How do I send high school transcripts to colleges?

I'm in the middle of applying to colleges, and they all need my high school transcripts. What's the best way to send these, and is there anything specific I need to include or do beforehand?

The process for sending high school transcripts to colleges can vary based on the specific requirements of each institution. However, here is a general guideline:

1. Request an official transcript: You can request your official high school transcript from your school's guidance or administrative office. In some cases, you may need to fill out a form or pay a nominal fee.

2. Electronic delivery: Many high schools and colleges now use secure, third-party services for transcript delivery. Services like Naviance, Parchment, or National Student Clearinghouse can send your transcripts electronically to the colleges you're applying to. If your high school uses one of these services, you’ll create an account, request your transcript, and specify where you’d like it sent.

3. Physical delivery: If your school does not use one of these services or if a college prefers a physical transcript, your school can mail your transcript directly to the colleges.

4. Via Common Application or Coalition Application: If you're applying via the Common Application or Coalition Application, your counselor will upload your transcript as part of the School Report. In this case, when you add your counselor as a recommender, they get a prompt in their portal to upload your transcript.

Before sending the transcripts, make sure that all the information on the transcript is correct. Check for any errors in courses, grades, or personal details like your name and date of birth. If you find an error, report it to your school's administrative office so it can be corrected before the transcript is sent. Do keep in mind that the transcript needs to be official, which often means it needs to be sent directly from your high school to the college, without passing through your hands.

Remember, it is your responsibility to understand the specific transcript submission requirements of each college to which you're applying and ensure that your transcript is received by the college by the application deadline. If you're unsure, check the college's admissions website or reach out directly to the college's admissions office. It's always better to confirm early, rather than risking your transcript not arriving on time or not being accepted because it was sent in the wrong format.