Author Topic: How dare they keep my transcripts just because I didn't pay for em  (Read 4736 times)

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Offline Tucker

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Tue Apr 3, 2012, 06:26 AM

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Colleges Withhold Transcripts From Grads in Loan Default
http://www.thenation.com/article/167142/colleges-withhold-transcripts-grads-loan-default

More than ten years ago, Pedro Rodriguez, a talented keyboard musician, came from his colonial homeland of Puerto Rico to go to Temple University. From a low-income family, he depended heavily on student loans to finance his four-year undergraduate study. Graduating summa cum laude with a bachelor’s of music, he went on to earn a master’s degree in music from Temple and then was hired for three years to teach there as an adjunct. By the end of college, he was $62,000 in debt but was making payments regularly until Temple laid him off, allegedly because of budget cuts. That’s when his problems began. (Pedro Rodriguez is a pseudonym to protect his identity.)

Unable to find a job as a music teacher in the current economic crisis, he eventually went into default on his loans, which included Stafford, Perkins and private bank loans. Then this year, he decided to go on to earn a PhD, which would make it possible for him to get hired in his field. He applied to a top-rated university in the Northeast, but when it was time to send his school transcripts, Temple froze him out. “They said as long as I was in default on my loans, they would not issue a transcript!” says Rodriguez.

A spokesman from Temple confirms that it is school policy to withhold official transcripts from graduates who are in default on their student loans. As it turns out, the school is not alone; this is the position taken by most colleges and universities, though there is no law requiring such an extortionate position. They do this despite the fact the colleges themselves are not out the money. They have received the students’ tuition payments in full and are in effect simply acting as collection agencies for the federal government.

The US Department of Education says only that it “encourages” colleges to withhold transcripts, a tactic which the department, in a letter to colleges, claims coldly “has resulted in numerous loan repayments.” But particularly in a time when the real unemployment rate is stuck at over 15 percent, or, if long term unemployed who have given up looking for work are included, at 22 percent, it seems not just heartless, but counter-productive for schools to block their own graduates from obtaining a document they need to move on to a higher degree or to get hired in their chosen field.

Can we use the same figures or are we restricted to the official white house figures of 8.4%?

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Come to think of it, unions do create jobs. Companies have to hire two workers to do the work of one.

Offline Maxiest

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Re: How dare they keep my transcripts just because I didn't pay for em
« Reply #1 on: April 03, 2012, 08:19:14 AM »
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But particularly in a time when the real unemployment rate is stuck at over 15 percent, or, if long term unemployed who have given up looking for work are included, at 22 percent,

So is it or isn't it at 15 percent?

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Offline Chris_

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Re: How dare they keep my transcripts just because I didn't pay for em
« Reply #2 on: April 03, 2012, 08:21:54 AM »
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Unable to find a job as a music teacher in the current economic crisis, he eventually went into default on his loans, which included Stafford, Perkins and private bank loans. Then this year, he decided to go on to earn a PhD, which would make it possible for him to get hired in his field. He applied to a top-rated university in the Northeast, but when it was time to send his school transcripts, Temple froze him out. “They said as long as I was in default on my loans, they would not issue a transcript!” says Rodriguez.
Makes sense... if you can't pay the bills you have, why should someone else be on the hook for even more unpaid debt?

I know two people with music degrees.  One fixes TVs and the other one works as a network engineer.  It's a great scam for the music schools.
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Re: How dare they keep my transcripts just because I didn't pay for em
« Reply #3 on: April 03, 2012, 08:26:20 AM »
So is it or isn't it at 15 percent?

If the story is about the evil and failures of capitalism, it's 15%.

If the story is about the brilliance of Barack Hussein Obama and why he deserves reelection, it's 8%
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Offline Maxiest

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Re: How dare they keep my transcripts just because I didn't pay for em
« Reply #4 on: April 03, 2012, 08:34:08 AM »
If the story is about the evil and failures of capitalism, it's 15%.

If the story is about the brilliance of Barack Hussein Obama and why he deserves reelection, it's 8%

"The society that puts equality before freedom will end up with neither; the society that puts freedom before equality will end up with a great measure of both."

"Nothing is so permanent as a temporary government program."

"We have a system that increasingly taxes work and subsidizes nonwork."

-Milton Friedman

Offline NHSparky

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Re: How dare they keep my transcripts just because I didn't pay for em
« Reply #5 on: April 03, 2012, 08:42:18 AM »
I'm still trying to figure out how a music degree justifies over $60K in debt.

