I’ve been denied admission to both of my state universities because I have a felony on my record. The charge is possession of cocaine and it’s from 2005. It’s not a drug trafficking felony, just a possession, 3rd degree felony. I did 24 months in prison and was released a year ago. Immediately upon my release, I applied for university. I was denied because of my record and told to try again in one year. I was denied by both again this year. I have correspondence stating that my criminal record is the reason I was denied admission. I’ve already secured funding for school: grants, scholarships, and loans to make up the rest. The only thing stopping me is my criminal record. Prison worked for me. I am rehabilitated and drug free. Earning a degree is the best way I can envision to begin a healthy, sane, and productive life at age 30. I wrote an essay for the schools’ felony review committees explaining as much. I asked if I could speak to someone, anyone, personally to present myself as I am now, since all they know of me is the way I look on a background check. They didn’t want to hear from me. The state is Arkansas. The schools that denied me are ASU and UA. I don’t want to go to some crappy vo-tech. Arkansas doesn’t have community colleges to speak of. The crime happened in the state of Florida, and my civil rights have been officially restored by the Florida governor’s office (it’s basically automatic upon release in Florida). Can I be rejected, with no appeal process, because of my record? Where do I go from here?
