<p>A friend of mine (no, it's not me. Really.), has already earned his Bachelor's Degree in a foreign country. Now he has been studying English at a CC for a while, but eventually wants to transfer from his CC to one of the UCs (UCLA) to earn a second Bachelor's Degree in a completely different field (Business, he was Engineering before).</p>
<p>However, most UCs don't accept applications for a second Bachelor's, in particular UCLA where he wants to go to. Now he's thinking about just not mentioning his foreign Bachelor's in any of the applications.</p>
<p>I'm trying to talk him out of it, I already tried to explain to him, that it doesn't make much sense to go for another Bachelor's (especially for Business), instead he should apply to a Master's program. However, he wants to get into a top program, but that's pretty impossible with his Degree and without work experience (which will be hard to get without being citizen, without a Business Degree and with only foreign engineering degree). I have to admit that's a valid point. He probably won't get into a good graduate Business program.</p>
<p>Another reason is that he will get into serious trouble if someone finds out about it. If he earns his Bachelor's and someone finds out afterwards, I guess he might loose his new Degree (and all subsequent Degrees). But he keeps telling me that it's actually impossible to find out about it.</p>
<p>Do any of you know what will happen if someone finds out about the foreign Degree (please no speculations, only real stories or sources)?. Do you know any other reasons not to go for a second Bachelor's or an alternative way he could take?</p>
<p>I believe you are correct in all of the advice you have given. I don't understand how they would <em>not</em> know that he has a foreign degree? What will he say he has been doing for the last four years :eek:?</p>
<p>I have a Stanford MBA. My class had a pretty significant contingent of internationals who (1) got their bachelors degree in their home country (2) got their work experience in their home country and then applied to Stanford for the MBA. That seems to me to be the best route for your friend.</p>
<p>It further seems to me that a US BA/BS in Business is not a great way to get there even if he could do it. Most top programs want, as you say, a couple of years or so of work experience. He wouldn't have it.</p>
<p>
[QUOTE]
I don't understand how they would <em>not</em> know that he has a foreign degree?
[/QUOTE]
He told me he would say he went to the army for four years. I think he actually went to the army, but for a short period of time.</p>
<p>I think his grades were not particularly good, that's why he won't get into any good programs, even with some work experience. He really doesn't want to go back to his home country and it's really hard to find a business-related job with a non-business degree there anyway. So he practically has no chances of getting any work experience, that's why he wants to earn a second Degree first.</p>
<p>
[QUOTE]
It further seems to me that a US BA/BS in Business is not a great way to get there even if he could do it.
[/QUOTE]
Yeah, i think you're right. But with a Business Degree his chances of getting a business related job, not only here but also in his home country, would be much better. </p>
<p>There are some universities he could get a second bachelors from, but these are mostly 3rd tier. Why should he go to a 3rd tier university, if his grades and achievements are good enough to get into a 1st tier?</p>
<p>He appears to have several plans involving dishonesty. Integrity is of such infinitely greater value than having a degree from a "top program." I hope he will soon realize that.</p>
<p>It's getting confusing to me, anyway. His grades were not particularly good is one statement; then another statement is that his grades and achievements are good enough to get in a first tier. Makes no sense to me.</p>
<p>Were I you, I would step away from this whole thing. The picture does not make sense and the underlying attempt to hide things is way off base.</p>
<p>No, I mean that the grades of his first Bachelor's Degree are probably not good enough to get into a good grad program.</p>
<p>But NOW his grades at his CC (4.0) are probably good enough to get into a 1st tier undergraduate school. The problem is just that they won't let him, because he already has a Bachelor's.</p>
<p>
[QUOTE]
Were I you, I would step away from this whole thing. The picture does not make sense and the underlying attempt to hide things is way off base.
[/QUOTE]
He's not a close friend of mine, and honestly, I don't care much anyway. I just asked for advice, because I thought someone may have an idea of an alternate way, that I can suggest to him, so that he doesn't get in trouble and doesn't have to hide his Degree. I'm not really "involved" in it anyway, I just want to help.</p>