I’m supposed to be starting school this week at UMass Lowell, however the other day I had a slight run-in with the law. Me and 3 others were smoking weed in an abandoned shed, the cops somehow knew what we were up to, and when they showed up we all ran. They arrested one of my friends, found out who we all were, and within 2 days they were at my door presenting 4 misdemeanor charges for breaking and entering, disturbing the peace, fleeing the police and posession of marijuana. I showed them my medical card and they said I wouldn’t get the possesion charge. So now I have a court date. They tell me I will probably be able to settle it that day in court but I’m not sure that will go in my favor. I’m 18 and this is my absolute first offense. I’m worried about how this will affect my financial aid, and I wonder if the best thing to do is start college with the financial aid I have (with the possibility of losing it) or defer my acceptance for a year and potentially re-apply once I know how this will affect my financial aid eligibility. For the record my financial aid is covering everything excluding like $5000 per year, so if I lose the financial aid I pretty much have to drop out.
You need a lawyer who understands how a drug conviction will affect your financial aid. Print out the questions you will have to answer on the FAFSA so the lawyer knows the exact wording you will need to answer.
Dropping out won’t help. You either will be convicted of the drug charges or you won’t. You either will be eligible for federal financial aid or you won’t.
Is it true that drug convictions might affect my ability to get federal student aid?
Yes; your eligibility might be suspended if the offense occurred while you were receiving federal student aid (grants, loans, or work-study). When you complete the FAFSA, you will be asked whether you had a drug conviction for an offense that occurred while you were receiving federal student aid. If the answer is yes, you will be provided a worksheet to help you determine whether your conviction affects your eligibility for federal student aid.
If your eligibility for federal student aid has been suspended due to a drug conviction, you can regain eligibility early by successfully completing an approved drug rehabilitation program or by passing two unannounced drug tests administered by an approved drug rehabilitation program. If you regain eligibility during the award year, notify your financial aid office immediately so you can get any aid you’re eligible for.
If you are convicted of a drug-related offense after you submit the FAFSA, you might lose eligibility for federal student aid, and you might be liable for returning any financial aid you received during a period of ineligibility.
I definitely will not be convicted of drug charges, the possesion charge is gone because I have medical mj. And wouldn’t I have to drop out if my financial aid is cut during a semester funded by that aid?
So if you are concerned about FAFSA - related aid, it sounds like you have nothing to worry about.
Federal aid aside, you are heading in the wrong direction.
What about school/institutional aid?
If I go to school this week, what will happen to my scholarships if I’m convicted (none of which are drug or sex charges)? What about if the case is dismissed? And will they know I have an open case before a settlement is made, and how will that affect me?
If I reapply for school for next year instead of going, will the school see that I have an open case and how will that affect my admission results and scholarships? And how might the progression of the case affect me before I start school next year?
Ultimately my question is: should I go to school this week or reapply for next year?
Go to school. And get it together.
I tried to find info on the school website but can’t seem to find anything specifically on charges effecting institutional financial aid… even in the student financial aid handbook AND the student code of conduct. Have you read through these yourself? Your really should. Especially the part about medical possession as that could be an issue for you.
Like previous poster said though, you really need a lawyer and to do your homework on the situation. Don’t just go off what random posters say.
Oh, and yes, you should go to school this week.
What if I take a year off? Will schools that I apply to see that I have an open case? Will this affect scholarships and Fafsa if there’s no drug or sex charges?
Your FAFSA question was already answered
How would anyone possibly know if your legal issues affect unknown scholarships?
I think you should hire a lawyer. The lawyer likely won’t know much about college financial aid but will be able to advise you on minimizing charges and penalties. I’d be more concerned about not having these offenses on your record than on the financial aid.
Don’t bother with a lawyer, contact the school.
https://www.uml.edu/student-services/reslife/policies/drugs-and-alchohol.aspx
explain the situation. Yes, your funding could be pulled, but your acceptance could also be rescinded.
Also, I’d consider dumping the friend who ratted you out.
Please do not identify yourself if you contact the school. Don’t use your own cellphone. I know someone who was trying to clean up a driver’s license issue resulting from a DUI conviction, and a lawyer called the DMV on her behalf and, without identifying her, asked about a “hypothetical.” The necessary information was obtained; the person continued by taking steps that were legal.
You are worrying about nothing. These are misdemeanors and there is no drug charge. There is nothing that is going to happen. It is ridiculous to delay school over this, you are just panicking. Now to avoid stress and panic in the future, avoid doing stupid stuff. If the police are not going to be happy finding you doing something, don’t do it. It isn’t worth your college education.
Nah, my friend was taken into a holding cell over night and charged with public intoxication, among other misdemeanors.
Pretty much nothing came of it except him having to make a few court dates and some rehabilitation classes or something, I don’t remember.
Actually, panicking isn’t a bad thing. While you may not have issues this time, I sure hope you clean up your act before you actually move into college. Next time, you might not be so lucky.
Think before you DO!