I was in public school from Pre-school up to the 6th grade. I left due to medical reasons and it still kicks my butt til this day because I had to leave. I'm helping my mother put together my homeschool transcript to start sending to colleges. I would let her do it, but when it comes to presentation she doesn't have the greatest sense of style. I've been trying to find out as much as possible about putting one together. I found a template on the internet that is put together very well. It has a GPA Calculator, a place to list the materials we used, course description, it even has an alternate transcript!! So basically I have a horizontal one and a vertical one. I will post links to the pictures at the end. As for the list of materials. We aren't sure what to put because when it can to some of the subjects we would use MULTIPLE things. Books, what she already knew, internet videos, etc.. I know this isn't necessary but some colleges do ask about the materials that you used. I also was on a curriculum on the internet called K12 or something like that but we stopped doing that and forgot to get my transcript from them. How do you describe the course other than excessively boring at times lol? Which transcript looks the better? Should I print up both? What paper should I use? I heard some type of security paper that has a scratch off thing on the back but I forgot the name. Should I bring it to a notary once I print it and will they put a Seal on it?...I want a Seal on it. Makes it feel cool lol. Also she is about to order a Diploma from HomeschoolDiploma.com. Are they reputable? I'm finished with my studies now and I guess you could say I'm officially done with "High School"! We have my "Graduation" set for the 21st of May. Thanks for the help ahead of time and please try to answer as many questions as you can.
Horizontal Transcript: http://gyazo.com/b8e15fce59130b751788661c8d36abe4
Vertical Transcript: http://gyazo.com/672a7319e0fe1bbfc0f4985621e49659
Forgot to put our grade scale on the vertical one.
Answers & Comments
Verified answer
Don't worry about "style". It does not need to be notarized nor does it need special paper. Colleges don't care about that. They want to see what you studied.
If you used K12, contact them for the records of what you did with them. However, if you completed some courses, you would list K12 on the college application for the dates you were enrolled and give their contact info. Then the colleges would contact them for that part of your transcript. You would not need to recreate the information on your homeschool transcript. The homeschool transcript should only list courses you studied that were not as part of another program like K12.
Usually transcripts are arranged chronologically and only cover high school (grades 9-12). It does help to be fairly specific, especially when homeschooled or using non-traditional sources, but should still be brief. List the subject, curriculum, and final grade. For non-academic subjects you may need to get creative. For example if you did a big US history themed study one semester may look like this:
Fall 2010:
Chemistry 1: Apologia: 94% (A)
Geometry 1: Math-U-See: 92% (A)
Chorus: local choir (practice 2x/week, 3 performances)
PE: running club (practice 3x/week, races Saturdays)
US History 1: Explorers to Civil War: unit studies, historical fiction and biographies, videos
Literature: historical fiction and biographies [list titles and authors]
Writing: Institute for Excellence in Writing: U.S. History-Based Writing Lessons, Vol 1, Explorers to the Gold Rush: 89% (B)
Ordering a diploma is just ordering a fancy piece of paper. Homeschool diplomas are not accredited and by themself have no value. The printing company does not endorse your homeschool or make any claims that you have actually finished your schooling. However, the company you mentioned is a real company that produces lots of diplomas for homeschoolers each year.
You can still call the K12 program and get a transcript of what they have
they don't dump their records its still in the computer.
Set it up the way you like best most transcripts are vertical.
You don't describe courses in a transcript all you do is put in the subject and the grade
don't get too fancy the college just want to see what you took and your final GPA. Your SAT scores will be more important than the transcript.
You can get it notarized but why? its your transcript and Mom was your teacher they will have to take your Mom's word as an adult that you took these courses and got those grades.
Let mom order the homeschool diploma she will want to frame it she was part of that process too.