We’re all human, and losing the original diploma could happen to everyone. Facing this issue might feel way more stressful for you after realizing it’s just a piece of paper to prove your education. However, to earn that diploma, you spend tens of thousands of dollars, endless hours of study time, years of family sacrifice, and the blood, sweat, and tears that went into obtaining each grade. Your education diploma is the first step in your career, and you wonder what you can try to replace it.
Contact your university immediately
Most universities accept those kinds of requests when the diploma is lost because they take the responsibility to provide you with your track of academic history. From your university years, you might remember that Registrar’s Office is in charge of keeping track of class schedules, maintaining student records and transcripts, and enrolling new students in courses. Meeting all requests for replacements and copies of diplomas is their duty if the university allows them to make it. You can easily find the registrar’s office’s contact information on your school‘s website or call the main number and ask to be connected to their department to reach them. Also, you should check what kind of request letter your institution accepts. It might be an online or written paper request, and it would be preferable to attach another university document, which can help them to identify you as a recent graduate.
- A copy of your driver’s license, passport, government-issued photo identification, or social security number may be required as official identity.
- University Invoice, through which you paid for your tuition or other university property, where your full name and Student ID appear.
After attaching one of those documents to your request letter, you should be prepared to pay an additional fee. Also, it would be best if you prepared yourself to wait for some time to get approved because the process takes time, and every university has its own policy about diploma replacement.
Get a copy of your college diploma
Considering that some universities have different policies about diploma replacement, which means you might need to be rejected or provide other documents you don’t have. In that case, consider alternatives to get a copy of your diploma. Although getting an original diploma from the registrar’s office might be the ideal solution, GED diploma replacement takes a little time and effort to get it back again. You need to pass the GED test and receive your state-recognized diploma so that you can apply for jobs and educational opportunities. Thus, avoiding your school’s administrative office’s additional fees and documents and the potential wait time of several weeks, you can apply for a copy of the replacement.
Provide other proof of your graduation
People sometimes prioritize a university diploma over other academic achievements, but it’s not the only thing you earn during your studies. Yes, the diploma is your official document from the university, but you have other proofs that you might not think about. For example, if you initiated any student-centered organization or event at your university, such as Student Club, you can have pictures or a digital representation of them. You can show those pictures to your employer, so you can prove about being a recent graduate, so you get the job. Or, you might be saved your graduation pictures, which is also another alternative to show your academic involvement. In many cases, students are involved in Student Council or Student Magazine, and they have articles published on the university website. This is also another way for your proofs’ collections. The achievement you have may not be on this list, but it can somehow show you as a recent student. Be careful watching your educational history and separate those occurrences so that you will have proof of your education.
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The first thing you should do if you’ve lost your diploma is to take a deep breath. There are many available solutions, and it’s not the end of the world. Your initial step should be to get in touch with the institution from where you graduated and ask for a new copy. If that didn’t work, consider getting a replacement for your diploma. In the end, don’t underestimate the proofs you might have, varying from pictures to social media accounts.