TESU graduation timing

[jb111]

Good morning. From your experience, what day of the month does TESU make your degree available to prospective grad schools? Based on WGU needing everything by the 15th, I might have to wait till May to start. Thanks

[Merlin]

Good morning. From your experience, what day of the month does TESU make your degree available to prospective grad schools?  Based on WGU needing everything by the 15th, I might have to wait till May to start.  Thanks

From what I've read TESU degree conferral usually occurs on the 15th of March, June, September, or December, with transcripts being updated to reflect the degree on the following business day, so the 16th at the earliest.

Like you, I am also planning to start at WGU on April 1st but it looks like TESU won't have transcripts available until March 16th so I will likely be delayed until a May 1st start date as well. Unless there is a way to get some kind of degree confirmation from TESU to WGU by or before March 15th, which seems unlikely since WGU requires an official transcript.

[jb111]

Thanks Merlin. I heard that TESU sends a confirmation letter prior to the 15th. However, I don’t think WGU will except. I am going to give it a shot anyway
By the way, what will your masters be in?

[mudball]

My son's graduation date was June 8th. Below is a quote from an e-mail.

"We are pleased to inform you that you have completed all of the requirements for the Associate in Science in Natural Sciences and Mathematics degree with an option in Computer Science for June 8, 2018 graduation!  Please notify us at registrar@tesu.edu if you intended to graduate with a different degree than the Associate in Science in Natural Sciences and Mathematics degree with an option in Computer Science.

Your diploma has been ordered.  Diplomas will be mailed within ten business days after the graduation date. With your diploma, you will receive a student copy of your final transcript.  When you need to request an official or student copy of your transcript, please visit the University’s website. Please note that transcripts requested prior to June 8, 2018 will not have the degree posted.  Degrees are posted to the transcript once they are conferred by the Board of Trustees on June 8, 2018."

[davewill]

The best thing to do is to order the transcript ahead of time and check the box to delay sending until after degree conferral. That would get the transcript there as quickly as possible.

[jb111]

Thanks Davewill.  I ordered and selected the option, "After Degree Is Awarded".  So if something happens early, great but I will expect a May 1 start.  I'll still send my advisor the TESU letter stating, "Your diploma has been ordered...", and attach my transcript/academic eval.  I've got big stuff happening end of October and mid-November.  Then we roll into the holidays.  April start is optimal.

[allvia]

It is the day after the degree is conferred.  The transcript will not show the degree until the next business day.  I graduated 12/14/18 (Friday), I needed to send my transcript as soon as it was available (I had conditional acceptance for grad school), so I could not request the transcript until 12/17/18 (Monday).  TESU themselves made sure to point this out in their email/letter stating your conferral date.

[Merlin]

Thanks Merlin.  I heard that TESU sends a confirmation letter prior to the 15th. However, I don’t think WGU will except.  I am going to give it a shot anyway
By the way, what will your masters be in?

Yeah, from what I've read WGU is very strict about having official transcripts, and won't accept letters of confirmation or unofficial transcripts.

I'll be starting with the MBA in IT Management. After that, I'm hoping to move on to the OMSCS from GA Tech. If that doesn't work out I might consider the WGU MS in Data Analytics, MS in Cybersecurity, or start on a doctorate program somewhere... though I'm leaning away from Ph.D. programs at this point since I don't want to invest 4-8 years on it.

From what it sounds like the degree conferral dates may vary, so hopefully the March conferral date comes in earlier, like the 8th or something like that. It would make things much less complicated.

[jb111]

Fingers crossed Merlin. At least we are starting together and can share observations

[Kima]

Yeah, from what I've read WGU is very strict about having official transcripts, and won't accept letters of confirmation or unofficial transcripts.

WGU wouldn't even accept official transcripts that showed all course work complete AND a letter from Excelsior stating that the course work was complete and the degree would be conferred before my WGU start date. So I was forced to push my planned start date back a month.