Question: I was a university student and I owe $4500 to my school. Now I can't register for a semester at another college until this amount is paid. I tried to sign up at a community college and was asked for a transcript before I could be qualified for financial aid. But my old college won't release my transcript until I pay my debt. What can I do?
Colleges tend to stick together when it comes to requiring a transcript from a previous institution before being able to enroll in a new one. If you cannot afford to pay your debt to your first university, you might try to speak to university officials about setting up a long-term payment plan. In that case, they may release your transcript or at least provide a letter for your new college that explains your circumstances.