Hell, in-state tuition and fees at one of the best public engineering schools in the nation (Georgia Tech) is barely $10K/year.
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Offline Tucker

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Re: How dare they keep my transcripts just because I didn't pay for em
« Reply #6 on: April 03, 2012, 08:47:25 AM »
I'm still trying to figure out how a music degree justifies over $60K in debt.

Hell, in-state tuition and fees at one of the best public engineering schools in the nation (Georgia Tech) is barely $10K/year.

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Come to think of it, unions do create jobs. Companies have to hire two workers to do the work of one.

Offline Zeus

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Re: How dare they keep my transcripts just because I didn't pay for em
« Reply #7 on: April 03, 2012, 08:59:06 AM »
I think being anal over the couple of bucks to print and mail school transcripts (which they can charge for upfront) is counterproductive in the big picture. Sure the guy is in default on student loans so make it harder for him to get a job so he can repay the debt.
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Offline Chris_

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Re: How dare they keep my transcripts just because I didn't pay for em
« Reply #8 on: April 03, 2012, 09:05:03 AM »
I paid ten bucks for my HS transcripts.  I didn't have to pay for my college transcript, but this guy didn't mention how much he was asked to pay.
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Offline Tucker

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Re: How dare they keep my transcripts just because I didn't pay for em
« Reply #9 on: April 03, 2012, 09:10:20 AM »
I paid ten bucks for my HS transcripts.  I didn't have to pay for my college transcript, but this guy didn't mention how much he was asked to pay.

From his post, I think they wanted the account brought up to date.
Come to think of it, unions do create jobs. Companies have to hire two workers to do the work of one.

Offline Chris_

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Re: How dare they keep my transcripts just because I didn't pay for em
« Reply #10 on: April 03, 2012, 09:15:53 AM »
From his post, I think they wanted the account brought up to date.
Well then I guess he better start forking over some money.

For so many people with so many graduate degrees, these people sure are dumb.
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Offline Maxiest

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Re: How dare they keep my transcripts just because I didn't pay for em
« Reply #11 on: April 03, 2012, 09:18:11 AM »
Yes I watched a news report a few weeks ago about schools doing this.  Holding back transcripts until accounts are brought current.  It was actually something I thought the feds were enforcing.
"The society that puts equality before freedom will end up with neither; the society that puts freedom before equality will end up with a great measure of both."

"Nothing is so permanent as a temporary government program."

"We have a system that increasingly taxes work and subsidizes nonwork."

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Offline thundley4

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Re: How dare they keep my transcripts just because I didn't pay for em
« Reply #12 on: April 03, 2012, 09:19:52 AM »
From his post, I think they wanted the account brought up to date.

Why didn't he get his transcripts when he had a job and had his loans paid up to date?

Offline Tucker

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Re: How dare they keep my transcripts just because I didn't pay for em
« Reply #13 on: April 03, 2012, 09:38:00 AM »
Why didn't he get his transcripts when he had a job and had his loans paid up to date?

He didn't need them while employed. He needed then to advance beyond his masters after he got laid off fired. He decided to go for his doctorate.

Laid off is DUmmy broccoli speak for fired.
Come to think of it, unions do create jobs. Companies have to hire two workers to do the work of one.

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Re: How dare they keep my transcripts just because I didn't pay for em
« Reply #14 on: April 03, 2012, 09:40:34 AM »
Why didn't he get his transcripts when he had a job and had his loans paid up to date?

Cause you just said JOB!
"The society that puts equality before freedom will end up with neither; the society that puts freedom before equality will end up with a great measure of both."

"Nothing is so permanent as a temporary government program."

"We have a system that increasingly taxes work and subsidizes nonwork."

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Offline AprilRazz

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Re: How dare they keep my transcripts just because I didn't pay for em
« Reply #15 on: April 03, 2012, 09:41:06 AM »
I bet you all anything that he just went into default and didn't bother calling the people that were handling the loan. I lost my job a while ago and had an issue keeping up with bills for a while and those people bent over backwards to help me out. I never went into default and they offered me a deferment for a little while till I got back on my feet.
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Re: How dare they keep my transcripts just because I didn't pay for em
« Reply #16 on: April 03, 2012, 09:51:48 AM »
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But particularly in a time when the real unemployment rate is stuck at over 15 percent, or, if long term unemployed who have given up looking for work are included, at 22 percent,

So the DUChes are quoting a story that demonstrates that the 0bama regime is lying to America about the UE rate. That the real rate, better known as the rate under a republican president, is THREE TIMES the get 0bama reelected rate.

