As a college student, a first-time DUI can feel like many different things. Maybe you feel overwhelmed because it is your first time facing such a big charge. Or maybe you do not feel worried, because you think college students get off easier.
Unfortunately, this is not the case. When facing a DUI charge, it is crucial to treat it like the legitimate threat to your future it could be.
Getting barred from attendance
According to The College Investor, a DUI can in fact turn your college experience upside down. First, you may lose your ability to attend your college entirely. It is rare, but sometimes college boards will expel a student over a DUI conviction. This happens most often when the incident involved property damage or harm to a human life.
They could revoke any financial aid they gave you, too. This is more common: you get “priced out” of attendance. They can revoke scholarships and other forms of monetary gift. They can even bar you from using on-campus housing. Having to pay for off-campus housing is often enough in and of itself to make attendance fiscally impossible.
Job prospects moving forward
Of course, your job prospects might suffer. This can impact the type of work you do in college. For example, government and teaching positions often do not hire people with DUIs on record. This means you can attend related classes, but it will not help, as you cannot work in these fields. You may also end up barred from internships, programs and other special offers related to your field of choice.
These effects can throw off your life for years to come. It is one of many reasons why you should take DUI charges seriously.
