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Original poster

Help! University not processing transcript so son can't apply for Masters degree.

204 replies

rosiethehen · 22/08/2020 08:58

Ds completed his degree this year and was awarded a First. He wishes to start a Masters this autumn, but his applications are stalled due to his university not forwarding a pdf of his transcript to prove he has actually graduated. One of his application deadlines is next week.

He has contacted his tutors and the department responsible, but nobody appears to be interested.

He is also planning on applying to the Civil Service this autumn and it may affect this process as well.

Please, does anybody have any advice on what to do?

OP posts:
Noneformethanks · 22/08/2020 10:26

So he’s had over 3 weeks to get it then.

Original poster
rosiethehen · 22/08/2020 10:33

I think he applied for it a couple of weeks ago.

OP posts:
OddBoots · 22/08/2020 10:33

@rosiethehen

There isn't a transcript on his student portal from what I understand. Just a table of results which he says isn't adequate.
If the university for the masters is not accepting that then I think it is them not his undergraduate university that is causing the problem. They must know it will take a while to get the transcript at the moment.
Everysinglebloodytime · 22/08/2020 10:34

everyone I know who works for a university has been completely flat out and we're worried about burning out before term even starts.

Completely, I've been working average 60 hour weeks since this started, worked through Covid and all the ongoing post viral stuff. Have just gone off sick for the first time after spending most of the week in hospital. My body has just given up.

But there's no point trying to explain that to people who don't want to hear it. They don't care.

Everysinglebloodytime · 22/08/2020 10:40

@Carriemac

I have a split role, nhs and uni. I have been flat out in my nhs job this year, and the uni WhatsApp have spend a lot of time gardening and baking . My uni office has been locked , only accessed with a security guard for 30 minutes to grab a computer, while I have been in my nhs office on the same campus almost every day, mask , socially distant but working hard. None of the administrators in either university, her undergrad or prospective masters , since the degree results in mid July ( before a level or admissions issues) have show any flexibility about transcripts , in fact oxford have said due to the pandemic they won’t issue transcripts at all. The portal only allows you to request a paper copy, minimum 21 days .
I'm really surprised at this. I teach on a healthcare course and everyone bar perhaps two people have been flat out.

Some of my NHS friends have also been crazy busy but some are struggling to fill their time because their work has been suspended. In fact, fortunately for us we've never had such a lot of clinicians willing and able to support teaching sessions, because they're so bored.

SueEllenMishke · 22/08/2020 10:41

@Everysinglebloodytime

everyone I know who works for a university has been completely flat out and we're worried about burning out before term even starts.

Completely, I've been working average 60 hour weeks since this started, worked through Covid and all the ongoing post viral stuff. Have just gone off sick for the first time after spending most of the week in hospital. My body has just given up.

But there's no point trying to explain that to people who don't want to hear it. They don't care.

I'm really sorry to hear you're ill. I completely understand. I've never been so busy and trying to do my job and homeschool a 5 year old has pretty much broken me. Look after yourself
igot20joe · 22/08/2020 10:43

@rosiethehen

I've advised he takes a screenshot of his results table and forwards this on, but he tells me this isn't acceptable and he seems to be determined to follow the process, but it's obviously inadequate at the present time.

I understand universities are under pressure, but all it is is a pdf and should be automatic.

He wasn't initially going to apply for a Masters, but with the way things are at the moment, he made a decision to do one after all.

A screenshot of the results would be perfectly acceptable at this time and it’s quite concerning that he thinks he knows better than everyone else?
Xenia · 22/08/2020 10:44

We have over 3m unemployed now. The universities could hire students to go into buildings and get transcripts together, put them by email to each tutor to check they are correct too as a security mechanism and then send them out.

My twins got theirs from Bristol efficiently and quickly. They place an on line order. It came within a day I think. Both needed to submit theirs to their law schools and have done so along with degree certificates. Both have had by special delivery post their degree certs from Bristol too by now - the second and last one came last week (BSc). The BA one came the week before.

I would just keep pushing the university. If some universities are producing them very quickly and on time and others are not that is pretty unfair on under graduates particularly as they have suffered strikes all year, lost their final term due to Government covid 19 meaures, no graduation ceremonies and having paid a lot for the course. I have paid £150k in money already taxed at 40% for the twins over 3 years - £9250 x 2 x 3 fees to the university, housing rents - at least £6k x 2 x 3 years and allowance. I have saved the tax payer a lot of money and don't expect thanks for that but I am grateful at least that Bristol has produced the transcripts.

