what is phd transcript

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What is an Academic Transcript?

• By Dr Harry Hothi
• December 24, 2020

An academic transcript is a university document which gives a complete breakdown of each individual module or subject you studied for your degree and the grade or mark that you were awarded for each module. This academic transcript will also give the level or credit value of each module and how it contributes to the final degree grade that you achieved. For example, your final year dissertation is likely to worth a greater number of credits than a single taught module.

Note that the academic transcript is an official university document and will detail the final marks that you were awarded after confirmation by the relevant examination boards. These will not include provisional or predicted marks if you are a current student yet to complete your degree (for example).

Professional bodies also provide transcripts that are similar in structure to the university academic transcript format. That is that these will give a breakdown of individual modules or units of study and the mark or grade awarded for each.

Note also that academic transcripts may be referred to using different terms depending on the university or country. These may include terms such as a record of achievement, a statement of learning, an academic record, a transcript of records, a diploma supplement, graduate diploma or a permanent record.

Why do I need an academic transcript?

You may be asked to provide a copy of your academic transcript when applying for certain jobs or if applying for a postgraduate degree such as a PhD . These may then be used by potential employers or institutions to determine which specific subjects you undertook. To that end, this document needs to be official certified by the university or institution you gained your degree at. The normal format here is for the academic transcript to be presented on the university’s letter-headed paper and either signed or stamped by the registry office.

How do I get a copy of my academic transcript?

Most universities in the UK will automatically send a paper copy of your academic transcript to your home address, together with your degree certificate, after you complete your degree. It is important that you keep this copy safe; replacement copies can be obtained but universities usually charge a small fee for this. For example, the University of London guidance is that a replacement copy will cost £25.

Note also that academic transcripts can only be requested from a university by the student that completed the degree. Requests from others (such as potential employers) are not permitted.

What information does an academic transcript contain?

This is an official transcript which details your full name, the university or institution that you studied at, the full title and level of your degree, the degree class you were awarded, a list of all courses, subjects, modules or units you undertook and the marks or grades that you were awarded for each of these.

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Transcript requirements.

• Requirements for All Applicants
• Additional Requirements for Applicants with International Credentials
• Requirements for Admitted Students (only applicable AFTER you are admitted)

All Applicants

All applicants must have received—or be on track to receive before matriculation as a graduate student—a baccalaureate degree from a college or university of recognized standing. For students with international credentials, an equivalent international degree is required. Transcripts are required for every college or university you have attended. If transfer credits are noted on your undergraduate transcript, you should list the transfer school on your application but there is no need to upload a separate transcript. Please inform your prospective graduate field if your name on any of your credentials will be different from the one noted on your application.

The online application requires you to upload an unofficial copy of each official transcript. To prepare your transcripts, follow the steps below:

• Do not upload transcripts that include a U.S. Social Security Number (SSN). Redact, cross out, or cover your SSN, if applicable, before scanning the document.
• The online application will not accept or properly display encrypted or password-protected documents. Official electronic transcripts (e-transcripts) must be printed first, then scanned and uploaded.
• Scan or save each transcript (and the English translation, if applicable) as a PDF, TIFF, JPEG, or GIF file. Combine multiple pages from the same transcript into one file; the file size for each upload cannot exceed 10MB. 
• Ensure each scanned or saved image is clear and easy to read before submitting your application.

Admitted students are required to submit official electronic transcripts (e-transcripts) directly to the Graduate School Admissions Office after accepting the offer of admission. Please see below for additional details.

Applicants with International Credentials — Additional Requirements

In addition to transcripts, applicants with international credentials must also provide a certified copy of the diploma and/or degree certificate for any conferred degree. All academic records must be official documents issued by the college or university and provided in the original language. A certified or notarized English translation must accompany the academic records if the original language is not English.

A complete set of academic records should include the name of the degree program in which you were enrolled, your dates of attendance, a list of courses taken each year, grades received in each course, and the date your degree was conferred (if applicable). Combine multiple pages from the same set of academic records into one file; the file size for each upload cannot exceed 10MB. 

Admitted Students

This section is only applicable to admitted students who have accepted an offer of admission from Cornell.

You must submit an official electronic transcript of your undergraduate degree, with the degree marked as conferred or awarded, to the Graduate School Admissions Office. Submit your documents as soon as possible to avoid processing delays. Documents must be received before October 1 for summer and fall admits, or before March 1 for spring admits.

• If you earned your undergraduate degree from Cornell University, you do not need to submit an official transcript.
• The Graduate School Admissions Office requires its own official electronic copy of your documents. Any transcripts or other academic records that you submitted with your application, or sent directly to your admitting program, will not fulfill the final transcript requirement. 
• If you earned your undergraduate degree at an institution outside the U.S., you must provide the transcript, a certified copy of your diploma and/or degree certificate, and a certified translation of all documents if they are not already in English. All documents must be delivered electronically.
• Any documents sent to the Graduate School Admissions Office will become the property of the university and physical copies will not be retained.

Electronic submission is required

Transcripts and other required academic records must be delivered to Cornell electronically either by your institution OR by a credential verification service. We do not accept transcripts directly from students. Preferred providers include:

• CertiFile through ApplyWeb ( recommended , see below)
• National Student Clearinghouse
• TEC – The Evaluation Company (formerly Spantran)
• World Education Services (WES) (Course-by-Course ICAP only)
• Any NACES member credential evaluation service
• We also accept transcripts that have been certified and uploaded directly to your application by IIE, or Amideast or were submitted through SOPHAS, VMCAS, or LSAC.

Important Notes:

• We have download accounts with CertiFile, Parchment, TEC, and WES.
• If you are using another service, or if documents are being electronically delivered by your institution, please have transcripts or retrieval instructions delivered to [email protected] .
• E-transcripts with a retrieval deadline or expiration date should not be submitted to the Graduate School Admissions Office between March 1-June 1.
• Due to the volume of transcripts we receive and process, we are unable to send a confirmation receipt when we receive your transcript. We will only notify you directly if we are missing any documents.
• If you are having financial or logistical difficulties meeting the final transcript requirement, please use our  online request form  to contact us regarding your options.

What is CertiFile? Is it required?

The CertiFile service provides Cornell with verified official transcripts and other required documents and prevents the submission of fraudulent or unsuitable credentials. The documents are delivered directly to our office, you will be notified immediately when they arrive, and there is no expiration date for us to retrieve them. Additionally, your verified credentials will be stored in your Digitary  wallet so you can access and share them with employers, recruiters, or other schools whenever you need to. Using CertiFile fully satisfies the Graduate School Admissions Office’s transcript requirements.

How much does it cost?

