Personal information is at the top of the transcript. Review it carefully to ensure that it is accurate. Your degree program and student status must be accurate. Check the spelling of your name, student identification number and anticipated graduation date. Update address, phone number, e-mail and birthday so that the school can contact you.
The left side of the transcript lists active classes, those in which you are enrolled and for which the final grade is pending. Each class should have two numbers beside it. The first represents the number of credits attributed to the class. The second shows the number of credits you have received. The current semester, at the top of the transcript, should read 0,0. All other semesters should show the credits attributed and received.
Examine all grades and information for classes taken. Abbreviations, such as COMM for Communication, identify each course. Semesters read backward in time, beginning with the current or most recent semester. Note the number of credits awarded. Courses such as math, science and English should earn three credits if successfully completed. Elective classes such as swimming, baking or art earn one credit. Classes dropped have "w" beside them to signify withdrawal. For a class retaken after failing, only the new grade is shown.
Note that multiple grade point averages are listed. The first averages grades from one semester. Next is the cumulative GPA, which averages grades from all semesters. It is calculated weighted and unweighted. The weighted GPA awards extra credit for advanced placement courses. Some schools provide another GPA that shows an average of only core classes and classes pertaining to the student's major.
Look toward the bottom of the transcript for class rank, which represents the student's placement in the graduating class and GPA compared with the GPAs of the other students in the graduating class. The student's percentile ranking is also shown. The lower the percentile, the higher the ranking. Many colleges immediately accept students graduating in the top 10 percent of their class.