Three Tips from an Education Law Attorney about College Admission
As an education law attorney, it seems that I receive at least a few phone calls a week from students and prospective students who had problems with college and university admissions. Since these issues seem to come up frequently, I thought I would share some advice with you.
1. Review the Schools’ Basic Admissions Criteria.
Applying to college is not cheap. Application fees can range from $50 to several hundred dollars. Before you apply, review what the school sets forth as the minimum standards it takes to be accepted. Although there is no magic formula that most colleges and universities use to decide admissions, they normally set a baseline. This information can normally be found on the college’s website, but if not there are many sources available today to learn this information. Look at the standards before you apply.
2. Inquire About other Admissions Criteria that May Not be Specially Outlined.
As I said above, most colleges do not have a specific formula that determines who does and does not get in. It is based on many factors, some of which are those intangible qualities that just can’t be quantified. What I mean here is that if there is something in your past like a criminal conviction or expulsion from another college, you may want to check with the new school that you are applying to make certain that this is not an automatic disqualification. If you do check, make sure you do it anonymously though.
3. Financial Aid Opportunities – Be Aware of Deadlines and Criteria for Aid and Don’t Forget Scholarships and Grants.
With the cost of college today, practically everyone needs financial aid. There is a lot available, but do your homework first. Inquire at the school you want to attend into what kind of aid they may offer. Shop around – don’t assume that what the school pushes on you is the best deal. There are also many scholarships and grants available which could provide you with money that you would not have to pay back. Be aware of deadlines to apply for and accept aid. If you start classes before your aid is finalized, you could conceivably be personally responsible for a portion of classes that you signed up for before your aid became active.
Links – Here are some links to websites that help students search for financial aid and scholarships. There are many more out there, but here are a few:
http://www.fastweb.com/ http://www.collegeview.com/index.jsp https://www.scholarships.com/ Applying to college is both an exciting and sometimes overwhelming and confusing time. Doing a little homework into these areas might make the process a little less stressful. Richard Asselta is an education law attorney and the founder of Asselta Law, PA, located in Broward County, Florida. Asselta Law concentrates on Education and School Law, as well as Appeals. Mr. Asselta was the attorney for a large public school district. He draws upon the knowledge gained from the other side of the table to work with teachers and students on legal issues in all education settings. Asselta Law represents clients throughout the state of Florida and the United States. Contact ustoday for a free consultation with a knowledgeable Florida education lawyer. Credit cards accepted. Affordable payment plans available.