<p>Good afternoon,</p>
<p>I've been reading over some posts over the last week or so that go pretty far back in time and I believe I've got a pretty good grasp on my situation based on the research I've done. I'm going to give a brief history before I seek out some direction from the seasoned veterans here but I will keep it brief and factual.</p>
<p>History: </p>
<p>-Went to college when I was nineteen at a private University.
-Attended 1.5(ish) semesters and due to family issues at home I withdrew.
-After ensuing family insanity - I relocated from my home to Florida.
-Fast forward nine years.
-Had two federal loans. One is paid off - another is in good standing with about $1,000 left.
-Went to enroll in a Community College this year. Financial Aid approved - all is a go. They wanted a copy of both my High School and College transcripts.
-Applied to have transcript sent - financial hold. Contact old school - discovered I owe them $2,900 dollars due to "refunded subsidized Stafford loan" (which I've been paying on for almost 9 years now)
-Contact community college several times, get several stories: "You can enroll but your financial aid will be held" ? (was already told it was approved and my loans are in great standing, one is paid off) - "You cannot enroll without your transcripts, you need them to graduate" (the indication was contradictory to me at least, I can get the debt paid off before I graduate but she wouldn't/couldn't clarify if I could start class)</p>
<p>That's the summary. Now, here's what I learned skimming these forums:</p>
<p>-If you have a federal loan in bad standing you cannot receive financial aid. If you owe them money they will not offer any additional aid until it's resolved.
-The private college can hold transcripts indefinitely until the debt is paid.
-Some community colleges require transcripts and some do not. It appears to be the discretion of the admissions office.
-The transcript isn't actually 'required' - it's more like they want to know I'm going to pay them. It may be required to transfer officially to a University, etc.
-Omitting my previous enrollment to a private college is not illegal per se but generally not a great idea for reasons I think are too obvious to list.</p>
<p>And my current thoughts:</p>
<p>-My goal is to start school as soon as possible by whatever means necessary.
-Due to what happened at home - the debt owed to the private college never reached me (nor did it appear on my credit report, which I began pulling 3-4 years ago to improve my credit.. or I would have tackled this much sooner! It may have rolled off but it's definitely not showing now.)
-I owe the private institution money and I have the full intent to pay them back every penny.
-I'm unable to get a personal loan to release my transcripts.</p>
<p>So the current options I've deduced are as follows:</p>
<p>1.) Get a second full time job - and take 3 years to pay off the loan for transcripts. I would be 31-32 by then if I'm lucky - enroll for 4 years and start towards my career at 36.
2.) Try to find a school that will accept me in lieu of my situation, pay off the debt to the private college as I work through and have transcripts available.
3.) Focus on improving credit to secure a personal loan (not far off, I'm close) and pay off transcripts that way and enroll.
4.) Do not disclose my private school to the community college, enroll and pay the debt off before transcripts become necessary.
5.) Try to take classes online out of pocket or possibly out of pocket at the community college - not sure if they still want my transcripts.</p>
<p>I realize this question is answered a lot and I am not a unique butterfly. Most of what I read however are in regards to the lock people on people's federal aid. The school I applied at said my financial aid was approved and all I needed to finish enrollment was my transcripts - so it's not the aid part that is hanging me up. Admissions has been out this week so I've not been able to have a sit down with anyone but this is where I'm at now that a personal loan is out of reach.</p>
<p>I'm willing to do whatever I have too in order to make this work. If the answer is a long and difficult one, I'm ready to accept that. However.. if it's possible to go to school AND work on the transcript issue, I would very much like to do that. I've been basically on my own for a long time, recently separated from my fiance and I'm ready to pursue my career regardless of the hurdles.</p>
<p>If anyone has any additional advice, suggestions or thoughts - it would mean a lot if you would share them.</p>
<p>Kind regards,</p>
<p>R-</p>