Students with international credentials (or a combination of U.S. and international credentials) will pay $205 USD to have them verified, evaluated, and delivered electronically to Cornell. Students with U.S. (domestic) credentials will pay $56 USD to have them verified and delivered electronically to Cornell.

How do I place a CertiFile order? When should I start?

You can initiate a CertiFile order from your ApplyWeb activity page at any time after accepting your offer of admission. If you are still enrolled in your current degree program, wait until after you graduate to place your order. Please confirm with your school that your degree has been posted before ordering. An applicant can update an existing order for $65 USD (international) or $25 (domestic).

I already have credentials stored in my Digitary or MyEquals account. What should I do?

Initiate a CertiFile order through the Admission Supplement or your ApplyWeb activity page . When prompted, indicate that you want to attach existing academic credentials from your Digitary or MyEquals account, then follow the directions to select the documents you wish to have delivered to Cornell. The CertiFile service will deliver the credentials directly to Cornell on your behalf for free.

Who should I contact for help with my order?

You can find the answers to many of your questions using ApplyWeb’s CertiFile help page . For additional technical assistance, email [email protected] . 

Why should you consider Cornell?

• Transcripts

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Applicants are required to upload unofficial transcripts from each institution attended. Harvard Griffin GSAS does not accept transcripts received by mail or email during the application submission and review process. Any transcripts sent during this time will be discarded.  

Official transcripts are only required from those who have been admitted and accepted the offer of admission. Instructions for submitting official transcripts will be provided in spring/summer prior to enrollment. 

Transcripts from international institutions must be in English or be accompanied by a certified English translation. All translations must be literal and complete versions of the original records. International transcripts should include: 

• courses, seminars, and examinations taken 
• grades, scores, and grading scales 
• confirmation of degree conferral and date. 

Fall Grades: Applicants currently enrolled in a college or university may be required to submit fall grades. Visit your program of interest in Degree Programs for more information. Should you wish to update your submitted application with fall grades, you may do so using the Fall Grade Report in the Applicant Portal. 

What if my school does not issue transcripts? 

If your school’s registrar does not issue transcripts, you must request from them an official original document or letter that lists all courses taken, including currently enrolled classes, credits received, grades received and if you have graduated, and the name of the degree conferred and the date of the conferral. 

What if my grades are pass/fail or based on a nontraditional scale? 

Grades and GPA should be reported in the same format as they are reported on your transcript. If your transcript does not include a GPA, you are not required to include the GPA on your Harvard Griffin GSAS application. 

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Transcripts

What is a transcript.

A transcript is a list of all the courses you have taken (or are currently taking) during a programme of study, with the result you obtained, and sometimes the credit value of each course.

If you have completed your study, the transcript should also show your final award (eg Bachelor of Honours, First Class).

What you need to send and when

When completing your online application you will be asked to upload copies of transcripts and certificates for each degree you have studied for, or are currently studying for. You will not be able to submit your application without these.

If you are made an offer of admission you will be asked to upload a certified copy to the Self-Service portal, or an electronic version sent via a secure electronic transcript system . This enables us to verify their authenticity. 

If you need to apply for a visa to study in the UK, do not send us your only original as you may need to send this to UK Visas and Immigration. Please ensure you have sufficient originals or certified copies for this purpose.

Obtaining, translating and uploading transcripts

• At the application stage, scanned originals or certified copies should be uploaded to the Applicant Portal. If you are currently studying, an interim or unofficial transcript will suffice. Should an offer be made, we will then require a copy of the final transcript to be provided.
• You should request your transcripts from your institution before you begin your application, so that you have them ready to upload. The academic registry at your university will be able to produce a transcript of courses you have taken or are currently taking. It may take a number of days for them to process and send this to you and you may be charged for this service.
• If your documents are not in English, you must also upload a full translation of each document, prepared by a registered translator. Do not translate the documents yourself.
• Please do not write on any of your documents before you upload them. If you do, we will not accept them.
• Applicants who are registered as a University of Cambridge student should obtain an unofficial transcript from their self-service page for current students. The downloaded transcript is digitally signed and cannot be uploaded directly to the self-service. Applicants will need to first print the transcript and scan it before being able to upload it.

Research proposal

Most courses that contain a substantial element of research require applicants to provide a research proposal. These are used as part of the selection process.

The length and format of the research proposal depends on the course you are applying for. You will be able to see specific guidance on this in the Applicant Portal when you are completing your application, or in the Course Directory . If you choose to apply for more than one course, you must upload a research proposal for each application you submit, tailored to the individual requirements for each course.

Written work

Some faculties and departments may ask you to provide written work so that they can make an assessment of your knowledge and the level at which you are working. You need to check the information for your course in the  Course Directory  or on the departmental website to see if this is required. If it is required you will be requested to provide it as part of your online application.

Do not send written work unless your course specifically asks for it; the department will not use it for assessing your application unless it is required.

Some departments will ask you for a Graduate Record Examination (GRE) test. Please note that only the courses listed below will require one. If your prospective course is not listed, you should not request a GRE score to be submitted to the University of Cambridge, as your department will not retain or process the certificate. There is a charge for taking the GRE test.

The following departments and courses may require you to provide a GRE test result:

Economics :

• PhD (Probationary) in Economics
• Advanced Diploma in Economics
• MPhil in Economic Research
• MPhil in Finance and Economics
• MPhil in Economics

Cambridge Judge Business School

• PhD (Probationary) in Management Studies
• MRes + PhD in Management Studies
• MPhil in Strategy, Marketing and Operations
• MPhil in Finance
• MPhil in Management
• MPhil in Innovation, Strategy and Organisation

When registering for the GRE test please use following relevant institution code:

• 2433 U Cambridge  Economics
• 7020 U Cambridge  Judge Bus Sch  

Further information on the GRE test can be found on the GRE website .

You should also check the application information on the department website for further instructions and the levels of GRE scores they require.

Please note that the Graduate Management Admission Test (GMAT) is not accepted by any courses.

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Transcripts

As part of your online application, you must upload one copy of the scanned unofficial transcript from each undergraduate and graduate institution where you

• earned (or will earn) a degree;
• studied for one semester or more;
• earned 12 or more hours of credit; or
• took classes that relate to your graduate study interests.

If you took classes at a college or university while in high school, do not list the college or university as a separate school in your application unless the credits you earned applied to your bachelor’s or associate’s degree.

You do not have to provide a separate transcript for study abroad credits, as long as the credits are listed on the transcript from your home educational institution. If you list a study abroad institution in the Academic History section of your online application, the system will require you to upload a document. If the study abroad credits are listed on the transcript from your home educational institution, upload a document stating that fact. If they are not listed, you must upload a transcript from the study abroad institution.

