The cleanest separation depends on the required sender, not merely on who helped prepare the document. EducationUSA states that institutions generally require an original transcript or a certified copy sent by the applicant’s secondary or high school for each institution. A certified copy that the school must send therefore belongs in the school-submitted category, while other items should not be classified that way until the instructions identify the sender.
How to classify the document
| Item | What the cited guidance establishes | Classification rule |
|---|---|---|
| Transcript | Institutions generally require an original transcript or a certified copy sent by the secondary or high school. | Classify it as school-submitted when the institution specifically requires a school-sent certified copy. The cited wording does not establish who sends an original transcript. |
| Recommendation letter | EducationUSA says recommendation letters may be written by a school counsellor, personal tutor, teacher, coach, or supervisor from professional experience. | Identify the writer and the submitter separately. A school-affiliated writer does not automatically mean the school must upload or send the letter. |
Check the sender before assigning the task
For a transcript, applicants should check each institution’s instructions for the required format and delivery method. The words “sent by the school” establish a school-submitted task. If the instructions do not identify who sends the document, the sender remains unconfirmed rather than becoming an assumption.
Recommendation letters require the same distinction. EducationUSA’s statement identifies who may write a letter, but it does not state who must submit the completed letter. Applicants should therefore check the institution’s instructions for both roles instead of assuming that the recommender, school, or applicant will submit it.
What applicants must still confirm
Before marking an item complete, applicants should confirm:
- which transcript format the institution requires;
- whether the transcript must be sent by the school;
- who is permitted to write a recommendation letter;
- who must submit that letter;
- the stated delivery method and timing, if provided.
The cited statements do not provide a deadline, fee, processing time, delivery address, or institution-specific submission procedure. Those details must come from the relevant institution’s instructions and should not be inferred from the document type or the recommender’s role.