Arizona Commission for Postsecondary Education
Leveraging Educational Assistance Partnership (LEAP)

What is the Leveraging Educational Assistance Partnership (LEAP) Program?
It is a program that establishes a federal-state partnership to provide financial assistance in the form of grants to students who have demonstrated financial need. Federal funds are provided to match appropriated state funds supplied by the states on a dollar for dollar basis. Each participating institution, public, or private provides institutional matching funds which are equal to the amount of funds provided by the State for the LEAP Program.

Which institutions are eligible to participate?
Only public and private postsecondary institutions that are properly licensed in Arizona and accredited by a nationally recognized accrediting agency (which is recognized by the U.S. Department of Education) are eligible.

Who is eligible to receive LEAP awards?
Arizona residents who are attending a participating eligible Arizona postsecondary education institution as either a full-time or half-time undergraduate or graduate level student and who can demonstrate financial need are eligible for LEAP awards.

How do students apply for the LEAP program?
Students apply for LEAP awards at their institution’s financial aid office. All LEAP awards must be approved by the Arizona Commission for Postsecondary Education.

Arizona Commission for Postsecondary Education
Leveraging Educational Assistance Partnership (LEAP)

What is the Leveraging Educational Assistance Partnership (LEAP) Program?
It is a program that establishes a federal-state partnership to provide financial assistance in the form of grants to students who have demonstrated financial need. Federal funds are provided to match appropriated state funds supplied by the states on a dollar for dollar basis. Each participating institution, public, or private provides institutional matching funds which are equal to the amount of funds provided by the State for the LEAP Program.

Which institutions are eligible to participate?
Only public and private postsecondary institutions that are properly licensed in Arizona and accredited by a nationally recognized accrediting agency (which is recognized by the U.S. Department of Education) are eligible.

Who is eligible to receive LEAP awards?
Arizona residents who are attending a participating eligible Arizona postsecondary education institution as either a full-time or half-time undergraduate or graduate level student and who can demonstrate financial need are eligible for LEAP awards.

How do students apply for the LEAP program?
Students apply for LEAP awards at their institution’s financial aid office. All LEAP awards must be approved by the Arizona Commission for Postsecondary Education.

How large are Arizona LEAP awards and must they be repaid?
The maximum LEAP award is $2,500 and minimum is $100 per academic year. LEAP awards are grants and do not have to be repaid.

Leveraging Educational Assistance Partnership (LEAP)
What is the Leveraging Educational Assistance Partnership (LEAP) Program?

LEAP is a program that establishes a federal-state-higher education institutional partnership to provide financial assistance in the form of grants to students who have demonstrated financial need. Federal funds are provided to match appropriated state funds supplied by the states on a dollar for dollar basis. Each participating institution, public, or private provides institutional matching funds which are equal to the amount of funds provided by the State for the LEAP Program.
Institutional Participation in LEAP:
The deadline for submission of the program participation application is April 30th of each year. If your institution is already participating in the LEAP program, an application will automatically be mailed to your institution each year. If your institution would like to participate in the LEAP program, please contact the Arizona Commission for Postsecondary Education at 602-258-2435 ext. 102.
Which institutions are eligible to participate?
Only public and private postsecondary institutions licensed in Arizona and accredited by an accrediting agency which is recognized by the U.S. Department of Education are eligible.

Secure Submission of Student Applications:

All participating institutions have been issued a user name and password to submit student applications online. If you have forgotten your user name and password, please contact the Arizona Commission for Postsecondary Education office at 602-258-2435, Ext. 102, and the Program Manager can provide you with that information. If you are a new participating institution, also contact the Commission for to be assigned a user name and password.
Private Postsecondary Education Student Financial Assistance Program (PFAP)
What is the Private Postsecondary Education Student Financial Assistance Program (PFAP)?

PFAP is a program established by the Arizona State Legislature to provide financial assistance awards to qualified students who wish to complete a baccalaureate degree program and are attending a participating private postsecondary institution.
Institutional Participation in PFAP:

The deadline for submission of the program participation application is June 30 of each year. If your institution is already participating, an application will be mailed to your institution. If your institution would like to participate in the PFAP program, please contact the Arizona Commission for Postsecondary Education at 602-258-2435 ext. 102.

Which institutions are eligible to participate?