Do not mail paper copies of your transcripts before receiving an offer of admission. If you are unable to upload your transcripts to the application because your educational institution does not issue transcripts directly to students, please follow the instructions at the end of this page.

If you are admitted, you will be asked to request an official transcript from each institution listed in the Education section of your application, regardless of the number of credits earned. (You will not have to provide separate official transcripts from study abroad institutions, as long as the study abroad credits are listed on the official transcript from your home educational institution.)

Duke reserves the right to rescind any offer of admission if any discrepancies are found between your uploaded and official transcripts.

How to Submit

Upload electronic copies of your unofficial transcripts via the online application. Do not submit secondary-school records.

Transcript Requirements

• Each transcript must provide a year-by-year listing of all courses taken and the grade or mark received for each. 
• The transcript must list your name and the name of the school.
• If your school provides transcripts in English, please provide the English-language transcript. If your school does not provide transcripts in English, you must provide a transcript in the original language AND an English translation from a professional translation service.
• If your Social Security number appears on your transcripts, mark out all except the last four digits of the number before uploading the transcripts to your application.
• If the grading scale of the institution is available, be sure to include that information.
• Before uploading an electronic transcript issued by your school, make sure it can be opened without passwords or other security information.
• We do not accept web page screenshots from a student information system in place of transcripts. Uploading screenshots instead of transcripts will delay the processing of your application.
• You may submit a credential evaluation from a third party (e.g. WES or ECE), but if you do so, you must also submit the transcript from your institution.

Acceptable Transcript Formats

• Scanned copies of paper transcripts produced by the institution
• Electronic transcripts produced by the institution

I Can’t Upload My Transcript

If you are having trouble uploading your transcript, the following tips may help:

• Make sure your file is in PDF format and does not exceed 1.5 MB (1,500 kb) in size.
• Once you have uploaded your file, click the "Preview Upload" button to ensure that the document you uploaded is legible throughout. If your document is not legible, the processing of your application will be delayed.
• The system will not allow you to submit your online application unless you upload a document for every school listed in the Academic History section.

If you have followed the above guidelines and still cannot upload your transcript, upload a statement instead explaining why you cannot upload the transcript. You must then e-mail the transcript as a PDF attachment (i.e. one transcript=one PDF attachment, two transcripts=two PDF attachments, and so on) to [email protected] .

• Do not e-mail your transcripts unless you have exhausted all options for uploading the transcripts to the academic History section of the application.
• E-mailed transcripts must be in PDF format; do not send Microsoft Word documents or JPEG files.
• In the body of the e-mail, include your name and the name of the department to which you are applying.

My School Doesn’t Issue Transcripts to Students

If your school does not issue transcripts directly to students, upload a statement that states that your school will be sending the transcript to Duke as your transcript in the Academic History section of the application.. Then ask the school to either send a secure, electronic copy of your transcript to [email protected] or mail a paper copy to:

Duke University Graduate School Office of Admissions 2127 Campus Drive, Box 90065 Durham, NC 27708

Note: This address is both a physical location and a mailing address. If your mail service will not deliver to a post office box, delete "Box 90065" from the address and use the postal code 27708-0065.

Frequently asked questions about transcripts

• Transcript FAQs

All academic records uploaded to your application must be in English or accompanied by a translation to English. We do not accept transcripts in any form sent via post or email during the initial application review process.

• PhD/Master's Application Process
• Admissions - Frequently Asked Questions

Q: When is a final official transcript required?

A final official transcript is required only after an offer of admission is extended to you and you accept that offer.

For admitted students only:

• The transcript must be sent to us directly from the issuing institution or its authorized agent, properly signed and/or authenticated.
• If the transcript is for a degree program, please wait to send the final transcript until the degree has been awarded and is marked on your official transcript. No interim transcript is necessary.
• If you received a degree from the institution, the final official transcript (or an accompanying degree certificate) must indicate that the degree was awarded.
• If the issuing institution does not indicate that a degree was awarded on their transcripts (common at institutions outside of the United States), please also request a separate degree certificate to accompany the transcript. We cannot accept a final transcript for a degree program unless we receive both a transcript of grades and an indication that the degree was awarded. 

Final official transcripts may be certified electronic transcripts or traditional paper transcripts. PDFs sent as email attachments will not be accepted.

• Certified Electronic Transcripts (preferred method):

If your institution is able to send a certified electronic transcript (from Parchment, eSCRIP-SAFE, Digitary, National Student Clearinghouse, etc.), it should be sent to:

[email protected]

This address is for institutional use only. Transcripts sent to this address by the student will not be accepted.

•   Traditional Paper Transcripts:

If your institution will be mailing a paper transcript, please have it sent to the appropriate address, below. The transcript must be received in an envelope sealed by the issuing institution and contain authentication, such as a signature or raised seal.

For courier services, such as UPS, DHL, FedEx, etc.:

Yale Graduate School of Arts and Sciences Graduate Admissions 1 Hillhouse Avenue Room 302 New Haven, CT 06511

For US Postal Mail (USPS) only:

Yale Graduate School of Arts and Sciences Graduate Admissions P.O. Box 208236 New Haven, CT 06520-8236

Q: What kind of transcript do I need to submit with my application?

When you complete an application for admission, you must upload a transcript or academic record for all colleges/universities you have attended. This may be an informal transcript that you download from your school’s information system, or it may be a transcript issued to you personally from your college/university registrar. All transcripts you upload to your application must include: 

• The institution name
• Course names and grade information
• Any academic comments that would be a part of an official transcript

If you upload a PDF of an electronic transcript, please make sure no additional authentication is needed, as transcripts requiring authentication will not upload successfully.  Do not submit an official transcript to us by mail. Mailed transcripts are unnecessary during the application process and will be discarded. Official transcripts will only be required for admitted students and they will receive specific instructions about this after they have accepted an offer to enroll.  Please note: if your transcript includes sensitive identifying information, such as your Social Security Number, you may redact this before scanning and uploading the transcript to your application.

Q: What does 'unofficial transcript' mean?

We define an unofficial transcript as any academic record in your possession, such as:

• A transcript issued to you 
• A record of your academic performance obtained from your institution’s SIS portal

Please Note: All academic records uploaded to your online application are treated as unofficial.

Q: What does 'final official transcript' mean?

We define a final official transcript as a transcript received directly from the issuing institution (whether on paper and still in the envelope or a certified electronic copy) that is properly signed/authenticated.

• If this transcript is in support of your baccalaureate degree-granting institution, it must indicate the award of the baccalaureate degree (or its foreign equivalent). 
• If this transcript is in support of an advanced degree program that you have completed at the same or another institution, it must indicate the award of that degree.
• If this transcript is in support of work taken in a non-degree program, it will contain all coursework taken.

