The United States has one of the largest populations of international students in the world. Because of this, there is a huge variety of education systems, qualifications and different credentials that must be taken into consideration when accepting international students into the US. This can be a mammoth task as there is a lot of different aspects that need to be considered. Finding a good place to help evaluate all the different credentials that exist can help with this work.
Making sure you are using a trusted and well respected agency is the first thing to consider when choosing an evaluation company. Making sure you pick an agency that is a member of a recognised association is the first step. This means that you are protected by the fact the agency is part of a wider organisation. The agency will have to adhere to strict guidelines set out for them, meaning that your evaluation process should be an easy and straightforward process.
You also need to make sure the agency you are looking at provides the reports in the correct format for your specific needs as there can be many different ways of presenting this information. If the evaluation report isn’t in the format specially requested then you could face losing a place in your chosen institution or face long delays which could impact your applications. Considering how long each evaluation should take is also important as quite often there is a deadline for when applications should be submitted by. If you are in a rush you should also look at whether they offer an emergency or fast track service – if so this may be the one for you to choose.
Having a look at reviews is a good way to gauge the true reputation of an agency as these reviews will be written by people who have already used the service and have experienced the process first hand. This is invaluable as it can give you a real insight into the way the process works, what to expect during the process and how accommodating the staff are. Dealing with unfriendly or deliberately rude staff will hinder your application and potentially leaving you tearing your hair out, wishing you had chosen another agency. It is also worth looking at the company’s policies with regards to disputes and refunds, if you are not satisfied or have not received the service you requested.
The internet has made this process a lot easier as you can find all this information out with a few clicks. Some of the top names in credential evaluation are International Education Research Foundation (IERF), Advanced Education Services, World Education Services and Educational Credential Evaluators. Having a look at these companies will help educate you further and hopefully offer you some guidance on the specific things you’re looking for.
Back
