Par Aide's Joseph S. Garske Collegiate Grant Program

The main difference between an official transcript and an unofficial transcript is an official transcript can't be viewed by you, and an unofficial transcript can be viewed by you. An official transcript contains an official seal, mark, and / or signature from your school, and is sent directly to the scholarship you're applying to. An unofficial transcript contains the same information, but it will be given to you first, and then you can send or upload it to the scholarship you're applying to.

To have a copy of your official transcript submitted for a scholarship application, you'll need to contact the registrar's office and ask that they send your transcript to the address you provide. Tip: Make sure to do this far in advance!

For a college transcript, you can also contact the registrar's office, or, you can submit a request through your college portal. FYI: Colleges often charge a fee for this.

Yes! But make sure to read each scholarship application's essay guidelines and requirements, and personalize your essay to each scholarship you apply to. Using the same essay for multiple applications can be a time-saver, but changing just a sentence or two can make a difference!