A final official transcript is only required if you have been offered admission and have accepted that offer. Specific instructions will be sent to incoming students in May.

Please Note: Your final official transcript will be reviewed and compared to any transcript or academic record uploaded in support of your application and may also undergo independent verification. 

Q: May I upload a diploma or certificate of achievement or other non-academic record document?

Yes, if you feel they positively support your application, you may upload these as a Supplementary Material when you apply. Do not upload diplomas or certificates in the Academic History section in lieu of a transcript or academic record. 

Q: My institution sends transcripts electronically. Are you able to accept them?

During the application process you must upload your academic record/transcript, which may take the form of an electronic transcript (however, please ensure no additional authentication is required to view the transcript, as this will cause problems with your upload). 

Following admission and acceptance of an offer of admission, you may request that your institution send your official electronic transcript to [email protected] . (Please note: transcripts sent to this address from applicants who have not accepted an offer of admission will be discarded.)

Q: My institution does not issue a traditional transcript or a record of my academic performance reflecting courses, credits, and grades. What should I do?

You should upload the academic performance document that your institution typically issues.

Q: My academic record from my institution's SIS Portal has an error in a course grade. Can I correct this error?

No. You should not attempt to modify the information reflected on the academic record downloaded from your institution’s SIS Portal.  If there are errors, you must have those errors corrected before downloading the record.

Q: Should I send in, or have sent in, an official transcript in support of my application?

No, a traditional paper or electronic transcript is neither required nor necessary for the review of your application. Instead, please upload an unofficial transcript or other copy of your academic record, as described above.

We do not accept transcripts sent via post or email during the initial application review process. All documentation must be uploaded directly to your application. 

Q: Do I need to have a transcript sent to you if I have uploaded one with my application?

No, you should not send any transcripts to us at the point of application. Instead, you should upload an unofficial copy of your transcript or academic record when you apply.

Applicants who are admitted and who accept an offer of admission will need to send us a final official transcript by July 15. Admitted students will receive specific instructions about this in May. 

Q: I have already asked that a transcript be sent to you. Should or can I upload a copy as well?

Yes. You must upload your academic record to your application prior to submission. Any transcript received by mail will be discarded.

Q: Can I upload my academic record (unofficial) transcripts obtained from my institution’s web site?

Yes. Academic records, such as those frequently available to enrolled students from an institutional Student Information System portal, can be uploaded. However, please make certain that such an academic record contains course identifiers, names, and grades; or consider uploading a scanned copy of your transcript.

In addition, if your institution uses your Social Security Number as an institutional identification number, please ensure that you obscure (using whiteout or a black marker) that number before scanning and uploading to your application.

Q: I am not able to upload a copy of my transcript. May I send it to you via e-mail or upload a self-prepared transcript?

No. Please upload a copy of your academic record/scanned copy of your transcript, which is required in order to submit your application.

We are unable to accommodate and will not accept/process transcripts sent to us via mail or email, whether from an applicant or from an institution. Do not self-prepare your own transcript, as it will be disregarded. 

Q: My uploaded transcript/s already indicate/s the award of the baccalaureate or advanced degree. If I am admitted do I have to send another final official transcript?

Yes. If you are offered admission and you accept that offer, you must have the institution send us a copy of your final official transcript. Incoming students will receive more specific instructions starting in May. 

Q: Do I have to upload both the non-English and English translated transcript?

Yes. If your original transcript is in a language other than English, please upload both the original and the translation.

Q: The academic record I have from my school SIS portal does not contain the name of my school, nor does it have a 'transcript legend.' Is that a problem?

No. While it is preferred that any academic record you upload to your application contain the institution name and a ‘legend,’ we understand that this is not always possible for academic records from institutional portals. If you have or can obtain an unofficial copy of your transcript, you can upload that instead.

Q: My transcript has been evaluated by a credential evaluation service (e.g., WES). Can that evaluation be uploaded in lieu of my transcript?

Yes. The evaluation must contain course and grade information, however. Please note, that if you are offered admission and accept that offer, an original transcript will be required directly from the issuing institution.

Q: Do I need to upload a transcript from my study abroad program?

A separate transcript from the study abroad institution is not required if the information also appears on your home institution’s transcript. You may upload a copy of your home institution transcript to reflect your study abroad coursework.

If your home institution transcript does not reflect your study abroad coursework, then you should upload a separate transcript from the study abroad institution. 

Q: Due to the impact of COVID-19, my institution adopted a Universal Pass or Credit/Fail option for Spring 2020 courses. Will my chance of admission be impacted by this change?

No. Yale’s graduate programs evaluate applicants holistically and will take the significant disruptions of COVID-19 into account when reviewing students’ transcripts and other admissions materials relating to Spring 2020. In particular, we will respect decisions regarding the adoption of Credit/Fail and other grading options during this unprecedented period, whether they are made by institutions or by individual students.

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Official Transcript Requirements

After you accept your offer of admission, you are required to send final official transcripts and degree documents to Graduate Enrollment Management Services (GEMS). Scanned copies of transcripts uploaded with your online application are not considered official.

Final transcripts should be sent as soon as your coursework and conferred degree are recorded on the transcript. Any delays may impact your ability to register for future terms.

All documents submitted to the GEMS office become the property of the University. Documents will not be returned, and copies will not be released to students or third parties.

Note: Students with a UW degree do not have to submit official transcripts. You may be required to submit official transcripts from all other selected institutions within your Application Portal, if applicable.

Check Your Application Portal

After accepting the offer of admission, refer to your Application Portal to see which documents you are required to submit.

Programs beginning in Autumn 2024 and beyond

• Please use our new admissions system to check your Application Status Portal

Programs beginning in Spring 2024 and Summer 2024

• Please use our original admissions system to check your Application Pre-Registration Page

Required Documents

We require official documents only from the selected post-secondary institution listed within your Status Portal. It is your responsibility to the institution to request that transcript(s) be sent to GEMS.

Final official transcripts must contain the following:

• Completion of all coursework with grades or marks issued for each year of study.
• If your institution does not print the conferral date on your transcript, a degree statement, diploma, or other document with the conferral date will also be required.
• Official stamp, seal, and/or embossed marking from the school.
• To be official, the translations must be stamped as official by the school or be certified as accurate by a certified translator.

Delivery Methods

Preferred methods.

Parchment: Visit parchment.com to request your transcript.

• Enter “University of Washington Graduate” for the question “Where would you like to send the credential?”
• The transcript will be sent to “University of Washington – Graduate Admissions – Seattle Campus, Seattle, WA, US”.

