The clearinghouse showed up on my son’s portal too. My husband works for the state, and in order to keep our son on our dental insurance after he graduated from high school we had to show he’s a full-time college student. The link his college provided for us to obtain the proof was to the clearinghouse. We printed the documentation and the state accepted it, so the site is used and the information on it is apparently considered reliable. I’ve attended 5 different colleges (a mix of state schools and private colleges) simply because I like to learn. I’m enrolling in a 6th this fall, so I used the clearinghouse to see what was on my record. Every college I attended, whether or not I earned a degree there, is listed. Lay people may not know the clearinghouse exists, but that doesn’t mean it shouldn’t be taken seriously by those who do.
ebecker1, you want your college experience to be enjoyable. Contact your college and request a gap year. Get your mental health straightened out, then start college. You’re fortunate that you know now, before school starts, that you need a break. Some students don’t realize they need help until after they start college. You don’t want to be in the position of having to leave school and figure out how to repair your record. Good luck.