<p>One of the school board members (who is a good friend to the family) found out I was excited to start applying to colleges so she went in the high school and made 3 copies of my transcript and put them in official envelops. So now I have 3 of my transcripts at my house. When I start applying to schools can I just send in the transcript myself along with my essays and letters of rec without contacting my school? (Even though the Universities will have stuff for my GC to fill out)</p>
<p>No, most schools will only accept a transcript that comes directly from your school's registrar (on the off chance that you've doctored it, etc.).</p>
<p>But you can send these transcripts to college coaches.</p>
<p>The transcript would need to be signed, sealed and, to be safe, signed over the sealed portion of the envelope. That is how my school sends in transcripts, recs, and the application- in one large envelope with everything sealed. However, if you are sending in your application, you shouldn't try to just send your transcript, even in a sealed envelope, along with it. Just put in your request to the school office (which should be open) to have them send immediately. Also, why/ how do you have your letters of rec? They, too, would need to be signed, sealed, and signed over the seal for there to be any chance of the school accepting them. </p>
<p>At our school, we have a practice that we have gotten excellent feedback on from colleges. Before we mail an application, we bring it to the school, and the guidance counselor puts it into a large envelope and absoultely everything needed is sent together. The crucial part is, nothing but our own application components (and any signed and sealed outside recs) is ever given to us.</p>
<p>My city is a very small city where everyone knows everyone. So I have had my boss and several of my teachers already write my letters of rec without even really telling them when I want it by. </p>
<p>My transcript is sealed and is signed by the superintendent</p>
<p>If it's sealed and signed by the superintendent, then it's more OK. But it's still unusual for a student to send their own transcripts.</p>
<p>You can't read any recs you get, because it almost always violates a college policy. So, if you yourself are sending in recs, they need to be signed, sealed, signed over the seal to even be considered by most colleges. With recs, it's more than knowing you didn't tamper, which would be difficult. They also have to be sure you didn't read them, or they won't consider them.</p>
<p>If they are writing them and have them ready, you should probably just have the people writing the recommendations send them in themselves. That is the fail-proof way to do it. If those people don't put the recs in the mailbox themselves, they should give them to the school, who can then send them, but not through the students. The only time you should possess a part of your college application you didn't write if you want to be entirely safe is when you are taking an outside rec and giving it to your school, and that would only be necessary if your school mails everything in a packet from the school together, which your school does not. </p>
<p>You could probably get away with mailing in the recs/ transcripts if they appear to be genuinely sealed by the people they came from. The problem is, there may be one school you send them to that won't accept a rec sent in that manner (not from the school/ teacher), and that school may or may not inform you that they didn't accept the rec. Play it safe- have the person writing your recs send them in directly whenever possible, and have your transcripts sent from your school. :)</p>
<p>Most schools have an accompanying evaluation form that your recommender is asked to complete in addition to writing your recommendation. Was this done? Are your recommendations written by teachers who you have had recently or are they written by the superintendent (unless they have had you in a classroom capacity or you have done something truly stellar, the rec is really not going to hold much weight with the admissions committee).</p>
<p>It is good that the superintendent is willing to help you out but the way that s/he is going about it is only going to create more work in the long run.</p>
<p>Well whenever you decide to send them, make sure your school is on the ball about it. My transcripts haven't been received and I sent them in June!</p>