Change of Schools / Confusing Transcript Issue

Applying to College
1

<p>Okey dokey. So basically I've changed from a school in Australia to an American school in England. Eventually in my senior year, come RD application time, my school will provide a transcript of my junior grades as well as my 'mid-year report'. Obviously because I didn't go to that same school during freshman and sophomore year I'll have to retrieve those grades too.</p>

<p>Last time I asked for my transcript (from my old school) they sent four different packages - Freshman (mid-year), Freshman (Final), Sophomore (mid-year), Sophomore (final). Each of the four reports had about 12 pages inside it with numerous letter grades for each subject (rather than a straight 'Honors English - A', for example). So my point is, any admissions officer would kill me if I sent in 48 pages worth of transcripts, and that was only for grade 9 and 10.</p>

<p>However, in Australia all sophomores sit for 'School Certificate Examinations', which assess everything studied in grades 9 and 10. At the completion of 10th grade, the government issues a record of your consolidated freshman and sophomore grades, as well as your exam results.</p>

<p>I know it may sound like a stupid question, but do I just explain the above to an admissions officer and give them a government record instead of a school record? I mean, at least it's all on one page.. the way a transcript should be.</p>

<p>Thanks!</p>

2

<p>Did the old school send the packets to the new school? If so, ask if they put everything from both schools on one transcript. All three of my kids moved during high school and that is what the schools did - but they were American.</p>

3

<p>No, my old school only sent my grades to me. I’m worried that my new school couldn’t deduce a simple letter grade for each subject, based on the report. It’s all just too confusing. And then of course there’s different educational and grading standards between the two countries.</p>

<p>On the other hand, the government record has consolidated my freshman and sophomore grades, meaning a college would be unable to see the improvement I made over the two years :S</p>

<p>Thanks for your response though, I’ll probably still combine my transcripts when this is all sorted.</p>

4

<p>If your new school regularly receives students coming from various countries, they should be able to do something with these records. Didn’t they see some kind of record for you when you arrived? Make an appointment with your guidance counselor, take all the records and your parents, and sit down to sort through this. It may be easier than you think.</p>