foreign transcripts to US universities

[southerntransplant]

I'm applying to programs in Latin American Studies and/or Spanish, Is it necessary to have my foreign transcripts translated? (study abroad experience in Latin America for a semester)

Some schools say it's necessary and others don't mention it, so how would I go about doing this? I'm assuming I would request the transcripts to be sent to myself rather than the university then have them translated, and then send them out?

One university says that they need not be professionally translated but just accurately translated by someone who is bilingual.

Any insight on this would be great, thanks.

[alexis]

I'm applying to programs in Latin American Studies and/or Spanish, Is it necessary to have my foreign transcripts translated? (study abroad experience in Latin America for a semester)

Some schools say it's necessary and others don't mention it, so how would I go about doing this? I'm assuming I would request the transcripts to be sent to myself rather than the university then have them translated, and then send them out?

One university says that they need not be professionally translated but just accurately translated by someone who is bilingual.

Any insight on this would be great, thanks.

Definitely a good idea to check with the schools, which sounds like you're already doing. I'm not sure what to tell you about the translation.

I studied abroad in the UK, and they'll only send my transcripts to one address, so I had them sent to me in different envelopes. One of the envelopes was my copy (I just ordered an additional one). What you could do is have the various sealed envelopes (usually with a signature over the seal), and then use your copy for someone to translate. You could then send the translation with the sealed envelope to the university. (I.e., put them both in a new envelope).

You'll probably have to check with each individual school, though; I would think this tactic is okay, since they are still getting their sealed envelopes along with a translation, but I'm not sure.

[BlueSwedeShoes]

I'm facing a similar problem. I'm a foreign student applying to US schools, and virtually all schools have requirements concerning my transcripts; several copies, certified translation, seals and signatures and so on.

Problem is, first of all, that the schools rarely specify just what is a "certified translation". Do I need to hire someone with a special license or what?

Also, the requirements are that the transcripts are "officially issued", and I guess they prefer it to have signatures, stamps, and embossed seals and all that. Here's my second problem; I "issue" my own transcript. I log on to our electronic service, create a transcript (I can pick language, my native or English, if I want only completed courses or also include courses I'm taking at the moment, and so on) and then I get a pdf with my transcript. I can print it, but it will just be a printed pdf...there's a verification number on it so anyone can go to the university website and check to see that it's a real transcript for up to 3 months after I create it, after that it's no longer valid.

Would this be sufficient for all requirements concerning the official, signed, sealed, stamped, verified, certified, fancy-pantsy part? And if I choose English; will that count as "official translation", since the English name used is part of the official course description?

[fuzzylogician]

If you can get the transcript issued in English, I don't think you need any "certified translation". I think that's only for when you submit a transcript in a foreign language.

One of my transcripts was from a school that operated in similar way to yours - It was basically a pdf file that I complied and printed myself. What I did to make sure it was official and met the US schools' standards was convince the departmental secretary to:

a) print the file on school letterhead

b ) put the department's stamp on each copy

c) put each copy in an official school envelope

d) seal the envelopes and stamp+sign the flap

If you're on good terms with your secretary/advisor, maybe you could do something similar. I think it's probably safer than having that online verification thing, because I imagine most programs won't bother doing that.

Edited October 29, 2009 by fuzzylogician

[BlueSwedeShoes]

If you can get the transcript issued in English, I don't think you need any "certified translation". I think that's only for when you submit a transcript in a foreign language.

One of my transcripts was from a school that operated in similar way to yours - It was basically a pdf file that I complied and printed myself. What I did to make sure it was official and met the US schools' standards was convince the departmental secretary to:

a) print the file on school letterhead

b ) put the department's stamp on each copy

c) put each copy in an official school envelope

d) seal the envelopes and stamp+sign the flap

If you're on good terms with your secretary/advisor, maybe you could do something similar. I think it's probably safer than having that online verification thing, because I imagine most programs won't bother doing that.

That's a good idea. I'm on good terms with the department secretary, the only problem is that she might not have stamps or official school envelopes simply because...there are none. We're not terribly big on the whole stamps-and-seals thing.

But who knows, there might be one for the purpose of impressing on people who like stamps, like American universities