Arrest after applications and FAFSA are in

@compmom, then by all means, PM the OP and give direct advice as to those schools you have such knowledge about. Overall, I believe applicants would be well advised not to reveal a history of drug use to their college adcoms.

Noone should call up admissions and say “Just want you to know I have a history of drug use.” But lying on an application for admission or financial aid is a problem, even when the facts change after submission and the original versions were, at the time, true and honest.

If there were plenty of time- if this had happened last fall and well before applications were done- it would obviously not be something to inform colleges of. But this is murkier.

The denial of aid has to do with the federal government, not the college, and it is not triggered as yet by what has happened. The college might be helpful.

I don’t know of a single college app that ask you disclose a charge. They ask if you’ve been convicted. She should check the app of the college in question and see what the wording is. As for Fafsa you only have to report felony convictions

Sensation732-I thought ANY drug conviction would cause them to deny a person federal financial aid for a year…

It actually has to be a conviction while receiving federal aid.

This event happened before receiving aid. The conviction, if there is one, may also be before receiving aid.

A conviction may also impact future licensing, such as for a pharmacist.

@compmom - This student was not dishonest on her application. She stated the facts as they were at the time she submitted the application. Yes, she has an obligation to update the application if there is a significant change, but unless the application requires the disclosure of arrests, as of now, there has not yet been any significant change.

Honestly, this reminds me of the time my oldest stated on a financial aid application (without my knowledge), that he was expecting a substantial inheritance from his grandmother, who had died, but whose estate was still in probate. Well, needless to say, once that horse was out of the barn, there was no way to get it back in. He was denied any financial aid . . . and it was years before he ever saw a penny of his grandmother’s money!

The best practice is to not volunteer anything one doesn’t need to, and to not speculate as to outcomes that may or may not actually occur.

I completely agree but think there are timing issues here. If this is resolved quickly great. But if it is pending while aid is granted that is another story. And reading the language in college documents is important (drug arrest or conviction).

I am not suggesting that anyone is being dishonest at the moment.

Again, my view of and experience with colleges has been benign in circumstances a little different from this one. If the family can afford a lawyer who can get this resolved and get it resolved quickly, great, no need to say anything until and if the case is settled in such a way that there is no longer any problem.

The problem is that colleges have to follow federal regulations to get their funds, but they are often sympathetic.