Open Question: TAX INFORMATION FOR INTERNATIONAL STUDENTS?

My situation is kind of complicated. Im and international student. A month ago i received my 1098 form with the amount paid for tuition. All my international friends receive money for it. The thing is, i did not have a SSN back when i received, so mine says 999-9999-999. Now i have a SSN. Do you know if i can file my taxes with just the number for the form even not having my correct SSN there? I went to school today and they said international students should not file tax for tuition paid and that they would not change it for me. But the thing is, all my international friends do! Any ideas of how i could get that money? Should i maybe get a TAX ID NUMBER to get it?