Let's start with the good news: you're a student at Princeton. That took a tremendous amount of hard work and discipline. Only four percent of applicants actually make it in. Good for you!
Here's the bad news: being accepted to Princeton and enrolling in classes at Princeton isn't the same thing as graduating from Princeton. You still have a tough four years ahead of you, and there are lots of reasons you can find yourself dismissed from school. One of the biggest is simply failing to progress from semester to semester and year to year.
We all make mistakes, of course, even Princeton students, and most of us slip up academically every now and then. Maybe you overslept and missed an important final. Or maybe you went through a bad breakup and couldn't manage to get to class one semester.
Whatever happened, don't let it define who you are. You're still a Princeton student, and you still deserve to be a Princeton graduate. If you're struggling academically, National Student Defense attorney-advisor Joseph D. Lento is here to help. You might be surprised by the idea that a lawyer can help with academics. As you'll see, though, most university decisions involve complicated rules and procedures. No one handles rules and procedures more effectively than lawyers. Joseph D. Lento has dedicated his career to helping students navigate the often confusing bureaucracies of higher education. He's helped hundreds of students deal with the threat of dismissal, and he can do the same for you.
Academic Progression Requirements at Princeton University
Getting through Princeton is about holding on to your “good academic standing” from one semester to the next. Failure to meet the school's rigorous academic requirements can get you dismissed for at least a year.
The basic requirements at Princeton are fairly amorphous. You can be given an Academic Warning or placed on Academic Probation for failing to complete enough course credits each semester. You can also be placed on probation, though, if an instructor or your advisor feels you're not living up to your potential or falling behind in some way.
When it comes to dismissal, the rules are a bit more concrete. Princeton requires you to withdraw if
- You make more than two Fs in one of your first-year terms
- You make more than one F in one of your further terms
- You receive a grade of F in three consecutive terms
- You receive a total of more than four Fs
- You fail to make sufficient progress while on academic probation
If you should be forced to withdraw, you cannot return to Princeton for at least one year. Often, the dean of your college or the dean of undergraduate studies will require you to complete certain requirements before you return to the school. You might be asked to take courses at another institution, for example, to work or to complete volunteer service. Reinstatement involves convincing the dean that you recognize your mistakes and that you have a clear plan for addressing them in the future. You should also know that Princeton doesn't guarantee readmission. Withdrawal can easily turn into complete dismissal if you don't follow recommendations or submit a weak reinstatement packet.
Decision Processes
Princeton doesn't offer a procedure for challenging decisions about warnings and probation. However, you do have the right to appeal the dismissal to the Faculty Committee on Examinations and Standing if new evidence should arise in your case. For instance, if a professor should miscalculate your grade, the corrected grade should be enough to warrant a successful appeal. In addition, you can further appeal your case to the Faculty Advisory Committee on Policy if you believe you've been treated unfairly by the Faculty Committee on Examinations and Standing.
There are other possible approaches to dealing with academic progress issues as well. An instructor may be willing to reconsider the scores they gave you over the course of a semester. Occasionally, an instructor is willing to issue an Incomplete while you complete extra credit or makeup assignments. You may have a disability or family situation that should have been taken into account by your professor but wasn't.
Joseph D. Lento knows all the options open to you, and he knows which ones will work best in your particular situation. Whether you're looking to negotiate with a professor, you're filing a formal appeal, or you're requesting reinstatement, Joseph D. Lento can help you prepare your arguments and gather your evidence so you'll have the best possible chance of success.
SAP Standards
Students who receive financial aid at Princeton University are subject to an additional set of academic standards. The federal government requires all colleges and universities to have a Satisfactory Academic Progress or SAP policy. The purpose of such a policy is to prevent anyone from becoming a permanent student and living entirely off federal monies.
Princeton has three standards:
- Qualitative Measure: Princeton does not issue grade points. However, if your grade average should fall below the equivalent of a C, you can lose federal financial aid.
- Quantitative Measure: You must complete at least three to four courses each term, depending on where you are in completing your degree.
- Maximum Timeframe: You must complete your degree within 150 percent of the published length of the program.
Princeton doesn't provide any probationary period for those who fail to meet SAP standards. Students simply lose federal financial aid the following semester. However, you can regain your aid once you are meeting the requirements again.
In addition, it is Princeton's policy to meet the financial needs of any student who remains in good academic standing, and the school promises to make up any financial shortfalls in federal aid caused by SAP ineligibility.
Even so, students do sometimes find that an administrative office isn't living up to its promises or simply makes a mistake. If you're struggling to get Princeton to give you the aid you deserve, Joseph D. Lento and his Education Law Team may be able to help.
Premier Education Attorney-Advisor
Students sometimes feel they are on their own once they enroll in college, and if they find themselves in trouble—especially academic trouble—there's just no help out there for them. They accept probation, suspension, dismissal, or the loss of financial aid all too willingly without putting up a fight.
The fact is, there are many ways to deal with these academic issues. A bad semester doesn't have to mean the end of your career at Princeton. Joseph D. Lento has represented hundreds of students just like you in academic progress cases. He knows the processes, and he can offer suggestions for how to use them to your advantage. If you or your child is facing dismissal, or even if you have already been dismissed, you owe it to yourself to learn about what options might be available to you. To find out more, contact the Lento Law Firm today at 888-555-3686, or use our automated online form.
