high school transcript - software or not?

[Rebe]

http://www.theoldschoolhousestore.com/index.php?main_page=product_info&cPath=307_314&products_id=4585&zenid=37d2ec5fd6ea0a4be605a941fcff3a4f

TranscriptPro. $50.00. Is it necessary? Is it really convenient to have? Is it worth the $$?

For a professional-looking (but easy on Mom) transcript, do you use software or create something yourself? Is there something free out there I can use that still does the job? I'd love help with GPA calculations, too -- things like that.

[CJ]

I did not buy software, but instead I got a look at what our local high school's transcripts look like and copied that format. I figure it will look familiar to the local businesses or area colleges.

[Michele WV]

Honestly? I found a transcript I liked the look of online, downloaded it, cut the other people's info out and plugged ours in! I just used it as a template. We had no issues with it at all and it looked great!

[Ronette in CA]

:hi: Rebe,

First, I got your pm yesterday and I'll answer today. Mondays are my crazy schedule day so I didn't have time.:crazy:

I use the high school transcript form from Donna Young (http://donnayoung.org/forms/planners/hs-transcript.htm). She also has a page on there that helps you figure out GPA.

HTH,

[Tricia in TX]

:hi: Rebe,

First, I got your pm yesterday and I'll answer today. Mondays are my crazy schedule day so I didn't have time.:crazy:

I use the high school transcript form from Donna Young (http://donnayoung.org/forms/planners/hs-transcript.htm). She also has a page on there that helps you figure out GPA.

HTH,

:yes: This is exactly what I did.

A fellow homeschooling mom who has 5 kids told me that what I had prepared by plugging our info into into the Donna Young form was way better than what our local high school puts out! (2 of her kids graduated from the hs and the rest graduated from Homeschool.

I'd be happy to email you a copy of Bryce's transcript. It is complete except for next semester. (He's a senior) I tried to upload it here but it's too big a file I guess.

[Cheryl in SoCal]

Out of curiosity, what do you put for the school on your transcripts? Do you make up a name for your homeschool and put your address/phone number? What happens if you move?

Sorry for what are probably really stupid questions:blush: My ISP issues transcripts so I never thought about homemade transcripts.

[Nedra]

Out of curiosity, what do you put for the school on your transcripts? Do you make up a name for your homeschool and put your address/phone number? What happens if you move?

Sorry for what are probably really stupid questions:blush: My ISP issues transcripts so I never thought about homemade transcripts.

I have always been curious about this also. We administrate a PSP/ISP of over 50 families (and growing...) and my husband wrote a program for transcripts. They are also school sealed, which has been a requirement of most of the colleges we have forwarded them to.

[Rebe]

Cheryl, that's a good question aout the school name. I'd love to hear what people do. I haven't thought of that yet. (Our homeschool doesn't have a name. Is [Lastname] Homeschool good enough?)

Tricia, I'd like to see Bryce's transcript! You can e-mail it to me.

Thanks for the reminder about Donna Young. I'll look at that.

I was hoping that I wouldn't need to spend $50 to do this correctly. :)

[Cheryl in SoCal]

Thanks, it's good to know I'm not a complete idiot:)

Nedra - Now that you mention it, I think I've always heard of the requirement that they be sealed as well.

I'll bet CHEA and/or HSLDA would be able to give some great advice. I think colleges tend to take all homeschool transcripts with a grain of salt because no matter who makes them (ISP, parent, etc) it's the parent who hands out the grades.

[Sue in MN]

Our school has had a name since my dd30 was in 2nd grade. It is Chrysalis Christian Academy. Just pick something that is meaningful to you and go for it. Some families get really creative with their names.

For transcripts I just typed it up by myself and three of them have gotten into their first choice school so far. For the first two I grouped the classes by grade level but for the third one I grouped them by Subject matter. It worked fine either way.

[Tricia in TX]

Out of curiosity, what do you put for the school on your transcripts? Do you make up a name for your homeschool and put your address/phone number? What happens if you move?

We created our name a few years ago. I was encouraged by a friend to come up with a name other than 'Last Name Academy', specifically for transcripts.

I keep my transcripts in Word format on the computer and update them after every semester, add grades and whatnot. If we were to move, I'd just change the address as well. No biggy.


Sorry for what are probably really stupid questions:blush: My ISP issues transcripts so I never thought about homemade transcripts.

In TX our laws state that we are private schools. No one has to have an ISP or any other sort of umbrella organization.

I have seen many, many hs kids graduate over the years and honestly, most colleges look at them individually anyway. It usually works out well for the student. Most public school students have to work hard to distinguish themselves from the pack and stand out. Our students, just by virtue of being homeschooled, stand out. Now what the colleges see when they closely examine the hs kid is up to the student, obviously, but at least they get the chance! :)

Tricia, I'd like to see Bryce's transcript! You can e-mail it to me.

