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Higher education

Talk to other parents whose children are preparing for university on our Higher Education forum.

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Original poster

What does this request mean from uni admissions?

25 replies

Fenelladepompom · 05/11/2021 16:35

DC started at Uni last Sept. Had a bad year with online study etc and realised they had chosen wrong course. Has made good plans for this year and reapplied to 5 unis to start a different course next sept. One of the 5 has asked DC to provide a 'transcript' ftom the previous uni, along with a reference from previous uni and reasons for leaving first course (which were covered in new personal statement). I was surprised and not sure what to make of this. We don't know what a transcript is. Who will provide a reference? DC never even met their tutor.

OP posts:

EileenGC · 05/11/2021 16:42

A transcript is a summary of courses and modules taken every year, and the grades he achieved in each of them.

Did he complete his first year or left after a couple of months and therefore has nothing to show from his time there? Was this made clear in the personal statement?

Original poster

Fenelladepompom · 05/11/2021 16:44

Theyy completed the first year. Was supposed to redo one exam but didn't.

OP posts:

Bluntness100 · 05/11/2021 16:47

Op, do you mean they never even met their tutor virtually? They had no interaction?

EileenGC · 05/11/2021 16:49

Sorry I just realised I said 'he' in my previous post by mistake.

If they completed the first year, the uni will have provided a transcript with all the modules taken and grades. If they can't find this, I'd email previous uni and ask for it, they normally keep them for a few years.

Does the reference have to be from a personal tutor, or can another teacher they had contact with during that first year write it instead?

Original poster

Fenelladepompom · 05/11/2021 16:53

Met tutor online. I doubt there's anyone else who could do the reference as no in person contact at all. Hope this isnt goung to be a problem for DC. They have had one offer though. 3 still to get back to DC.

OP posts:

Bluntness100 · 05/11/2021 16:54

Everyone met their tutors virtually op. That is how it worked during Covid. It won’t be an issue.

jendifer · 05/11/2021 16:54

Transcripts are emailed at the end of each year. It shows what modules were done. Ask for one from tutor or registry

RJnomore1 · 05/11/2021 16:57

Are they applying for second year entry?

Original poster

Fenelladepompom · 05/11/2021 16:57

Thanks. Will do.

OP posts:

Original poster

Fenelladepompom · 05/11/2021 16:58

No, applying to start in year 1 in a different subject.

OP posts:

Shimy · 05/11/2021 17:18

I don't see why 1st yr transcript would be relevant if they are applying to start afresh from yr 1 at a different university. Transcript is only useful if transferring into 2nd yr at a different university as obviously they want to their current academic performance.
It seems they've incorrectly thought that OP's dc is transferring into 2nd yr, hence why they are after the transcript.

Original poster

Fenelladepompom · 05/11/2021 17:24

That would be unlikely though as a totally different subject. Am a bit concerned. DC was a bit down through the year so it wasn't their best showing I don't think.

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Original poster

Fenelladepompom · 05/11/2021 17:25

Personal statement made it clear which subject was studied last year.

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igivein · 05/11/2021 17:27

At my uni it would be standard to ask for a transcript as it demonstrates ability to study at HE level ( the applicant hadn’t bailed out of their last course because they couldn’t cope with the work).
I’m a course leader and I have had to write references for students I haven’t met. I do it based on their level of engagement and attainment - but I make it clear that’s what I’m doing.

CatRatSplat · 05/11/2021 17:31

Putting a positive spin on this, the uni may want to see the transcript to see how they coped and managed to achieve with virtual learning. They may be looking to see if they can by pass year 1 and or a foundation year. It may just be to get an idea of what was studied that year.

Original poster

Fenelladepompom · 05/11/2021 17:33

DC did find one aspect of the course very hard online, in spite of an A* at A-Level.

OP posts:

NoNotHimTheOtherOne · 05/11/2021 17:33

They will be checking that the student is applying for a new course because of a change of interest, rather than because they failed year 1 somewhere else.

For someone applying to enter year 2 at a different university it would be to check they have the required level-4 credits, so all universities would have to do this. If they want to start year 1, it will be about whether the new university is willing to give a place to someone who has already failed year 1 of another degree; this will vary among institutions.

Original poster

Fenelladepompom · 05/11/2021 17:36

Yes, without doing the resit, the unis may consider DC failed the year, which won't be great. Ah well, at least they have one offer.

OP posts:

SallyOMalley · 05/11/2021 17:38

I'm an Admissions Manager for a uni and I agree with @igivein. This is pretty standard and nothing to worry about.

A supervisor, module leader or course leader could all give a reference and it's likely to be along the lines as mentioned in the pp.

We receive applications from individuals wanting to start again for a myriad of reasons. All we're looking for is to ensure that there is some evidence of engagement and that they're of 'good standing' (ie haven't been chucked out for a terrible misdemeanor!). In many years of doing my job, I've only once rejected an application based on a reference - your dc will be fine, I'm sure.

chesirecat99 · 05/11/2021 17:38

It's pretty standard to ask for a transcript and academic reference.

The transcript is just a record of modules, exams, grades etc. He should be able to get that from the registry.

An academic reference will have information similar to the transcript but be more in depth eg critical thinking abilities, teamwork, personal motivation. It will be a bit harder to write a reference if there was no in-person contact, his tutor will have to base it on his written work. Usually it would be his personal tutor who would write the reference but it could be another tutor who knows him well, such as a dissertation supervisor.

If his tutor barely knows him, it might be worth explaining in an email why he has decided to change course and give any mitigating circumstances for any bad marks (it sounds like he failed one exam).

Bluntness100 · 05/11/2021 18:05

@Fenelladepompom

Yes, without doing the resit, the unis may consider DC failed the year, which won't be great. Ah well, at least they have one offer.

Were they invited back to year two? Generally if a student has failed a year they are not, you need to pass each year to get to the next one. So if they have the option to continue you know they have passed.

SallyOMalley · 05/11/2021 18:15

Yes, if a student has progressed to year 2, then they have 'passed', and it may be possible to do so even with a marginally failed module. In our gaff, it depends on the overall average for the year and the mark given for the failed module.

Bluntness100 · 05/11/2021 21:25

@SallyOMalley

Yes I think that’s the usual approach.

hellsbells99 · 06/11/2021 19:16

My DD1 dropped out at Easter in her 1st year (and would have had to retake an exam if she had continued). She applied for a new course at new universities - 1 university asked for the transcript and wanted to meet her informally before offering a place. They did offer her a place and she went there and had a fab 3 years. I think they wanted to check she would be able to cope.

Original poster

Fenelladepompom · 06/11/2021 21:18

Thanks for this, and for all the replies. Will pass on to DC and advise accordingly.

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