I went to college for one semester and missed the financial aid/loan deadline, so now I owe the school directly without any loans or financial aid. I’m looking to go back to school. Do I need to pay off the current debt before returning? Would they release my transcript considering I owe the school? I’ve recently moved out of state so I’d be going to a different school.
Which semester did you go?
I think you may have been poorly advised about “missing the deadline”. The deadline for a FAFSA federal student loan is long after school starts.
Yes, you will have to pay off that debt before your transcript will be released. And you can’t just “start over”. Schools use a clearing house to find out if you took classes anywhere in the US.
Another issue is that you just moved to a new state, so you would pay out of state tuition rates.
Why not work until you pay off the debt, and by then you would probably be considered to be an instate student for tuition purposes?
But I agree. Did you just attend school this fall semester? Did you file your FAFSA?
Your first college is NOT likely to release your transcript whichnwill be required by school two…until you pay your bills.
Very good point about now being OOS at any new school…did you consider that?
Good suggestion to spend this year establishing residency while paying off the debt.
However, if this “unpaid semester” was the recent fall semester, you can probably still file FAFSA for it. Not sure since you’re not enrolled for spring as well.
You can only get aid when filing the FAFSA while you are a student. This term has ended. IIRC, it’s too late to file for need based aid including loans for the fall term because it has ended.
This student doesn’t sound like they are enrolled for the spring term. So they can’t get aid for the spring term.
@jmurph677 we’re you Pell Grant eligible? What kind of financial aid (beside Loans) did you miss out on. How come your school didn’t cancel your fall registration when your bill went unpaid?
Did you file a FAFSA before leaving school?