So, you put in the work, you went to class and aced your exams and you exceeded even your own expectations! Now, you need a copy of your academic transcript, but your school refuses to release them to you! You NEED them, and they know it, and now you have no proof of the coursework you’ve taken to show another University or even an employer who is waiting for you to send them a copy.
The common practice of withholding official academic transcripts after you leave school is the only collateral they have to ensure you pay.
IS THIS EVEN LEGAL!?
Sadly, yes, it’s perfectly legal and it’s the last-ditch effort of an Institution to gather the funds they’ve yet to receive. So, you fell on bad times and you haven’t been able to pay back your student debt in full…they don’t care. Money for Grades, or nothing at all. “But I did the work…I got my degree!” Doesn’t matter…no cash, no ‘scripts.
WHY ARE THEY HOLDING MY TRANSCRIPTS, DIPLOMA & STUDENT RECORDS?
This doesn’t only include your student loan debt, nope. College and Universities place holds of academic transcripts, grade reports and even diplomas & degrees because of student failure to fulfill their obligations to the college. These obligations might include education loans (e.g., defaulting on institutional loans, Perkins loans and Stafford loans), participation in exit counseling, unpaid fines (e.g., for parking tickets or failure to return library books), and other indebtedness (e.g., unpaid tuition and fees). This article discusses the circumstances under which colleges and universities may withhold academic transcripts, diplomas and other student records.
WHAT ARE MY OPTIONS?
The first thing most people think of when it comes to overbearing student debt is filing for bankruptcy. Bankruptcy is rarely an easy process, but it’s notoriously difficult with student loan debt. In fact, the only way to discharge federal student loans through bankruptcy is to prove “undue hardship.”
Essentially, you have to prove that you physically can’t pay back your federal student loans. However, courts are left with some room to interpret your eligibility. Most courts evaluate hardship using The Brunner Test. Keep in mind, even if you succeed, you have the shadow of bankruptcy chained to you for the next 10 years, stunting your financial freedom, growth and prosperity for a minimum of a decade to come. Is it worth it?
Your second option isn’t very glamorous either…you can start over. If you don’t have many credit hours, you could always start all over at another school. However, being that you are in default with another institution, you may not be accepted at a new school with an outstanding balance owed to another College or University. This issue will arise more prominently with online for-profit schools.
I CAN’T FILE BANKRUPTCY OR START OVER…IS THERE ANY OPTION FOR ME?
**GREAT NEWS** If filing bankruptcy is too rash of a decision with far too many cons for your future endeavors and starting over again at another school simply isn’t an option, you can always consider purchasing a novelty Diploma and Transcript from one of the leading document creators on the web, Realistic Diplomas. Whether you are looking for a College Diploma, University Transcripts or a Certificate from an Institute or Trade School, RealisticDiplomas.com will custom make a Diploma or Transcript featuring your specific School, Graduate Name, Degree Details and even provide realistic stock signatures so you can proudly present your Diploma & Transcript with confidence.
If you need your Academic Record FAST and cannot afford to jump through hoops, buying a copy of your originals, customized with your student, school, course and graduation information, will surely be the best thing you’ve done for yourself all year!