A few more questions - high school transcripts, references, fin. aid

Student Lounge International Students
1

<li>Below are a few examples of the high school transcripts requirements for some universities I plan on applying for, and a few questions of mine that concern them. I would very much appreciate any help you can give me :)</li>
</ol>

<p>SUNY Plattsburgh</p>

<p>“Original or certified copies of academic transcripts, mark sheets, grade reports, diplomas or certificates, national standardized examination results, or other academic course work are required. Photocopied or scanned copies are NOT acceptable as official documents.”</p>

<p>Since I graduated from high school 4 years ago and moved to another town, I haven’t been in touch with my old school very much, so I’d like to ask about the following things:

  • What is an “original” copy? What is a “certified” copy? Should they be issued by the school itself? Does my school diploma, which contains the average grades in every subject for the last 4 years of my secondary education and also the sum of all class-hours for that period, count as a high school transcript? Is it absolutely necessary to ask the school for more copies of my diploma or is there another way to prove that it is real?</p>

<p>Eastern Michigan University
“An original transcript or true attested copy of the academic record in the original language
from:
each secondary school if you are a freshman (if you are a high school student applying)
each post-secondary school (if you are a transfer student applying)
These documents must be submitted directly from the degree granting institution. Postsecondary
coursework must be from a Ministry of Education recognized or accredited
institution in order to receive transfer credit and must be sent directly from the degreegranting
university, in the original language, with an official Registrar university seal on the
attested credential and the envelope (non-opened). Individual marksheets listing each
semester and course taken with grades listed in detail are required, not consolidated
marksheets. Student copies, faxes, photocopies or documents signed by unauthorized
individuals will not be considered official.”</p>

<p>Does the “consolidated sheets not allowed” refer to high-school transcripts as well? Because my high school diploma is a consolidated sheet…Also, since the transcripts should be submitted by the degree granting institution, does that mean that the school itself should send the transcripts?</p>

<li><p>Are there universities that don’t have the teacher references requirement? I managed to find some of my old teachers and get some, but I want to know if I have the option of applying for a college without submitting references. Especially a college that would offer fiancial aid. Which leads me to:</p></li>
<li><p>I am 22. Is my age going to be a negative factor in assessing my eligibility for need/merit-based financial aid?</p></li>
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2

<p>1)An original is that which is issued by the school. Generally you get only one original copy. A certified copy refers to copies made by you, which are however attested by your school. In other words they should contain your school seal. I would say your high school diploma counts as a transcript. But you will definitely have to get attested copies of it for all schools.</p>

<p>A consolidated mark sheet generally does not contain enough information. I guess it'd just state your average grades without going into detail. So I would guess your high school diploma, if it contains all the information, namely, the subjects you had taken and the scores you had gotten, will do.</p>

<p>since the transcripts should be submitted by the degree granting institution, does that mean that the school itself should send the transcripts?</p>

<p>Well, generally the counselor should send the transcripts in sealed envelopes. I will tell you what I did in my case. Our school does not have a proper counselor or anyone. So, once i got all my transcripts signed and attested, I put them in envelopes and sealed them. I asked my Principal to sign across the flaps and also affix the school seal across them. On the front of the envelope, in the left bottom corner, I had asked them to affix the school seal again.</p>

<p>2) You'll be hard pressed to find schools that do not ask for teacher references/recos, especially when you are going to be asking for financial aid. You can search around online. However, I do not know any such college.</p>

<p>3) And regarding your age, well, I will be turning 21 in another 2 months and from my talks with admissions people of various colleges, my age will not affect my chances of admissions or merit/need-based financial aid eligibility :) Your need-based aid depends upon, well, your need :) Thats it. However speak to the colleges you're applying to. Explain your situation to them and clarify whether your age would affect your chances. But from what I know ( which is very less :) ), it would not be a negatively affecting factor :)</p>

<p>The most important thing is you should not have joined any other institution after your high school. That would disqualify you for admission as a freshman.</p>

3

<p>The university of Richmond does not require a Teacher evaluation. However it still requires an evaluation from your Guidance counselor/School head. I guess that would not be a problem since your GC/Head is the one who will be filling out your forms.
University</a> of Richmond: International Student</p>

4

<p>3) I don't think it'll be a negative factor, BUT a lot of uni's will want to know what you've been doing since you graduated high shool (presumably at 18) until now. Four years is a long time, and many uni's will ask, what have you been doin during that time. If you got something really good to say, it may even boost your chances. If you got nothing to say, it may lower your chances somewhat.</p>

5

<p>What sitk says is perfectly true. You cannot tell admissions that you have been doing nothing for four years.</p>

6

<p>Oh, I've been here and there, haven't been idle :)</p>