Self-Reported Academic Record (SRAR)– A Comprehensive Guide

You might think you’ve got your college applications on lock, only to find out you need to learn how to use an entirely new tool. Maybe you’re staring at your applications for NYU, Penn State, or Virginia Tech, and wondering, “What is a SRAR and how do I fill it out?” If so, you’ve come to the right place. The SRAR is an acronym that stands for “self-reported academic record.” And the idea is just that: it’s a system in which you report all of your grades, courses, GPA, and honors (all the info in your academic record) to the universities where you’re applying. Only some universities use the SRAR, but after you self-report once, you can use your SRAR for any of the eligible schools. 

Universities that Require the SRAR: 

• Baylor University
• Binghamton University (SUNY)
• Clemson University
• Duquesne University
• Florida A & M University
• Florida Polytechnic University
• Florida State University
• Kean University
• Louisiana State University
• New College of Florida
• New York University
• Pennsylvania State University
• Rutgers University, Camden
• Rutgers University, Newark
• Rutgers University, New Brunswick
• Texas A&M University
• Texas Tech University
• University at Buffalo (SUNY)
• University of Connecticut
• University of Delaware
• University of Minnesota-Twin Cities
• University of Oregon
• University of Pittsburgh
• University of Tennessee, Knoxville
• University of Texas at San Antonio
• University of Florida
• University of North Florida
• University of South Florida
• University of West Florida
• Virginia Tech

Why Use the SRAR? 

When someone applies to college, they need to disclose their academic performance so that schools can sort, rank, and choose the most competitive applicants. Schools need this information to be accurate and verifiable. Often, colleges and universities meet this goal by requesting official transcripts. However, official transcripts can come in many different forms, which are dependent on the school of origin. That can mean that sorting through the information can go from a quick process to a time-consuming one for admissions officers. 

The SRAR also sends the information to schools more quickly than waiting for an official transcript to be processed and arrive. Because the SRAR collects and standardizes all of the data, schools can quickly and easily receive, read, and assess student information. It even calculates your GPA! 

“That makes a big difference in how quickly you’ll hear back from us when we are processing and reviewing more than 30,000 applications behind the scenes,” says the University of Pittsburgh in its SRAR tutorial video. 

This can make a huge difference in your personal stress level during application season, too. When you’re waiting for replies from a dozen schools, your SRAR schools may end up getting back to you quicker. That can grant you more time in the decision-making process, the most valuable resource when you’re choosing a college or university. 

How to Use the SRAR 

While it might seem intimidating at first, just a little bit of patience will help you to learn how to navigate the SRAR. 

According to the SRAR official website, you can look at an unofficial transcript or even your latest report card to input your information. You can submit your GPA, class rank, and completed or in-progress twelfth grade courses for which you received or will receive credit.  

If you have taken a standardized college entrance exam such as the ACT or SAT, you can also use your reports from those exams to input your scores. The SRAR also has a place for TOEFL scores, should your university require it. 

The best thing about the SRAR is that you need to fill out the information only once. Then, you can send your SRAR report to any of the schools that accept it. 

How to create a SRAR/Self-Reported Academic Record

The steps to create an account and start recording your scores are simple. For best results, read all of these steps first and then begin the process: 

1) Go to the official SRAR website at: https://srar.selfreportedtranscript.com/Login.aspx 

2) Look for the login box on the right-hand side of the page and click “Create SRAR Account.”

3) Be sure to clarify which email you used for your application for admission. 

• a) You should use the same email to create your SRAR account to ensure easier matching of your record and application. If you haven’t started filling out applications yet, be sure to use the same email address for all of them to ensure continuity. 
• b) Note: Do not use a shared or family email address and do not use the same address that a sibling used to fill out the SRAR. 
• c) Be sure to save your email and password in a safe location. 

4) Fill out the login information, confirm your email, and create your account. 

5) Log back into the system and start filling out your information, starting with Core Coursework, moving to grades, and then test scores.  

Self Reported Academic Record (Continued)

6) Save your information and log in back in at a later time to continue your progress. 

7) Link your SRAR with your college applications.

• a) When you’ve finished, save your information in your SRAR account. 
• b) Then login to the first college or university on your list that uses the SRAR.  
• c) Find that specific application “link” option, and be sure to save your progress in that specific school’s application once you’ve linked your SRAR.

A note on number 7 above: Different schools may interact with the SRAR in different ways, however, manually linking the SRAR and the rest of the application is typically necessary. At Rutgers University, for example, you must link your SRAR with your Rutgers application yourself as a part of the application process. If you fail to do this, your application will be incomplete. 

So, even after you’ve input all your data, remember that you’re not quite done. Go and check on all of your SRAR-school applications and be sure that you’ve linked every application with your SRAR. Clemson University says that, once you link Clemson and your SRAR, you will receive a confirmation message within the SRAR system with a green checkmark and the word “Excellent!” at the top. Always nice to get a little positive reinforcement, right? 

How to Streamline to SRAR Process

You can further streamline your SRAR experience in a number of different ways.

The University of Pittsburgh also recommends the following quick tips: 

• Once you’ve logged into the SRAR system, start by filling out the Core Coursework section. 
  • This allows you to create a template with all the core courses that SRAR recognizes. 
  • The majority of courses will be covered here, including AP and Honors level distinctions for subjects like English, History, Biology, Chemistry, and the regular menu of high school coursework. 
  • Once you start to fill out your Core Coursework, you might recognize that inputting these courses feels a lot like filling out the Common App Activities List  or Honors Section. 
• Fill out any additional courses you completed that don’t show up in the drop-down menu of the Core Coursework section. 
  • You can write a description of the course. 
  • If you save your progress and log back in later, you’ll need to input your additional courses by academic year. 
• Do not include middle school courses unless you took high school courses in middle school. 

Self Reported Academic Record (Continued)

• Don’t convert your grades to another format. 
  • For example, if you received an 89, don’t list it as a B+. 
  • Record the grade exactly as it appears on your transcript. 
• Do not average your grades. 
  • The SRAR will prompt you for first and second semester grades. 
  • If you only took a course for one semester, you can leave the other semester blank. 
• If you receive a final grade, enter that as one grade for the full year. 
• If you’ve taken Dual Enrollment or College in High School courses, list them only once. 
  • You can list them in your core coursework and then distinguish them as Dual Enrollment or College in High School, depending on your situation. 
• If you have taken college coursework at a college or university that was not affiliated with your high school, you will need to enter that college or university as a part of your school list. 
  • Then, you can include the course that you took. 
• When recording the courses you’re currently taking, simply mark your grades as “In Progress.” 
• The SRAR is only for new, incoming students. 
  • Transfer students will need to submit an official transcript directly from their school. 

What Happens Next? 

Once you complete the SRAR process and link all of your applications to your report, you can rest easy. Universities will evaluate you based on the information you’ve provided and linked with your application.  The nice thing about using the SRAR is that you don’t have to do the work to verify any of your information up front. 

“You only need to provide an official transcript if you are accepted and decide to enroll in a university,” according to an official SRAR tutorial video. 

Again, this is how the SRAR has the chance to save you money: if your school charges for official transcripts, you’ll only need to pay for one to send to the school where you decide to enroll. 

Finally, always remember: if you have questions or difficulties filling out the report, you should contact the SRAR Support Center for more information. The age-old advice always applies: give yourself plenty of time to fill out the entire report, and you’ll be happier and less rushed in the end.