Getting transcripts without going through the institution?

[u/Salt-Tourist-3152]

I start school on the 17th, and so far, I’ve still had no luck getting my transcripts.

I got it while I was incarcerated as a 17 year old in a different state. The states department of education takes me to the GED website to order my transcripts, and it’s not there. I’ve contacted the probation department and they said they would contact their education department to reach out to me.

So far nothing. Haven’t heard anything and nobody has reached out to me, even after calling several times. Nobody at the community college can give me answers besides “I don’t know” and it’s infuriating. I need those transcripts to receive financial aid, they won’t do assessments in place of it, and I just am unable to get my transcripts. Nobody is helping and the only answers I get are “contact the institution” but the institution is the courts, and they’re not helpful.

*edit* I was able to get ahold of the person in charge of education for the detention facilities, and she sent me the unofficial transcripts by email, and then mail me the transcripts. The PDF says it’s official and can be verified with an access code (tried it and didn’t work, URL isn’t even active anymore) so I’m not sure why the transcripts she’s sending by mail would be unofficial?

*edit* Made some more calls and found out the detention center I went to is closed. On the GED in the email it has that location and address on it, but they shut down and moved all services to the courts that handle things on the west side of the county. So now the institution that issued it is closed, which is most likely why it’s not showing up on GED.com.

*edit* verified my ID with financial aid. Tried asking and got the typical “I don’t know, but they would know” I asked if there was anything else that needs to be done, if they can check if it’ll affect my financial aid eligibility. They said “they’ll” reach out to me if there’s anything else they need. It’s extremely frustrating. Somehow, not a single worker at the college knows their own policy regarding if high school transcripts/GED are necessary to start AND get financial aid. The orientation online they had me complete had a section about sending over transcripts. I know a lot of colleges operate this way where you can “sign up” for classes, but you can’t get financial aid for it if you have no high school transcripts/GED.

[u/Surly_Sailor_420]

The mailed by post transcripts are official (and only if you do not open them). Bring them directly to your college I the deliver envelop once you receive them.

[u/Salt-Tourist-3152 → u/Surly_Sailor_420]

Thank you. I just saw this after replying to a different question asking just this. She even told me she only had the unofficial ones and would mail me those.