Navigating the Transcript Request Process for College Applications
Applying to college involves several key steps, and sending your transcript is a crucial one. Your transcript is an official record of your academic performance, including courses taken, grades earned, and any degrees or awards received. This article provides a comprehensive guide on how to navigate the transcript request process, ensuring that your application is complete and processed efficiently.
Understanding the Importance of Official Transcripts
Colleges require official transcripts to verify the information you provide on your application. An official transcript is one that is sent directly from your high school or college to the institution you are applying to, or provided to you in a sealed envelope. This ensures the authenticity and accuracy of the academic record. Forwarded transcripts are considered unofficial.
Methods for Sending Transcripts
Several methods are available for sending transcripts, each with its own advantages and considerations:
Electronic Delivery
Electronic transcripts are becoming increasingly popular due to their speed and security. Services like Parchment and the National Student Clearinghouse facilitate the secure electronic exchange of transcripts.
- Parchment: Parchment aims to turn credentials into opportunities. It centralizes the management and tracking of transcript requests. Parchment offers a streamlined, easy-to-use service for students and families. The platform supports the electronic delivery of credentials, often within one business day, after the sending institution processes the request. Towson University and the University of Texas at Arlington are among the institutions that have partnered with Parchment to simplify transcript orders.
- National Student Clearinghouse: The National Student Clearinghouse's Transcript Services enables institutions to deliver and transfer transcripts with less effort, more speed, superior flexibility, and greater security. The Clearinghouse Transcript Center allows secure and convenient electronic exchange of high school transcripts for use in postsecondary admissions, school transfers, and state scholarship evaluations. It facilitates compliance with the Family Educational Rights and Privacy Act (FERPA) and other applicable laws.
When using electronic delivery, it's crucial to:
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- Confirm the Recipient's Preference: Consult the intended recipient about the preferred transcript format, as not all recipients accept electronic PDF transcripts.
- Check Processing Times: Average school sending times vary based on the credential, from 2 to 18 business days from when you request a credential.
Paper Transcripts
While electronic transcripts are preferred, some institutions still require or accept paper transcripts.
- Requesting Paper Transcripts: Paper transcripts are often printed on security-sensitive paper and contain the university seal and the signature of the University Registrar.
- Delivery Times: USPS domestic delivery typically takes 3-5 days.
- Attachments: You may attach a document to accompany your transcript. Attached documents that must be routed through other offices, such as the academic college or Office of Student Accountability and Conflict Response, will take additional processing time.
High School Counselor Assistance
High school counselors play a vital role in the transcript sending process.
- Direct Upload to Eligibility Center: High school counselors have the capability to upload transcripts directly to a student’s Eligibility Center account for free from the High School Portal.
Step-by-Step Guide to Requesting a Transcript
Here's a detailed guide on how to request your transcript:
- Identify the Recipient's Requirements:
- Consult the college or university's admission requirements to determine whether they require an electronic or paper transcript.
- Check if they have specific platforms or services they prefer for receiving transcripts (e.g., Parchment, National Student Clearinghouse).
- Gather Necessary Information:
- University ID (UID): You will need your 9-digit University ID (UID) number to request a transcript.
- Application Service ID/Account Number: If applicable, have your application service ID/account number ready (e.g., AMCAS, LSAC, Common App).
- Directory ID and Password: Visit Former Student Identity Verification to obtain your directory ID and password.
- Credit or Debit Card: Have your credit or debit card ready for payment.
- Access the Transcript Ordering System:
- For Current Students: Login to the university's student portal or online services dashboard.
- For Former Students: Visit the university's website and locate the transcript ordering section, often found under the "Admissions" or "Student Services" tab.
- Parchment: Enter the school you are requesting your credential from.
- Complete the Request Form:
- Provide accurate information, including your name, student ID number, date of birth, and contact information.
- Specify the recipient's name and address or select the institution from a list if using an electronic service.
- Choose the transcript type (official or unofficial) and format (electronic or paper).
- Upload Required Documents:
- If applicable, prepare agency-required forms that must be included with your transcript.
- You may attach a document to accompany your transcript. It may be in one of the following formats: jpg, jpeg, gif, png, eps, cdr, ai, pdf, tif, tiff, bmp, zip, doc, docx, xls, xlsx, txt, xml.
- Documents or forms that cannot be authenticated by the Office of the University Registrar will be removed from your transcript request. Examples of documents that will not be accepted as attachments include: unofficial or official transcripts, diplomas, letters or correspondence, copies of identity documents (e.g. passports, driver's license).
- Pay the Required Fees:
- The University of Maryland charges $12.00 for each official transcript.
- The official electronic transcript costs $10.00 per transcript set. The official paper transcript costs $15.00 per transcript set. A transcript set includes all levels of course work -- undergraduate, graduate, law, medical and noncredit (if one or more courses have been completed at any of these levels).
- Note: National Student Clearinghouse charges additional processing and shipping and handling fees based on your selections.
- Sales tax will be collected on certain document requests, including transcripts, in compliance with federal, state, and local tax laws.
- Submit Your Request:
- Review all information before submitting your request to ensure accuracy.
- Confirm your order and retain any confirmation numbers or order summaries for tracking purposes.
- Track Your Order:
- Parchment always provides the latest status of all your orders in your Parchment account.
Addressing Potential Issues
Several issues can arise during the transcript request process. Here's how to address them:
- Holds on Your Record:
- You will be notified during the transcript ordering process if a hold exists on your record.
- Your transcript order cannot be processed until the hold is removed.
- Once the hold is resolved, your transcript will be released.
- No Record Found:
- If no record is found, refer to the FAQs for a list of reasons why your transcript is unable to be processed.
- Archived Record Hold:
- No action necessary.
- GPAs and Degrees Not Posted:
- Prior to placing your order, review your unofficial transcript to confirm that your GPA and/or degree have posted to your record.
- No refund will be provided if your order is fulfilled before GPAs and/or degrees appear on your transcript.
- Delays in Processing:
- Official Academic Transcript orders may take a processing time of 3 to 5 business days to ensure the accuracy of the academic record prior to sending out.
- Orders requiring more detailed review may take longer than 3 to 5 business days to process.
- Attached documents that must be routed through other offices, such as the academic college or Office of Student Accountability and Conflict Response, will take additional processing time.
- Transcript Not Delivered:
- If a requested transcript is not delivered due to our office error, we will gladly provide a replacement document at no additional cost.
Additional Considerations
- Transcripts from Multiple Institutions: If a student has attended more than one high school or taken courses from more than one program, the Eligibility Center needs an official transcript from all high school(s) or program(s) they attended. Note: The Eligibility Center does not accept grades from one high school or program transcribed on another high school’s transcript.
- Requesting Notary Service: Requesting Notary Service may delay your transcript, including overnight delivery.
- Browser Compatibility: While it is our goal to provide every visitor with the best possible experience when ordering a transcript, it is impossible to provide a web application that works identically, efficiently, and effectively with all browsers and settings. While you still can access the transcript ordering application using other browsers and versions, you may notice that certain functions and displays do not run the way they were intended. To review which browsers are supported for ordering a transcript, please visit the Parchment supported browsers overview.
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