🎓 U.S. College Applications: Academic Record Evaluation

1️⃣ Complete High School Records Are Required

All U.S. colleges require official transcripts showing the student’s entire high school academic record.

• Courses completed in Taiwan → Must be issued as an official Chinese-English transcript by the Taiwanese school.

• Courses completed in the U.S. → Must be issued as an official transcript by the American school.

• Both transcripts must be sent (or uploaded) directly by each school to the university’s official application system (e.g., Common App, UC Portal).

2️⃣ Credit and Grade Conversion (Course Credit Evaluation)

U.S. universities will convert grades and credits internally or through third-party credential evaluation agencies.

Common evaluation agencies include:

• WES (World Education Services)

• ECE (Educational Credential Evaluators)

• SpanTran

If a university requires international credential evaluation, students must have their transcripts officially evaluated by one of these organizations.

3️⃣ How Transcripts Are Reviewed Together

Colleges do not average grades from two systems. Instead, they look at the overall academic trend and rigor of coursework.

For example:

• Strong performance in challenging subjects (e.g., Math, Physics) in Taiwan helps with STEM applications.

• Courses taken in the U.S. (e.g., English, Social Studies) demonstrate English proficiency and adaptability.

Admissions officers consider:

• Where you studied at each stage

• What courses you took

• How you performed

• Why you transferred: They evaluate your record within your educational context.

4️⃣ GPA Conversion

Most schools standardize grades using the U.S. GPA 4.0 scale.

1️⃣ Complete High School Records Are Required

All U.S. colleges require official transcripts showing the student’s entire high school academic record.

• Courses completed in Taiwan → Must be issued as an official Chinese-English transcript by the Taiwanese school.

• Courses completed in the U.S. → Must be issued as an official transcript by the American school.

• Both transcripts must be sent (or uploaded) directly by each school to the university’s official application system (e.g., Common App, UC Portal).

2️⃣ Credit and Grade Conversion (Course Credit Evaluation)

U.S. universities will convert grades and credits internally or through third-party credential evaluation agencies.

Common evaluation agencies include:

• WES (World Education Services)

• ECE (Educational Credential Evaluators)

• Span Tran

If a university requires international credential evaluation, students must have their transcripts officially evaluated by one of these organizations.

3️⃣ How Transcripts Are Reviewed Together

Colleges do not average grades from two systems. Instead, they look at the overall academic trend and rigor of coursework.

For example:

• Strong performance in challenging subjects (e.g., Math, Physics) in Taiwan helps with STEM applications.

• Courses taken in the U.S. (e.g., English, Social Studies) demonstrate English proficiency and adaptability.

Admissions officers consider:

• Where you studied at each stage

• What courses you took

• How you performed

• Why you transferred They evaluate your record within your educational context.

4️⃣ GPA Conversion

Most schools standardize grades using the U.S. GPA 4.0 scale. International grading systems (like Taiwan’s percentage or credit system) are typically converted as follows:

Taiwan Percentage	U.S. Grade	GPA
90–100	A	4.0
80–89	B	3.0
70–79	C	2.0

5️⃣ Recommended Documents

Document Name	Source	Notes
Transcript	Taiwan and U.S. high schools	Must be officially translated if not in English
Course Description / Syllabus	Taiwan school	Helps U.S. universities understand course content
School Profile	Each school	Describes grading system and academic rigor
Credential Evaluation Report	Third-party agency (e.g., WES)	Required if specified by the university
Enrollment / Graduation Certificate	One or both schools	Depending on enrollment status

🌎 6️⃣ Other Countries (e.g., U.K., Canada)

Universities in the U.K. (UCAS) and Canada generally accept mixed educational backgrounds. If the academic record spans multiple countries, include:

• Official transcripts + certified English translations

• For non-English systems, a third-party credential evaluation may be required.

Taiwan’s grading system is typically compared to A-level or IB equivalents.

🧭 Practical Tips

• Contact guidance counselors at both schools early to confirm:

  • Transcript format

  • Whether the school can send transcripts directly to U.S. colleges

  • Whether a third-party evaluation is needed

• Explain your transfer reason: U.S. admissions officers value understanding why a student studied in different countries and how they adapted. This can be discussed in your personal statement.

• Standardize all English documents early: Have Taiwanese transcripts officially translated and notarized (via a certified translation office or notary) to avoid application delays. International grading systems (like Taiwan’s percentage or credit system) are typically converted as follows:

Taiwan Percentage	U.S. Grade	GPA
90–100	A	4.0
80–89	B	3.0
70–79	C	2.0

5️⃣ Recommended Documents

Document Name	Source	Notes
Transcript	Taiwan and U.S. high schools	Must be officially translated if not in English
Course Description / Syllabus	Taiwan school	Helps U.S. universities understand course content
School Profile	Each school	Describes grading system and academic rigor
Credential Evaluation Report	Third-party agency (e.g., WES)	Required if specified by the university
Enrollment / Graduation Certificate	One or both schools	Depending on enrollment status

🌎 6️⃣ Other Countries (e.g., U.K., Canada)

Universities in the U.K. (UCAS) and Canada generally accept mixed educational backgrounds. If the academic record spans multiple countries, include:

• Official transcripts + certified English translations

• For non-English systems, a third-party credential evaluation may be required.

Taiwan’s grading system is typically compared to A-level or IB equivalents.

🧭 Practical Tips

• Contact guidance counselors at both schools early to confirm:

  • Transcript format

  • Whether the school can send transcripts directly to U.S. colleges

  • Whether a third-party evaluation is needed

• Explain your transfer reason: U.S. admissions officers value understanding why a student studied in different countries and how they adapted. This can be discussed in your personal statement.

• Standardize all English documents early: Have Taiwanese transcripts officially translated and notarized (via a certified translation office or notary) to avoid application delays.