Harvard Griffin GSAS international transcript workflow

Use uploads during application review

The observed GSAS page asks applicants to upload unofficial transcripts and says it does not accept mailed or emailed transcripts during submission and review. Do not treat an unsolicited postal packet as a substitute for the application’s document workflow.

Preserve academic detail and conferral information

The page identifies courses, grades, grading scales and degree-conferral information for international records. Keep the original results readable and do not invent a GPA conversion where the source does not provide one.

Wait for the official-record instruction

Official records are requested from applicants who are admitted and accept the offer, with later instructions provided before enrollment. Check those instructions directly at that stage. Harvard’s other schools can use different processes, so the GSAS rule should not be generalized across the university.

A practical review for this handoff

If an institution uses a grading system without a GPA, preserve its actual results and legend. A self-calculated figure can introduce an unsupported representation. Ask GSAS through its official channel about a genuine record gap, and keep any clarification narrow to that issue rather than assuming it waives unrelated transcript requirements.

Use the GSAS application record channel

Harvard Griffin GSAS asks applicants to upload unofficial transcripts for its submission and review process rather than mailing or emailing unsolicited records at that stage. Prepare the file for the application system, retaining course names, results and the grading scale. A postal original does not replace an upload simply because it has a seal. Keep the source and its English translation associated in the application package according to the current GSAS instructions.

International records should make degree-conferral information visible where requested. If a transcript does not state the award, identify the separate degree record rather than inserting a date into the translation. A grading legend can explain results without a U.S. conversion. In a sample check, compare an ungraded pass, an incomplete and an ordinary numeric grade individually; they should not all become entries in an invented GPA calculation.

Keep admitted-student verification distinct from initial review

The GSAS page places official-record requirements with applicants who are admitted and accept an offer, with later instructions before enrollment. An unofficial upload suitable for initial review is therefore not automatically the complete final verification package. Keep a note of the source cutoff, especially when the current degree is unfinished, and revisit the official instructions when the application stage changes.

For missing or unusual records, ask GSAS a narrow question describing the actual gap: an absent grading key, a delayed final certificate or a historic institution name. Do not treat a reply on one issue as a waiver of all transcript requirements. Preserve each institution's identity and original results in the translated file. Harvard's separate professional schools can operate different workflows, so use this GSAS-specific source instead of generalizing from another Harvard application. This keeps translation purchases and document delivery tied to the actual school and review stage.