Are you asking, “How do I request a high school transcript?” You are in the right place!

Here are a few reasons you usually need to request your high school transcripts: transferring high schools and applying for colleges, jobs, grants, and scholarships. However, there are some important steps you need to take to request a high school transcript. 

Read on to learn how to request a high school transcript, including some very important steps you cannot forget to take whenever you request a transcript.

What is a High School Transcript?

You may already know the definition of a transcript — a document that lists your school, courses, grades, and weighted and unweighted GPA. Your high school transcript might also include your class rank and any academic honors. 

However, it is important to understand the distinction between “unofficial” and “official” high school transcripts. Unofficial transcripts are the transcripts you can download yourself. Official transcripts are the transcripts your high school keeps. Official transcripts come directly from your high school and have a digital seal, which prevents tampering. They are more trustworthy but a bit harder to coordinate — you will need to work with your high school in advance to ensure they get sent in on time during the college search.

It is also important to understand unofficial transcripts are usually fine for initial reviews of your application at colleges and universities. However, most colleges will require an official transcript later in the process for final admission decisions.

When you need an official transcript:

• Colleges (for admissions)
• Some scholarship applications
• Graduate or professional school applications
• Study abroad programs
• Military service or ROTC programs
• Certain employer background checks or government jobs
• Certification programs that require verified academic records

When you may need an unofficial transcript:

• Internships
• Summer jobs
• Some scholarships
• Job applications where verification is not required immediately
• Personal record-keeping or planning
• Academic advising or course registration
• Club or honor society applications that request grades
• Prior to admission interviews (if necessary at all)

Some situations require an official transcript, while others do not. For example, an outside scholarship may allow you to submit an unofficial transcript. Read carefully to learn more about whether you need an official or unofficial transcript — you want to prevent any heartbreak or college application mistakes that might occur if you do not submit the right type of transcript. Read on to learn how to request a transcript from high school. 

How to Get a Copy of Your Transcript

Let’s walk through the steps on how to request a copy of high school transcripts. Keep in mind that there are many ways to get it during the college decision process. 

Step 1: Determine the reason for your transcript. 

First, ask yourself, “Why do I need a transcript?”

There are various reasons you would need a transcript in the high school to college transition, as we have outlined above. The answer might be obvious, but at the same time, you might still have a vague understanding of why you need one: “I need one for college applications, I think?”

In other words, be 100% sure of the reason for needing a transcript and why, whether it is college summer programs or something else.

Step 2: Figure out the type of transcript you need.

Do you need an official or unofficial transcript? 

For example, if you need a transcript for the local Rotary scholarship, the scholarship committee may only require an unofficial transcript (though it is possible local scholarships might require you to provide an official transcript!). Ensure you know the correct type of transcript, and if you do not know, do not guess. Find out for sure. 

In some cases, an organization might hold an unofficial transcript until you can get them an official transcript, but that is not always the case. Some organizations might state that you cannot send an unofficial transcript for any reason. 

Here is a quick email you can send if it is unclear which type of transcript you should send: 

Dear [Name or Organization Name], 

I am  excited to apply for the [Scholarship Name or Other]. Can you tell me whether you require an official or unofficial transcript? I want to send the correct type of school transcripts, and any information you could provide would be appreciated.

Thanks so much,

[Your Name]

If you prefer, you can also call to ask the same questions. 

Step 3: Closely review the requirements.

How does the organization want to receive your transcripts? For example, they might be asking for it in the following ways:

• Official transcript request form on a website
• Email request 
• Online student portal request (PDF download or e-delivery)
• In-person request 
• Faxed request with signed authorization
• Mail-in request with completed form and payment
• Third-party transcript services (e.g., Parchment, National Student Clearinghouse for transfer students)
• PDF or Word document uploaded via secure portal for internal purposes
• Request via phone with identity verification (less common)

Naturally, a school or university will request a transcript in the most formal way possible, whereas older local organizations may require a printed copy delivered by hand or fax! (You never know.)

Step 4: Learn your school counselor’s processes.

If you need your school counselor to send in your transcripts, learn their processes. Take the time to understand exactly how they handle requests, and learn how to fill out a high school transcript request form. Some counselors require a written or online request form, while others may need a parent or student signature. They might have specific deadlines, designated office hours, or particular formats for submitting transcripts to colleges, scholarships, or internships. Knowing these details ahead of time ensures your documents will get sent directly and on time, preventing last-minute stress or delays, particularly in the case of Early Action vs Early Decision.