Only private postsecondary institutions that are licensed in Arizona and accredited by a national accrediting agency (which is recognized by the U.S. Department of Education) are eligible.

Postsecondary education grant program; fund; program termination; definition

A. The commission on postsecondary education shall develop, implement and administer a postsecondary education grant program. The commission shall develop application forms, procedures and deadlines and shall select eligible students each year for participation in the postsecondary education grant program. The commission may establish partnerships with qualifying schools for the administration of the postsecondary education grant program. Participating full-time students shall receive a grant in an amount of two thousand dollars annually for a maximum of four calendar years to be used to pay all or a portion of the following:
1. The tuition charged at a qualifying school.
2. The cost of books required for classes at a qualifying school.
3. The fees charged at a qualifying school.
B. The amount of a grant awarded to a participating part-time student enrolled at least half-time for the academic year as defined in 20 United States Code section 1088 shall be prorated in accordance with the part-time status of the student.
C. Employees of private postsecondary institutions and family members of employees of private postsecondary institutions are not eligible to receive a postsecondary education grant pursuant to this section if the employee or family member is eligible for tuition reimbursement or a tuition waiver as a benefit of employment.
D. A student who has a baccalaureate degree from any postsecondary educational institution is not eligible to receive postsecondary education grant monies pursuant to this section.
E. Students who provide satisfactory proof to the commission that the student has met each of the following criteria are eligible to submit an application for consideration by the commission for a grant under the postsecondary education grant program:
1. The student either:
(a) Is currently a resident of this state and has been a resident of this state for at least the past twelve months.
(b) Is a member of the military service of the United States stationed in this state or the spouse or dependent of a member of the military service of the United States stationed in this state.
2. The student has met the qualifications adopted by the commission. The commission shall adopt minimum qualifications that are comparable to the admissions standards established by the Arizona board of regents for Arizona public universities.
3. The student registers for enrollment as a student in a baccalaureate program at a nationally or regionally accredited private postsecondary educational institution in this state that awards four year baccalaureate degrees.
4. The student has provided high school transcripts as proof of graduation if the student has graduated from a public or private high school. If high school records no longer exist for a student or after every reasonable effort has been made to obtain official records, the student may submit a letter certified by the high school from which the student graduated or the original high school diploma.
5. The student has completed and submitted a free application for federal student aid.
6. The student is a citizen or legal resident of the United States or is otherwise lawfully present in the United States.
7. If the student is eligible to apply for monies from the private postsecondary education student financial assistance fund established by section 15-1854, the student shall apply for and receive monies from the private postsecondary education student financial assistance fund before the student is eligible to apply for a grant from the postsecondary education grant fund established by this section.
F. The postsecondary education grant fund is established consisting of legislative appropriations. The commission shall administer the fund. Monies in the fund are continuously appropriated and are exempt from the provisions of section 35-190 relating to lapsing of appropriations. The commission shall make awards for payment of tuition at qualifying schools to students who are selected to participate in the postsecondary education grant program pursuant to subsection A of this section.
G. If the amount of monies available for postsecondary education grants in any fiscal year is insufficient to provide grants to all eligible applicants, the commission shall award grants to eligible students in the order in which the applications were received by the commission, except that priority shall be given to qualifying students who received a grant in the previous fiscal year and who are still in good academic standing at the same qualifying school. The commission shall maintain a waiting list for all other applicants.
H. A student who fails to receive a baccalaureate degree within a five year period of receipt of the program award shall reimburse the postsecondary education grant fund for all awards received pursuant to subsection A of this section. On receipt of supporting documentation from the student, for good cause shown the commission may provide for extensions of the five year period to obtain a baccalaureate degree.
I. The commission shall submit an annual report to the governor, the president of the senate, the speaker of the house of representatives and the joint legislative budget committee that includes a detailed description of the amount of monies distributed under the postsecondary education grant program during the previous fiscal year and that includes the total number of qualified applicants for grants, the total number of grants awarded, the qualifying schools attended by grant recipients and the total number of qualified applicants who were placed on the waiting list. The commission shall provide a copy of this report to the secretary of state and the director of the Arizona state library, archives and public records.
J. If the commission is notified by a qualifying school that a student who has received a postsecondary education grant is no longer in good academic standing at the qualifying school, the commission shall immediately discontinue the grant and the student shall reimburse the postsecondary education grant fund for any unused portion or any unlawfully used portion of a grant received pursuant to subsection A of this section.
K. The commission shall develop a marketing strategy that is designed to provide information about the postsecondary education grant program to all high school students in this state.
L. The program established by this section ends on July 1, 2016 pursuant to section 41-3102.
M. For the purposes of this section, "qualifying school" means a nationally or regionally accredited private postsecondary educational institution in this state that offers four year baccalaureate degrees.

