ic S/general/checkmark circled Thanks for subscribing! Be on the lookout for our next newsletter.
ic S/general/checkmark circled
Saved to My Favorites. View My Favorites
Articles / Applying to College / Top-Choice College Wants Senior Transcript

Top-Choice College Wants Senior Transcript

Sally Rubenstone
Written by Sally Rubenstone | Dec. 10, 2013

Question: I received a letter from my first choice school saying they want “An official high school transcript that includes your most up to date grades from your senior year.”

My question is, does this mean they want to see my most recent report card? Or my grades as of this moment. This is very important I would appreciate any help thank you so much!!!

An official transcript must come directly from your high school guidance counselor, not from you. It will include all of the grades you received in high school right up through your most recent senior report card. (Most seniors have gotten at least one report card by now–early December. If you haven’t, let me know.)


However, if you think that any of your current senior grades (as of this very moment) are stronger than the grades you got on your most recent report card, it would be helpful to ask your guidance counselor to send a brief letter along with the transcript that mentions this improvement. In other words, if a B- on your report card is now a B+, your counselor can say so in this letter. (You should first present your counselor with a note from the appropriate teacher which shows your current status in that class, if your grade has gone up since report card time.)

If, on the other hand, some of your grades have gone down since report card time, you’d be wise to say mum and simply ask the counselor to send your most recent report card ASAP!!

WARNING: At the end of your senior year, your guidance counselor will send a final transcript to the college you have selected. If your grades have dipped a lot since you were admitted, your acceptance could be rescinded.

 

Written by

Sally Rubenstone

Sally Rubenstone

Sally Rubenstone knows the competitive and often convoluted college admission process inside out: From the first time the topic of college comes up at the dinner table until the last duffel bag is unloaded on a dorm room floor. She is the co-author of Panicked Parents' Guide to College Admissions; The Transfer Student's Guide to Changing Colleges and The International Student's Guide to Going to College in America. Sally has appeared on NBC's Today program and has been quoted in countless publications, including The New York Times, The Washington Post, USA Weekend, USA Today, U.S. News & World Report, Newsweek, People and Seventeen. Sally has viewed the admissions world from many angles: As a Smith College admission counselor for 15 years, an independent college counselor serving students from a wide range of backgrounds and the author of College Confidential's "Ask the Dean" column. She also taught language arts, social studies, study skills and test preparation in 10 schools, including American international schools in London, Paris, Geneva, Athens and Tel Aviv. As senior advisor to College Confidential since 2002, Sally has helped hundreds of students and parents navigate the college admissions maze. In 2008, she co-founded College Karma, a private college consulting firm, with her College Confidential colleague Dave Berry, and she continues to serve as a College Confidential advisor. Sally and her husband, Chris Petrides, became first-time parents in 1997 at the ripe-old age of 45. So Sally was nearly an official senior citizen when her son Jack began the college selection process, and when she was finally able to practice what she had preached for more than three decades.

More on Applying to College

See all
typing at computer- karolina-grabowska-6958506-resized

Authentic Voice in College Essays

That’s why you want to use your authentic voice when writing any college essay.

So what’s the problem? A student has shared an ess…

college-interview

College Interview Prep Tips: Brainstorm, Research, Analyze, Generalize

I recently visited Washington University in Saint Louis and was lucky enough to set up an interview. By speaking with peers of mi…

campus gates

Academic Index Scores: Why They Matter and How They're Calculated

Note: Click here for 10 Summer Programs You Can Still Apply For or keep reading to learn more about academic index scores.

8 Podcasts for Students Going Through the Admissions Process

7 Podcasts for Students Going Through the Admissions Process

Podcasts can offer a wealth of information to busy students, particularly when it comes to the college admissions process. We…

pexels-yan-krukau-8197544

Avoid College Application Regrets: Tips For Getting It Right the First Time

Decision Day occurs each year on May 1st and is the deadline for students to inform the college of their choice of their intent t…

Get a student loan that goes beyond tuition.

Ascent offers cosigned and non-cosigned student loans with exclusive benefits that set students up for success.

Explore Now!
Find Your Scholarship

Want to find money for school that doesn’t need to be paid back? Access insights and advice on how to search and apply for scholarships!

Search for Scholarship