Noneformethanks · 22/08/2020 10:46

@Xenia

We have over 3m unemployed now. The universities could hire students to go into buildings and get transcripts together, put them by email to each tutor to check they are correct too as a security mechanism and then send them out.

My twins got theirs from Bristol efficiently and quickly. They place an on line order. It came within a day I think. Both needed to submit theirs to their law schools and have done so along with degree certificates. Both have had by special delivery post their degree certs from Bristol too by now - the second and last one came last week (BSc). The BA one came the week before.

I would just keep pushing the university. If some universities are producing them very quickly and on time and others are not that is pretty unfair on under graduates particularly as they have suffered strikes all year, lost their final term due to Government covid 19 meaures, no graduation ceremonies and having paid a lot for the course. I have paid £150k in money already taxed at 40% for the twins over 3 years - £9250 x 2 x 3 fees to the university, housing rents - at least £6k x 2 x 3 years and allowance. I have saved the tax payer a lot of money and don't expect thanks for that but I am grateful at least that Bristol has produced the transcripts.

🤣🤣🤣🤣🤣🤣

You have no idea.

Glad your Twins are sorted though

Xenia · 22/08/2020 10:49

I certainly don't work in a university so do not know what some (but not Bristol) have as issues to prevent particularly universities not managing what others ones are doing. Some employers also need to see transcripts - eg law firms usually look at your marks in all exams in all years including year 1 at university as there are so many applications per place.

Noneformethanks · 22/08/2020 10:50

@Xenia

I certainly don't work in a university so do not know what some (but not Bristol) have as issues to prevent particularly universities not managing what others ones are doing. Some employers also need to see transcripts - eg law firms usually look at your marks in all exams in all years including year 1 at university as there are so many applications per place.
Every university is different. Whodathunkit.

Also, that’s what transcripts are for. Unis will be flexible this year and the ops son has been given a reasonable solution he is refusing to use. Why is that the fault of Oxford?

Everysinglebloodytime · 22/08/2020 10:51

@Xenia

I certainly don't work in a university so do not know what some (but not Bristol) have as issues to prevent particularly universities not managing what others ones are doing. Some employers also need to see transcripts - eg law firms usually look at your marks in all exams in all years including year 1 at university as there are so many applications per place.
You can download your student record, it has all that information on it.
Noneformethanks · 22/08/2020 10:52

Yip, I left uni yonks ago And can still download my undergrad record (am doing a diff course at the same uni)

Original poster
rosiethehen · 22/08/2020 10:53

He's told me he can't apply to one because they require a pdf of the transcript as part of the application process, so he'll miss the deadline for that one.

OP posts:
Xenia · 22/08/2020 10:53

It sounds like it's all solved then and I agree all the universities are different. I know it is very difficult times for students and lecturers too never mind so many others who are without pay or jobs at present.

Noneformethanks · 22/08/2020 10:54

Why are you doing this for him?

He could screenshot his results, save as pdf and attach - and send a covering email stating why he’s done it.

Original poster
rosiethehen · 22/08/2020 10:55

There is nothing downloadable on his student record.

OP posts:
Noneformethanks · 22/08/2020 10:55

He can screenshot his module marks from his portal. I just looked Oxford and linked it above.

SueEllenMishke · 22/08/2020 10:55

@rosiethehen

He's told me he can't apply to one because they require a pdf of the transcript as part of the application process, so he'll miss the deadline for that one.
Has he actually spoken to the university? That might be the case in normal years ( and might be what the entry requirements say) but I can't imagine a university NOT being flexible about this. They'd be massively shooting themselves in the foot. It just doesn't make any sense.
OddBoots · 22/08/2020 10:56

@rosiethehen

There is nothing downloadable on his student record.
He can still save a screenshot as a PDF. Print it and instead of selecting a printer select pdf instead.
Noneformethanks · 22/08/2020 10:56

And actually. This is exactly why he shouldn’t get on that masters. SN excluded. If he can’t do this himself, quite frankly, he doesn’t deserve his place.

It’s a masters. He has to learn to think independently. He won’t be spoon fed.

Original poster
rosiethehen · 22/08/2020 10:57

He has agreed to screenshot and pdf the results, but he's not convinced.

OP posts:
Noneformethanks · 22/08/2020 10:57

So he knows better than the academic experts?

He’s going to be fun to teach.

SueEllenMishke · 22/08/2020 10:58

Has he spoken to the university he's applying to? Spoken to the course leader/admissions tutor?