Still owe old college money, won't release transcripts...are there options?

Paying for College
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<p>I still owe my old college (University of Bridgeport) money, about $9500 that wasn't covered by my financial aid package for last spring. I planned to pay it with a private loan, but for some reason(rough economy I guess) this year's loan wasn't approved. Because of that I was unable to register for the fall semester, and they put a hold on my transcripts and won't release them unless I pay the amount in full. I really had no choice but to take the summer semester off and try to get a job; which is what I'm trying to do now.
I realize that it was my fault for going to such an expensive school. The cost there is about 40k a year or more with other expenses, and my financial aid only covers about half of that. So right now I'm looking to transfer to a school that costs much less, while at the same time trying to find a way to pay back my other school. I need to get into another school by this fall or all my loans begin repayment, and I really can't afford that. Problem is...deadlines are coming quick, and they won't release my transcripts.
I talked to a counselor in my admissions office, who wasn't too helpful on this, but said that "they've seen this before" and that I should just explain my situation to the admissions office of the school I'm applying to. Maybe they will understand my problem and admit me without a transcript, and when the balance is paid I can just have it sent to them...
What I'd like to know is: is this possible? Has anyone ever experienced anything like this before. Is there any way for me to get into another school and have the transcript sent to them later? Or can I just apply as a freshman and transfer credits later on?
I know I made a mistake going to an expensive school, and you can say I screwed up, but I'm trying to look past that and get this figured out. I've been through a lot of hardship, and much of it I brought upon myself. Stress, maybe depression--from issues at home and this financial pickle, a problem I've been aware of for a while, also helped my grades to go down last semester, which happens to be my first as a sophomore. I'm not complaining about down form a A to a B, I mean from pass to fail. I was taking 5 classes, I dropped 2, and lost track of everything. I set 2 alarms and still managed to miss 2 of the early morning finals, and the third class I believe I passed but not so sure. I may have completely failed the semester, but I'll never really know because the transcript hold. It sounds bad I know, but to add to my problems my gpa probably fell to 2.0 or below.
Have I managed to break the limit, set a record for the biggest failure, or does someone share my experience? I'd appreciate any advice, even if it means really bad news. I've got to come up with something quick before the before this August and it's too late, and I'm sure that there is a lot that I hadn't thought of. Enlighten me. Thanks!</p>

<p>P.S. I was awarded only 50 percent of the financial aid that I needed to cover my college costs. It costs about 40,000 a year to attend UB. I realize that is expensive, but providing that I get into a much cheaper school, is it possible to have 100% need met--given my present situation. I am classified as a dependent but I have 1 deceased parent and the other is currently unemployed and has no way to support my education. Is there a "special case" where I might be able to receive enough grants and loans to cover most, if not all, of my costs? I talked to the FinAid office at my old school and they couldn't really help me, maybe this isn't the case at another school.</p>

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<p>At this point in time, your best best is your local community college. Just be careful in selecting classes that are likely to transfer to another 4 year college.</p>

<p>It is really tough for transfer students to get good financial aid packages. Try for admissions to your State’s University. That will have the Lowest Cost of Attendance, and hopefully federal financial aid will make it affordable.</p>

<p>You might want to consider going part-time. Enough classes to keep your loans in deferment. But, allow you to work and earn a good portion of your unmet need.</p>

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<p>You’re not really a “special case” because you didn’t pay off your old college loans. A special case would be if your financial situation changed drastically in the last couple months or so, so that your FAFSA or whatever doesn’t reflect your current situation. It doesn’t seem that that’s the case.</p>

<p>As I mentioned already, the entire point of withholding your transcripts if you don’t pay is to keep you from going to another school before you have settled your obligations with the first. The admissions office at your new school may be able to help you, by giving you conditional admittance on the basis of an unofficial transcript until you are able to submit your official transcripts. I had a friend do this before, and it worked out.</p>

