Help for a french applicant!

[Seyrena]

Hi everyone!

I really need your help here! I graduated from an engineering school (a "grande école") in France and I did what they call "classes préparatoires" before getting into that school. The only degree I have after high school is the one I got from my "grande école" and it is equivalent to a Ms in the USA (They don't give a degree in the "classes préparatoires")

Some universities are asking me to only give an undergrad institution which granted me a degree and well, I don't have a undergrad degree! I really don't know what to do since I still have to give my GPA from the classes préparatoires.

Is there any french applicant or any other applicant with the same issue?

Best!!

[boo78]

My in-laws are both French professors. I will check with them to see if they can help.

[klob]

It is very likely that you should give your "grande école" degree. Your degree is probably equivalent to a Bachelor's and a Master's degree, so it is your undergraduate degree as well. You can also check wes.org

[Seyrena]

You are probably right Klob! Thank you to you two!

[boo78]

My in-laws and husband all said what I would have told you: you'll need to contact the schools individually and find out how they want you to present your information. It is not uncommon for American schools to have very little knowledge of education systems that are different from their own. You might also try getting in contact with the school's foreign language department. There may be a French prof there who is familiar with the French system (not all are) and can talk to the admissions office on your behalf. Even if they don't have someone with that knowledge they may know of a prof in another department who is from France and could help. My mother-in-law, who is French, ran into a similar issue when applying to grad school here. She was able to find a French prof at the school who explained to the admissions board that her GPA of 12/20 was actually very good. Let me know if I can be of any further assistance. Bonne chance!

[Seyrena]

Thank you very much Boo78! That is so sweet of you! The grading system is very severe in France, it is very hard to explain that a 12 out of 20 is actually quite good! Thanks again!