Temporary diploma/transcript after graduation?

[davewill]

I'll be graduating in December. I plan of having everything completed by the first audit (I think this is around the start of October), including the final Capstone paper (to finish everything early, but also because I have something during that whole month).

The reason is because I'm enrolling for a graduate program. I'm not too sure of the process (hence, the many questions), and I'm trying to get and send all the needed documentation as early as possible. From what I understand so far, it would be possible to send documents further down the line, but if I can provide temporary documentation—to prove I'll be graduating and that I meet the requirements—I think that would increase my chances of being accepted, and also of securing my enrollment, since there are a limited number of places.

Generally, you would not need to send any official transcripts until after the admissions decision had been made. Traditionally, for a student who would be graduating in June and starting their master's in September, their application would go in sometime in Nov-Feb during their senior year, admissions decisions would come in Mar-June, then transcripts would be due after graduation sometime in the summer. As you can see, the master's program would be very used to dealing with applicants that have not graduated yet.

There are advantages to having a high GPA, good references, and work experience. I don't think that early proof of graduation is a factor at all.