submitting transcripts twice?

[margarets]

Has anyone else run into this?

 

The school I'm applying to wants transcripts submitted electronically with the application, and then, if you are admitted, you submit transcripts in sealed-and-stamped envelopes.  That doesn't seem so bad except:

 

1) The majority of my academic history is in-province, which means I can order (and pay for) electronic transcripts when submitting my application.  The info comes out of a provincial database and goes directly to the school I'm applying to.  It seems really dumb and wasteful to have to THEN order paper copies of the exact same info.  The electronic info is probably more reliable anyway since it never passes through my hands.

 

2) I've got some out-of-province academic history, a couple semesters' worth, that isn't in the provincial database.  To submit those transcripts electronically, I would have to order copies, scan them as PDFs, and submit them to the school.  And then have paper copies still in their sealed envelopes to submit following admission to the program.  Again, really dumb and wasteful.

 

I can't get a straight answer from the admissions office re: if I really have to submit transcripts twice in this way.  It's possible, since universities are so bureaucratic, but I'd like confirmation either way.

 

Is this happening to anyone else?

 

 

[TakeruK]

Yes, unfortunately, in general you do have to submit transcripts twice. 

 

For most applications, "electronic" submission (i.e. unofficial) is good enough for them to judge your application. But after you are admitted, they need real, official, sealed transcripts to officially state that you've indeed finished your program etc. For most people, they are still taking the last courses to finish up their BSc/BA this semester, so it will take until June or so before their transcripts show all of their courses.

 

What you could do is ask what they really need by "electronic" transcripts. Sometimes, a school will accept a "screenshot" of your grades as listed on your school's student online record system. In addition, most schools will allow you to download an unofficial copy (PDF) of your transcript through the online student system. If you're using google chrome, you can "print" any webpage and choose "Save to PDF" instead of a printer to turn any page into a PDF. There are also some web tools that will do this for you too (google "Print Friendly" for example).

 

Just out of curiosity, what province are you applying from? I actually have never heard of a provincial database of transcripts before! Sounds like it can be pretty convenient this way. For all of my transcripts, I had to order them from the school directly and one of them only accepted requests by fax or snail mail . I had to get transcripts from 3 schools in 2 provinces so I understand your frustration!

[margarets]

Thanks TakeruK.  This is in Ontario, through the Ontario Universities Application Centre.  

 

The online info isn't really clear about whether the electronic transcripts must be official, or what is meant by official.  So you raise a good point.  I'll follow up on that.  Scanning my old reports would be much easier!