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How to Get Your High School Transcript
By
Gabriel Jimenez-Ekman
Gabriel Jimenez-Ekman is the Director of Content at Scholarships360. He has written over 300 articles on college admissions, financial aid, and scholarships, in addition to spearheading research projects for Scholarships360's Top Colleges resource. Gabriel graduated from Kenyon College with a degree in sociology.
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Maria Geiger is Director of Scholarship Services at Scholarships360. She is a former online educational technology instructor and adjunct writing instructor. In addition to education reform, Maria’s interests include viewpoint diversity, blended/flipped learning, digital communication, and integrating media/web tools into the curriculum to better facilitate student engagement. Maria earned both a B.A. and an M.A. in English Literature from Monmouth University, an M. Ed. in Education from Monmouth University, and a Virtual Online Teaching Certificate (VOLT) from the University of Pennsylvania.
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Students often need a copy of their high school transcript to transfer high schools or to apply for colleges, jobs, grants, or scholarships. No matter your situation, we’ve outlined how to request a copy of your transcript below.
Be sure to note the difference between “unofficial” and “official” high school transcripts. You probably already have an unofficial transcript on-hand or easily accessible on the internet. In some cases, these will be all you need. Be sure to read your paperwork carefully to figure out whether you need an official or unofficial transcript for your purposes.
In this article, we’ll go over situations that require an official vs unofficial transcript. After that, we’ll show you how to get official and unofficial copies of your transcript.
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What is a high school transcript?
A high school transcript tells the reader the school you attend, the courses you’ve taken, the grades you’ve received, and your weighted and unweighted GPA. In some cases, it can also contain a disciplinary record and an attendance record. Your high school might also include your class rank and any academic honors you received.
By looking at your transcript, the reader will learn your GPA as well as the rigor and focus of your coursework. Students with many honors or AP courses will stand out when someone views their transcript.
Also see: How many AP courses should I take in high school?
What is the difference between “official” and “unofficial” transcripts?
Official transcripts come directly from your high school and typically contain a seal or digital form of preventing any tampering. These are more trustworthy and typically required for official purposes. However, they are harder to coordinate, and you’ll need to get in touch with your high school with some notice to ensure they arrive on time.
Unofficial transcripts can often be generated through your online grade portal. They do not have the same turnaround period as official transcripts. However, they may not be acceptable for some purposes.
Also read: When should I apply to college?
Situations where you probably need an official transcript
Typically, colleges and scholarships require an official transcript. If you decide to apply at the last minute, they may accept an unofficial transcript as a placeholder before the official one arrives. However, you should try to avoid this situation and be as proactive as possible with official transcript requests. Grant requests and high school transfers typically also require official transcripts.
Don’t miss: Scholarships360’s free scholarship search tool
Situations where you an unofficial transcript is often sufficient
Although you’ll typically need an official transcript, there are a few situations where you can submit an unofficial one. Many high school internships and summer jobs will only require your GPA or an unofficial transcript. Some scholarships may also accept an unofficial transcript, or only require an official transcript to verify your information after awarding you the scholarship.
That being said, always make sure to triple-check the requirements. Accidentally submitting an unofficial transcript would be a disappointing caveat to disqualify you from a promising opportunity.
Further reading: Top 15 internships for high school students
How to get a copy of your transcript
In person
You can typically get a copy of your transcript at your guidance counselor’s office. If you only need an unofficial copy, you should be able to get a same-day copy. But an official transcript may take several days to seal and print or generate digitally.
Through your school’s website
Many schools allow students to generate a transcript on the school website. Some use portals that are native to their website while others have specific grade-keeping software that runs through their website.
With these portals, students can typically generate instant unofficial transcripts and might even be able to make requests for an official one.
Via email
You can typically request official transcripts by emailing your guidance counselor. Make sure to include where you want the official transcript sent; typically, official transcripts need to go directly from the school to the recipient to ensure authenticity.
Via a third-party website
Some high schools have opted to outsource their transcript services to external websites. These sites, such as Parchment, allow you to request transcripts directly, though they are more likely to charge you a fee. Make sure to contact your guidance counselor to determine whether you need to access one of these websites.
Additional resources
Now that you need copies of your high school transcript, you might need some additional help on your college admissions journey. Make sure that you fill out the FAFSA as soon as it is available for optimal financial aid. Learn more about how many colleges you should apply to, how to get college application fee waivers and how to choose a college. Best of luck on your higher education journey!
Key Takeaways
Frequently asked questions about how to get your high school transcript
Do I have to pay to get a copy of my transcript?
Can I send an unofficial copy of my transcript to colleges and scholarships?
How expensive are copies of a high school transcript?
Who should I contact to get my high school transcript?
Can I send my official transcript online or does it have to be by mail?