<p>I would like to know if the grades listed on the transcript include ALL grades from EVERY reporting period throughout the HS or is it just year end grades? Also, how is GPA calculated? Is it a cumulative value for each year that is subsequently averaged out somehow to arrive at the final GPA value?? Also, when during the senior year are college applications usually get sent out? In the fall? Then colleges have no way of knowing how the child did for pretty much most of their senior year? Or am I totally wrong on all of this?</p>
<p>It depends on the high school. Every school has it’s own process and it’s crucial to get a copy before senior year to correct any possible errors. The transcripts are sent out at application time, but a final transcript is sent to the school chosen, and many require a mid-year report, as well. So colleges do know. </p>
<p>GPA is calculated by each high school and frequently recalculated by colleges, also. The only way to know how is to ask.</p>
<p>Schools usually do not have quarter grades on transcripts. Transcripts usually have either semester grades (with perhaps a year end grade), or just a year end grade.</p>
<p>You can always go by the GC’s office and ask what your school does.</p>
<p>Was just reviewing our students transcript this am</p>
<p>it includes :
personal data
school stats % going to 4 yr colleges
all courses with the semester grades and a yr avg (because some colleges use that)
two grading scales, a 12 pt and 4 pt scale
GPA by year and GPA cumulative
and the courses are marked whether they are mandatory, regular, honors or AP</p>
<p>I believe the colleges the student applies to will get a mid yr report and the college the student decides to attend will get the final transcript.</p>
<p>There is a test records block but I am unclear if that will include all SATs, SAT2s and APs or what…I know it will not include the PSAT</p>
<p>Although most RD applications are due in early January, before first semester grades are in, most colleges require the mid-year report, which includes grades for first semester senior year. Admissions committees don’t make final decisions until February or March, so there should be plenty of time for those first semester grades to get to the colleges and be put in the admissions files.</p>
<p>As others have already responded to your other questions, each high school does or can do it differently (our 3 kids will have graduated from 3 different high schools). The best way to find out how your high school does it is to ask your guidance office.</p>
<p>*There is a test records block but I am unclear if that will include all SATs, SAT2s and APs or what…I know it will not include the PSAT *</p>
<p>You’re right…no PSAT score. They probably do include the SAT/ACT scores… When the scores get sent to the schools, they send these “stickies” which GC’s affix to the student’s records. Each sticky has the scores from a test. When we’ve asked for transcripts, we get the course transcript and we get this copy of the sheet with the stickies on it. Don’t know if every school does this, but why wouldn’t they?</p>
<p>Every school is different. We always requested a copy of the transcript for a scholarship or whatever to check what is included. Not all schools put the SAT scores on–not everyone wants them if they aren’t great. Requesting an official copy also gives you an idea of what if any profile your school includes; the things fogfog referred to. Not all high schools include such information. Profiles can be very useful, especially if you are attending a very competitive school, because it will tell how many earn above a certain GPA, etc.</p>
<p>The best way to understand your school’s transcript is for the parent or student to request one after completing a year or so of high school. </p>
<p>Every school system is different. Ours, for example, doesn’t include SAT or ACT scores or marking period grades on transcripts, but it does include attendance records and community service hours. </p>
<p>One word of warning: Even if your school includes SAT or ACT scores on transcripts (which, in my opinion, it shouldn’t), students should have the scores officially sent to the colleges to which they are applying. Some colleges will not accept scores on transcripts.</p>
<p>Sorry to hijack this thread, but I have a rather important question.</p>
<p>I am an international student, and I just heard from my counselor that he has only send my final predicted grades of this year to all the colleges I have applied to. My school hasn’t really had any people appling to the US before, but we have people applying to universities in the UK, which only ask for these predicted (Board exam) grades (Not IB however). Will it be sufficient to just send these scores? Or should I ask my counselor to send along a report of all the final grades I’ve scored in courses in previous years with my midyear report? I have taken science classes, but not this year, these aren’t listed either on my app now (and I know a lot of colleges sort of require science classes)</p>
<p>Thanks!</p>
<p>^^Generally, American colleges and universities look at the last four years of school. You might post on one of the international student threads. They probably have much better information.</p>
<p>It depends by HS. My HS listed end of semester grades for each semester on our transcript, because not all classes lasted the full year. They did not however list end of quarter grades, even though we received end of quarter report cards.</p>
<p>Aren’t the SAT scores and AP scores ONLY valid if sent directly…and isn’t a transcript NOT supposed to have that listed…
gotta ask xiggi to chime in here…</p>
<p>Thank you MD Mom! I tried asking this on the international forum, but since Im applying from a rather rare country, no one really knew. They didn’t think it would matter.
But, frantic as I am about admissions (haha), I wanted to recheck here, since the parents generally know the most about the admissions process!</p>
<p>The scores added to the transcripts have no validity. This is a practice that parents should fight all the way as it has ONLY a downside for the student. No high school can guarantee the accuracy of its own data, let alone the data of others. </p>
<p>As others have written, it is a smart idea to ask for full transcripts during 9th grade and a full school profile before 9th grade. It is your obligation to understand who grades might be transferred from middle schools and understand which classes will be considered honors, etc. </p>
<p>As far as the SAT, the best way to avoid problems is to OMIT the name of the high school on all registrations. This is harder to do for the PSAT but all it may take is a letter to your high school AND to the College Board whereby you request the full privacy of the students’ grades and the respect of YOUR rights to use Score Choice.</p>
<p>My DD has attended two high schools and both calculated different GPAs:</p>
<p>Unweighted (4.0 scale): 9-12 Total Courses; Weighted (5.0 scale): 10-11 Academic (a-g approved courses for the University of California); & 9-12 Total Courses.</p>
<p>This was explained to the universities in the School Profile included with the transcripts - the profile explained size, curriculum, graduation requirements, etc</p>
<p>Guiltybystander - I do not know which university you are applying to, but almost every school wants to see your final 4 years of high school. Now is a good time to send 3 1/2 years. They need this information for merit aid and scholarships. When school is done, send in all 4.</p>
<p>My student is taking the SAT tom and I wonder if we should remove the high school from the registration…</p>
<p>With score choice etc it bothers me that the schools get the scores without us really releaing the scores to the school</p>
<p>Our school includes the grades from each semester. It also includes courses from middle school that are considered high school credits, so Algebra and Geometry from 7th and 8th grade were on the high school transcript as well as 2 years of foreign language.</p>
<p>Because our district offers advanced Math taught by a community college teacher on the high school campus, those classes are listed on the high school transcript, but the grades are not. We had to order a transcript from the community college.</p>
<p>Checked with our school
though the transcript has a block for tests scores…the school does not put any scores on the transcripts.</p>
<p>will see how these first SATs turn out ;o)</p>
<p>Under FERPA, I believe that the school does not have the right to disclose your child’s SAT or ACT scores without your permission, and a simple note advising them that you do not want those scores included with the transcript should be sufficient, particularly if you reference FERPA.</p>