Whether you are a job candidate or applying to a different school, you need to know proper channels to navigate for a college or school transcripts.

What is Transcript?

The transcript is a student’s academic record, carrying details of his academic history including grades, courses completed and whether completed or not the degree course. There may have some additional information, such as academic probation period, honour code violations and awards or certifications for the school or college performance.

The piece of paper stating all of these details can help you to transfer credits from one school or university to another. Your academic performance can be easily verified through it.

But, the real struggle begins when you want to get it.

Let’s get through what it carries and how you can get it.

What does the school/college transcript read? 

As it carries a detailed summary of your academic history, the transcript can have:

• A list of all courses & scores/grades you’ve taken
• A list of dates attended school/college and majors
• Grade point average of each semester
• Student information, including your full name, date of birth, and student identification number
• A list of other schools you attended, as well as transfer credits you received from those schools
• Official documentation containing a seal, signature from the registrar’s office

Considering how to get your transcripts for free, it is possible in the case of unofficial transcripts, which are available over the internet. Typically, you need to pay a fee for official transcripts. The official is the one that directly comes from the school or college registrar.

All What You Need to Get for a Transcript

• Office of the registrar
• Personal information of the student
• A computer with the internet access
• Fee

Steps to Get it

• Locate the registrar of your former school or university over the internet, which is responsible for students’ records and transcripts.
• Search for the specific department that you were from, as graduate or undergraduate department.
• Collect your personal information, as it requires your full name, address, phone number, your social security number or student ID, your graduation or undergrad year, date of attendance, your signature, the number of copies you need together with the name and address of the transcript recipient.
• Download the form to fill it up for putting your request in writing. Send it via a certified mail to the registrar’s office.
• The school or college may reject your request for the transcript if you owe money of it or have some outstanding dues.
• Check your college or school website to find out if or not it will accept an electronic request.
• If it accepts, the online transcript application may require you to prove your identity. Provide the needful detail and go ahead with the procedure.
• Lastly, get ready to pay for processing and mailing expenses. Generally, it does not cost you much. But yes, it varies by every college or school.
• Wait for your transcript to arrive at your address.
• Your school/college size, location and method of requesting it, the process may take a fortnight or a month.

Unofficial Transcripts Are Not Acceptable

Most of the colleges or schools won’t accept an unofficial copy, which can be accessed from the account of the candidate over the website. There may have a chance that it is incomplete. So, you need to get an official version of it.

Transcript to Apply to College/ School 

There are instances of admissions or readmissions in various courses. Students wonder if or not they need this document.

The truth is that it is necessary. Your all credits or grades have to be credited to the course. So, it’s essential.

Check Once You Receive It before Admission

Once you get it, the first thing that you need to do is to check some crucial details before admission. Here is what you should thoroughly search for:

• Find the admissions office of your selected school for accessing the details about their transcript policy.
• Cross check if it includes a list of each school you have previously attended, no matter how long ago or how briefly.
• Raise a request with each school or college that you have attended. Fill up the form online and pay fee accordingly. Or, you may get the assistance from Services 2 NRI.
• In case of the school which you need a transcript from is closed, contact the official office or authority that oversees higher education in your state. It can tell how to get a transcript.
• Follow up with the school/college to ensure receiving each transcript.
• Once you get it, meet with an academic consultant or advisor to discuss which classes will transfer. In some cases, you may have to request that your credit transfer or to appeal a denial of transfer credit.

Services 2 NRI is here to guide you on how you may get it smoothly and effortlessly in a minimal possible time.