Sending transcripts

[1psychology]

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I took a course for fun last summer and have been wondering if this is something I need to indicate when filling out my applications. I already had a bachelor's degree when I took the course and while I suppose I did receive "graduate credit" I didn't apply it towards any degree and don't intend to. It seems like a pain to have to get these transcripts if it's not necessary.

 

[JustNoticing]

It is a total pain indeed. Maybe call the school and ask? Though it would seem to fit into the definition of "every course/institution you've attended since high school". I've attended 5 since high school (B.A., M.A, winter courses, so I can commiserate)

 

[mewtoo]

There was a recent thread talking about this. I think the general consensus was to just send them. I've only got 2 classes I took at a college one summer and I'm having to shell out 5 bucks a pop for them. I guess I shouldn't complain though because those classes still come out cheaper than if I'd taken them at my uni.

You can always email and ask, but I imagine they'll want them. Really read their websites though, because two of the programs I'm applying to actually will accept an unofficial transcript. If you get an interview then they want the real deal. I wish all the school were as reasonable/thoughtful as they are.

 

[ResearchGirlie]

Agreed with others. To be on the safe side, just send the transcript. I know they can be expensive but you also won't be left wondering 'maybe I should have sent them?!'

 

[EmotRegulation]

I disagree with the rest of the advice given here, I don't think it's important to send a transcript for a course you took for fun. If you wanted to apply the credit or if it was something you want to highlight (e.g. a graduate level statistics course), then send it, but I wouldn't waste the money on it for one course.

I can't speak for others who look at files, but I pretty much review transcripts for GPA and any overall red flags (e.g. poor grades in psychology courses in particular) but I don't go over them with a fine toothed comb. Additional transcripts are important if you changed focus after college, did graduate work, or some other reason to send multiple transcripts. For example, I wasn't a psychology major in college and took a variety of psych courses after I graduated--I wanted programs to have the transcripts for my psych courses. But for one class? Don't bother, it won't change your overall application.

 

[doggums]

.

 

[ResearchGirlie]

I never thought of sending transcripts as a way to improve your application as much as an ethical issue... I assumed they specifically ask for ALL transcripts to make sure you're not selectively leaving out any of those "red flags" you mentioned looking for. A student could've taken abnormal psychology as a summer course, failed, and retaken it at their institution without anyone ever knowing. Or you could just fail and never retake the course... It seems manipulative to essentially select which grades are seen.

This is why I sent all mine when the school specifically asked for ALL transcripts. Did I really look at all of them when I was on the admissions committee? No. But I like to follow directions on stuff like that.

 

[mewtoo]

Yes, I agree with doggums and researchgirlie. Some of the grad school applications online make you agree that you submitted ALL information and did not withhold any of it. One school may not really care, but it'd be a shame to get denied acceptance or get an acceptance repealed because of a technicality at a school that cares. I, personally, wouldn't chance it. You don't want to give anyone any reason to deny your application, especially one that's in your control. There's already so many odds working against you, why add another?

 

[EmotRegulation]

As a faculty member, I do not believe it is an ethical issue to leave out a transcript for a fun additional class. The ethical principle here is to not leave out part of your formative education. You will NOT be denied acceptance because of lack of a transcript for an additional course *taken post graduation*, nor will that make an acceptance. In this particular case, the hassle and costs of requesting the transcripts is simply not worth it, and the omission is not unethical.

 

[futureapppsy2]

As a faculty member, I do not believe it is an ethical issue to leave out a transcript for a fun additional class. The ethical principle here is to not leave out part of your formative education. You will NOT be denied acceptance because of lack of a transcript for an additional course *taken post graduation*, nor will that make an acceptance. In this particular case, the hassle and costs of requesting the transcripts is simply not worth it, and the omission is not unethical.

At one university I applied to, my application never reached the psych department because they did not have a transcript for a course I took for college credit in high school, so I totally disagree.

Be on the safe side and send everything!

 

[rilo]

At one university I applied to, my application never reached the psych department because they did not have a transcript for a course I took for college credit in high school, so I totally disagree.

Be on the safe side and send everything!

I agree. Besides, it seems like a slippery slope to allow applicants to decide what constitutes a "fun additional class." I got a D in History of Psychology (or whatever class), which I took at a community college after graduating... it wasn't necessary for my degree, just something I wanted to try on the side, so I don't need to send that transcript...

 

[mewtoo]

I agree. Besides, it seems like a slippery slope to allow applicants to decide what constitutes a "fun additional class." I got a D in History of Psychology (or whatever class), which I took at a community college after graduating... it wasn't necessary for my degree, just something I wanted to try on the side, so I don't need to send that transcript...

Exactly. I'm going to be taking a grad psych class next semester for fun. If I was taking it somewhere else I'm pretty sure a school would want it even though its the only class from that uni and a fun class.

