Yale Graduate School of Arts and Sciences

Admissions

Common Questions / Frequently Asked Questions

Questions and the answers to them have been organized under the topics at right. Use these links to display the topics in the space below. Please review the questions and answers carefully before contacting our office.

Please note: The university’s ten professional schools (Art, Architecture, Divinity, Drama, Forestry, Law, Management, Medicine, Music and Nursing) have separate admissions policies and application processes which are outlined within the admissions Web pages and publications of those schools.

Transcripts

When is a transcript required?

A record of your academic performance is required for each institution you list in the Prior Study section of the application. This record should be “uploaded” to your on-line application. An academic record can be in the form of a scanned copy of a transcript or an academic record from the institutions’ Student Information System (SIS) Portal.

While uploading a record of your academic performance is preferred, you may instead, have a copy mailed if uploading is not possible. You should not do both.

If you have listed a Study Abroad institution, a record of your academic performance is still required even though it may appear on a transcript (or academic record) of, for instance, your baccalaureate degree transcript. In such cases you will want to upload another copy of that academic record.

What does “Official Transcript” mean?

For our purposes we define an “Official” Transcript as a transcript received directly from the issuing institution (whether on paper or a certified electronic copy) properly signed/authenticated or received from you in the original institutional sealed envelope, again, properly signed/authenticated. An "Official" Transcript is only required once an offer of admission has been extended to you and accepted by you.

What does “Unofficial Transcript” mean?

We define an “Unofficial” Transcript as any transcript received from you and not in a sealed institutional envelope, a transcript marked Student Copy” or “Unofficial.” Transcripts or "Academic Records" obtained from your institution’s SIS Portal. Uploaded” transcripts or Academic Records are recorded in the on-line application as “Received (Not Official).” This receipt status has no bearing on the forwarding of your application to your designated program nor the review of your application.

What does “Final Official Transcript” mean?

We define a “Final Official” Transcript as a transcript received directly from the issuing institution (whether on paper or a certified electronic copy) properly (signed/authenticated). If this transcript is in support of your baccalaureate degree granting institution, it will indicate the “award” of the baccalaureate degree (or its foreign equivalent). If this transcript is in support of a prior study institution from which you received an advanced degree, it will indicate the "award" of that degree.Final Official Transcripts” are only required once an offer of admission is accepted.

Please Note: Your "Final Official Transcript" will be reviewed and compared to any trancript or academic record submitted or "uploaded" in support of your application.

My transcript file is larger than 1000kb for the upload, and will not “upload.” What should I do?

If the scanned transcript PDF is larger than 1000kb, you should try to adjust your scanning settings. If the file is still larger than 1000kb then you will have to mail in your transcript.

The “Official” transcript I sent you is marked “Received (Not Official).” Why is that?

If you needed to send us a transcript via mail and it was not in a sealed envelope from the issuing institution, or is a copy, then it will be marked “Received (Not Official).” Please do not worry as your application will still be sent to your designated program for review.

Do I have to send both the non-English and English translated transcript?

Yes. If your original “Official Transcript” is in a language other then English, you will need to upload both the original and the translation. If the file is too large, then you will have to mail in both the non-English and English translated transcript.

My uploaded transcript/s already indicate the award of the baccalaureate or advanced degree—if I am admitted do I have to send another “Final Official Transcript”?

Yes. If you were offered admission, and you accept that offer, you will have to send a “Final Official Transcript” for each Prior Study instuitution you listed in your on-line application, prior to matriculation.

I am not able to upload a copy of my “Official Transcript.” May I send it to you via e-mail?

No. If you are unable to upload a scanned copy of your transcript, you will need to mail it (or have it mailed) to us. We will not accept/process transcripts sent to us via e-mail by an applicant.

Can I upload my academic record (unofficial) transcripts obtained from my institution’s web site?

Yes. Academic records, such as those frequently available to enrolled students from an institutional Student Information System portal, can be uploaded.

I have already asked that a transcript be sent to you. Should or can I upload a copy as well?

Yes. Even though you have already asked that a transcript be sent to us, if you have not submitted your application, uploading a copy is desireable.

Do I need to have a transcript sent to you if I have uploaded one with my application?

No, you do not and should not. An uploaded copy of your transcript or academic record is sufficient for the review of your application. Should you be offered admission and choose to accept that offer, then a “Final Official Transcript” will be required from each institution from which you received a degree (bachelors or graduate).

Should I send in, or have sent in, an “Official Transcript” in support of my application?

No. A traditional “paper” transcript is neither required nor necessary for the review of your application. As described above, a record of your academic performance is required and should be “uploaded” to your on-line application.

When is an “Official” or “Final Official Transcript” required?

An “Official Transcript” or “Final Official Transcript” is required only after an offer of admission has been extended to you and you accept that offer. These transcripts should come to us directly from the issuing institution. If you are in possession of copies of these transcripts still in their sealed institutional envelope, they will be acceptable.

My Academic Record from my institutions’ SIS Portal has an error in a course grade—can I correct this error?

No. You should not attempt to modify the information reflected on the academic record downloaded from your institutions SIS Portal. If there are errors you must have those errors correct before downloading the record.

My institution does not issue a traditional transcript or a record of my academic performance reflecting courses, credits and grades—what should I do?

You should upload that document which your institution issues regarding academic performance.

My institution sends transcripts electronically—are you able to accept them?

Yes and No. While we are able to accept certified electronic transcripts from the issuing institution or its authorized agent they are not required during the initial stages of the application process and should only be sent to us if you have been offered admissions and accept that offer. The e-mail address to be used will be published after February 1, 2010.

May I upload a diploma or certificate of achievement or other non-academic record document?

Yes. However these documents must not be uploaded under the individual “institutional/college entries”, rather they should only be uploaded under the category called “Additional College History”