<prompt> Human: Long story short: I owe tuition to the university I attended. I had to drop out because there was an error in paperwork, and the school wouldnt work with me basically: father is active duty military, means we dont have a state of permanent residency, which means university was able to overcharge me. Had a waiver signed first semester granting me in state tuition. Second semester there was a hangup in paperwork, waiver didnt get in on time due to late enrollment I wound up being charged 8k more than what i actually owed. Total tuition came to around 12k, Financial Aid only covered 5k of thatI had every intent of simply working and making monthly payments until I had it entirely paid off off... two years later, and I havent made the headway I thought I would. Paid 1k, down to 7k now. The university will not release my transcripts until I have them paid back, so going to another school isnt an option. Would taking out a personal loan to pay back the school be a terrible idea? Yes, it means more debt, but it would also mean I would be able to back to school within in the next year. School is important to me; working a food service job and not having any options open to me has taken a real toll on me. Im desperate for any solutions to get me at least on the right track, be it a loan, super tight budgeting, etc. Thoughts? Opinions?Assistant: I think you are glossing over the hangup in paper work. I mean, were talking 8k here. Was this your fault for not getting it in or someone elses fault for not getting something processed in time? If the latter, or even if the former, Id say fight harder to have them waive the overcharge. I mean, you legitimately are supposed to get the lower rate right?If they wont talk to you, talk to your congressman andor local journalists instead. Everyone is all support the troops so this is exactly the sort of publicity the U wont want.Human: Mostly mine. The waiver had to be turned in at the start of every semester. I was under the impression it was a once a year thing. I should have been more on top of the schools rules and regs. That is my totally my fault. I do feel that it is a little bit of the schools fault though, since I didnt even know about the rate they charged military dependents until after I enrolled. I didnt even find out about it until I went to enroll for classes for second semester and found a hold on my account. I would have been willing to do all the paperwork regardless; I just wish they had been upfront with it and that I actually had some help in figuring out what I had to do. The people in the financial aid office really were not of much help in this situation.  <response>: Yeah, so I cant help feeling this is a case of beurocrat screwing over military personnel in tough economic times. I wouldnt give up on it. Go talk to them again. 