Are transcripts mandatory ?
Posted: Tue Aug 09, 2011 2:07 pm
I am well aware that transcripts are necessary as supporting documents for graduate school admission. Unlike US, most of the Indian universities do not provide transcripts to students upon graduation. What we get is mark sheets and certificates of course completion. Apart from few universities in India which give transcripts to students on demand, majority of the universities have not even understood what a transcript is.
Few years back, when I went to registrar's office at my university asking for transcripts for my MSc course completion to apply for overseas study, he clearly told me that our university does not have any such system of issuing transcripts. What the university provides is the mark sheet that mentions details of the courses undertaken, grades scored, etc. He further mentioned that if the respective universities that I would be applying, need any clarification as such, they could approach the university directly. Moreover, even to apply for transcripts of BSc exam, I was not in position to go personally to my college/ university at southern India as I am currently based in northern India which is a bit far.
So, without any transcripts, I had to apply for PhD program at University of Birmingham, UK with whatever documents and recommendation letters that i got from my professors. Unfortunately, I couldn't attend the program as I couldn't secure financial supports or scholarship to cover their hefty tuition fees.
If its so hard to get transcripts in my case, will it be possible to furnish my BSc and MSc marksheets and certificates in place of the transcripts for application purpose? I would like to know if the US universities where I would be applying will understand and agree as various universities across the world have different norms and practices. Will the admission committee consider if I provide my MSc and BSc mark sheets and certificates as my supporting documents? Are they flexible as people claim ? Please advise what I shall do as I am helpless. Your kind help and advices are very highly appreciated.
Thanks for your valuable time,
Siroy
Few years back, when I went to registrar's office at my university asking for transcripts for my MSc course completion to apply for overseas study, he clearly told me that our university does not have any such system of issuing transcripts. What the university provides is the mark sheet that mentions details of the courses undertaken, grades scored, etc. He further mentioned that if the respective universities that I would be applying, need any clarification as such, they could approach the university directly. Moreover, even to apply for transcripts of BSc exam, I was not in position to go personally to my college/ university at southern India as I am currently based in northern India which is a bit far.
So, without any transcripts, I had to apply for PhD program at University of Birmingham, UK with whatever documents and recommendation letters that i got from my professors. Unfortunately, I couldn't attend the program as I couldn't secure financial supports or scholarship to cover their hefty tuition fees.
If its so hard to get transcripts in my case, will it be possible to furnish my BSc and MSc marksheets and certificates in place of the transcripts for application purpose? I would like to know if the US universities where I would be applying will understand and agree as various universities across the world have different norms and practices. Will the admission committee consider if I provide my MSc and BSc mark sheets and certificates as my supporting documents? Are they flexible as people claim ? Please advise what I shall do as I am helpless. Your kind help and advices are very highly appreciated.
Thanks for your valuable time,
Siroy