I'll email the transcript here in a few minutes. You could easily just take out my info and put in yours and be done!

What cracks me up is that I have to get it notarized for the community college my son takes duel credit classes at. I have to have a document I crated, notarized saying it's official and authentic. :crazy:

[Tricia in TX]

Rebe, pm me with your email address and I'll send you a copy of the transcript.

[WendyW]

What cracks me up is that I have to get it notarized for the community college my son takes duel credit classes at. I have to have a document I crated, notarized saying it's official and authentic. :crazy:

Makes sense- maybe your kid got on your computer, faked the grades and printed it out himself. You're notarizing that YOU are responsible for what it says.

[CJ]

I have helped with a few homeschool transcripts as well as doing my own in process ones.

They have all had school names that the student or family chose. They weren't tied to last names. They were geographic, or tied to the street they lived on or just names they liked. They put the home address for the school address.

[CINDY LB OH]

NO software here either. Throughout the high school years, I keep a written record of the classes and grades in a folder. Then I put it all on a transcript at the end.

I used a format from the HSLDA website and figured the GPA using the page from Donna Young.

I did not have a school name anywhere on the transcript. It simply says "High School Academic Transcript 2006-2010" on the top. Then my dds name and address below. On the college applications there is a space for declaring homeschooled, so they already know that.

Don't spend the $50.00. It really isn't needed.

BTW, dd was accepted at both places she applied to. It's been a very exciting journey. Neither one had a problem with the transcript. They are both Christian universities and have seen plenty of transcripts from home school students.

[Cheryl in SoCal]

We created our name a few years ago. I was encouraged by a friend to come up with a name other than 'Last Name Academy', specifically for transcripts.

I keep my transcripts in Word format on the computer and update them after every semester, add grades and whatnot. If we were to move, I'd just change the address as well. No biggy.




In TX our laws state that we are private schools. No one has to have an ISP or any other sort of umbrella organization.

I have seen many, many hs kids graduate over the years and honestly, most colleges look at them individually anyway. It usually works out well for the student. Most public school students have to work hard to distinguish themselves from the pack and stand out. Our students, just by virtue of being homeschooled, stand out. Now what the colleges see when they closely examine the hs kid is up to the student, obviously, but at least they get the chance! :)



I'll email the transcript here in a few minutes. You could easily just take out my info and put in yours and be done!

What cracks me up is that I have to get it notarized for the community college my son takes duel credit classes at. I have to have a document I crated, notarized saying it's official and authentic. :crazy:

Thanks!!! I don't have to belong to an ISP either, I belong to one because I love it:)

[Tricia in TX]

Thanks!!! I don't have to belong to an ISP either, I belong to one because I love it:)

What exactly is an ISP anyway? We're part of a homeschool co op. I teach a book club class there, my kids take a few classes there as well.

They don't do things like transcripts or anything, it's just a place where we get together, have special speakers now and then, the kids take classes, field trips are organized etc.

Is that like an ISP you are talking about? We have so few regulations here in TX that I'm unsure about some of these things.

[Cheryl in SoCal]

What exactly is an ISP anyway? We're part of a homeschool co op. I teach a book club class there, my kids take a few classes there as well.

They don't do things like transcripts or anything, it's just a place where we get together, have special speakers now and then, the kids take classes, field trips are organized etc.

Is that like an ISP you are talking about? We have so few regulations here in TX that I'm unsure about some of these things.

ISP = Independent Study Program. They range anywhere from an umbrella group that you just use to file your paperwork with to full service like the one I belong to. Mine is associated with a private Christian School (Calvary Chapel). Some of the benefits to that include our children being able to participate in all the sports at the private school, choir, and the ability to take a few classes for a prorated fee if their parents desire (up to 1 core and 1 elective in Jr HS, up to 2 core and 2 electives in HS). It has monthly meetings with varies speakers and small group time (we have around 230/240 families and break up into 15 small groups), field trips, activities, etc. Our ISP also keeps a cume file for each child, transcripts, curriculum counseling, etc. I almost forgot, for the high schoolers there is also a very active ASB (we have around 200 high school students). I've been with my ISP for 10 years now and love it, it's such a blessing! This year I'm a small group leader and I'm so enjoying being able to serve in this capacity!

In CA homeschoolers homeschool under the "private school" clause, which can be any size. You just need to be part of a private school that has filed a private school affidavit. You can file your own (becoming your own private school) or join an ISP that files a private school affidavit, which (as I stated) can be anywhere from a place you never visit that you file your paperwork with to ISP's like mine.

ETA that states are so different! I'm just glad I can keep up with what is legal in mine ;)