Is it common to have to get transcripts from all schools prior to.....

Discussion in 'General Distance Learning Discussions' started by bpreachers, Dec 16, 2011.

Loading...
  1. bpreachers

    bpreachers New Member

    Is it common, when applying to a Masters program, to have to get transcripts from all schools attended before even though the school conferring your BA (two different schools) already used those transcripts to apply them towards your Bachelors? It seems strange to me. I was talking to Troy just now and they need me to get official transcripts from all schools I attend prior to Troy. So I have to get transcripts from Aiken Tech for the AA I got in 2004 and an official transcript from UMUC for the one class I took with them, and Official transcripts from AMU for conferring the degree, and my SMART transcripts from the military. I do not really understand the logic there can anyone enlighten me? The Admissions folks at Troy said they just require it and didn't really shed any light as to why.
     
  2. bpreachers

    bpreachers New Member

    The reason I find it strange is because none of the schools/classes I attended prior to AMU would transfer into a graduate program so why do they need to audit my entire academic history instead of just the school that grants my degree.
     
  3. Petedude

    Petedude New Member

    This is probably due to some perceived need on their part to appear academically stringent.

    I agree, though-- they should only care about the program you last completed.
     
  4. Abner

    Abner Well-Known Member

    No, not uncommon at all. I had to do the same for at Aspen for my MBA. I have applied at other schools in the past, and they have all asked for ALL my transcripts.

    Abner
     
  5. bpreachers

    bpreachers New Member

    good at least I am not the only one that finds it odd lol.
     
  6. dcb188

    dcb188 Member

    Even with my very very limited knowledge of all this in general, I will say that some schools require transcripts from ALL schools you attended, but some just require transcripts from those you graduated from, because they clearly state "advanced standing" on them if you transferred from another school, so why have to get the transcript showing the previous school?
    E.g. I got a BA and then a JD, so just those two transcripts are fine for some of the seminaries I'm thinking about applying to (all distance learning)---they don't care about seeing what happened prior to getting those two degrees
    I transferred to the school where I got the BA and same thing with the JD.
    So in my opinion it makes no sense to ask for transcripts from PREVIOUS schools prior to the BA and JD awards.
    But not everything that is required makes sense

    But as the other poster said, it makes THE SCHOOL look good to ask for all this unnecessary detail.
     
  7. cdhale

    cdhale Member

    Every school I have applied to has wanted ever transcript from every college/university that I have attended. No exceptions. My latest MA (I just started this past summer with the MA in History at Sam Houston) almost didn't happen, because the very first college I ever attended back in the 80s couldn't get the transcript there on time, before the final date for admission. I finally made enough phone calls, etc. to be enough of a nuisance to get it done.

    All of that to say, I have never had an experience otherwise. I have attended several different schools and they ALL wanted every transcript.
     
  8. dcb188

    dcb188 Member

    There are schools that just want the degree school transcripts but they are probably in the minority
     
  9. imalcolm

    imalcolm New Member

    It gets quite expensive in terms of time and money when you have attended more than a couple of schools.
     
  10. dcb188

    dcb188 Member

    Another good point, and even though the schools typically give you your first transcript free, after that, you could be talking big bucks if you are applying to several schools-----
     
  11. StefanM

    StefanM New Member

    It's standard procedure at most institutions.

    As someone who has attended multiple institutions....it does get expensive....
     
  12. Bruce

    Bruce Moderator

    For the application phase, my current school just wanted unofficial transcripts for my Master's degrees, and I faxed them a signed release so they could get official transcripts from all my schools mailed directly to them. They paid the transcript fees, which I thought was a nice touch, as well as saving me a few bucks.
     
  13. SteveFoerster

    SteveFoerster Resident Gadfly Staff Member

    Documenting my total Bachelor's degree experience requires seven transcripts, and that's not counting one from Microsoft or one for CLEP. I had to submit them all when I applied to my Master's program, but none of the schools where I've applied for doctoral study wanted any other for undergrad than the one from Charter Oak.
     
  14. Nicole-HUX

    Nicole-HUX New Member

    Admissions is a bit outside my area but I asked someone in our on-campus office, who explained it quite well.

    Compilation transcripts may or may not be accurate in relation to the work the student did at the feeder schools. Some institutions automatically exclude failing grades from the new transcripts thus giving an artificial bump to the student's GPA. Some may impose uniform grades in the transfer process (i.e., you earned all "A"s at your original school but your new school lists all passing courses as "C"s).

    There are other considerations that having the original transcript helps to resolve. Is the student in good standing at the original schools(s)? Did they leave owing money or now have defaulted loans? Did they return to the original school(s) after they graduated with their bachelor's in order to take additional classes/certificates and totally bomb out?

    I know it doesn't seem fair and can be expensive, especially when a student has attended a number of schools. (Some of our military students have had 12 or more, just for their undergrads.) It would be great if all institutions could provide transcripts at nominal or no cost but practically speaking, in today's economic climate, I can't see it happening. May we all live long enough to experience a world where common sense prevails over the interests of the business model.
     
  15. Ian Anderson

    Ian Anderson Active Member

    CSUDH only required my Excelsior transcript and ERAU required my Excelsior and CSUDH transcripts.
    My Excelsior degree used courses from around a dozen schools plus CLEP.
    AMU will (or used to) obtain all transcripts for one fee ($25 as I recall).
     
  16. lifelonglearner

    lifelonglearner New Member

    Transcripts

    I have only recently become an admissions person, but would say this is common practice. Grad schools are mainly concerned with probability of success, two parts of which are consistent academic achievement and follow through. With military, and former military it is common to see numerous transcripts and incomplete programs because of the frequent moves.

    While I expect full disclosure from people who are applying I do not know what I do not know. So if someone took a one off course many years ago, and it is not reflected in other transcripts, and bears no relevance to the degree they are applying for I would find it difficult to be concerned about it.

    - Lifelonglearner
     
  17. KF@UNA

    KF@UNA New Member

    I am about to start the process of applying for law school. I am not sure what relevance general education classes I took 30 years ago considering that I have a couple of bachelors' degrees and an MBA under my belt. But I will spend the money for the complete package.
     
  18. Ted Heiks

    Ted Heiks Moderator and Distinguished Senior Member

    Yes, it is standard operating procedure to require transcripts from all previous schools.
     
  19. datapoly

    datapoly Member


    Are you serious? According to CSUDH website : "Compilation-style transcripts (such as those from University of New York Regents, Thomas Edison State College, or similar programs) are not sufficient for evaluation because these schools tend to delete pertinent academic information from the student's records. Therefore, individual transcripts from ALL schools are required."

    Ref : HUX--Admission Process point 4.

    This is really good news if the above requirement is waived.
     
  20. I'll be done with TESC by summer of next year. TESC accepted my whole Criminal Justice A.A from Penn Foster College (which all the courses in the program are ACE reviewed). I also have 30 RA credit from two community colleges, and the remaining ACE credit from Straighter line. So basically I'll be sending out two transcripts from R.A schools with only thirty credit and the remaining 90 ACE reviewed courses. But everyone keeps telling me I should just send out the Penn Foster transcript (even though it's DETC). That would be nearly 63 graded credits on a DETC transcript that would be useful... How would an RA school view a DETC accredited transcript just for GPA calculations? It's not like I'm transferring the DETC courses into the RA school... it's merely just for calculating a GPA? Anyone have any experience or was in the same boat as me?

    Thanks!
     

Share This Page