Self Report for Success

The Reason Why Colleges Use SSAR

Photo by Leah Song/Maclay Andalusian

All seniors going through the college application process know the pain of having to set up their Self Reported Student Academic Record (SSAR). The SSAR, which documents all components of a student’s transcript, is a form that all students fill out and submit to the colleges they apply to. Some may know this form as the SRAR. Before, the SSAR and SRAR were separate things, with the SSAR used exclusively by Florida colleges and universities. Now, the two are used interchangeably.  

The SSAR is often viewed by students as annoying extra work in the intricate process of applying to colleges, but it wields a deeper purpose that many are not made aware of. Instead of just brushing it off and complaining about it, students should take it seriously, because it is used for a reason. 

Colleges use the SSAR because it is more efficient than high schools having to send full transcripts for each student. With the opportunity to self-report their grades, applicants don’t need to wait on their high school to send over their transcripts. High schools can have thousands of students, so it is much more efficient for the student applicant to be responsible for their own transcripts. Furthermore, college admissions officers’ efficiency also benefits from the use of the SSAR, as they are able to quickly and easily review and assess an applicant’s performance in high school and thus make a decision faster. 

Another appeal to the SSAR, and self-reported grades in general, is to give students the control over their transcripts. By having to fill out each and every grade they have received throughout high school, students are forced to be aware of their performance and record. This can help students decide which colleges would best fit them as well as remind them of their strengths and weaknesses in past subjects that they may have gotten lost in time. 

It is easy to think that it would be a simpler and more accurate reflection of students’ grades to just send the official transcript, as there would be less room for error this way. While this may be true, it also puts students that may not have as many resources, such as a way to send an official transcript, at a disadvantage. Additionally, the SSAR is editable. Students can make changes to the SSAR form after they submit at any time as long as it falls before the school’s materials deadline. Even if errors are made, students are able to correct them, which would not be possible if a final transcript was sent.

The SSAR can be tedious and seem unnecessary, but looking at the bigger picture, it is actually a valuable tool for the application process, as it gives students the upper hand when reporting their high school grades to colleges.