What is the SRAR on college applications?

I keep hearing about SRAR (Self-Reported Academic Record) when applying to college, but I'm not quite sure what it is. Can anyone explain how it works and why colleges use it in their application review process?

The Self-Reported Academic Record (SRAR) is a mechanism in which college applicants can self-report their high school coursework, grades, and any related achievements when submitting their application, instead of ordering and sending official transcripts from their high school. The intent of SRAR is to streamline the process of sharing your academic accomplishments with colleges and universities.

When using the SRAR system, you will manually enter your high school grades (including course names, credits earned, and final grades) for each year, as well as any honors, Advanced Placement, or International Baccalaureate courses you may have taken. This process is often done through the same application portal where you complete the rest of the college application.

Colleges use this approach for several reasons:

1. Cost savings: Colleges using the SRAR system do not have to spend time and resources reviewing and processing physical transcripts. This streamlines the admission process and may provide a small cost saving to the institution.

2. Convenience for applicants: Self-reporting can be easier and faster for students, as they do not need to request and wait for official transcripts to be sent directly from their high schools to multiple colleges.

3. Consistency: SRAR provides a form for students to report their grades consistently across multiple college applications, reducing inconsistencies that may arise due to differences in formatting and presentation on varied high school transcripts.

Keep in mind that, if accepted and decide to enroll in the college using SRAR, you are typically required to send an official transcript from your high school to confirm the accuracy of your self-reported grades. Any discrepancies between your SRAR and official transcript might lead to rescinding an offer of admission, so it's crucial to be honest and thorough when reporting your academic record.