Important Information Regarding Transcript Requests

  1. The Office of the Registrar generally only produces official transcripts, which bear the College's seal and the Registrar's signature, are printed on special paper, and include a "Transcript Guide" to help the viewer fully understand the transcript.
  2. To order a transcript, the student or alumna/alumnus must complete the Transcript Request Form and provide a written signature. The Transcript Request Form may then be dropped off, mailed, or faxed. The completed form may also be scanned and emailed. When necessary, requests may also be made in the body of an email message, with the person's scanned signature included as an attachment.
  3. Transcript requests are processed in the order in which they are received.
  4. Transcript requests may take up to five business days to process. During busy times of the year (course registration, first-year orientation, first week of classes, etc.), process time may be extended. Requests are generally processed only between 8:30 and 11:30 in the morning, Monday through Thursday.
  5. All transcripts are sent through regular mail unless express mailing is requested. Overnight FedEx shipping is available for transcripts at a cost of $20 per address. Note that a request for overnight shipping does not speed up the normal processing time. This fee may be paid by cash, check, or money order. Write checks payable to "Bowdoin College."
  6. Transcripts may be given or sent directly to the student or alumna/alumnus. Such transcripts are stamped, "ISSUED TO STUDENT IN SEALED ENVELOPE."
  7. Though the office will generally fax a transcript when requested, note that A FAXED TRANSCRIPT IS NOT AN OFFICIAL TRANSCRIPT. A faxed transcript does not bear the College's seal or the Registrar's signature. Also, a faxed transcript is stamped, "THIS IS NOT AN OFFICIAL TRANSCRIPT." A faxed transcript is always followed by an official transcript through the mail. (Note that current students are expected to print their academic records from their Bearings accounts and use those as unofficial transcripts.)
  8. Transcripts cannot be sent electronically, nor will transcripts be emailed.
  9. Transcripts from students' off-campus study programs will not be copied either for the student or for another institution. Students are required to request copies of those transcripts from the originating institution. (Exceptions: ISLE and SITA programs. No subsequent transcripts are generated for these programs, but the Registrar's Office will make copies upon request.)
  10. Due to the large volume of transcript requests, we ask that requesters confirm receipt of the transcript with the person to whom the transcript was mailed rather than by calling the Registrar's Office to be sure it was sent.

Transcript Request Form

Office of the Registrar
4500 College Station, Bowdoin College
Brunswick, ME 04011-8436
Tel: 207-725-3521
Fax: 207-725-3338
Email: registrar@bowdoin.edu