Cambridge Transcript and ACT

<p>Hi, I'm a US student applying to Cambridge this year. I know Cambridge wants a transcript, but it seems what it means by "transcript" is very different from what a US school means; my high school transcript has my GPA, all of my classes and grades for four years, etc., and it's pages long. Should I just submit this, and hope Cambridge understand it's that way because I'm a US student, or should I ask my guidance counselor who will submit my transcript to create a one page transcript with just my test scores, like the example one on Cambridge's website?</p>

<p>Also, I understand I am bound to submit my entire testing history on UCAS. I am taking the September 21 ACT with Writing; I won't get my score back until October 7th, and I won't get my Writing score until 2 weeks later at the earliest. I expect a perfect writing score (12 on essay), so it shouldn't change my overall ACT score, except maybe to go up. Should I/can I send the official score report after the deadline, or should I just assume the score I receive on the 7th won't change and put that in UCAS?</p>

<p>Thank you so much to anyone who can help. I'm trying to understand everything but the US and UK systems are so different.</p>

<p>I don’t believe any UK school cares for your high school transcript. They do however require someone from your school to fill out a recommendation on UCAS.</p>

<p>I think Cambridge app has a deadline around October 15th. So you really wont be able to wait. They will request an official copy of your standardized test scores to be sent directly to them. They may also request AP/IB scores.</p>

<p>They’ll ask you to fill out your own scores on UCAS (the British CommonApp). You should also submit a normal high school transcript. Though they won’t take that into account very much, I was told you have to submit it. Also I’m almost certain you don’t have to send official score reports unless they request them. Definitely check this by I recall just filling in my scores on UCAS, not sending all those score reports. </p>

<p>As for your ACT…well a) they won’t really care about it that much, they much prefer SAT so assuming you have that then if won’t matter too much…and b) write the score that you have as of the day you submit your application (NOT the score you think you’ll get). If that changes in any way (up or down) CALL UCAS. even if it only goes up and you think “oh no big deal, it just went up a point” you MUST call UCAS and have it corrected. If even one of your reported scores is wrong and Cambridge finds out about it they can rescind your acceptance.</p>

<p>Oxford has a separate requirements list for US students. I could only find this for Cambridge.</p>

<p>[Entrance</a> requirements](<a href=“Study at Cambridge | University of Cambridge”>Study at Cambridge | University of Cambridge)</p>

<p>Advanced Placement Tests</p>

<p>Successful applicants normally have high passes in the High School Diploma and the SAT, and 5s in at least five Advanced Placement Tests in appropriate subjects.</p>

<p>SATs and Advanced Placement Tests</p>

<p>Prospective applicants from Canada and the USA taking SATs and Advanced Placement Tests should note that offers are usually made on an individual basis. In addition to high passes in the High School Diploma and the SAT, successful applicants have normally achieved 5s in at least five Advanced Placement Tests in appropriate subjects.</p>

<p>I don’t think you are any obligation to report your score on a test where they haven’t actually sent you the final score. Let them know when you took the test and that you are still waiting for the final score.</p>

<p>Do you have some paperwork from Cambridge where they actually ask for a “transcript” using that very word? Many words in the UK have completely different meanings from how they are used in the United States. No UK student has a “transcript” with all of the things you are describing. I’m pretty sure they don’t want a U.S. high school transcript. It’s like if a British man goes into an American store to buy “pants”, he wouldn’t be happy to be sold “trousers”, that’s not want he wants (he wants underpants). The shopkeeper can’t say “No, this is what we mean by ‘pants’ in the US, so this is what we are going to sell to you”.</p>

<p>If they really have asked you for a “transcript” figure out what it is they really want, and send them that. Don’t just say “this is the thing we Americans call a transcript, so this is what you get.”</p>

<p>If it’s not clear what they mean by “transcript” (and though Cambridge issue academic - not including ECs - transcripts on graduation, I have never heard this word applied to anything to do with UK high schools), just email the admissions office and ask. It is their job to help you!</p>

<p>[url=&lt;a href=“Study at Cambridge | University of Cambridge”&gt;Study at Cambridge | University of Cambridge]Applying[/url</a>]</p>

<p>That is what I’m referring to when I say transcript. It’s very different from the US “transcript,” which is the source of my confusion. I will contact Cambridge about whether I need to send my test scores and whether they want an American transcript. I’m sure my counselor wouldn’t mind typing up a “transcript” as they seem to mean it (the example is in a PDF linked on the page I posted above), and their example really does look to me like an SAT/AP score report. I have already taken my SATs and did well, so if they don’t require all test scores I will just send those scores and not even mention my ACT. I have already put my SATs, APs, and IBs (just 2 SLs so far) into UCAS. Thank you SO much for your help, everyone! I really appreciate it.</p>

<p>Did you see on that page the very handy flowchart, with grey boxes, that explains all this?</p>

<p>Looking at that flowchart, they are basically saying “Foreign students have to submit their high school transcript, UK students do NOT have to submit a transcript”.</p>

<p>That’s a simplification, got to the page and work through the flowchart.</p>

<p>It looks like they are saying YOU need to submit a U.S. high school transcript, because you are a foreigner. And they know what a U.S. High School transcript is, they are NOT asking this of UK students (because they won’t have one)</p>

<p>So, yes, it looks like they DO want you to submit your United States High School transcript. All the pages with all that American stuff.</p>

<p>I know they want a transcript, I just need to know if they want one like the example online or my regular high school one. I’ve seen a lot of conflicting information. I emailed them yesterday, though, so hopefully they can clarify.</p>

<p>TURN IN YOUR REGULAR ONE. sorry, that was a bit forceful but I’ve done this, from the US, to Cambridge, they 100% want your regular one. Just send it along.</p>

<p>For what it’s worth (in case current/future applicants with similar questions read this), I emailed Cambridge and was informed that it would be “helpful” if my counselor composed and submitted a transcript similar to the one on the website. This may be due to the fact that I am an IB student, though.</p>