Transcripts

Each applicant is required to provide transcripts for every college or university that he/she has attended.  The applicant must upload all transcripts electronically into the online application system by the application due date of Wednesday, January 4, 2012.  Transcripts sent by email, postal mail, or fax will not be considered.

What is an Acceptable Transcript?

A transcript issued by the Registrar Office (official transcript) that includes all of the following:

  • Official university markings: Registrar’s signature, university logo or stamp, letterhead or watermark, etc.
  • Name of the academic institution
  • Name of the student
  • Completed coursework (meaning every course has a grade), and if applicable, also on-going or planned coursework (these courses may not have grades associated with them)
  • Front pages and at least one of the back pages

Personally identifiable information (PII) such as Social Security Number (partial or complete), dates of birth (partial or complete), and Student ID must be removed from all the pages of the transcripts.

We understand that breaking the seal on an official transcript makes it “unofficial”.  A transcript labeled “unofficial” or “Issued to Student” by the academic institution will be accepted as long as it meets all of the requirements listed above.  When scanning watermarked transcripts, the image may include “void” markings to indicate that it is a copy, and this is also acceptable. Transcripts do not have to be color copied; black and white is acceptable as long as it is readable.

Student academic records printed by the applicant or by academic advisors from internal institution systems will not be accepted.

General Instructions

  • Transcripts must be in PDF format.  The online application system will not accept other electronic formats.
  • Transcripts must be redacted to remove any Social Security Number (partial or complete), dates of birth (partial or complete), and Student ID.  This information on must be redacted from all pages of the transcript.  This can be done by using “white out” or other white corrective tape.  It is the applicant’s responsibility to ensure that your transcript does not contain any of the above mentioned or other personally identifiable information (PII) that, if lost or compromised, could cause serious harm (including identity theft) to the applicant.
  • At least one copy of the backside of the transcript must be included.  The backside usually provides transcript definitions and an explanation of the academic institution grading system.
  • Ensure that all pages are legible.  Academic performance, including courses taken and grades in those courses, will be a factor in the evaluation of applications.  Illegible transcripts may not be evaluated, and the overall review of your application may be affected.
  • If you do not have an electronic copy of your transcript, you will need to scan your transcript and save it as a PDF.  You may use your own scanner or go to a copy center for assistance.  We understand that for some university transcripts the watermarks and other incorporated technologies make the photocopied and/or scanned transcripts very difficult to read.  If you are not comfortable with the quality and legibility of a scanned electronic transcript, we strongly recommend that you acquire assistance at a copy center in producing a good readable PDF for uploading into the online application.

More Information

Resources for Handling Transcripts are provided with more information on uploading, scanning, removing Personally Identifiable Information, converting documents to PDF, and for examples of acceptable and unacceptable transcripts.