transcripts being held hostage

[bjcheung77]

Not sure about the OP, but my school is Rider University, which, interestingly enough, is located in NJ, minutes from TESU, where I am considering completing my degree. They are in the National Clearinghouse, they are accredited by Middle States and a few others; transcripts fully recognized. I was there on a full tuition scholarship for Theatre, but major was Mass Communications. What I want to finish with is where I'm stuck. Hindsight being 20/20, I would have pursued a bachelor's in Computer Science, Economics or Marketing...but at my ripe old age (38), I am now questioning my aptitude for the mathematics. The other factor is that I currently work in higher ed and getting a Master's would be free...it's what to get a bachelor's in that I've spent way too much time debating.

Hmm, we're in the same shoes... well, kind of, I started over again from scratch THREE times over a span of ~19 years. My suggestion is to start fresh, I think there maybe a program for that in your state.
Complete a TESU BALS or a BSBA (get on that TECEP right away! if you're going for this option), and then complete your Masters at your workplace. With that work experience, you can try to PLA the AOS.
With the amount of transferable credits, you may be able to complete 90 credits or so relatively cheaply/easily/quickly with ACE/NCCRS credits, use the known providers, ALEKS, Straighterline, Study.com, etc.

[bjcheung77]

that's my advice as well- right now she's in debt without a degree but going on with life. She's considering committing fraud, so yeah, things can get worse.
Fresh start programs are usually through community colleges and will wash away your bad grades, not sure if they wash away debt, but it's for sure worth asking.

I'm all about finding loopholes, so if she can find one, go for it!! As for actually violating a policy, honor code, or law- I'm not a fan. In her shoes, I'd look aggressively for a workaround. If I couldn't find one, I would pay the debt or move forward without a degree. There are ZILLIONS of non-credit continuing education, certificate, diploma, professional, and CEU programs that she could do to build her resume ethically.

That's so true for what you mentioned but, isn't there an option to start over? I mean, from taking other alternative courses for credit and then completing it at the Big 3 or competency based degree providers.
I don't have school loan debt, but I've started over three times now. None of the schools I've applied to rejected my application yet, I wonder if it's going to be different for apply for graduation at TESU.

Years back a link to the clearinghouse was posted and I didn't see my earliest culinary degree on there. It's there now. So, it's also possible that schools that do not participate today will do so in the future.

I see, that's a very good point. I'm not telling people to conceal the fact that they wen't to school elsewhere, but that they can't get their transcripts.
I would say, go speak with the institution you want to attend and tell them your story. Get advice on where to begin and how to complete a degree from that school.

[Synicaal]

I don't understand how someone attends a school but ends up owing that school so much money? Any school I attended or tried to attend made me pay for the class prior to getting into it or I wouldn't get credit. How are these schools allowing a student to owe them this amount of money that is crippling, this sound like the institutions fault and not the students fault. Most new college student don't understand what they are doing to themselves and it needs to stop. I can't wait for the day High School have a Financial Awareness course for 11th and 12th graders. Thankfully my mother took the time to educate me on the ins and outs of money and how to manage it properly.

[clep3705]

Schools do loan money to students. I've always paid cash for tuition, so I don't know exactly how this is done. I know people who have paid up and others who have not.

Fraud seems like a rather strong word to use for someone who "forgets" to submit a transcript. I know of a case where a person enrolled, was doing okay, then became ill and withdrew passing from all courses. The only thing on that school's transcript is a bunch of W's. This person "forgets" to mention that school. I wouldn't call that fraud.

The woman who owes money is planning on testing out of a BSBA at TESU. I expect her to be able to quickly accumulate credits through testing. Fresh start programs don't eliminate debt. They only eliminate academic course credits.

[dfrecore]

Fresh start programs don't eliminate debt. They only eliminate academic course credits.

I got a "fresh start" from WVNCC - it shows my GPA as much higher than it actually is, because they don't count any bad grades from a certain amount of time back (maybe 10 years?).

The Fresh Start is about GPA, rather than money. You cannot get a fresh start and erase debt.

[cookderosa]

Schools do loan money to students. I've always paid cash for tuition, so I don't know exactly how this is done. I know people who have paid up and other who have not.

Fraud seems like a rather strong word to use for someone who "forgets" to submit a transcript. I know of a case where a person enrolled, was doing okay, then became ill and withdrew passing from all courses. The only thing on that school's transcript is a bunch of W's. This person "forgets" to mention that school. I wouldn't call that fraud.

The woman who owes money is planning on testing out of a BSBA at TESU. I expect her to be able to quickly accumulate credits through testing. Fresh start programs don't eliminate debt. They only eliminate academic course credits.

I totally get it- but I don't think the colleges see it this way. If she literally has a transcript of nothing but "W"s - you could have her EMAIL that question to TESU and see what they say. If they say not to worry about sending it in, then I wouldn't worry about mentioning the 18 grand.