www.azhighered.gov
Arizona State Grant Programs
EGSG – Early Graduation Scholarship Grant program
PEG – Postsecondary Education Grant
PFAP – Arizona Private Postsecondary Education Student Financial Assistance Program
LEAP – Leveraging Educational Assistance Partnership
ACAAP - Arizona College Access Aid Program
SLEAP - Special Leveraging Educational Assistance Partnership
Application Information and Instructions

Test date                      Registration deadline               Late fee registration

Register for the ACT here actstudent.org/index.html

"HELP FOR PAYING OFF YOUR STUDENT LOANS" (read the fine print)
By Kim Clark, U.S. News and World Report

A new federal program starting this fall promises relief and hope for millions of students and recent graduates burdened with big federal educational debts. Starting July 1, those with federal student loans can ask the government to limit their monthly payments on their federal student loans to less than 15 percent of their income. Many of those who qualify for the new Income-Based Repayment (IBR) program will pay much less than that.

Those who earn less than a base budget allowance of one and a half times the poverty level for their household (which was $10,400 a year in 2008 for a single person) won't have to pay a penny on their federal student loans. Everybody else who qualifies for IBR will have to pay 15 percent of the difference between their income and the base budget allowance.

Best of all, those earning a low income because they are in public-service jobs can have their remaining federal student debts forgiven after 10 years of income-based payments. Those who maintain low incomes and stay current on their income-based payments for 25 years can also have their remaining debts forgiven, no matter what job they have.

"It will be an enormous help to many thousands of borrowers," says Edie Irons, spokeswoman for the Project on Student Debt.

To take advantage of the new repayment program, current students should make sure to limit their borrowing to the federal student loans--primarily Stafford, Perkins, or Grad PLUS loans. By shopping around, students can still save a few hundred dollars on even federal loans. Those who've left school and are now faced with bills can simply apply to their lender for the new Income-Based Repayment option. Be careful not to mistakenly apply for older and less attractive but similar-sounding plans offered by the government and some lenders such as "Income Contingent Repayment" and "Income-Sensitive Repayment," Irons advises.

Anyone hoping for public-service loan forgiveness should first consolidate their loans directly with the federal government, because private lenders won't offer that goodie. Once that's done, they can apply for IBR. Then, they'll need to keep excellent records because the burden will be on the students to apply for forgiveness after 10 years of payments. They'll have to prove that they made all the payments on time and didn't violate any other rules of the forgiveness offer.

There are plenty of other catches in the new program, warns Deanne Loonin, a student loan expert for the National Consumer Law Center:

**Those who qualify for payments that don't even cover their interest will see their total debt actually rise year after year until they qualify for forgiveness.

**While those who earn debt cancellation through public service probably won't have to pay taxes on the amount forgiven, those who have any debts cancelled because of low income after 25 years might very well have to pay income taxes on the debts from which they are released.

In addition, she notes, the new program won't reduce payments on defaulted student loans. Those who have already fallen so far behind on payments that they are in default will be rejected for the program. The program also won't cover:

**Private, alternative, or "signature" educational loans.

**Parent loans such as federal Parent PLUS loans or any kind of alternative or private loans.
 
**Other pressing debts. If you earn enough so that your federal education debt makes up less than 15 percent of your income above the base budget--even if most of your earnings go to medical bills or private educational debt, you won't qualify for Income-Based Repayment. The current rules will also likely disqualify, for example, debtors whose spouses are comparatively high earners--even if those spouses are also burdened with big education debts. 

Those who worry they might be affected by some of the fine print can take heart, however. The Project on Student Debt, National Consumer Law Center, and other groups are lobbying for improvements to the law. Congressional staffers say their bosses and the new administration are considering some tweaks.