National Student Clearninghouse: Visit studentclearinghouse.org to request your transcript

• Recipient: “University of Washington”
• Recipient email: [email protected]

World Education Services (WES) International Credential Advantage Package (ICAP) Evaluation: Visit wes.org to request a credential evaluation, which includes verified copies of your official transcripts and degree certificates.

• School/Division: “Graduate Admissions (Seattle/Bothell/Tacoma)”
• GEMS will not accept WES Basic or any other credential evaluation to fulfill this requirement.
• GEMS’s assessment of a U.S degree equivalency may differ from what is listed on your WES evaluation.

Other Methods

If you cannot obtain official transcripts using one of the preferred methods, we will accept documents sent directly by the issuing institution by mail, Traditional Paper Transcripts .

• If your institution will mail a physical document, it must be in an official sealed envelope and the “sender” on the envelope must be your institution.

Mail official transcripts to:

Standard Mail

University of Washington

Graduate Enrollment Management Services

Seattle, WA USA 98195-3770

Express Mail

G-1 Communications

4109 Stevens Way

If you are unable to have your documents submitted by any of the above methods, contact the Graduate Enrollment Management Services (GEMS) at [email protected] to discuss potential options for your situation.

Not Accepted

The following documents are not considered official when:

• uploaded within the online application
• sent as email attachments
• mailed or physically delivered by the student or department
• the envelope has been opened

Withdraw Offer of Admission

The UW reserves the right to withdraw the offer of admission if

• Your final records fail to show completion of required courses
• You failed to maintain satisfactory scholastic standing in your coursework
• Our decision was based on incomplete or inaccurate information you provided in your application file

If you have any questions about submitting your official documents, email the Graduate Enrollment Management Services (GEMS) at [email protected]

Do not email [email protected] with questions as this is a no-reply email account.

Why Grad Schools Require Your Undergraduate Transcript

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It's easy to get caught up in the graduate admissions process. Applicants to graduate school are often (and rightly) overwhelmed by the most challenging parts of the process, like approaching faculty for recommendation letters and composing admissions essays. However, the little things like college transcripts also matter in your graduate school application. No admissions committee will accept an incomplete graduate application. A late or missing transcript may seem like a dumb reason to receive a rejection letter, but it happens.

Unfortunately, students with stellar credentials aren't even considered by admission committees at their dream graduate programs because of a forgotten transcript or one that is lost in snail mail.

Request All Transcripts

Your application is not complete until the institution receives your official transcript from all of your undergraduate institutions. That means that you must send a transcript from every institution that you have attended, even if you did not earn a degree. 

Official Transcripts Are Sent by Colleges

Don't even think about sending an unofficial transcript or a print out of your school record in place of a transcript. An official transcript is sent directly from your undergraduate college or university to the school(s) to which you’re applying and bears the college seal. If you attended more than one institution, you will need to request an official transcript from each institution you attended. Yes, this can get pricey.

What Do Admissions Committees Look for in Transcripts?

In examining your transcript, admissions committees will consider the following:

• Your overall GPA and verification of your actual GPA compared to what you reported on your admissions documents
• Quality of the undergraduate institution
• Breadth of coursework
• Coursework in your major: Your grades in your major subject area and especially in the upper division courses and within the past two years
• Patterns of performance and improvement if you did not have a strong start

Request Transcripts Early ​Prevent mishaps by planning ahead.   Request your transcripts from the registrar's office early because most offices take a few days, a week, and sometimes even more time to process your request. Also, understand that if you wait until the end of the Fall semester to request transcripts they may be delayed as most offices close for the holidays (sometimes taking an extended break).

Save yourself grief and request transcripts early. Also, include a copy of your unofficial transcript with your application and a note that the official transcript has been requested so that admissions committees have something to review until the official copy arrives. Only some admissions committees may review an unofficial transcript and wait for the official version (this is especially unlikely in competitive graduate programs), but it's worth a shot.

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PhD & MFA: Transcripts

Where should i send my transcripts.

All applicants must upload copies of their transcripts directly to the appropriate section in the online application . Please ensure you upload a high-resolution image of your transcript; scans are preferred. Foreign language transcripts need an English Translation.

Do not send any transcripts by mail.  Do not email your transcript to our office.

Do not have your institution or a third party (ex: Parchment) send us any transcripts.  We do not accept transcripts that are not submitted through our online application.

What is an unofficial vs. official transcript?

Unofficial transcripts are available to current students via the institution’s student information system (SIS). They are a means by which students may review their academic record. An unofficial transcript is printed on plain paper and may not have an original raised college seal or registrar’s signature.

Official transcripts are documents produced by the registrar’s office and printed on special security paper.  They contain the raised seal of the university and the signature of the University Registrar.

Copies of official transcripts are considered to be unofficial for admissions purposes as they are lacking the above-mentioned special features (signature, seal, security paper). All transcripts (official or unofficial) that you submit through our online application will be treated as copies. It is not possible to transmit documents containing an original signature and seal, that are printed on security paper. They will be copies, they are not originals, and therefore, they are unofficial. We also do not require official transcripts for the application, only a copy of your (official or unofficial) transcript.

Can I submit an official transcript as part of the application?

To apply to the Graduate School of Arts and Sciences, you must upload a copy of your unofficial or official transcript(s) to the application.  You will not be not submitting any original documents. We cannot and will not accept any original documents.  Therefore, all transcripts are treated as unofficial copies even if you and your school consider the document in your possession to be official. Do not have your current or previous institution send us any unsolicited official transcripts as they will be destroyed. Transcripts that are sent or emailed directly to the Graduate School of Arts and Sciences by you, your institution, or a third party (ex: Parchment) cannot be added to your application.

Should you be admitted to one of our programs, and you accept the offer of admission, our office will contact you and ask you to request from your previous institution(s) an official, sealed, signed, final transcript that must be sent to our office before the start of your first semester.

I am still in school. How do I submit an updated transcript showing fall grades?

You don’t.  If you are currently enrolled in a bachelor’s or master’s program outside of Boston University, you cannot re-submit your transcript as soon as your fall grades have posted.  Most of our programs have deadlines in early to mid-December, before fall grades are posted, and therefore, the fall grades are not part of the review.  Our programs start reviewing applications immediately after their posted application deadline.  We cannot replace any documents when faculty has already started reviewing them.  If you wish to make the program aware of any strong, favorable fall grades, we recommend that you reach out to the program directly.

I have multiple transcripts for the same school. How do I upload them?

If you have multiple transcripts for the same school (ex: one for a bachelor’s degree, one for a master’s degree) you will need to combine all these documents into a single document and then upload it under that one school.

