A transcript is like an official and thorough report card. It’s a record of your academic performance and accomplishments throughout your college, making it one of the most important factors in MBA admissions decisions.
What information is included in my transcript?
Transcripts include tons of information, such as:
- The name of each class you took
- The grade you received in each class
- When you took each class
- Your GPA (weighted and unweighted)
- Your class rank (if your college does class rankings)
- Sometimes, your standardized test scores and honors/awards
The transcript demonstrates your strength of schedule, improvement over time (if applicable), and overall performance in College. MBA Institutes view the transcript as a solid way to predict how you’ll perform in college.
Who sends my transcripts?
Your college guidance counsellor will be responsible for sending your transcripts to colleges. You can’t personally provide the transcript because it must be an “official transcript” received directly from your college
If an MBA Institute does accept unofficial transcripts, you can request one from your guidance counsellor and send it yourself. However, most colleges will specifically request an official copy of your transcript. These are verified transcripts that may have a stamp, seal, or letterhead from your college. In some cases, your guidance counsellor will also need to send a mid-year report and/or final report of your grades. This is so MBA Institute can ensure that you’ve kept your grades up and didn’t stop taking college seriously after receiving your acceptance letter.
How are transcripts sent?
Different colleges have different procedures for sending transcripts to MBA Institutes. If not, or if you miss the presentation, visit your guidance counsellor and ask about the procedure for requesting transcripts. You may need to fill out a request form on paper or online, and some colleges require a small fee per transcript. Some high colleges will have you request the transcript via a third-party site, which will carry a fee. Whatever the procedure is, follow all instructions precisely. Provide your guidance counsellor with a complete list of the MBA Institute you’re applying to, and do this well in advance of the deadlines.
What’s my role in getting transcripts to colleges?
Your role is to ensure that your guidance counsellor has all the information he or she needs to get your transcripts to colleges in a timely fashion. If you’re not absolutely certain that your counsellor has already sent your transcripts, follow up two weeks before the deadline. Remember, guidance counsellor is busy, and many are working with hundreds of students. It’s your job to make sure that your transcripts don’t fall through the cracks.
You’ll also need to verify that MBA Institute have actually received your transcript. In most cases, you will be able to do so through the applicant portal on the college’s website. If there is an issue, talk to your guidance counsellor and/or call the college’s admission office.
How will MBA Institutes evaluate my transcript?
MBA Institute evaluate your transcript in context. This means they do much more than simply glance at your GPA. They’ll consider the difficulty level of your college and the courses available to you. For instance, a 3.7 GPA at your college could be a greater accomplishment than a 4.0 at a less challenging MBA Institute. Admissions teams also look at the difficulty level of the classes you took. Did you choose to challenge yourself with some of the most difficult courses available at your college?
Through a combination of these factors, MBA Institute will try to predict how well you’ll perform in rigorous college courses. Overall, you should aim to perform well in the most challenging courses available at your college. Your transcripts will show colleges that you’re capable of successfully navigating MBA-level work.