J.D.'s comments: If people who are trying to qualify for this program don't follow the rules precisely then they will be kicked out of the system and not qualify for this relief. I believe we need true Student Loan Reform, with clauses for hardship, layoffs and extreme medical misfortune. Read the fine print.

weblink: http://www.finaid.org/loans/ibr.phtml

By J.D. Wyczalek (why-zall-ick)Sorry but you missed the deadline, sorry we don't have any aid to give out, sorry the program you wanted has been eliminated, sorry the campus you want to attend is closed, sorry the scholarship programs have been eliminated. -- These sad words are what many hopeful college bound kids will hear.

Budget cuts result in programs being slashed, reduced or down right cut. While promises have been made to current college students the future is still uncertain.

Waiting until the senior year of high school to start the college admission road may find these students on the sidelines wondering what happened. You have probably heard the proverb that there are three kinds of people: Those who take action, those who watch while the action takes place, those who wonder what just happened.

Now in this day and age it is even more important to learn the intricacies of college admission and financial aid as well as starting the college journey early, preferably as a high school freshman - sophomore.

State colleges may have been considered safety schools. A "safety school" is a college that students are sure they'll get into and would prefer not to attend. The best way to hedge your odds is to apply to a select handful of colleges.

Many counselors agree to apply to Reach Colleges, Safety Schools, and Good Match colleges. I disagree. A reach college is a school in which the student may or may not be admitted. You should apply to safety and good match colleges to hedge your odds of being admitted. Throw in a few private colleges as well as public colleges to add flavor. All the while research the college's historical financial aid policies to ensure scholarships.

Not having a financial college plan or just winging it is a recipe for disaster. Start now.

by J.D. Wyczalek

They say that it is always darkest just before dawn. Well it just got a whole lot darker.

Now, not only will it be more difficult to get into an Arizona state school it will also cost more. And for some families much much more.

With the budget cuts the Arizona State University system has suspended funding of the AIMS scholarship program. Parents who were counting on this money for their new college freshman may be in shock.

Many parents have asked me how this is going to affect their student. In these uncertain economic times it is guaranteed the bottom line is it will be more expensive to send your student to an Arizona state school.

It is of extreme importance to research colleges especially during this chaotic economic turmoil.

While state colleges in California, Arizona and Florida to name a few, have been hit hard, some private colleges are now looking more attractive. While endowment funds have been hit, some private colleges are weathering the storm better. 
In response to the budget cuts ASU is closing about four dozen academic programs, many on the Tempe campus, and scaling down administrative operations at its Polytechnic and West campuses, in response to state budget reductions, which have totaled $88 million. The social work program in Tucson will also be closed, and is also suspending funding of its AIMS scholarship program. Arizona State University says it is forced to enact an enrollment cap. The application deadline for next semester's freshman class will end March 1, five months early.
Northern Arizona University announced closure of its Social Research Center public-opinion research laboratory and its Center for High Altitude Training plus keeping more than 100 positions unfilled.

So what can parents do? Depending on what grade your student is would depend on the strategy. As a high school freshman, sophomore or junior add more colleges to your list, preferably 6 to 8, including private colleges. As a high school senior, compare award letters in the upcoming months and look for scholarships that your student has a high percentage chance of winning.

Examiner article

KTAR article

ArizonaRepublic article

Learn the truth about how to position your student for colleges to beg and plead your student to come to their school, register for a local workshop now.

Hey Thanks for the VOTE.

But before you go, I want you to grab this.

It's a PDF that I created and could save you some headaches when visiting colleges.

Think of this as the "I'm Too Lazy To Build An Upsell Page Here, So I Just Decided To Give Some Cool Stuff Away Instead" bonus.

College Visit TIPS - PDF

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Yes there are all kinds of unusual scholarships

University freshman awarded Scholarship, Miss Angus crown
By: Dallas Duncan Posted: 2/5/09

For University freshman Katie Gazda, beef is a whole lot more than just "what's for dinner."

As the newly crowned Miss American Angus, she will spend this spring traveling across the country to various Angus beef shows to present awards and share information about the Angus beef industry. The contest, which includes a first-place $1,400 scholarship, was sponsored in November by the American Angus Association Auxiliary, an educational organization that promotes the involvement of youth in the beef industry.

"I wanted to be [Miss American Angus] since I was 5, because the first Miss American Angus from Georgia was crowned when I was 5," Gazda said.

