I never finished freshmen year and I owe money. can I go to another university?

Applying to College
1

So I’m thinking of going to a university out of country but I owe money to a university I went to 5 years ago. They said they’re withholding my transcripts until I pay them and I left under extreme circumstances. Would I be able to go to a new university in another country without these old transcripts if I never finished a full year?

2

It depends on the new country really.

3

There is the National College Clearinghouse that shares information among US colleges which would almost certainly prevent you from attending another domestic college before you paid off the first one. The problem is that they also work with a few international colleges, but they don’t say which ones. None of your credits would transfer. You would be taking your chances, really.

4

How much do you owe and how many credits have you completed at that school?

5

umm I think around 3k? And I didn’t get any from there, any credits I had were from high school

6

So even if I didn’t need credits to transfer it still would be an issue? i hope I don’t sound totally stupid!

7

Did you take out federal loans or grants that you owe, or do you owe the school itself money?

You need to find out directly from other colleges if they will take you if you have no credits at a mother school but owe them money. It is possible that some schools will still permit you to enroll into programs. It depends upon the school.

8

Couldn’t you just get a side hustle job for 3 months, pay off the 3k and start over with a clean slate?

9

Your best bet would be to arrange a payment plan with your original college, and get rid of the debt. Like any other debt will haunt you for a very long time even if you never need the transcript.

10

If the other country is Canada they will know.

11

Not every college will know even in US. My son got his degree and forgot to list a school where he had taken courses and owed a balance, when he went back to college. It never came up. He had no financial and didn’t transfer over those classes taken for credit. It all depends upon the college.

12

What is on the college transcript then? Ws? Fs?