education question

[UK_Fan 192]

I am seriously considering starting school as soon as possible. I have graduated from high school in Russia, of course.

Would like to hear your opinions on whether i should go throughout WES and evaluate the diploma or just go ahead and take a GED test that way it won't cost me a lot and won't take a lot of time.

[CowBoE 429]

Looks like WES will cost between $160 to $205

http://www.wes.org/apply/popups.asp?where=evaltypes

http://www.wes.org/fees/schedule.asp

And looks like GED test cost $30 (for Kentucky) per subject.

I think there are 5 subjects, so that would make it about ~$150?

http://www.gedtestingservice.com/testers/policy_ky#price

Also there are some requirements like minimum age,

and also some states doesn't let you take GED if you already graduated high school,

but since you graduated from Russia...I don't know how that will play.

WES can be completed in about 7 to 14 days (including delivery),

so this could be less painful and quicker way.

The cost difference seems nominal.

Also you probably have to do some studying before you can take GED.

- - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - -

Often, getting a degree in a demanding field can get you higher pay

and quicker employment, than not-so-demanding degree from a nice school.

Unless you have firmly decided on your career,

you might look up information as such to see what's in demand

and which may be suitable for your talent and interest.

http://money.usnews.com/careers/best-jobs/rankings/the-100-best-jobs

[UK_Fan 192]

Thank you for your response. I am wanting to go into nursing.

Just how, exactly, WES work? Do they put it in a transcript form that a college would accept?

[CowBoE 429]

Thank you for your response. I am wanting to go into nursing.

Just how, exactly, WES work? Do they put it in a transcript form that a college would accept?

I thought you had researched the WES and GED requirements for your school?

If not, you should contact (or look up) the admission of the desired school(s) and find out

what is required to fulfill your high school requirements.

Some schools may accept your certified (and may be notarized)

English translation of Russian high school transcripts

without having to go through WES or GED.

These things are very school specific.

Also, if you start out in a junior college, the acceptance should be much much easier

and you'll save a lot of money. Then after 2 years, transfer to the 4 year university.

That is...if they offer pre-nursing program that will let you continue at 4 year school.

But if you take this route, you should also check with the potential 4 year school

ahead of time to ensure that they will take such 2 year credits.

Again, these are all school specific, so you need to start contacting the admission office

and speak to counselors.

[UK_Fan 192]

I thought you had researched the WES and GED requirements for your school?

If not, you should contact (or look up) the admission of the desired school(s) and find out

what is required to fulfill your high school requirements.

Some schools may accept your certified (and may be notarized)

English translation of Russian high school transcripts

without having to go through WES or GED.

These things are very school specific.

Also, if you start out in a junior college, the acceptance should be much much easier

and you'll save a lot of money. Then after 2 years, transfer to the 4 year university.

That is...if they offer pre-nursing program that will let you continue at 4 year school.

But if you take this route, you should also check with the potential 4 year school

ahead of time to ensure that they will take such 2 year credits.

Again, these are all school specific, so you need to start contacting the admission office

and speak to counselors.

We'll one school that I checked said that I need to go through WES, another school (a 2 yr college) had actually let me study for a semester with a translated and notarized transcript.

It's a long and very complicated story, but to make it short, I studied (without I-20) in a local community college.

I didn't go about it the right way cause I simply didn't know how to... But that's another can of worms.

[Harpa Timsah 13,258]

WES is a service that will tell people that your Russian diploma is "worth" whatever it is worth. It doesn't give you an American diploma or transcript or anything, it just certifies that your degree is equivalent (or not).

A HS diploma is better than a GED, and I think you have it, so I would do the WES. But make sure you need it before you do it, check the school's admission dept as suggested above.

Edited July 28, 2014 by Harpa Timsah