Disclosing university transcript?

[bootzie]

Hello,

I applied for the RPN programs (winter intake) at George Brown, Georgian, and Centennial. My high school transcript was received yesterday and all is well except for one thing. I've attended two universities since I graduated high school. My grades were rather subpar (many reasons that don't involve laziness) and recently my current university stuck on a failing grade for a course I never took (an error that will take weeks to rectify). I'm scared that if I send those transcripts over it'll undo all the good that my high school grades show (88-92 in the sciences and English...OAC and 4U).

I called George Brown admissions to ask and they said since I'm only applying to RPN, I don't need to send the university transcripts. Was she incorrect? Is full disclosure the only way to go?

[ThatBigGuy]

Contact each admissions coordinator at each school via email and ask them specifically if they need your other university transcripts. This creates a paper trail should you need to prove something later on.

However, I would lean toward full disclosure. Nursing is the most trusted profession in the US. Start working your honesty muscles now so they'll be strong once you hit the workforce.

[pmabraham, BSN, RN]

Good day, bootzie:

The school for whom you are applying has the final word. If they state it doesn't matter, then it doesn't matter. As a general rule of thumb (if the school didn't give a definitive answer) is to always list all schools you've attended and send the transcripts. In my case for dual enrollment for a BSN program, I listed all schools, but purposely did not send one set of transcripts. I did check with the school explaining my reasoning for which they accepted. In my case, it was transcripts for an associate degree ending with a 3.98 GPA; the issue wasn't the grades, it was from a non accredited school where they want $25 per transcript and I knew ZERO (0) of the classes/credits would transfer.

Thank you.

[mrsboots87]

Honesty is the best policy. A lot of people struggle in school, take a break, then come back and have to deal with their poor grades. For the uni rep you spoke to that said they don't need them, as long as you have it in writing you are fine should they later "discover" that you have taken college courses. I would suggest asking the other 2. If they want them, send them in with a letter explaining why your grades were not good and what you will do to ensure good grades going forward. LPN programs don't usually have pre requisites, or at least not many, and go off of entry exam scores. Your prev grades usually do not matter. BUT RN programs do have GPA and pre req requirements. If you don't disclose your previous educational experience and they find out, they can dismiss you from the program.

[bootzie]

Thank you so much, everyone! I felt the same way about being honest. I actually removed my application to Centennial and Georgian leaving only George Brown (realistically, it's the only school I could see myself accessing). I verified through George Brown via email that they don't require the transcripts but do suggest them simply because of what might transfer. I do need to investigate that (I don't know if my first year sciences would count for example) but due to the cost, am inclined to withhold them if they aren't needed.

It's been a HUGE battle with the University of Guelph to get them to submit my transcript for a university level calculus course I took. My high school took one day to submit my transcript. Guelph took over a month to send it (it has not yet been received). Absolutely nothing is easy with that school. Four years of that nonsense is partially what made me look elsewhere with my education.