Learn more: How to Narrow Down Your College List

Step 5: Access your transcripts.

Your school counselor’s office will house your official transcripts. If you need an unofficial copy, your school counselor’s office may be able to get you a copy on the spot, but an official transcript may take longer, because it must take longer to prepare. However, you can also get an instant copy of your official or unofficial transcript through the following methods: 

• School website: Many schools will allow you to get a copy of your transcript on the school website. 
• School portal: Your school may require you to log in to a portal native to your school’s website or through an external software through the site. 
• Email: You can usually request official transcripts by emailing your school counselor. 
• External website: Some high schools outsource their transcript services, such as through an external website like Parchment. 

The way you access your transcripts obviously depends on the type of transcript you need, so do your homework prior to college planning!

Step 6: Be clear about the deadlines if you are working with your school counselor.

When you are talking with your school counselor, it is often a good idea to tell them about your request as soon as you know you will need the transcripts. For example, if you know you will need a transcript by November 1, request them as soon as you can — by the second day of school, if possible!

The point is, do not wait till the last minute. If you ask for an official transcript two days before a scholarship is due, it might not show up in time. That could be a heartbreaking scenario if you lose out on the opportunity because the transcripts do not come by the deadline. Many scholarship committees need everything before they will take a look at your scholarship application — they will  just throw it out if they do not have all the materials you must provide.

Learn more: How to Tour Colleges and How to Pick Extracurricular Activities 

Step 7: Submit your transcripts or have your school counselor submit them. 

After you determine your methods and needs and you access your transcripts, submit them in the correct format. Submitting your transcripts on your own should not be difficult — it is often more difficult to track down your school counselor! 

Also ensure you submit everything else you need to submit and that it’s in order. Check your essays to ensure you have edited them, and do not use AI to create them! (That will automatically make your essays go into the trash.)

Step 8: Recheck to ensure your counselor sent your transcripts.

Recheck to ensure your counselor sent your transcripts. This step is crucial because even the busiest counselors can get tied up with other tasks and sometimes forget to send documents. Do not assume your transcripts were sent. Double-check by asking your counselor directly or by confirming through college or university portals. Do not worry about whether you are pestering them — it is their job. 

Avoid the unnecessary stress of wondering whether your materials actually reached their destinations by doubling back.

Request High School Transcripts the Correct Way   

There is definitely a right way and a wrong way to request high school transcripts, and the most important thing you can do is to give yourself enough time to request transcripts (especially if your counselor says they sent them in!). 

If you have any questions about what should be reflected on your transcripts, let us know. At Campus to Career Crossroads, we frequently answer questions about high school classes and preparing for college with AP classes and more.

Learn more: How to Pick a Major in College

FAQs

Still have questions? Read through our frequently asked questions to learn how to fill out a high school transcript request form and how to get high school transcripts.

Do I have to pay to get a copy of my transcript?

In high school, you likely will not have to pay a lot of money to get a copy of your transcript, though it is a good idea to check with your school counselor. It may be completely free! 

If you need to request a college transcript, you are much more likely to have to pay to get a copy of your transcript. Check with colleges and universities to learn more about their processes and requirements, but this article focuses more closely on high school transcripts, not college transcripts. 

Can I send an unofficial copy of my transcript to colleges and scholarships?

Yes, you can often send an unofficial copy of your transcript to colleges and scholarships, especially in the early stages of applications. Unofficial transcripts are usually fine for initial reviews, scholarship pre-screenings, or internship applications. However, most colleges will require an official transcript later in the process for final admission decisions, so it’s important to know which situations allow unofficial copies and which require the official version.

How expensive are copies of a high school transcript?

Most high schools will charge somewhere between $5 and $10 if they charge money to send your transcripts. Ask your school counselor for more information about costs. You may want to strategize on how many you send, as it can get expensive the more transcripts you send!

Who should I contact to get my high school transcript?

Start with your school counselor first. Ask any specific questions about how to request and submit transcripts you’re unsure about any step of the process or if your school counselor has left anything unclear. You want to be sure you understand the entire process from start to finish, especially how much lead time you need to give your school counselor prior to your first high school transcript request. 

Can I send my official transcript online or does it have to be by mail?

Your official transcripts will almost always get sent online, though in some cases, an outside scholarship may require you to send your transcripts via mail. It’s worth talking to your school counselor about their full range of capabilities.