I've talked to some recent grads and their huge loan balances. I put myself through school but drafted and moved furniture. During the school year about 30 hours a week. During breaks and summer about 55 hours a week. Today's kids DO NOT WORK. They don't think they should. That is where a lot of the debt is coming from, living expenses. When I was in school it was lots of Top Ramen, beans and rice, and bargain on sale hamburger, not now. Kids can't be bothered cooking for themselves, they have to have restaurant or fast food.

Also do not expect these kids not to go out and buy $6-7 drinks every other night. The concept of sacrificing is gone. As evidenced by the occupoopers, it should all be given to them. Sadly, we have become victims of our own success, or more apropos our children have.
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Offline Karin

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Re: How dare they keep my transcripts just because I didn't pay for em
« Reply #17 on: April 03, 2012, 09:58:05 AM »
...And the "chosen field" deal.  Sometimes life throws you a little curveball and you have to go outside your "chosen field" to support yourself on your own damn two feet. 

My parents were very practical people, but for some reason they allowed my brother to major in music in college.  It was the only thing he loved.  So, he lasted one year, woke up to the realities, quit and went to instrument repair school.  Loves it and it pays the bills. 

This is the second thread on this theme, and I'm starting to get agitated.  The subject of this article has nothing but misery ahead of him. 

Offline obumazombie

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Re: How dare they keep my transcripts just because I didn't pay for em
« Reply #18 on: April 03, 2012, 10:10:11 AM »
If the story is about the evil and failures of capitalism, it's 15%.

If the story is about the brilliance of Barack Hussein Obama and why he deserves reelection, it's 8%
Situational unemployment numbers. A nice bonus is, in an owebuma speech, both figures can exist coincidentally.
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Offline Chris_

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Re: How dare they keep my transcripts just because I didn't pay for em
« Reply #19 on: April 03, 2012, 10:12:27 AM »
...And the "chosen field" deal.  Sometimes life throws you a little curveball and you have to go outside your "chosen field" to support yourself on your own damn two feet. 

My parents were very practical people, but for some reason they allowed my brother to major in music in college.  It was the only thing he loved.  So, he lasted one year, woke up to the realities, quit and went to instrument repair school.  Loves it and it pays the bills. 

This is the second thread on this theme, and I'm starting to get agitated.  The subject of this article has nothing but misery ahead of him. 
I have to wonder why the federal government hands out loans for these kinds of arts degrees for everyone that asks for them.  I suppose we should all go with our "feelings"... then we'll be a nation of unemployed artists, musicians, singers, and atheletes all waiting for that big break while we live off the government and only read at a 5th-grade level.

Yeah, it pisses me off too.
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Offline obumazombie

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Re: How dare they keep my transcripts just because I didn't pay for em
« Reply #20 on: April 03, 2012, 10:16:35 AM »
Having is often far different from wanting.
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Offline Zeus

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Re: How dare they keep my transcripts just because I didn't pay for em
« Reply #21 on: April 03, 2012, 10:20:37 AM »
I think it's great to be living in a country where your station in life is not determined at birth. Everyone has the opportunity to follow their dream. Some achieve it some fail at the attempt,some by not attempting at all. should one person be denied the opportunity because another person failed.

Sure there are some ungrateful and unrealistic people but unfortunately that pretty much comes with the territory.
It is said that branches draw their life from the vine. Each is separate yet all are one as they share one life giving stem . The Bible tells us we are called to a similar union in life, our lives with the life of God. We are incorporated into him; made sharers in his life. Apart from this union we can do nothing.

Offline dandi

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Re: How dare they keep my transcripts just because I didn't pay for em
« Reply #22 on: April 03, 2012, 11:07:59 AM »
So where's he getting the money to go back to school for the PhD?
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Offline DumbAss Tanker

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Re: How dare they keep my transcripts just because I didn't pay for em
« Reply #23 on: April 03, 2012, 11:08:47 AM »
Well now, Pedro, that there sure is some mighty tough shit.

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Offline NHSparky

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Re: How dare they keep my transcripts just because I didn't pay for em
« Reply #24 on: April 03, 2012, 11:13:54 AM »
Oh, wait--and who put themselves in charge of the whole student loan business in this country.

Nevermind, move along, nothing to see here.
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