<p>Do they only base their decision and verification process on the submitted paper transcript officially sent from the school or do they later double-check it by actually browsing the databases or another means?</p>
<p>I'm curious about this. I'm applying to an ivy (C'mon Columbia) and would really like to know all I can about the admission process. Lowers the anxiety and whatnot.</p>
<p>They require an offical transcript. That means one sent by your high school. or, if the high school gives it to you to send, it gives it to you in a sealed envelope with a notation saying that if the seal is broken by someone other than the intended recipient it can no longer be considered valid, i.e., they want to assure you cannot open and make a change before sending. Colleges rely on those official transcripts and generally do not go about verifying anything in the transcript. Note that colleges with regualr admission, who give out decisions in March or April, also usually require, after you have applied and sent everything in, that you have your high school send a mid-year update (essentially another transcript with your first semester senior year grades).</p>
<p>But in the case of transfer students, don't they need to get into contact with the school or to access their database for the transfer credit and whatnot?</p>
<p>Bump o' the Night.</p>
<p>Colleges have ways of showing that their transcripts are official and authentic. And they share information with one another. </p>
<p>National</a> Student Clearinghouse: Degree verification & enrollment verification</p>