Transcript Keys

The transcript key is an excellent way to review an institution's grading system, or systems. Registrars record the grading system changes over time to help recipients interpret the document. Each of the institutions included below have made significant revisions to their grading systems over time.

Activity:
Select one institution from the list below and scrutinize the grading system changes. Make a note of the following:
When were the changes made?
What system was in use prior to the change?
What system did they implement?
Were there additional changes made after?

Then select a second institution and compare it with the first. Think about the following:
What differences or similarities exist?

Finally, take a few moments and share your observations using the Reflect on Transcript Keys links below.

The reflection form will open in a new tab, which you can toggle back and forth from if you need to review while you're reflecting. You can make the documents bigger either by clicking in the upper right corner to open the document in a new window, or hover over the bottom center of the document to see the magnifying glass icon to enlarge. The button is included after each institution, but you only need to respond once, comparing two schools. The following links will open in a new window if you want to do a side-by-side comparison.

Cornell University | Bowdoin College | Stanford University | University of North Carolina - Chapel Hill | College of William & Mary