Bottom line. PO's are ######## and love keeping you down and out. What ever happen to another chance. They like playing God.
This turned on a light for me. Where and who are you getting the help from for school? Am sure it's a grant? Who got it for you? Whoever they are. (I can imagine) Go to them. Tell them about the probation, record, yadda yadda. Highly likely, they will help you to get the conviction removed from your record.
I live across the street from a guy who 'claims' to work for the local probation department. All I can say is he most likely works in law enforcement in some way of some type. He's an absolute donkey. Can't so much as look over, smile, wave. Nothing like that at all. Too many in society have become that way. Waxing worse and worse. They have no soul. They worship power, and power only. Here... I've never committed a crime. Was always friendly with cops. Grew up with best friends dad, a deputy. Knew cops as people first, then cops.