You were convicted of a crime in Louisiana and dealt with the consequences. Now you’re trying to get your life back on track by applying for college. But will colleges accept you if you have a criminal record? Here’s what you need to know about applying for college when you have past convictions on your history.
Can you get into college if you have a criminal record?
Having a criminal record doesn’t automatically disqualify you from attending college. However, certain convictions can make it more difficult than others. For example, if you were convicted of a violent crime or sexual assault, your application might get denied. While colleges aren’t required to run background checks, an increasing number of universities have started running background checks to keep the rest of their students safe.
Additionally, some students with a criminal record aren’t eligible to receive financial aid. This can include students with drug charges on their record, even minor ones. For this reason, it’s important to hire an criminal law attorney if you’re facing drug charges. However, if you have non-drug-related charges on your record, you might still be eligible for financial aid.
When you fill out your application, you should always be honest about your criminal record. You can decline to allow the school to run a background check, but there’s a good chance that you’ll be automatically rejected. Overall, it’s best to be honest about your record and see if you’ll get accepted. In some cases, an attorney might also be able to help you expunge certain convictions from your record.
How can an attorney help you with criminal charges?
Whether you’re facing a minor charge of marijuana possession to a major charge of theft or manslaughter, an attorney could help you keep convictions off your record as much as possible. They might be able to argue for reduced charges and have certain convictions removed later on. They could also argue for lighter sentencing so you have the opportunity to get your life back together. An attorney may also give you access to resources that can help you improve your life situation.