Do I need to have transcripts sent for every college-level class that I have taken?

Yes, applicants are required to upload transcripts of each college or university attended to the online application.

• Do not submit transcripts from your High School.  College courses completed while in High School must appear as credits on your college transcript.
• If you attended a study abroad program we do not need separate transcripts sent if the course names, credits, and grades are listed on your main institution’s transcript.
• A college senior must submit a transcript of work completed in the first semester of their senior year.
• Do not email or mail official transcripts directly to our office.  You will be required to submit official transcripts only if you are admitted and accept our offer of admission.
• Applicants who have studied outside of the United States and Canada are required to upload international transcript(s) and certified translation(s) for all institutions attended. Please combine your transcript, certified translation, etc. for each institution into one document and then upload it to the appropriate section of the online application.

Do I need to obtain an evaluation of my transcript?

We are aware that the application asks applicants who attended a foreign institution to submit an “ Unofficial Uploaded Evaluation. ”  This is incorrect.

The Graduate School of Arts and Sciences does not require “an unofficial foreign evaluation with a course-by-course equivalency report.”  An evaluation is not a required component of the application.

If you have attended an institution that is not located within the United States, we request that you simply upload your transcript(s) in the appropriate section of your application.  The program you are applying to may contact you at the time of review if an evaluation is necessary (ex: WES/ECE) .

Does my transcript need to be in English?

Yes, all transcripts submitted to the Graduate School of Arts and Sciences need to be in English. If your school does not provide English copies, you must submit a certified English translation of your transcript and academic records (coursework, graduation/diploma certificates) with the originals. The translation may be completed by an embassy (if available) or professional translation service or public notary. If you have two separate documents, a foreign language transcript and its certified translation into English, you will need to combine these two documents into a single document and then upload it where it says “Unofficial Uploaded Evaluation.”

I will not receive my degree until the summer. Must I submit another transcript?

Only if you are admitted and accept an offer of admission.  In this case, you will need to submit official transcripts and certified documents showing all degrees conferred or awarded as soon as they become available, even if the degree will not be conferred until the semester of matriculation begins.

Can I get copies of the documents I submitted as part of my application?

No.  All credentials, including transcripts and reference letters, submitted in support of an application become property of Boston University. Neither originals nor copies may be returned.

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Transcripts

When you apply: upload a copy of the official transcript to applyweb.

• All applicants must upload a copy, front and back, of their official transcript/academic record issued by the Registrar or Records Office to the applicant, to ApplyWeb for each bachelor’s, master’s, professional, or doctoral degree earned or in progress. The copy of the official transcript is used for initial review by the graduate program faculty.
• A downloaded transcript from your school portal or system is an unofficial transcript and not acceptable for review.
• If you are attending or have graduated from a Non-U.S. institution, review the Required Academic Credentials from Non-U.S. Institutions for requirements by country.
• If you have community or junior college, non-degree, or study abroad coursework, indicate this information in your curriculum vitae (CV) or resume. Do not submit any transcripts from a community or junior college, non-degree, or study abroad coursework to the Rackham Graduate School.
• Applicants will not upload non-degree work unless the program of application requires it under the program specific information cont’d page on the ApplyWeb application.

Once You Are Offered Admission: Submit the Official Transcript

After an offer of admission is made, an official transcript sent directly from the registrar’s office must be submitted to Rackham.

• Submit an official transcript/academic record, front and back, issued by the Registrar or Records Office for each bachelor’s, master’s, professional, or doctoral degree earned. Attachments from students are not official.
• Submit only official transcripts/academic records. These bear the issuing institution’s seal and the official signature of the Registrar or Recorder of Records.
• U-M Ann Arbor Applicants (Current or Previous Students): Do not submit your U-M Ann Arbor transcript. Rackham will obtain your U-M Ann Arbor transcript internally. Submit only degree transcripts from other institutions you attended including U-M Dearborn or U-M Flint.

Submitting the Official Transcript/Academic Record to Rackham

Submit an e-transcript or paper transcript.

• E-transcripts are strongly preferred. Do not submit the same transcript both electronically and by paper.

Submit Electronically

Request the Registrar (or Recorder of Records) send an electronic transcript and Transcripts/Academic Records Submission Form to [email protected] . You will need to complete the submission form and request that your school send it with your transcript to us. If it is not possible to include the Transcripts/Academic Records Submission Form, do not mail or submit separately . Documents not emailed by the Registrar (or Recorder of Records) are not official and will not be accepted.

• If your institution uses National Student Clearing House as their electronic transcript vendor, select “Electronic Transcript Exchange” as the delivery method if that is an option.
• Admitted students have the option (not mandatory) to use Certifile transcript submission through their ApplyWeb account . ApplyWeb has partnered with Educational Perspectives (EP), MyCreds/MesCertif , My eQuals , and Digitary Core to verify, evaluate, and deliver your official credentials electronically to our office.
• Your credential elevations or verifications will be submitted directly to the Rackham Graduate School.
• You only need to request one set for all Rackham applications if applying to more than one program.

Submit by Mail

If an e-transcript option is not available, submit paper documents in the envelope sealed and/or stamped by the institution issuing the educational documents and the Transcripts/Academic Records Submission Form.

Mail the documents to:

Rackham Graduate School Attn: Transcripts/UMID: or Transcripts/Date of Birth (mm/dd/yyyy) 915 E. Washington Street Ann Arbor, Michigan 48109-1070 USA

The Transcripts/Academic Records Submission Form is optional but it is a helpful aid in matching your documents to your record.

Submit in Person

If you are on campus and prefer to deliver them in person to Rackham, you may place your educational documents in the secure drop box, located in front of Rackham on East Washington Street. Put them in an envelope and include your name, U-M ID, name of program, and term of anticipated graduation. Documents placed in the drop box will not be returned.

Students may drop off their educational documents in-person in the Admissions Office Monday through Friday from 9:30 to 11:30 a.m. and 1:30 to 3:30 p.m. Students can come to the Student Services office located on the lower level of the Rackham Graduate School, 915 East Washington St, Suite 0120.

Students requiring their original documents returned to them need to make complete copies of the original documents, front and back. The original document and the copy must be brought to the office together. Our staff will compare the two documents and return the original. For convenience, there is a copier available for student use in the Student Services office. Students, faculty, and staff receive an allocation for each term to print at Sites locations and are charged for additional printing .

If you are applying to graduate this semester, the transcript/academic record must be received by Rackham before a degree will be awarded or further degree progress can be made.

Original educational documents will not be returned. All documentation received becomes the property of the University of Michigan and will not be returned.

Transcript Frequently Asked Questions

What is an official transcript.