<p>However, those situations usually only last about a semester or a year; you can’t finish your degree on conditional acceptance. And even your local community college is going to require transcripts from your old school, even if they are just a formality. They want them to see if you are in good standing, and being paid up is a part of being in good standing (I don’t mean this offensively, but no school wants a student who is likely not to pay them, and they will believe you are unlikely to pay them if you did not pay your old school).</p>

<p>And also like I said before, you cannot apply as a freshman applicant if you have 30 or more credits of college courses earned at another institution, and you can’t just apply now and send transcripts later at the majority of schools – even your community college or local state regional school will want transcripts before they formally admit you.</p>

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<p>I know exactly how you feel! I am experiencing anxiety caused by the same situation. I did contact the university that I want to transfer back to… I attended there prior to attending the university that I currently owe.</p>

<p>First time I spoke to Admissions, I was told that it is possible for admission and to have transcript available by the end of a “probationary” semester. Next time I called to confirm… I was told by a different person that ALL transcripts required before admission, “re-admission” in my case, could take place. It is a MESS! Had I stayed at the university where I began my college experience, I would be a graduate by now. The second university was just too expensive and I did not realize it until things were in full swing. I am trying to fix the problem that I have allowed to consume so much of my mind.</p>

<p>As far as your private loan… you may be able to consolidate it with other loans you may have to counter the due date of the loan. Best of luck! If you have found any solutions or have info that might help me, also I would be eternally grateful.</p>

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<p>The best thing to do is put school on hold for a while and pay the debt you owe for services rendered. Then you can start anew with a clean financial slate. I am continuously amazed that people start school , which is a tremendously expensive undertaking - probably 2nd only to buying a house nowadays - without knowing their exact financial situation and how they are going to pay their bills. Seriously what other thing in life would you do without having a pretty good idea of how much it will cost and how you will pay for it? I bet you don’t even order a burger at McDonalds without checking you have the money to pay for it. Though it is to late for you I would like to reiterate what we post on these boards frequently “DO NOT UNDER ANY CIRCUMSTANCES START AT ANY SCHOOL UNTIL YOU KNOW YOU HAVE THE FINANCES LINED UP TO PAY FOR IT. IF YOU DO NOT PAY YOUR BILL YOU WILL NOT BE ABLE TO ENROLL FOR THE NEXT TERM, MAY BE DISENROLED FOR THE CURRENT TERM (DEPENDING ON THE SCHOOL) AND YOU WILL NOT BE ABLE TO TRANSFER TO ANOTHER SCHOOL UNTIL YOU PAY THE MONEY YOU OWE”.</p>

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<p>Agreed with Swimcats (again). You need to clean the financial slate before you do anything else. The reality is that you owe U of B money. They, therefore, will not release your transcript. You also need to know that there is a good reason for this. A receiving college cannot process financial aid for you until you have reconciled your debt with Bridgeport. </p>

<p>To anyone else reading this thread…get your payment plan in place BEFORE you start classes at any college. Don’t assume the money will come from somewhere (loans, relatives…the “tuition fairy”). Until you have the documentation for money in hand…do NOT begin classes.</p>

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<p>“I was taking 5 classes, I dropped 2, and lost track of everything. I set 2 alarms and still managed to miss 2 of the early morning finals, and the third class I believe I passed but not so sure. I may have completely failed the semester, but I’ll never really know because the transcript hold. It sounds bad I know, but to add to my problems my gpa probably fell to 2.0 or below.
Have I managed to break the limit, set a record for the biggest failure, or does someone share my experience? I’d appreciate any advice, even if it means really bad news. I’ve got to come up with something quick before the before this August and it’s too late, and I’m sure that there is a lot that I hadn’t thought of. Enlighten me. Thanks!”</p>

<p>My situation was also like yours but a little different. I felt the same way you did dude, “Have I managed to break the limit, set a record for the biggest failure.” That is exactly how I felt. It was my lowest point ever, but I was able to bounce back. This is how I did.</p>

