Students who have completed some college coursework at an institution in Mexico may be able to transfer their credits over into a new program at a U.S. institution. Students who are able to transfer previous coursework into a new program can save time and money, as there will be less classes needed to complete their program. Continue reading to find out how to transfer credits earned in Mexico to a U.S. college.
Step 1. Obtain Documents from Prior Schools
The first thing that students should do is obtain official documents from their original schools in Mexico. They will need these documents for transfer credit evaluations later. It can be beneficial for students to obtain more than one copy, in case they need more at a later time. Documents that students may need for transferring credits are:
- Transcripts from all schools attended in Mexico
- Syllabi from classes completed
Students should ask their previous schools for official copies of these documents. Especially with transcripts, students typically need to submit these in envelopes that were sealed by the original schools.
Step 2. Have Transcripts Evaluated by a Professional Organization (Optional)
Although this step isn't required in order to transfer credits, students may be able to transfer more courses by having their Mexico transcripts reviewed by a professional international education organization. Two organizations that provide official transcript evaluations are the Educational Credential Evaluators and the World Education Services. These organizations will review official documents from a student's previous school(s), and create a more transfer-friendly document reflecting the student's credentials. If a student is unable to retrieve official documents from their previous school (s), the organizations may still be able to compile a profile with credentials for transfer. A transcript evaluation by one of these organizations can provide students with verification of:
- Document authenticity
- U.S. GPA equivalency
- Summary of credentials
- Course equivalency (with or without course descriptions)
Step 3. Complete Transfer Evaluation Process
Many schools allow students to transfer in credits that have been earned internationally, but typically award transfer credits on a course-by-course basis. The registrar office of a school may ask a student for their transcript as well as syllabus, as the syllabus gives a description of the class. The transcript will then be reviewed and courses compared to the classes needed within the new program. Students will be notified of what classes were transferred and provided with an updated degree plan.
Step 4. Appeal Transfer Decisions if Applicable
After a school has reviewed a student's transcript, some courses may not be accepted for transfer. If a student feels that one or more of those courses consist of the same content as courses in their new program, they can appeal the decision with the transcript review officials. This is most applicable to students who are unable to provide official documents that explain the content of classes taken. Students should consult with their registrar offices and contact their previous schools to see if an official document can be drafted in order to validate the content of completed courses.
Other Information for Mexico to U.S. Transfer Students
Students transferring from Mexico schools to U.S. institutions typically need to meet a few other requirements for admission. Although admissions policies vary by school, students from outside of the United States typically need:
- Appropriate immigration documents (specific items vary by school, but can include a passport or visa)
- Qualifying score on English equivalency exam (students from outside of the U.S. typically need to take the IELTS or TOEFL exam)