An official transcript/academic record must be:

• An original or an attested copy with an original institutional seal and signature of the Registrar.
• The attested copy should be issued and signed or stamped by the same office that issues original documents from the degree granting institution. An apostille certification is not necessary. Notarized copies are not acceptable.

What Is Not an Official Transcript?

• A “true” copy prepared and signed by a faculty member, city or government official, or notary public is not considered official.
• An evaluation provided by a credential service, for example Educational Credentials Evaluators (ECE) or World Education Services (WES), is not accepted by Rackham. Exception: the Rackham Graduate School will accept electronic evaluations from Educational Perspectives (EP) .
• Documents emailed to our office by anyone that is not a Registrar (Recorder of Records) or equivalent.

I ordered an electronic transcript and can’t upload the file to ApplyWeb. What should I do?

If you are unable to upload a copy of your official e-transcript due to security settings, there are several options:

• Print a copy of your e-transcript and scan the printed transcript for upload.
• Take a screenshot or photograph of your transcript and save the image as a PDF for upload. The Adobe Scan app is an option for this process.

What type of transcript should I order for Rackham?

Submit only official transcripts. These bear the issuing institution’s seal and the official signature of the Registrar (or Recorder of Records).

For those enrolled in degree study at the time of application, submit only the most recent in-progress transcript for that degree.

Which document formats are not accepted by Rackham?

• A scanned copy of an official transcript (only allowed for the upload on ApplyWeb -Step 1).
• Academic records printed from your school’s website.
• A paper transcript that is not sealed in the institution’s envelope.
• An evaluation provided by a credential service, for example, Educational Credentials Evaluators (ECE) or World Education Services (WES). Exception: the Rackham Graduate School will accept electronic evaluations from Educational Perspectives (EP).
• A “true” copy prepared and signed by a faculty member, city or government official, or notary public.

Do I need to submit an updated transcript to Rackham after the grades are available for the term in progress?

No. Do not submit an updated transcript to Rackham.

I applied previously and submitted a copy of my official transcripts then. Do I need to submit them again?

Applicants must upload a copy of their official transcripts with each application that is submitted to the Rackham Graduate School. One set of official transcripts from the school’s registrar’s office will be due, if an offer of admission is made.

Official Transcripts & Degree Conferral Documents

Main navigation.

The information on this page is for admitted students starting graduate study in 2024 . Admitted students starting graduate study in 2025 or later will be required to follow new guidelines for official transcripts & degree conferral documents .

After you accept your offer of admission, please arrange for your official transcripts and degree documents to be sent directly to Graduate Admissions as soon as possible.

Check Your Status Page

After accepting the offer of admission, refer to the Matriculation Checklist on your application status page  to see which documents you are required to submit and where to send them. 

Required Documents

We require official documents from all post-secondary institutions where you were enrolled in a degree program for at least one academic year.

• Undergraduate program documents (associate’s & bachelor’s level): Final official transcript(s) showing completion of coursework required for the degree, degree earned, and the date of degree conferral. If from an international institution, additional documents probably are needed - official degree conferral/graduation document(s).
• Graduate program documents (master’s & doctoral level): If applicable, official graduate transcript(s). In-progress documents are all that are usually required. Only in the following cases must the graduate transcript be final and degree conferral/graduation documents be included: those needed for a TOEFL waiver or following a 3-year undergraduate degree from India, Pakistan, Bangladesh, Nepal or Oceania countries.
• If the documents are not in English, then institution-produced or certified translations are required, in addition to the official original-language documents.

Delivery Methods

Preferred methods.

• Parchment: This is the preferred method for receiving official documents from U.S. institutions. Select “Stanford University - Graduate Admissions” as the recipient.
• If you plan to apply for transfer credit for graduate work completed at an international institution, we recommend that you obtain a Course-by-Course evaluation. Otherwise, a Document-by-Document evaluation is sufficient to matriculate into graduate study at Stanford.
• Note that Stanford’s assessment of U.S. bachelor’s degree equivalency may differ from what is listed on your WES evaluation. Refer to our eligibility guidelines .

Other Methods

If you cannot obtain official documents using one of the preferred methods, we will accept documents sent directly by the issuing institution using one of the methods below:

• Certified Electronic Transcripts: Secure, electronically delivered transcripts that are digitally signed and properly certified by the issuing institution are accepted from the issuing institution or its authorized agent.
• Your official transcripts and/or degree conferral documents become the property of Stanford University once we receive them.
• We are unable to accommodate student requests to access physical official transcripts received by our office.
• In the rare case that your institution will issue only one official transcript in your lifetime, please submit a ticket to Graduate Admissions to discuss potential options for your situation.

If using one of the above methods, please arrange for the official documents to be sent directly to Graduate Admissions, not to your graduate program.  You may find the contact information for Graduate Admissions on your application status page , after accepting the offer of admission.

Not Accepted

The following documents are not considered official:

• Transcripts uploaded within the online application
• Transcripts sent as email attachments by the student
• To be considered official, transcripts physically delivered by the student must be in an institution-sealed envelope.

If you have questions about submitting your official documents,  submit a service request  (SUNet login required).

Graduate School

Transcripts

All applicants are required to upload a transcript, including the key from all attended colleges or universities you are attending or have attended. (It may be unofficial at this time.) Do not mail transcripts. There is no need to have your university send transcripts to Graduate Admission directly for the purposes of the application. Prior to submitting, please review file upload requirements .

If you are offered admission and our offer is accepted, we require final official transcripts from every college or university from which you have earned a degree.

Requirements

The transcript must show:

Name of the student

Name of the issuing institution

Names of courses taken

Grades received in those courses

Translations

Applicants with transcripts in languages other than English will need to upload an official English translation along with such transcripts. 

Sealed copies

If you only have a sealed copy of the transcript, you may open it, scan it, and upload it to the application. Transcripts should be scanned in black and white at a maximum resolution of 300dpi and no larger than 10MB. Screenshots from student portals will not be accepted as an unofficial transcript.

Transcripts with Certified Digital Signatures

If you have trouble uploading a digital transcript with a certified digital signature (Certified by Certified Document Services, National Student Clearinghouse, etc.):

• Print the digital transcript
• Scan the print-out
• Upload that scan to your application 

If, upon printing, a watermark indicating the document is “invalid once printed” appears, we will still accept it for your application. If scanning is not possible, send the original digital transcript with the certified digital signature to [email protected] . We will attach the document to your application within a few business days. Please be aware that this cannot be done until after you have submitted your application.

International Applicants

Foreign equivalents may in some cases have a normal program length that is shorter or longer than four years.  No degree that has a normal program length shorter than three years will be considered equivalent to a bachelor's degree.

