Transcripts

HOW DO I GET MY EDUCATION TRANSCRIPTS?

A transcript is simply an official document which acts like an in-depth report card of your academic career. Universities across the world need the students to submit educational transcripts for their application to their graduation and post-graduation courses. The Universities hold this in high regard, as they see it indicative of your performance from childhood until now. They see it as a tool for trend analysis and capability identification, reflecting in non-absolute terms the true potential of a student academically as per the educational system of the country they hail from. As a student when you begin applying to colleges and universities abroad, you will be asked for educational transcripts (official). As we discussed, it has details of the courses, classes you took and how you fared in them. Getting your transcript is an easy process, if you know what to do. At Whizstorm, as we have helped students time and again, been up-to-date with the ongoing changes across years, here’s a small walkthrough of the process for you. In case you still have queries, feel free to connect with us online or offline.

WHAT DO I NEED TO DO TO GET MY TRANSCRIPTS?

As a student, your role in getting an educational transcript is approaching the right authorities and ensuring they have all the necessary and relevant information that they need to provide you with the same. What’s crucial is the timing for the same! The process is very time bound and you need to carefully study the guidelines mentioned on your application for the same. Some universities ask for them immediately with the application, some post admission and some afterwards. Read the necessary guidelines given to you and focus on the timelines. Your high school or college may have a specified guidance counselor, if they don’t, don’t worry, we have got you covered. You can connect with your school’s admission office or the administration department, they would guide you on the same.

Another important factor is to know that you need to verify your transcripts have been received by the college or university. Take a confirmation regards the same without fail.

The process is simplified.

• Fill a transcript request form
• Pay the required fees
• Follow- up/ Send Transcript
• Confirm receipt by university

WHAT IS A TRANSCRIPT REQUEST FORM?

The transcript request form is a basic form asking for the details required for the transcript generation. There are specific formats, generic forms or university specific forms or even country specific forms. Our student advisors will simplify the process for you, do feel free to connect with us, in case, you are facing difficulties with the same. Just like you filled in your application form and paid a fee, the same goes for transcript. As it is one of the important things in an admission process, students need to be particular about the same. A few samples have been attached below:

You will find your required form within the framework of your admission process or specific to the country you reside in. Our student advisors can help you find the same as well.

WHAT IS THE PAYMENT /FEES INVOLVED FOR TRANSCRIPTS?

Some colleges and universities charge a one-time fee at the start of the first year or freshman year as it is known in places. Others charge a small fee every time transcripts are requested. So it basically depends on the college you are applying to and from where you are getting your transcripts. The fee ranges from INR 200 to INR 800 per transcript application.

WHEN DO I FOLLOW-UP? HOW DO I SEND MY TRANSCRIPT?

Majorly we see the high school or colleges directly send the transcript as an official document to the concerned university as per the detail given by you in the transcript form. However, in some countries like India, you have to send the transcript yourself. If in your country, the school, college sends the transcript, please follow-up on the same with your guidance counselor or the admissions office three weeks prior to the application deadline. In some schools and colleges they also may provide you with an officially sealed envelope that contains your transcript. Keep it safely and deliver it to the concerned university, ensuring that the seal doesn’t come loose at any cost. If your transcript is not sealed, it is considered invalid.

Things you should keep a check on:

• Some schools don’t accept transcripts submitted by students, even if they are sealed. Make sure from the concerned authorities in the university about the process.
• Some colleges accept transcripts in an electronic format. You need to find out whether your school or college has the required infrastructure for the same. This is a tricky situation because some high schools don't make their transcripts available online until the student has graduated from the institution.

DO I NEED TO CONFIRM RECEIPT BY THE UNIVERSITY?

Yes. If your school or college is sending the transcript, you need to make sure that the concerned university has received your transcript after your follow-up from the school or college that they have dispatched the same. Sometimes, in transit delays cause unnecessary glitches. So, to be on the safer side, drop in an email for a confirmation of receipt of transcript. Even if you have sent the transcript, please follow the same process.

THIS IS ALL TOO CONFUSING OR SCARY, WHAT TO DO?

Well, as a student or a parent, you may find this process too taxing, well don’t fret, there’s a solution! You can connect with us at Whizstorm, our student advisors will guide you through step by step, or else, you can also use an online service to send your transcripts. There are several portals available online that allow you to request and send copies of transcripts for a minimal processing fee. However, before you use an online service, if you do, do make sure to find out from your university about the format and the electronic services they accept.

All the best from WHIZSTORM!