Direct Definition (Introduction)
A high school transcript is a document showing all of your high school academic performance (good and bad). Unlike in other parts of the world where only the final exam is shown in your transcript, the United States based high school transcript includes academic performance (tests, assignments, participation) from the first term of study in freshman year all the way till the last and gets updated every term.
After reading and confidently understanding College Board’s article on the definition of a high school transcript, we are certain we can express our comprehension of their material on our website’s blog post and hope you find it enjoyable and shareable.
We shall go through some of the main components of a majority of high school transcripts, the primary use of a high school transcript, different types of high school transcripts, differentiating the types of high school transcripts, and finalize with the secondary uses of a high school transcript.
So, what are you waiting for? Grab a cup of tea or hot chocolate and let’s dive straight in.
Components of a Majority of High School Transcripts
Student Information
This section only covers personal identifiers of the student such as their name, address, and date of birth. Other details that can also be covered include the email address, phone number, and parent or guardian’s name.
This section is the first you will see if you read from left to right and has its own compartment just like all the other sections on the high school transcript.
School Information
As you’d expect, this is where the information of the institution the student is receiving formal high school education goes. Typically includes the name, address, phone number, and email address of the school.
This section comes in second.
Academic Record
This is the main part of the high school transcript. It includes sub sections that contain the school year, grade, and the courses taken alongside credits and grades earned.
It is only fair to note that in addition, each subsection includes the total credits, GPA, and the Cumulative GPA.
There are typically four school years therefore four sub sections under the Academic Record section.
Academic Summary
This section is sometimes clearly labeled and other times, it isn’t. It is pretty much self explanatory when you think about it. It summarizes the academic performance outlined in your high school transcript.
Typically, it includes the Cumulative GPA and the date of graduation. Others can also include the total credits earned and an indication of whether or not you earned the high school diploma.
Some even go the extra mile and list your Class Rank together with your academic performance’s percentile.
Notes/Comments
This section includes additional information that adds onto the value of the high school transcript but isn’t included on the transcript such as whether or not the student took coursework and when to expect the transcript from the college providing it.
What is the Primary Importance of a High School Transcript?
- Compulsory for when applying to college.
- Helps provide college admissions officers with a bird eye’s view of your high school academic performance thus influencing their decision to admit you into their college.
Types of High School Transcripts
- Official Transcripts
- Unofficial Transcripts
Differentiating the Types of High School Transcripts
Official Transcripts are sent directly to colleges from high schools whereas unofficial transcripts can be given directly to high school students.
Secondary Use of a High School Transcript
Can be used to qualify the student for internships, jobs, and scholarships. To be clear, scholarships will more often than not require you to submit your official transcript and not your unofficial one.
Conclusion
And that is the end of our blog post. I hope you enjoyed this installment. Feel free to leave any questions you may have in the comments and we shall respond to them as quickly as possible.
If you are interested, you can get access to our free personal statement guide training video on our home page. All the best with the ongoing development of your high school transcript and your college applications.