Like I said, I'm too paranoid to leave anything to chance. Also, one of the schools that made me agree to the "didn't leave anything out" stuff said if they found out something was omitted your app would be thrown out.

 

[psych for path]

Hi- I never even considered sending transcripts that I have never seen from summer programs where I apparently got "college credit" from a class...did that college credit get used/count towards your college degree? Otherwise, how in the world would the psych department know?

 

[mewtoo]

Hi- I never even considered sending transcripts that I have never seen from summer programs where I apparently got "college credit" from a class...did that college credit get used/count towards your college degree? Otherwise, how in the world would the psych department know?

Anything I've taken at other places and transferred to my main institution appears on my main institution's transcript as a transfer. Its annoying its not good enough, but whatever. If it wasn't transferred/doesn't show up on your main institutions' transcript they may never find out. I have no clue how else they could check, but there may be ways.

 

[doggums]

.

 

[mewtoo]

I've always been paranoid that they could look up your SSN or something since all schools seem to require it, and see what schools you've attended. I'm sure this is insane, but I'm also pretty sure the government tracks some insane things about all of us, so... you never know.

I was thinking something to do with financial aid. I'm pretty sure schools have access to your past fin aid reports. If you paid out of pocket it might not be an issue, but for me I've always gotten max pell grants. I know they keep track of your pell grant amounts, though since you can't get those in grad school they probably wouldn't be able to tell. I'm not sure the fin aid people would alert the schools or anything either, but its just a thought.

 

[ResearchGirlie]

I've always been paranoid that they could look up your SSN or something since all schools seem to require it, and see what schools you've attended. I'm sure this is insane, but I'm also pretty sure the government tracks some insane things about all of us, so... you never know.

I don't think it's likely to happen but it just seems worth it for the peace of mind.

 

[psychRA]

I don't think it's likely to happen but it just seems worth it for the peace of mind.

Agreed. If you took one class at another institution and didn't get credit for it, it's unlikely that grad programs would find out. However, they're pretty clear about requesting transcripts for all coursework, so it's more of a peace of mind/following directions thing for me.

I say this a someone who had to had to send 3 separate undergrad transcripts to each grad program. And since one (out of 15!) internship site required them, I had to request them all over again. It's annoying, but it's better than getting screwed on a technicality.

 

[ResearchGirlie]

Agreed. If you took one class at another institution and didn't get credit for it, it's unlikely that grad programs would find out. However, they're pretty clear about requesting transcripts for all coursework, so it's more of a peace of mind/following directions thing for me.

I say this a someone who had to had to send 3 separate undergrad transcripts to each grad program. And since one (out of 15!) internship site required them, I had to request them all over again. It's annoying, but it's better than getting screwed on a technicality.

I had the same experience. It was annoying (and costly) but I would have worried too much otherwise. Who knew taking a fun class over summer at another university would be so much trouble.

I got lucky for my internship apps - APPIC put a stop to supplemental forms and undergrad transcript requests.

 

[psych for path]

This seems to be getting very opinion based, but I'm going to go ahead and ask anyway-

My situation is that I took an art class through a private summer program at the age of 15 that was sold/advertised as being "for college credit," and another class a year later same deal. I never used the credits, never saw the grades, never even knew if I was officially transcript worthy at these institutions... popular opinion here is that these things are worth sending? That it would be "not" following the rules to not send?

Just asking more out of curiosity than anything else - thanks guys

 

[ResearchGirlie]

This seems to be getting very opinion based, but I'm going to go ahead and ask anyway-

My situation is that I took an art class through a private summer program at the age of 15 that was sold/advertised as being "for college credit," and another class a year later same deal. I never used the credits, never saw the grades, never even knew if I was officially transcript worthy at these institutions... popular opinion here is that these things are worth sending? That it would be "not" following the rules to not send?

Just asking more out of curiosity than anything else - thanks guys

Hmm... given that you took these courses while in high school and you didn't use it for college credit I'd probably go without sending it. But maybe others will have different opinions.

 

[JustNoticing]

yea, most of the apps I've seen mention "since high school", so I wouldn't worry about those either.

 

[psych for path]

Thanks!

 

[mewtoo]

I just thought I'd share this:

"I understand and acknowledge that ---- ------ requires students to list and submit official transcripts for all previous college coursework. This information may be verified with a national database."

 

[Engali]

Send it, no question. You don't want to get your application dismissed just because you thought it inconvenient to get this transcript. That speaks to your level of conscientiousness, which is one significant predictor of success. If they find out about this transcript, they will either question your conscientiousness or reading comprehension (i.e. "...ALL transcripts..."). Either way, it makes you look unprepared or ill-suited for graduate study, where attention to detail is critical.

 

[psych for path]

Are you responding to my post? There is absolutely no way for this to be tracked. I don't even have transcripts at those institutions, that I know of