Sending a BC Transcript to US Colleges
By Muntasir Minhaz • Published Aug 19, 2026 • Canadians Studying Abroad
BC students applying to US colleges send two documents: your school's own transcript and an official Ministry of Education transcript ordered through the StudentTranscripts Service (STS). Order the Ministry copy online with your Personal Education Number (PEN), then send an updated copy after your June marks post.
📩 Each STS transcript costs 10 CAD, whether electronic, PDF, or mailed.
Electronic (XML) copies go straight to a receiving institution and update automatically over a set window.
PDF and mailed copies are frozen at the moment you order them and list only courses with a final mark.
Grade 12 final marks post after your June exams and coursework close out, so an early transcript needs a follow-up.
⏱️ Order at least two to three weeks before a US deadline, since cheque payments take about 10 business days to clear.
Two transcripts, two purposes
A US application usually wants a transcript from your high school, the counselor-issued record with your courses and grades, plus a separate official transcript from the BC Ministry of Education. British Columbia does not calculate a class rank or a weighted GPA, so a US admissions reader leans on both documents together. Your school transcript supplies context, and the Ministry copy, ordered through the StudentTranscripts Service (STS), stands as the verified record of your marks.
Set up your STS account
Find your Personal Education Number (PEN) on a report card, or ask your school's front office for it. Students new to STS create a Basic BCeID first, then log in with their PEN attached to the account. Returning users log in directly with their existing credentials.
Pick a delivery method
STS charges 10 CAD per transcript no matter which format you choose. Compare the three options before you order.
| Format | Speed | Best for |
|---|---|---|
| Electronic (XML) | Sent right away | An institution set up to receive BC electronic transcripts directly |
| Emailed to a recipient you name | Uploading the file yourself to an application portal | |
| Mailed paper copy | Sealed, sent by Canada Post | A college that asks for a physical sealed transcript |
A printed or PDF copy is frozen at the moment you order it, so it lists only courses with a final mark recorded. An electronic copy includes interim marks and updates automatically if you set a longer reporting window when you order it.
Build in time for June marks
BC's school year runs to late June, and final marks for full-year and second-semester grade 12 courses post only after your June exams and coursework close out. If you apply on a fall deadline, such as the Common App early rounds in November or regular decision in January, your first transcript order shows grade 11 marks plus grade 12 marks still in progress.
Plan a second STS order once your final grade 12 marks post, typically in July. Send that update directly to each college's admissions office. Most US schools expect a mid-year and a final update as standard practice for applicants still finishing grade 12, so check each college's applicant portal for how it wants the update delivered.
Steps to order
Locate your PEN.
Create a Basic BCeID if you have not used STS before.
Log in to StudentTranscripts Service.
Select transcript type and delivery format.
Pay 10 CAD by credit or debit card for the fastest processing, since a cheque or money order clears in about 10 business days.
Enter the exact receiving address or account each college gives in its application instructions.
Reorder an updated copy once your final grade 12 marks post.
Check with each college first
Application platforms including Common App do not store or forward transcripts themselves. Your school counselor or you send the document straight to each college, so confirm on the college's own applicant portal whether it wants a counselor-mailed copy, a PDF you upload, or an official STS electronic transcript. Ask this early, since the answer decides which STS delivery option to buy.
What your school profile covers
Since BC schools do not report a class rank, the school profile your counselor sends alongside your transcript gives a US reader context for your marks. It usually lists the grading scale, average grades in different course levels, and how many students go on to post-secondary study. Ask your counselor to confirm this profile goes out with your school transcript, since it matters as much as the numbers themselves.
If a college asks for course descriptions
Some US colleges ask for a course outline or curriculum description alongside your marks, especially ones with less experience reading BC transcripts. Your school usually supplies this from its own course calendar. Provide it only if a college requests it, since most large US applicant pools already include BC students and admissions offices know the format.
What "final" means on a BC transcript
A BC transcript distinguishes between an interim mark, entered partway through a course, and a final mark, entered once the course is complete and any exam or culminating assessment is marked. Colleges reading an early-submitted transcript see interim marks for courses still in progress. Once your school submits final marks to the Ministry after the course ends, your STS record updates and a new order reflects it.
Budget for more than one order
If you apply to several US colleges, budget for more than one round of STS orders. A typical applicant orders an initial transcript for each college on the list, then a second update once June marks post, so five colleges across two rounds means roughly ten separate 10 CAD orders unless a delivery option lets one order serve one recipient across an update window.
Keep a copy for your own records
Order one PDF or mailed copy addressed to yourself alongside the copies you send to colleges. Having your own official copy on hand helps if a college later asks for a duplicate, or if you need proof of marks for a scholarship application separate from your college file.
If you attend an independent or offshore BC-curriculum school
Not every BC school reports into STS the same way. Some independent and offshore-authorized BC curriculum schools keep their own records process alongside the Ministry one, so ask your school directly whether STS holds your complete record or whether the school issues transcripts separately for you.