<p>Step 1) Leave what ever happen at University of Bridgeport) in the past. Erased everything except the money you owe them.</p>

<p>Step 2) You need a new start, so it have to be your local community college because it will be almost impossible for a 4 years school won’t accept you without a transcript. </p>

<p>Step 3) Sign up for classes at your local CC, you going to have to paid out of your pocket but it won’t be that expensive. Since you paying out of your own pocket they will not ask you for a transcript. Spring semester is the best time because you can applied for FA the upcoming fall semester. Since it’s a CC your FA should be able to cover up all your tuition and you will also get a refund check too. That is huge.</p>

<p>Step 4) Take classes that can transfer with you to a 4 years school, ex. of some are, psychology, sociology, history.</p>

<p>Step 5) Do not make the same mistake twice, focus hard on your classes and try to get a 3.0 gpa or better. Learn from your mistake and help others so they won’t make the same mistakes.</p>

<p>Step 6) Call your old school and try to making a make a payment plan to get paid your debt, you should also used your refund checks on your debt so you can clear it faster.</p>

<p>Step 7) Follow these step and you will be able to work your way back to to top. I did, I had a 3.7 when I transfer from my local CC and was able to get a scholarship to my new 4 years school. A wised man learn from his mistakes I hoped you do, and best of luck dude, sorry I didn’t see this form earlier to help you out.</p>

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<p>nick, it’s very kind of you to offer advice as someone who has experienced the same problem, however this thread was started in June 2009 and it doesn’t look like vince is a regular poster on this site. But welcome to CC and please feel free to continue sharing your knowledge…I’m glad to hear it all worked out for you!</p>

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<p>It might be worth seeing if you can work out a payment plan with your old college, so they are willing to release the transcript after the first several payments are made.</p>

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<p>I spoke to the FA admin at my local community college, since I owed a $7,000 debt to my old private 4-year University, where I was a BA English major. I was told that if I apply for a different degree in Community college, for example an AA or a “Certificate”, then “…financial aid starts all over again. And now, you’re over 24 and can take out more money in loans.”
This was interesting news, because my situation arose after a falling out with my parents, when I reported them for child abuse against my younger sister. So,my parents quickly cut off all resources in the middle of the semester years ago when I was back in college. I was told by the Community College counselor, “…you were going to a private school, so there was more than enough reason for them to change your status to independent. It’s a shame that they didn’t.” I think she the CC counselor felt sorry for me, and that is when she told me that I could get financial aid through the community college now, for the paralegal AA degree - and start totally clean.
However, my friend was in a similar situation, but did not have a sob story like mine involving child abuse, simply money owed that she did not pay. The same FA admin told her she was out of luck. She was actually told that she was “ineligible for aid at the community college.”
Go figure.</p>

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<p>i am in the same situation
my school wont release my transcripts without me paying them like 3grand. It is a business no doubt. I can’t seem to convince them to let it go is there some other way around this i wonder to speed up the process?</p>

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<p>Read the posts up the thread. The only thing you can do is pay off the debt.</p>

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<p>A business no doubt.
What assurance would the school have for a student to pay a balance due them if they released the transcript?</p>

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<p>Agree, you need to pay off the debt. You used a service and have not yet payed for it. They want to be paid for the service they provided to you and will not release the transcript to you until you pay the money you owe. That is perfectly reasonable. Why would you expect them to release it to you when you know you owe them money?</p>

<p>Put it this way. You agree to sell your car to Bob for $3000. He shows up at your door to collect the car, without the $3000. Are you going to give him the car? </p>

<p>Scenario 2 - you do give him the car because you are a trusting soul and you believe people are honest and will pay money they owe to other people. A few months he still has not payed as promised. He shows up wanting the title to prove he owns it. Are you going to be fool enough to give him the title when he has already failed to pay as he promised he would?</p>

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