High School Transcript
When completing the Common App, your high school transcript should be uploaded by your school. Every high school applicant (including those who applied Early Decision and were admitted or deferred) will also need to submit mid-year grades.
Who is responsible for submitting transcripts?
While most high school counseling officers are familiar with the process of mid-year grades, it is your responsibility to ensure they have everything they need to submit them. While many counseling offices will automatically send your first-semester grades to all of the schools to which you applied, others might require a release form or need a list of the schools where you applied. Be sure you know your school’s policy and follow up with your high school counselor if you have any questions.
What needs to be included in a transcript?
We will accept an updated official transcript which includes grades from your senior year or a grade/progress report (generally just a listing of your current courses and the grades you’ve earned so far). The Common App’s mid-year report form (pdf) can be included but this is optional.
When should transcripts be submitted?
Submit your mid-year grades as soon as they are available. We have no specific due date since schools end their grading periods at various times. Don’t worry if yours are delayed a bit due to snow days or the like. Just submit them as soon as you can. Generally, if they arrive by early to mid-Feb., they will get here in plenty of time. For those on a quarter system, submit your first and second quarter grades. For those on a trimester system, submit your first trimester grades. If your second trimester grades are in by early Feb., submit those, too.
Why does W&M want to see mid-year grades?
Generally, your senior year includes your most rigorous courses. Being able to review your performance in these upper-level classes (often closely associated with college courses) helps us better assess how well prepared you are for college-level academics. Or, maybe your grades took a dip during junior year. Being able to see whether or not you’ve rebounded during senior year tells us about your work ethic, study skills and academic growth. Mid-year grades are just one more piece to this complicated jigsaw puzzle we call a college application. The more pieces we have, the fuller picture of you we get.
