Every year, thousands of students from Mexico, Colombia, Venezuela, and Argentina apply to U.S. universities or seek professional opportunities that require their degrees to be recognized. According to the Institute of International Education, Latin America remains one of the top regions sending international students to the United States.
But one detail often causes unexpected problems: the translation of academic documents for credential evaluation. Even if your degree is legitimate and your grades are strong, a poor translation can delay your admission or lead to outright rejection.
Latin America as a Key Source of International Students
- Mexico consistently ranks among the top five countries sending students to the U.S.
- Colombia and Venezuela have seen rising numbers due to postgraduate and exchange programs.
- Argentina continues to send graduates seeking recognition in fields such as medicine, engineering, and social sciences.
This steady growth means more students need their diplomas and transcripts to be translated accurately and meet strict U.S. credential evaluation standards.
Common Challenges in Translating Latin American Academic Documents
- Different grading systems
Mexico uses a 0–10 scale, while U.S. universities expect GPA on a 0–4 scale. An inaccurate conversion can lower a student’s GPA unfairly. - Degree titles
Terms like Licenciatura or Ingeniería Técnica don’t have direct English equivalents. In some cases, they align with a U.S. bachelor’s degree, while in others they may be closer to a master’s. - Abbreviations and terminology
Acronyms like “RVOE” (Reconocimiento de Validez Oficial de Estudios) or “CENEVAL” must be explained properly in English to avoid confusion. - Dates and formats
Latin America uses DD/MM/YYYY, while the U.S. uses MM/DD/YYYY. A mistake here can completely distort academic timelines.
Why Agencies Like WES Require Certified Translations
Agencies such as WES, ECE, or Josef Silny handle documents from over 100 countries. To ensure fairness and consistency, they only accept certified and complete translations.
- Every page, seal, and signature must be translated.
- Missing pages or uncertified translations can lead to an automatic rejection.
By enforcing strict translation standards, these agencies protect the credibility of evaluations — but it also means applicants must be extremely careful when preparing their submissions.
Practical Tips for Latin American Applicants
- Check specific requirements of both the evaluation agency and the target university before submitting translations.
- Work with certified translators experienced in Latin American academic records.
- Translate everything — including seals, signatures, footnotes, and supplementary pages.
- Plan ahead: start the process at least 2–3 months before application or scholarship deadlines.
Students from Mexico, Colombia, Venezuela, and Argentina represent a growing share of the international student community in the U.S. But to ensure their achievements are recognized, certified translations are a non-negotiable step in the credential evaluation process.
A poor translation can cost students a semester or even a scholarship. On the other hand, a precise, certified translation ensures a smooth evaluation and gives Latin American students the recognition their education deserves.