Online application

[saggel]

Most of the schools I am going to apply for PhD ask for online application. My main worry is how am I going to submit my degree transcripts and anything that is in printed form! Should I scan them or just post them separately? Could anyone who has done it before please help me? Thank you in advance!

[tkkoh]

You usually can upload a copy of your transcript online. The schools are also likely to send in an original copy of the transcript together with the rest of your package (e.g. financial certifications, etc).

[saggel]

financial certifications? Why should I send them? What should I include?

[tkkoh]

Financial certification is usually needed for int'l applicants - not sure if you need it if you are a US applicant. Anyway, most of the info are available in the schools' websites.

[desimba]

Originally Posted by saggel

Most of the schools I am going to apply for PhD ask for online application. My main worry is how am I going to submit my degree transcripts and anything that is in printed form! Should I scan them or just post them separately? Could anyone who has done it before please help me? Thank you in advance!

I have done this twice during the application cycles of 2006 and 2008 and so can answer your question definitively. I would classify the schools into three buckets, arranged below in order of convenience from most convenient to least convenient:

Bucket #1: Example-Wharton- There is no paper component whatsoever; you put your grades in an excel template that you download from the application site and submit it with the rest of your application/ ( or you scan your transcript and upload it). If you are admitted, you have to submit an official transcript and if there is any difference between the excel you had submitted during the application process and the hard copy transcript (more directly: if you had lied) then your admission will be cancelled. This category includes ~ 20% of the schools.

Bucket #2: Example- NYU, Michigan; Here the only paper component is the transcript. Your entire application (other than the transcripts) is submitted electronically while the transcripts have to be sent in hard copy. This is the most common instruction adopted by maybe 60-65% of the business schools.

Bucket #3: Example- U of Iowa, Arizona State University: Here you have to send your recommendations as well as your transcripts in hard copy form. The rest of your application has to be submitted electronically. This is followed by the remaining 15% or so of the schools. Needless to say it also causes the most pain.

In general, I cannot fail to notice that the schools which are ranked in the top of the tops tend to follow model #1, those in the middle follow model #2 while those toward the bottom follow model #3. Hope this clarifies your doubts.

[saggel]

Thank you! That was something that I didn't have in mind!