It pays to transfer as many credits as possible, no matter the grades or the age, because this will reduce the number of courses you must complete (and pay for!) to get your degree.

Also, don’t worry that low grades in the past will reflect poorly on you now. College administrators understand that there are a variety of reasons for low grades. The grades themselves don’t transfer to your new school, either—only the credit!




Can I Request Official Transcripts?

When you apply for admission to a college or university, you will need to provide official transcripts from your previous schools. Official transcripts are also necessary for transferring credits.

A transcript is considered official if it is sent directly from one institution to another in a sealed envelope. You can also request that official transcripts be sent to you in sealed envelopes, and they will remain official as long as you don’t open them. You can deliver them yourself or enclose them with your application.

First, contact the registrar's office at each of your previous colleges to see if there is a transcript fee (usually $5-10). Send the fee and a transcript request to each institution. You may download a copy of a Transcript Request Form here that includes all of the information typically required.

Be aware that if you don't send the transcript fee, they will not send the transcript and they probably won't contact you to let you know why. Also note that the school will not release your transcript if there are unpaid bills in your name. All bills need to be cleared before transcripts will be sent.




How Long will it Take to Obtain Transcripts?

It may take anywhere from two to six weeks for the transcript to arrive at its destination. If the courses were taken years ago, it could take even longer to get a transcript.




What Other Documents Might Colleges Need?

Copies of military documents may be required to provide information about training you received that has been awarded college credit. Official copies of test scores from any standardized tests you completed may also be required. You will also need to provide documentation for any of your work-related training that has been evaluated for college credit by the American Council on Education. In some instances, schools may want to see copies of professional licenses.