Please upload both your original transcript in your native language along with an official English translation.

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Do the courses on your PhD transcript matter, beyond GPA and grades?

There are a few questions here that discuss whether PhD GPA/grades matter (for example this , this , and this ). But I haven't been able to find anything on whether other information on the transcript matters. In particular, I wonder if a specific course and the status of that course on PhD transcript could be something an application reviewer would care about, for academic and industry jobs after completing the PhD, and also internships and fellowships during the PhD.

I have heard "no body looks at your transcript" from so many people, but I doubt if any of them had any issue with their transcript anyway. That makes me skeptical of their assessment of the importance of PhD transcript. Say, there is a course that's relevant to your research (but not absolutely essential). When you go on the (industry or academic) job market at the end of your PhD, would anyone care about whether you had that course or not and whether you got A, B, or a W for that course? If so, between a B and a W, which one is worse, and how bad is it?

To give more context, I'm quite a bit beyond the coursework stage of my PhD (an engineering PhD in the US), have completed all my courseworks, have taken my comprehensive exams, and have just one more step to candidacy/ABD. Almost all of my time should be spent on research, but I took an optional course that's on a topic quite useful for my research (admittedly a mistake to take it as a graded course). Now I'm considering dropping it with a 'W' on my transcript, but I don't know if that could have any consequences. In terms of learning the material, I've already gotten all that I want from the course (I kept it for most of the semester and did the homework, etc.), but I don't know if getting a B on that course is worth slowing down my research to study for the exams, or if it'd be better to just get a 'W' and focus on my research and avoid botching paper deadlines.

• Are you in a middle-to-top ranked program where it's generally assumed by default (by society) that everyone in the program (and definitely everyone earning a degree) is competent, or a less well-regarded program where that's not a given? Are you going to be competing for jobs where the employer is hoping to hire someone really good, or jobs where the employer is just trying to not hire someone bad? –  Alexander Woo Commented Nov 8, 2023 at 16:12
• I am in mod-to-top ranked program. I don't know about the answer to your question about the jobs. In terms of competitiveness, the job market I hear about is quite competitive. For industry jobs, normally PhDs from our lab/program compete for jobs at well-known tech companies, but rarely go for niche and ultra competitive positions in Wall Street. And academic job market is highly competitive anyway as far as I know. –  gradette Commented Nov 8, 2023 at 16:37
• If you are done with all other courses, mostly the research portion is pending, and still can get a B or better in the course, I suggest completing that course even with a B grade while working on research and graduating. It seems like you are at the end of your PhD journey with the feeling of "Is it worth taking courses" during the end of PhD. All you need is a final push which I am giving you. I had the same feeling and a friend of mine motivated me to finish the course; I did and the rest is history. You'll be proud at the end. –  Dr. Banjadebaje Commented Nov 8, 2023 at 20:02

2 Answers 2

I doubt that courses and grades have any "external" value after you finish your dissertation and it is accepted.

My experience was that the doctoral level coursework (math) was to prepare one to pass comprehensive exams prior to starting on the dissertation. If you couldn't pass the courses with a good grade you probably weren't going to pass comps and might be advised to quit.

They were also, however, the way that the university "guaranteed" to the public that its PhD graduates were broadly prepared in the field. So, while algebra was far from my first love, I had to grok it to be considered a competent mathematician. For my main field, my grades and such in those courses reassured my advisor that he wouldn't be making a mistake in taking me on.

The emphasis on the courses will vary, of course, in different places.

It is unlikely that anyone would care about a withdrawal, or even know about it. There are lots of reasons to drop a course that isn't required.

• 1 Thanks for the response! This agrees with what I've heard from others. Do you by any chance have/heard of experiences of actually ignoring transcripts when reviewing applications for postdoc positions? Or the experience of not ignoring it and interpreting any specific information on the transcript? –  gradette Commented Nov 8, 2023 at 15:12
• 1 Nothing specific, but it isn't a question of "ignoring" transcripts but the fact of the granting of a degree implies that the granting institution judged you worthy and it is unlikely to be second guessed other than in odd circumstances such as being hired to do a specific thing and your record implies you are bad at that. But a W is nothing to worry about, especially once you start research, which pushes other things aside. –  Buffy Commented Nov 8, 2023 at 15:16

If you are applying for US Federal Government job, then the answer is yes. Specifically, different job series require specific numbers of credits. For example, a Mathematical Statistician states:

Basic Requirements: Degree: that included 24 semester hours of mathematics and statistics, of which at least 12 semester hours were in mathematics and 6 semester hours were in statistics. or Combination of education and experience -- at least 24 semester hours of mathematics and statistics, including at least 12 hours in mathematics and 6 hours in statistics, as shown in A above, plus appropriate experience or additional education. Evaluation of Education: Courses acceptable toward meeting the mathematics course requirement of paragraphs A or B above must have included at least four of the following: differential calculus, integral calculus, advanced calculus, theory of equations, vector analysis, advanced algebra, linear algebra, mathematical logic, differential equations, or any other advanced course in mathematics for which one of these was a prerequisite. Courses in mathematical statistics or probability theory with a prerequisite of elementary calculus or more advanced courses will be accepted toward meeting the mathematics requirements, with the provision that the same course cannot be counted toward both the mathematics and the statistics requirement.

Also, for a federal job, you can list courses on your resume to show they fit the requirements. For example, a biology-type series might require 24 credits of biology courses. You could list "Wildlife 301: Herpetology" as a biologist course so HR would see you have enough credits.

For your second question:

For give more context, I'm quite a bit beyond the coursework stage of my PhD (an engineering PhD in the US), have completed all my courseworks, have taken my comprehensive exams, and have just one more step to candidacy/ABD. Almost all of my time should be spent on research, but I took an optional course that's on a topic quite useful for my research (admittedly a mistake to take it as a graded course). Now I'm considering dropping it with a 'W' on my transcript, but I don't know if that could have any consequences. In terms of learning the material, I've already gotten all that I want from the course (I kept it for most of the semester and did the homework, etc.), but I don't know if getting a B on that course is worth slowing down my research to study for the exams, or if it'd be better to just get a 'W' and focus on my research and avoid botching paper deadlines.

I personally do not think it matters either way. A "W" will not hurt you (I had one or two in grad school too). Ask your advisor or trusted committee member what they think.

• The math courses you list seem to be undergraduate level, not doctoral level coursework. Same for statistics. –  Buffy Commented Nov 8, 2023 at 16:00
• If somebody didn't have the courses at the undergraduate level, they could count graduate-level math courses. Especially for other areas like ecology or for a fish biologist. –  Richard Erickson Commented Nov 8, 2023 at 16:36

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