Convictions Consequences Education

EDUCATION

Federal student loans

Eligibility is suspended for any grant, loan, or work assistance for students convicted of any offense under any Federal or State law involving the possession or sale of a controlled substance ( but only for conduct occurring while receiving student aid). Federal law also denies the Hope tax credit to students and their families if the student has a prior felony drug conviction.

A conviction for unlawful possession of marijuana (a violation and not a crime) renders a person ineligible for federal student aid.

Post graduate education

Most graduate schools (medical, law etc ;) requires that all applicants disclose and explain the details accompanying any arrest or criminal conviction. While a criminal conviction may impact the admission into a graduate school, failure to disclose one’s criminal history will usually preclude a person from ultimately being granted a license (YO adjudications are usually inapplicable).

An extensive background check is conducted prior to obtaining any professional license in New York State and if a person has lied on their application to graduate school they are typically denied a license in their field of study. Thus, many years of study and expense could prove fruitless.