My question involves education law in the State of: North Carolina
I am a 45 year old student graduating from a North Carolina public university with my B.A. in Psychology in May 2012. I have been turned down flat by another North Carolina public university for graduate school. My GPA and GRE score meet or exceed the averages published by the graduate school which rejected me.
Emails to the Program Director are at an impasse. I asked how many applicants over 40, and over 30, were admitted to their M.A. in Clinical Mental Health Counseling program in this cohort. The answer was a vague "We routinely admit students 20-50". I asked if my GPA was being weighed against undergraduates who had the opportunity to earn college credit in high school, which did not exist when I graduated high school in 1985. Some of these students ENTER their Bachelor's degree with GPAs over 4.0 due to ridiculously generous college credits given in NC high schools. This was answered with "Our committee process is confidential and as Program Director I cannot advise you on why you were not admitted".
I find it odd that GPA and GRE information is routinely published in US News and World Report, as well as the university's own website, yet I cannot get basic statistics to assure me my application was not pushed to the bottom of the pile. Of course university committee decisions are confidential, however, that is to protect student information, not so committee members can cover their behinds.
My belief is that the committee chose traditional college age undergrads from their own school for admission and left the rest of us to hang. Do I have legal recourse?
Thank you for your time and attention to my questions.

