Expert: Rolland Puckett - 12/7/2002

Question
Hi,
I'm a student in India, doin my Bachelors' degree here. I already hold a US Green card, and would like to complete my Master's in the US.
I know that I am required to do my GMAT for this.
My questions are
1. am I eligible to join a graduate school, with my Indian bachelor's degree and my GMAT scores?
Or must I complete undergraduate credits before I can enroll in a graduate program?

2. also, Since the US requires a 4 yr bachelor's degree, and India has a 3 year bachelor's degree, mine will be a 3 yr degree.
If enroll in a year's diploma course, and then do my GMAT, will that give me a 4 year degree, and hence eligibility to join Master's directly in the US?

Answer
Hi, Freddy!

Sorry to take so long in answering you!  

I've known a few students from other countries who had to find out which US institution would accept some or all of their courses from the college or university in the other country.  I can tell you this for certain.  Different schools have different rules.  Some US colleges will examine your academic record and give you a prelimenary opinion about your academic level if you were to enter that school.  The GMAT, however, would probably dtermine your placement, and whether or not you would be required to take any undergraduate courses.  

The best advice I can give is for you to decide where you'd like to go to school in the US, contact the school, and give them the same information you sent to me.  They will  ask for your course transcript.  Send it right away, requesting instructions about what to do next.  Most US schools (especially the notable ones) are accustomed to dealing with your situation.  

You probably already know that there are several very good software GMAT test preparation packages that might be very useful to you in getting ready for taking that important test.  I would certainly get one and use it daily.

I don't know what kind of course load you have in India.  If you take many courses each term, you might have as many credit "hours" as US schools require in four years.  It could also be that you might have what US schools consider a course deficit for entry into graduate school.  That's not the worst thing in the world.  They would simply require that you take one or two undergraduate courses, along with at least two additional regular courses any business major would have to take during the first year on the graduate level.  It would just take a little longer to get a master's degree.

Even if you had to take two semesters (an academic year) of undergraduate courses, Freddy, that's not bad - if you like the school, and if it's going to get you into a very good graduate program.  Life is not that short!  Sometimes, a student is admitted to a graduate program "on condition" that he completes a course deficit on the undergraduate level.  That is a common occurrence, because of the differences in graduate school requirements in the US and those in some other countries.  Just do as well as you possibly can on the GMAT!  That's what they will probably rely on most.  I presume, of course, that your academic record is good - at least a strong "B."

I wish the very best to you in your studies, and I hope you are admitted to the program of your choice.  Just be sure to apply to at least three schools.

Rolland Puckett  

It appears to me that a business major is the degree to get these days.  You can do so many things with it.