MBA applicants often get confused about what exactly is an academic transcript. It is essentially an official document containing a summary of the applicants academic record with details such as the name of the degree obtained along with the dates of attendance, the date the degree was conferred as well as the names of the subjects/courses along with the year and the marks or grades obtained.
This document should be on the college/university letter-head stamped and signed by the registrar or the concerned authority. The need for such a document from international students arises as educational institutions across the world and even within a particular country do not have a fixed format in the mark lists or other documents detailing academic performance.
Thus a duly authenticated Academic Transcript could enable admissions teams to quickly evaluate the applicant’s academic performance. But even here, it continues to be a hard task in trying to decode the various methods of assessment and grading.
Unlike a simple mark-sheet, an academic transcript is a single document that lists the degrees awarded, lists the colleges attended and details of the grades awarded in each term. It also avoids the need to submit multiple sheets listing the marks/grades awarded in each semester/term.
In case you are applying to multiple B-schools, you need not submit the original transcript along with the application but only a scanned copy. However, the scanned copy should be clear and legible.
In case you have attended different colleges for undergraduate and post graduate degrees, you need separate transcripts from each college with the summary of the subjects taken in each year and the marks/grades obtained. If the transcript is in any other language than English, a certified English translation that is a literal translation of the original will have to be submitted.
Process for Getting Transcript
The Universities/colleges have application forms that have to be filled up and submitted along with the requisite fees. The process for would vary depending upon the college or university you’ve attended. You may have to attach photocopies of mark-sheets and degree certificates and also state the number of copies required. Remember that some processing time would be required and you should move early to initiate the process so that your b-school application do not suffer any delay.
Some of the colleges would provide hard copies of the transcript in sealed envelope with stamp and signature in the sealed portion. Make sure to get a copy in an unsealed envelope so that one set of transcripts can be scanned and submitted with the application.
Schools, especially in the US, are moving towards accepting electronic transcripts from colleges and universities. There are third party firms that have tie-ups with various educational institutions for sending the transcripts in the electronic format for a fee.
