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Will the postgrad programs I apply to contact my undergrad uni before accepting me?

Title says it all. Am looking to apply to postgrad programs where I am in the US, and for my undergrad I studied in the UK at Edinburgh. I was quite rowdy and did upset a few of my professors, and right now am worried that the programs I apply to for my MA would contact my undergrad institution to ask about how I was.

Keep in mind though, I didn't do anything illegal or too nasty/bad. I was just unlucky to have had angered one of the professors there because of some antics. I drunk emailed him, after that he even tried to fail my paper and I had to submit an appeal. You know how sometimes people hate you for the smallest things just because they can or just cause they dislike your face or you for whatever superficial reason? That is what I am facing. So yes, would appreciate any information I can get. Thanks.
Normally you need to provide a reference/letters of recommendation and that is the extent of information they will get from your uni. What your referee will put on their in view of this I can't say though.
Original post by LucHahn
Title says it all. Am looking to apply to postgrad programs where I am in the US, and for my undergrad I studied in the UK at Edinburgh. I was quite rowdy and did upset a few of my professors, and right now am worried that the programs I apply to for my MA would contact my undergrad institution to ask about how I was.
Keep in mind though, I didn't do anything illegal or too nasty/bad. I was just unlucky to have had angered one of the professors there because of some antics. I drunk emailed him, after that he even tried to fail my paper and I had to submit an appeal. You know how sometimes people hate you for the smallest things just because they can or just cause they dislike your face or you for whatever superficial reason? That is what I am facing. So yes, would appreciate any information I can get. Thanks.

Hey there!
Coventry University student ambassador here!

When you apply to postgraduate programs, the universities you are applying to will typically request transcripts or other official documents from your undergraduate institution to verify your academic records. Here’s how the process generally works:

1.

Transcripts:

2.

Most postgraduate programs require official transcripts from your undergraduate university as part of the application process. You will need to request these transcripts from your undergraduate institution and have them sent directly to the postgraduate program you are applying to.

3.

Recommendations:

4.

Some programs may require letters of recommendation from professors or advisors from your undergraduate institution. These recommendations provide insight into your academic abilities and character.

5.

Verification:

6.

In some cases, the postgraduate programs may contact your undergraduate institution directly to verify the authenticity of your transcripts or to ask for additional information.

7.

Academic Performance:

8.

The postgraduate admissions committee will review your academic performance, including your GPA, coursework, and any honors or distinctions.

Steps You Can Take:

1.

Request Transcripts Early:

2.

Request your official transcripts from your undergraduate institution well in advance of application deadlines to ensure they arrive on time.

3.

Inform Recommenders:

4.

Inform your recommenders about your application plans early so they have ample time to write and submit their letters.

5.

Check Requirements:

6.

Carefully check the application requirements of each postgraduate program to ensure you provide all necessary documentation.

7.

Follow Up:

8.

Follow up with your undergraduate institution and the postgraduate programs to confirm that all required documents have been received.

Conclusion:
Yes, postgraduate programs will typically need to verify your undergraduate academic records, but this is usually done through your submission of official transcripts and recommendation letters. Direct contact between the institutions may occur if additional verification is needed. Being proactive in requesting and providing necessary documents can help ensure a smooth application process. However, be sure to request recommendations from professors you have gotten along with, so they will give you exceptional recommendations both through letters, and over the potential contact by the postgraduate university itself (unlikely to contact a professor directly). Otherwise, you should be fine, since the university you are applying to will not go out of its way to contact all of your professors, so you should be fine!

Kind Regards,
Bianca (BSc Aviation Management - 1:1)
Hi,

I am a current masters student. I had to submit two references, which I put down two of my lectures from my undergraduate degree. I also had to submit my transcript, that I received after I received my overall degree classification.

I spoke to my lectures before I put them down as references, so they could look out for the email regarding the reference. I found this helped as then it wasn't a complete surprise to them, and it's always a good idea to give someone a heads up about something like this.

I would recommend that you don't put the lecturer down that you feel you have angered while completing your undergraduate degree, and ask other lecturers that you get on better with. Although most university won't go out their way to contact every single lecturer you have had, they may contact your current university to verify transcripts or anything else that you may need to submit through the application process. I wouldn't worry too much about the issue with your professor, as it shouldn't impact your application.

Hope this helps,
Suzan - Student Ambassador

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