I requested and received a PDF transcript via email from my school, because I need to attach a transcript to my online graduate school applications. However, the electronic online applications for the graduate schools automatically prevent me from uploading it because it is encrypted. How do I go about unencrypting the PDF transcript file/document?
I assume you have the password to decrypt the file.
If that’s the case, you can decrypt the original PDF file and save the decrypted version to another PDF file. Then you can do whatever you want with the latter.
or, just print it out and create your own pdf from the hardcopy. Either scan it in – if you don’t have a scanner, you can pay for that service at a Staples or Office Depot – or take picture of the pages with an iPhone and save as a pdf (iPhone has a pdf feature).
Adobe has a free scanner app which is great! I’ve used it a number of times: https://acrobat.adobe.com/us/en/mobile/scanner-app.html
My kid’s grad schools expected it to be sent to them by the school,not by the applicant. Most US undergrad schools should have a process for this.
^^When my D applied to PhD programs three years ago, they ALL wanted a pdf of the transcripts uploaded into the online app. They only wanted official docs after acceptance.
Yeah, a lot of places are doing this now - it’s faster, and all you really need are the grades. It puts the student in control of more parts of the process. Many schools can be very, very slow.
Can’t you just contact your registrar and tell them that the file is encrypted and you need them to send you a decrypted one? Else, the print/re-scan option works too.
Assuming you have the read password, upload to Google Drive, open in Google Drive, print to PDF.