Drug use can harm higher education opportunities
You worked hard to get into the college of your choice. You even earned a scholarship or received federal aid to help you pay for it. Life was going great, and then it happened. You found yourself charged with illegal drug use. Now, you are wondering how this may affect everything.
The state of South Carolina, and the colleges and universities located there, do not treat drug-related crimes lightly. If convicted on a drug use charge, your higher education opportunities may shrink drastically.
Effects on admission
Colleges and universities have the right to refuse or revoke admission for several things. A criminal conviction on a drug charge is certainly one of them. Not all schools will refuse admission to those with criminal records, but you may find that you have fewer options available to you.
Effects on scholarships
Not many schools will grant a scholarship to someone with a criminal conviction on his or her record. If you already have a scholarship, you may not for long, as your school may choose to revoke it. How the school treats your scholarship after a drug use conviction is up to your particular school, as every college or university will have its own guidelines on how to deal with this kind of situation.
Effects on financial aid
If you’ve received financial aid, in the form of loans or grants, you may lose it if convicted on the drug charge. Three things will affect your eligibility for student aid:
- What you’re charged with
- If you’re convicted
- If you’re incarcerated
There is a possibility you may become eligible to apply for aid again if you complete an approved rehabilitation program or you apply after the set waiting period. Just know, what you are eligible for may be severely limited.
Don’t let a drug use charge destroy your future
Know that you are not the first and you won’t be the last college student in South Carolina to have a drug use charge. It happens, and now you need to figure out the best way to handle the situation. With assistance, it may be possible to have the charge dismissed or at least have any consequences associated with a conviction minimized so it has as little impact as possible on your higher education opportunities, as well as your future job prospects.