<p>So I've noticed that several application forms ask you to scan and upload a copy of your transcript. Isn't that vulnerable to fraud? I remember for under grad apps you had to have your school send a SEALED copy straight to your university. Why are grad schools so lax about that sort of thing? Anyone else think this is fishy?</p>
<p>*Fraud</p>
<p>There are 2 schools I’m applying to that are doing this and actually *forbid *you to send them hardcopies. Furthermore, one of these schools prefers a copy of an *unofficial *transcript (like a computer copy) over a copy of an official transcript, because they complain that it’s harder to read scanned official transcripts. This makes things even more complicated because those computer copies can **easily **be tampered with. </p>
<p>You have to assume that they can ask for your official transcript at any time, particularly if/when you are accepted to the university. </p>
<p>I think if you’re making an unofficial copy to give them, it better at least have the same information as your official transcript. Ex/ on my unofficial transcript (internet copy) it lists a class that I withdrew from and a class that I cancelled during summer session. On my official transcript, however, this information is missing, since it’s irrelevant to the credentials I finished with. Therefore, I’ve decided to delete this from my internet copy as well. Somebody help me out here: I don’t think this counts as fraud…but what do you think?</p>
<p>Yeah, a lot of schools seem to want all digital profiles for their applicants now. It makes sense if all the other aspects of your application were sent electronically. If something is fishy about the applicant, they will probably pick up on it from the letters of recommendation, but otherwise they are operating a bit on faith that few people will want to waste everyone’s time by altering their transcripts. You will, after all, need to send official transcripts if you are accepted.</p>
<p>And yeah, some schools require official transcripts (I had to send them to myself, scan, upload). These generally have watermarks that appear when scanned, making it clear that this is indeed a copy. Other schools have suggested printing the unofficial transcript from your university website as Denizen said. And no, that’s not fraud. If they’re asking for an unofficial transcript, they know what they’re getting.</p>
<p>I’m using those scanned copies for any school that wants digital transcripts and doesn’t explicitly state that they don’t want scanned copies.</p>
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<p>EXACTLY! Me too. It was such a good idea to send a transcript to myself. Not only am I uploading transcripts on every application (that has a section for it), but I also learned that I was on the Dean’s Honor List four times…I had no idea! Above all, it’s good that you know what the schools will see. Best $10 I ever spent.</p>
<p>Thanks for answering my other question. :)</p>
<p>All the schools I applied to that forbade hard copies during admissions required it upon matriculating.</p>
<p>Often, schools will accept unofficial transcripts for the first cull - if you make it past the first round of cuts to an interview stage, you will almost assuredly be asked to provide official transcripts to verify your educational record.</p>