How do i make sure i get accepted ?

[keysmastersyabro]

🏷️ Discussion Type

Question

💬 Feature/Topic Area

Verification Help & Guidance

Hi everyone,

Hey , Im trying to verify github student pack , i sent a letter by my school confirming im a student at school , but github still didnt accept it for some reason , would be happy to know how to make sure to get accepted.

[Baek-Seunghyun]

A school letter getting rejected is really common, and it's usually one of a few fixable things rather than the letter itself being invalid. Things to check before you reapply:

1. Name match. The full name on your GitHub account must match the name on the letter exactly (including middle names / special characters). Fill in your billing name at Settings → Billing with that exact name — no payment method needed — and put your real name in your profile too. This is the Welcome to GitHub product feedback #1 silent rejection cause.

2. A clearly visible, recent date. The automated check wants to see a current date (or current term dates) on the document. Letters that say "X is a student here" with no date, or with the date buried in a footer, tend to fail. A class schedule or transcript showing the current term often works better than a letter.

3. Photo quality. Upload a sharp photo where name + school name + date are all readable. Blurry photos and cropped screenshots get auto-rejected.

4. Academic email first. If your school issues student email addresses, add and verify that email on your GitHub account before applying — once other students from your school have verified with academic email, GitHub requires it for everyone from that school. Use it all-lowercase, no plus-addressing. If your school doesn't issue emails, submit official proof of that (school webpage or letterhead letter) with your application.

5. Location signals. Turn off any VPN/proxy when you apply, and ideally apply from your school's network. The system compares your location with the school's campus and mismatches cause rejections.

Then reapply from https://education.github.com → your benefits page. If your school's domain isn't recognized at all, contact GitHub Education Support with your school's full name, website URL, and email domain.

Docs: Apply to GitHub Education as a student · Solving problems with your GitHub Education access

If one of these turns out to be it, marking this as the answer helps the next person searching. Good luck!

[lgustavopuga]

Hi! Getting rejected is frustrating, but school letters usually fail due to a few easily fixable details. Try these steps before reapplying:

• Match your profile name: Your GitHub profile name and billing name must match the name on your school letter exactly.
• Check the date: The letter must show a current date or semester. If it doesn't, a current class schedule or tuition receipt often works better.
• Take a real photo: Use your phone or webcam to take a clear, well-lit photo of the printed letter. Avoid digital screenshots, as they often trigger auto-rejections.
• Turn off VPNs: Apply using your school's Wi-Fi if possible, and disable all VPNs so your IP location matches your school.
• Link your school email: Make sure your school-issued email is added and verified on your GitHub account.

Once you update these, submit your application again. Good luck!

[blazee14]

Hi, without seeing the exact rejection message it's hard to know the specific cause, but here's a checklist of the most common requirements GitHub Education has for accepting a letter/confirmation:

Full name: Your full legal name must appear on the letter, matching exactly your GitHub profile name and billing info.
Institution name: The full official name of your school/university must be clearly visible — a logo alone isn't enough, it needs to appear as text.
Current date: The letter needs a recent date, ideally from the current academic term/year — old or undated letters tend to get rejected.
Official signature or stamp: It should include a signature and/or institutional stamp confirming authenticity.
Active enrollment status: It should clearly state you're currently enrolled (not just that you were accepted or studied there in the past).
Image quality: Sharp photo or scan, no angles, good lighting, no glare — if the system can't read the text (OCR), it auto-rejects even if the document is valid.
Language: If the letter isn't in English, include a translation (doesn't need to be official, but should be clear) alongside the original.

If you're already meeting all of this and it's still rejected, your best bet is to open a support ticket at https://support.github.com/contact asking for manual review, since the automated system sometimes fails even when the document is correct.
Could you share the specific rejection message you got? That would help pinpoint what to fix.