PS of course email vs calling so she has it in writing.

[sanantone]

I don't understand how someone attends a school but ends up owing that school so much money? Any school I attended or tried to attend made me pay for the class prior to getting into it or I wouldn't get credit. How are these schools allowing a student to owe them this amount of money that is crippling, this sound like the institutions fault and not the students fault. Most new college student don't understand what they are doing to themselves and it needs to stop. I can't wait for the day High School have a Financial Awareness course for 11th and 12th graders. Thankfully my mother took the time to educate me on the ins and outs of money and how to manage it properly.

This mostly happens when students receive grants and/or loans and don't finish the number of required credits. The school is legally obligated to send the money back to the government. That leaves a balance with the school.

[TenderMoni]

I don't understand how someone attends a school but ends up owing that school so much money? Any school I attended or tried to attend made me pay for the class prior to getting into it or I wouldn't get credit. How are these schools allowing a student to owe them this amount of money that is crippling, this sound like the institutions fault and not the students fault. Most new college student don't understand what they are doing to themselves and it needs to stop. I can't wait for the day High School have a Financial Awareness course for 11th and 12th graders. Thankfully my mother took the time to educate me on the ins and outs of money and how to manage it properly.

I went to the school on a full tuition scholarship, not going to go retell the full story, but they pulled the scholarship at the end of my junior year because I refused to do something I felt was humiliating, but technically required by the rules of my scholarship - leaving me to pay the full balance of the year, $18k.

I do not condone anyone commit fraud, and did not get the impression the person was trying to do that. If rules stipulate that EVERY transcript of each school attended MUST be submitted, that is one thing. However, if the submission of transcripts is only for the transfer of credits, and I don't want any credits from a particular school, would I still need to submit said transcripts? Like someone else said, I think calling the new school and asking them might be the best option to avoid expulsion or being accused of withholding information down the line.

Hmm, we're in the same shoes...well, kind of, I started over again from scratch THREE times over a span of ~19 years. My suggestion is to start fresh, I think there maybe a program for that in your state.
Complete a TESU BALS or a BSBA (get on that TECEP right away! if you're going for this option), and then complete your Masters at your workplace. With that work experience, you can try to PLA the AOS.
With the amount of transferable credits, you may be able to complete 90 credits or so relatively cheaply/easily/quickly with ACE/NCCRS credits, use the known providers, ALEKS, Straighterline, Study.com, etc.

Yeah, I think I'm going to have to start over...and while I am taking courses, save up enough to negotiate/pay off the debt. Like others have said, the fresh start program is for credits/grades, but not for debt. Not sure I am quite ready to knock out the TECEP, I read it's going the way of the do-do, but I haven't begun my journey yet.

[dfrecore]

I went to the school on a full tuition scholarship, not going to go retell the full story, but they pulled the scholarship at the end of my junior year because I refused to do something I felt was humiliating, but technically required by the rules of my scholarship - leaving me to pay the full balance of the year, $18k.

I do not condone anyone commit fraud, and did not get the impression the person was trying to do that. If rules stipulate that EVERY transcript of each school attended MUST be submitted, that is one thing. However, if the submission of transcripts is only for the transfer of credits, and I don't want any credits from a particular school, would I still need to submit said transcripts? Like someone else said, I think calling the new school and asking them might be the best option to avoid expulsion or being accused of withholding information down the line.



Yeah, I think I'm going to have to start over...and while I am taking courses, save up enough to negotiate/pay off the debt. Like others have said, the fresh start program is for credits/grades, but not for debt. Not sure I am quite ready to knock out the TECEP, I read it's going the way of the do-do, but I haven't begun my journey yet.

I totally get your predicament. I think that you're right, and you have 2 options. 1) You can find a school that won't ask for all of your transcripts, and start from scratch. 2) You can start accumulating credits for a degree at one of the Big 3, and save up while you're at it to pay off your debt, so that when you want to actually enroll at a school, you're free to send that other transcript. Since you'll be bringing in your credits from the previous school, you should know what courses you took and what level they were at (LL or UL) and then work those into whatever plan you will do.

I personally would do the latter, even though it's a bigger pain in the butt, because I think the money you save going through TESU or one of the Big 3 kind of offsets the money you have to pay to the school. Not entirely, but it certainly helps. And also, because it will get that monkey off your back. I'm sure it's been a weight on your shoulders for a long time.

If you post your credits here, we can help to make sure that they fit as well as possible into your degree plan, so you don't waste a dime on courses that you don't need.

Good luck!

[Synicaal]

This mostly happens when students receive grants and/or loans and don't finish the number of required credits. The school is legally obligated to send the money back to the government. That leaves a balance with the school.

Thank you!! This make a lot more sense to me now. I was so confused on how these balances came about but know I understand, thank you for the clarification.

Also in case it was taken in such way I wasn't making negative comments about people who came into this situation I just didn't understand how it happened.