Need to submit transcripts from all schools?

Easton · 03-07-2008, 03:28 PM

Grad school is a long shot right now, so I'm only thinking about it out of curiosity.

But I'm wondering, is it possible if I can avoid sending transcripts of every undergraduate school I've attended? I've attended three, one of which I'd like to avoid sending out because I was only there for one semester and ended up withdrawing from all of my classes. It would make for a poor record for graduate admissions.

dntw8up · 03-07-2008, 04:06 PM

They ask for all and when you sign your application you agree to send all. If later you are found to have been dishonest, they can drop you from the program, or if you've graduated, rescind any degree they awarded you. If you were only there one semester it won't matter to grad school admissions people anyway. As long as you've done well in your major and have good GRE scores you'll be fine.

WilliamC · 03-07-2008, 08:20 PM

While that semester looms large in your mind, it basically doesn't exist academically. Address it very briefly in your SOP, perhaps as an example of how you were once were an immature idiot and have now grown.

Be aware though, that grad school is rapidly becoming much more competitive. As the economy collapses, otherwise well qualified kids are choosing to stay in school rather than take a chance on a very weak job market.

As dntw8up indicated, when you sign off on your app., you signing a legal agreement that everything you've said is true. Don't risk it - man up, explain briefly, and get on with it.

Homestar · 03-07-2008, 08:29 PM

I took community college courses in high school that transferred to my undergraduate institution. Do I need transcripts for those?

dntw8up · 03-07-2008, 08:36 PM

"I took community college courses in high school that transferred to my undergraduate institution. Do I need transcripts for those?"

Yes. College applications ask for copies of transcripts from all high schools and colleges you've attended, even if no credit was earned.

Homestar · 03-07-2008, 09:19 PM

I don't know about that. They want my high school transcript? I don't think so. I took these courses while in high school and they counted for credit thereafter in college. Not unlike AP courses in a way.

snowcapk · 03-08-2008, 12:02 AM

I also disagree with dntw8up. College applications ask for copies of transcripts from all high schools/colleges, but grad school applications do not. You will only need to send transcripts from each place you attended college after high school graduation.

gthopeful · 03-08-2008, 01:03 AM

Applications will say specifically to give transcripts for all instutions attended after secondary school.

FishOutOfWater · 03-08-2008, 02:11 AM

Just to reiterate from personal experience, you do need to submit all transcripts, even if you never matriculated at the college. I only officially attended the school I graduated from, but I attended, count 'em, four other institutions, for study abroad, summer school, etc, as a nondegree student. I was required to submit all five transcripts. It sucked but beat the alternative of not being considered for admission!

WilliamC · 03-08-2008, 08:50 AM

It is correct that grad schools do not care about your HS performance.

But...

If course credit shows up on your main transcript as "transfer credit" or some such you must also include the originating transcript as well.

When you took those courses is irrelevant.

Homestar · 03-08-2008, 12:03 PM

WillC, that originating transcript would be my HS transcript.

WilliamC · 03-09-2008, 01:00 PM

Homestar - did you not also get a CC transcript? If not and those classes transferred as *specific courses* (as opposed to generic credit) then you may indeed need that HS transcript. You might also check with the CC - they might well have a transcript record for you that they previously sent only to your HS.

To be sure - check with your university's advising or career services office - it would be a b*tch to go to all that work and be ignored for an incomplete application.

Good luck!

jpell · 03-09-2008, 01:05 PM

Wow, I am not looking forward to sending in all my transcripts!

In high school, I dual enrolled at two different universities. I have the vast majority of my classes at my University where I have taken a couple gen eds and all my CS and Math classes. The summer after my freshmen year, I took online classes at four different community colleges. That brings my total to 7 different transcripts! Who can beat me? :P

WendyMouse · 03-09-2008, 02:43 PM

Call the grad school. Some don't care. I cross registered at a school, and since it was on my regular school transcript, with grades, it wasn't a big deal. Also, one of my REUS required me to be registered at the school for dummy credit for housing purposes. Everyone got As. It was legit enough that if I needed to use the credit and transfer it, I could try, but just legit enough that it didn't get in my way. I'm pretty grateful that I didn't have to pay $10 a pop to send 11 of those transcripts out.