Age/Disability Discrimination at School

[UserInTennessee]

What is the name of your state (only U.S. law)? Tennessee

I'm a middle-aged student (over 50) who recently completed my undergraduate degree and plan to get my Masters in Counseling, followed by a PhD. I applied to two different (private) graduate schools, and - despite the fact that I have a 3.7 GPA, excellent references, an IQ of 153, and underwent a battery of tests that indicate this is the ideal career path for me - was turned down by both. Everything was fine, until the interviewers met me and realized I'm over 40.

At one of the schools the interviewer brought up the fact that I'm on disability at least three times, and expressed concern that I "might not be able to handle the work." I pointed out the fact that - apart from a very occasional flare-up (I have a connective tissue disease) it's not a problem, as proven by the fact that I finished my undergraduate work. Apparently, he didn't agree.

Is there any action that can be taken against these two schools?

Thank you for your assistance.

 

[ecmst12]

How many spaces were available in the programs? Do you know for SURE that the people who got them were not simply more qualified? Keep applying to schools. Two schools is not that many.

 

[UserInTennessee]

I don't know how many spaces were available, BUT....

at school #1 I received a letter at my home address inviting me to apply a couple of weeks AFTER I got the rejection letter at my PO box, and

at school #2 the DAY BEFORE I received the rejection email I received an email stating, "It's not too late to apply for the Spring semester!"

 

[Shadowbunny]

I don't know how many spaces were available, BUT....

at school #1 I received a letter at my home address inviting me to apply a couple of weeks AFTER I got the rejection letter at my PO box, and

at school #2 the DAY BEFORE I received the rejection email I received an email stating, "It's not too late to apply for the Spring semester!"

I wouldn't put too much stock in the marketing letters you received after the rejections -- I was still receiving invites from my graduate school AFTER I'd graduated. I don't believe the marketing department does any follow-up with the admissions department, and therefore doesn't know who's been rejected.

 

[Silverplum]

I wouldn't put too much stock in the marketing letters you received after the rejections -- I was still receiving invites from my graduate school AFTER I'd graduated. I don't believe the marketing department does any follow-up with the admissions department, and therefore doesn't know who's been rejected.

Seconded. It's been the same for me, my H, and my skids. (Heck, my skids were getting "Join the Marines!" stuff WHILE IN the Marines. )