  Katie Gazda, Miss American Angus

The competition began with a national scholarship contest, in which 15 to 20 state finalists competed. The scholarship was open to high school seniors from states in the South, Midwest and Northeast, said Mary McCurry, the co-chair of the Miss American Angus contest and the 1971 Miss American Angus winner. Contestants had to be members of both their state Junior Angus Association and the National Junior Angus Association. The top five winners from that competition would then have the opportunity to compete for the title. The five finalists went through several more contests, including a personal interview, a speech on "The History I'm Making Today," two impromptu questions and a written test about the beef and Angus industries.

Gazda is no stranger to the industry. Her parents own the Gazda Cattle Company in Athens, and she has shown Angus cattle since age 9. She is also the vice president of the Georgia Junior Angus Association.

As a former Miss American Angus, McCurry knows well the internship qualities of the contest. Gazda has "risen through the top and come through the ranks" she said, and Gazda would "always be a voice for agriculture [and] a role model and mentor to youth."

"When you're awarded positions like this, they've seen something in you that's worth sharing," said Chris Morgan, assistant professor in the College of Agricultural and Environmental Sciences and Gazda's academic adviser. "My gut feeling is that she'll represent us well."

Gazda said the contest could be a stepping stone to a future career.

"I do believe that my range of activities and interests make me well-rounded and would be beneficial to an employer when making the decision to hire me," Gazda said.

After completing her undergraduate degree, Gazda said she hopes to pursue a master's degree in agricultural communication at Oklahoma State University.

She said she wants to work for the American Angus Association or Certified Angus Beef in journalism or marketing.

http://www.angusauxiliary.com/scholarships/index.html

J.D. says: "The key to winning a scholarship is to eliminate as much competition as possible. In the case of the Angus Scholarship it was only open to members of the State Junior Angus Association and the National Junior Angus Association thus eliminating a high percentage of the population."

Original article posted here.

by J.D. Wyczalek

Adderall: AKA my study buddy, ralls, bennies, amps, a-bombs, the A train, Addy. Side affects insomnia, vertigo, headache, diarrhea, not hungry and over dose may cause death.
It's an academic steroid running rampant on campuses across the US. It's a huge asset if someone wants to spend 12 hours studying without fatigue. However it is illegal without a prescription.

Adderall is one of several drugs that calm attention deficit disorder patients by stimulating their brains. The drugs activate the frontal lobes of the brain, an area that monitors task performance.
The prescription drugs should be used only as intended and only under medical supervision.

For normal, healthy people who do not have diagnosed attention deficit problems, Adderall can cause emotional and physical strains by making them hyperactive, paranoid and delusional while putting them at risk for heart attacks or strokes. As much as you want to believe it, you are not immortal.

The results of an overdose can vary by person. It can be fatal in extreme cases.

Reselling amphetamines, such as Adderall, is a class B felony.

Any felony will get you kicked out of college and land you in jail. In addition to that you will loose ALL your scholarships and no longer be eligible for ANY financial aid AND you will be forced to pay back all scholarships that you had previously earned. (The FAFSA asks if you have a drug related felony thus rendering you unable to qualify for aid.)

Don’t risk it

You worked hard to get into college. Don’t do something illegal that will get you thrown into prison. Drink a couple cans of Starbucks/Monster/Red Bull or better yet pace your study time out over the semester so you won’t have to pull an all-nighter.  Create a calendar and check off list of all the things due that semester. Create a game plan to win.

Unorthodox scholarships offer aid for other than straight A's
By: Katie Ruppel original post

In these times of economic uncertainty, everyone is looking to save a buck, especially those paying for college or working to pay rent on their own. If you think the only way students can receive a scholarship is by making straight A's or being the star basketball player, you're wrong. The university and other programs and institutions offer a handful of scholarships with unusual criteria but not so unusual rewards (money). If you spin the dreidel in December or aspire to be the next Willy Wonka, you might be eligible to receive one of these scholarships.

The following are special eligibility scholarships:

The Zelda Ramsey Scholarship

Any ladies in the house? The Arlington Business and Professional Women's Club Inc. gives away its annual Zelda Ramsey Scholarship to women in need of financial aid. The $500 to $1,000 scholarship is aimed at women who are returning to college after being part of the work force.

The Bermont Family Undergraduate Jewish Student Scholarship

This scholarship gives away a varied amount of money to undergraduate students whose parents are religious leaders of the Jewish faith.

