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Hi everyone,

I'm unable to obtain a transcript from my previous university due to a financial obligation. The issue however is that in my last semester at that institution I had originally planned to register for a class which I ended up dropping before the semester started. However I was still asked to pay for that class. I just ignored it since I had already received an offer from my current university. The school is now refusing to release my transcript untill I pay for that class. I've tried to explain the situation to them but they won't budge. I really don't want to pay money I don't owe. I have a 3.9 at my current university after 3 years and what I believe is a reasonably strong resume. Will T 14 schools care about the missing transcript? I plan to write an addendum about the financial obligation.

Yes, they will care. You need to supply all transcripts.

you wont even be able to apply until you get it, but try and work it out with one of the deans at your old school or something. worst comes to worst youll have to pay

I've had this come up for applicants every year or so. While any individual law school could decide for themselves to admit you without all your transcripts (e.g. not a school you got a degree from, only a few hours, those hours and grades are reflected on another transcript, etc.), but IMO they would probably be going against various accreditation and LSAC rules by doing so (depending on the situation).

You gotta clear it up with the school. If you REALLY withdrew before their full-refund date (which could conceivably be before classes started, I suppose), then you need to make your case to them that you are right. What I see all the time, and it sounds like it could really be what you did, is that people register for classes then just decide not to go for whatever reason and think that just not showing up is the same as "withdrawing". If all you did is say "peace out" and start classes at your new college without formally withdrawing from your courses, then you totally owe them money. (I'm constantly surprised at how many addenda I read every year where people get F's in classes because they just stopped going to class instead of formally withdrawing from the course.)

In life generally it is not a good idea to simply ignore institutions that say you owe them money. Universities will eventually send you to collections.

Dean Perez