have studied at over the course of your
Posts: 26,321 lifetime. Period. The same goes for applying for any job that requires all of your academic records.
Senior Member
Contact the colleges and universities that you are interested in. Ask them what you need to do in order to
have your old records properly evaluated so that you can apply for admission. Most will recognize
evaluations performed by http://www.wes.org/ So will the federal government if you ever apply for a federal
job. Ask the colleges and universities whether you should be applying as a transfer (so that you can pursue
a second bachelors degree) or whether you are qualified to apply to a postgraduate program.

Many US students return to college for a second bachelors degree, or just to take enough classes in a new
field of study so that they can be admitted to a grad program that they want. I know people who have done
each of those things. It is not unusual at all. The only difference in your case is that your first degree is from
an institution outside the US.

Reply

#3
FEATURED THREADS
09-23-2015 at 9:38 pm
Princeton, Others Aim to You absolutely must mention the overseas degree. The question does not specify US colleges so overseas
Accept More Low-Income colleges are certainly included.
Students — Dave_Berry
Reply
Completing the FAFSA: happy1
Everything You Should Know Registered User
— Dave_Berry Posts: 19,290
Senior Member

Colleges Ask Applicants For

More While Reading
Applications Less — Dave_Berry #4

Even at Elite Colleges, 09-24-2015 at 2:23 am

Students Go Hungry —
I appreciate your responses; Have you read the admission requirements for most colleges in U.S? They
Mastadon
state that they will not admit someone seeking a second Bachelor's degree.

Reply
seventeenyears
Registered User
Posts: 12
New Member

#5

09-24-2015 at 2:26 am
"most colleges" means top 20 colleges.

Reply

seventeenyears
Registered User
Posts: 12
New Member
 #6

09-24-2015 at 3:06 am
When you fill out the common app, you have to "sign" stating that the information you have provided is
truthful and that you agree, that if there is misinformation, you run the risk of losing your diploma.

Also, if you think you need federal funds to continue your education, and you directly omit information, you
aunt bea
Registered User can be criminally charged for falsifying information. It is a BIG deal. Your immigration information gets linked
Posts: 8,672 up to anything involving former and future education.
Senior Member
It is not worth the risk.

Reply

#7

09-24-2015 at 3:56 am
To "aunt bea", I know what I'm signing that's why I haven't signed, have I? You misunderstood my
intentions: It has absolutely nothing to do with trying to get federal aid. Tuition is the last thing on my mind,
as I can afford it without getting any aid. Please tell me which top 20 college will accept students wishing to
pursue a second bachelor's degree, as I went through them all, with the exception of a couple majors in a
seventeenyears
Registered User couple schools in the top 20, they all say they will not accept students wishing to pursue a second
Posts: 12 bachelor's degree.
New Member
Reply

#8

09-24-2015 at 4:04 am
I don't think anyone on this site knows the specific regulations and minute details of each of the colleges
requirements for 2nd bachelors' degrees. If that's what the websites say, then that's what the particular
school is posting. A lot of that has to do with their federal dollars (which has nothing to do with you
specifically, but ties into their monies for research grants).
aunt bea
Registered User You're going to have to dig to find other schools that will do offer space for 2nd bachelor's degrees.
Posts: 8,672
Senior Member Reply

#9

09-24-2015 at 7:08 am
The fact is that top 20 colleges have no desire to issue people pursuing a 2nd bachelors. One bite of the
apple. You should pursue a graduate degree instead if all you want is a diploma from one of these top 20
schools.
T26E4
Registered User
Posts: 24,274 Reply
Senior Member

#10

09-24-2015 at 11:02 am
To "T26E4", your first sentence is what I already said and exactly where my dilemma came from. A diploma
from top 20 is NOT "all I want", otherwise I would have gone to a top 20 graduate school in a heartbeat.
Believe it or not, truly all I want is to study a completely different undergrad major that I love + in the top 20,
then go to graduate school in the top 20.
seventeenyears
Registered User
Posts: 12 Reply
New Member

#11

09-24-2015 at 11:08 am · edited September 2015

nvm
 Reply

suzy100
Registered User
Posts: 4,637
Senior Member

#12

09-24-2015 at 4:30 pm
To go to grad school to a top 20 program in your field, the best route isn't necessarily that same program as
an undergrad. In fact, in the US, it's customary NOT to admit into a PHD students who did their undergrad
there, so that they're exposed to different approaches and build a stronger professional network.
MYOS1634
Registered User What subject do you want to study? We could point you toward excellent colleges for PHD preparation in
Posts: 33,961 that field.
Senior Member (If your goal is a Law degree or MBA, the situation's different, so please specify).

Reply

#13

09-24-2015 at 7:00 pm
seventeenyears, what part of "fraud" don't you understand? You must sign a document that everything you
are reporting is true. If you do not include the first degree, and are found to have lied, the school can kick
you out. If you are found out years from now, they can rescind your degree. Then if you report that degree
on a job application, you are creating further fraud.
KKmama
Registered User
Posts: 2,800 There is no way to get around the rules. Them's the breaks. Try lowering your standards and look at
Senior Member requirements of other schools.

Reply

#14

09-24-2015 at 9:26 pm · edited September 2015

Where do you get the notion that only graduates of Top 20 undergraduate programs get into Top 20
graduate school programs? That is simply not true.

Your overall GPA, your GPA in courses related to the proposed field of graduate studies, your GRE scores,
happymomof1
Registered User your letters of recommendation, your work/internships/research/publications related to the proposed field
Posts: 26,321 of studies, and your personal statement are what matter for grad school admissions. In most academic
Senior Member fields, jobs are so hard to get that graduates of tippy-top PhD programs end up taking whatever job they
can find. Chances are that even at No-Name U the professors who teach the classes in your dream field of
studies will all be graduates of Top-20 Us. Provided you are indeed one of the best students they have met
in years, they will be more than happy to write you terrific letters of recommendation and help you get into
the grad programs where they studied.

Reply

#15

09-25-2015 at 11:29 am
To "KKmama", which part of "fraud" have I committed? I asked a question, I stated my situation, I
described the 20 colleges' situation, I expressed my desire to go to one of them and I seeked answers
regarding whether any top 20 colleges would accept 2nd Bachelor's applicant. Certainly I will have to
'lower my standards", but Lower your condescending attitude also please
seventeenyears
Registered User
Posts: 12 Reply
New Member
 This discussion has been closed. « 1 2 3 »

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