JELD-WEN Foundation Scholarship

This scholarship awards a $2,000 scholarship for tuition, fees and books to an incoming freshman eligible for financial aid through the Free Application for Federal Student Aid. What's the catch? The applicant must come from a town with a JELD-WENwindow and door plant nearby, so crack open that old map of your hometown you have laying around in your attic and start the search.

The Adrienne Miller Perner Memorial Scholarship

This scholarship offers its scholarship to female ballet majors whose parents or grandparents are or have been part of the armed forces or military. Although the scholarship is based on talent, if you can't stand on your toes or do 32 fouettes in a row, there's still hope. Those who volunteer and are active in the community can also qualify, even if you're not the best of in your class.

The Martin Luther King Jr. Scholarship

This scholarship is given out to student who best exemplify the values and ideals of MLK in their own lives. Applicants must have a 3.0 GPA, two letters of recommendation, and a 750-word essay describing their "Service to Humanity" - their present or proposed career, and how it would reflect the dreams of MLK.

TCU is not the only institution offering monetary rewards. Here is a list of scholarships awarded for various qualifications and talents:

The Klingon Language Institute

Hablas espanol? Sprechen Sie Deutsch? How's your Klingon? The Klingon Language Institute awards $500 to a language studies graduate or undergraduate student recognized by his or her department chair. The award is not limited to Trekkies, however: a degree toward any language will suffice.

The National Candy Technologists Scholarship Program

The snozberries taste like snozberries! The National Candy Technologists Scholarship Program gives $5,000 to a biological, chemical or food science major with a sophomore standing or above and a 3.0 GPA. Applicant must send in evidence of their interest in confectionery technology to the American Association of Candy Technologists, whether it be a research project or work experience. Hopefully an Oompa-Loompa or two will fit into the prized package.

The American Nudist Research Library Scholarship

Want a scholarship for doing nothing? How about wearing nothing? The American Nudist Research Library Scholarship awards $1,000 to a freshman or sophomore college student who has spent three years in a nudist organization and sends in a short essay detailing his or her experiences (but not too detailed, please). So drop your pants and get writing.

The Little People of America, Inc., scholarships

The Little People of America, Inc., scholarships range from $250 to over $1,000. If you or an immediate family member have been diagnosed with dwarfism and is an LPA member, you could be eligible.

The National Make It With Wool Competition

Have you any wool? Students in a college-level fashion or design class can enter the National Make It With Wool Competition. In order to win the $1,000 scholarship, competitors must create a garment made of 60% wool, and send it in to the national MIWW office with a description, photo and video explaining its marketability and appeal to the wool industry.

Facing college rejection head on by J.D. Wyczalek

In March-April the letters from colleges will start rolling in. Fear and panic engulf many high school students who are hopeful they will be accepted into their top choice college. The dread of the thin response letter grips them.

First and foremost it is not the end of the world there are options. The first thing is that you should have applied to more than just one college. The recommendation is to send applications off to 8 colleges. Also remember the percentage of admitted students at top colleges in the United States is very low. Some are as low as 11%.

Worst-case scenario, you have been rejected by every college now what? There are a couple things that you can do.

One thing you can do is take a gap year. Review the article at AZCollegePlanning.com on the Gap Year Experience. Type ‘gap year' in the search window. However you must have a return to college plan.

Another option is to call the colleges that rejected you and ask why you were rejected. Mom or dad should not call the college. It is the student's responsibility; it will show the college the student has initiative. If it was for poor grades ask the admission officer if there is anything you can do. They may suggest taking classes at a community college and reapply the next year. BUT do very well on your grades, get help, find a tutor and a mentor. Find other students that have great grades and study with them, learn how they study.

One last effort is to appeal to the college to re-review your application. Yes, it should be the student who initiates this process. After calling the college and discovering why you were rejected put together a plan.

Write an appeal letter with a resume of accomplishments and send it priority express to the key decision maker in the admissions office. Sending your letter to someone who does not have the power or authority to make a decision is a waste of your efforts. List the key points the college should reconsider.

The next step is to follow up. Call the admissions office. Remember they are extremely busy during this time. Be polite and courteous. Ask if the letter had been received and if there was an opportunity to review your file. Sometimes just the initiative shows the admissions office you are mature and responsible. And with this knowledge sometimes minds can be changed.

If the appeal doesn't work maybe one or two years at a community college might help. Get great grades, good extracurricular activities, volunteer and charity work and perhaps employment, the next time might be better.