Q. Are you planning on applying to a university, which the official language is different from yours?

A. Yes.

Good for you in applying to a college!; the language barrier can be managed. By now, you should probably know that you will need your diploma(s), grades and other official documents translated. But, selecting the best translation agency to do the job is key to an easy and successful application process. Be aware of these important issues:

1. Correct word usage

Your translator could interpret your bachelor’s degree as a high school diploma due to a bad localization process. For example, the translation for bachelor’s degree in some Spanish-speaking countries is bachillerato, which means high school in others.  That would be a major mistranslation and will definitely not get you into the right college level.

2. Certification

The translation of official documents for education has to be accurate, and educational institutions often require a certified translation. That means that the translation of your diploma, the translation of your grades or, the translation of the syllabus need to be certified by the translation agency that did the job and that they assume responsibility. The certification is an affidavit that goes with the translation, attesting accuracy and level of competence.

3. Pricing

Another important element of concern is the cost of the translation. But remember: most of the time, there is a close relation between price and quality. You should consider spending a little bit more, resulting in an excellent translation.

4. Turnaround time

College application deadlines do not wait. You should select a translation agency that works around your deadlines and also offers faster mail delivery services.

Education is one of the most important aspects in a person’s life. Don’t let a bad translation jeopardize your future. Be smart and secure the rest of your life by hiring the services of professional translators from a qualified translation agency.