My daughter received the NYS Stem Scholarship. Fantastic right? The scholarship is given to the top 10% of a graduating class. Since she is in the top 10% she had the opportunity and took various AP courses and college credits that transferred to college for credit. So she was a little bit ahead of her college graduating requirements. I feel that many of the students who received this scholarship would be in the same boat if they are targeting the top 10%. She is in her sophomore year of college and is doing her map for her junior and senior year. All she has left are her core major requirements which consist of 6-9 credits a semester (it is not suggested to take 5 chemistry classes a semester - yikes). They are taking her scholarship away because she does not have 12 required classes a semester (in her major or gen eds). The other classes she is taking to make her full time schedule are STEM classes that go with her major such as an upper level research in forensic chemistry class. They are not counting these other classes so there is no way she can even get the scholarship. I feel there must be other students in the same situation. We are going to have to pay back the scholarship from the first 2 years. She is following all her requirements and beyond! Is anyone else in this situation??
Which SUNY is she attending? Is she a chem major? If she’s already completed her gen eds ask if she can add a minor or another major. If not, see how many 4 credit courses she has left. If she can put 3 into a single semester it will cut the semesters you have to pay tuition down to 3. If they’re all 3 credit courses, she’d need to take 4 at once.
Why do you have to repay the scholarship for the first 2 years? If she met the requirements it doesn’t make sense that they’d convert the grant to a loan. The [HESC website](NYS Higher Education Services Corporation - STEM FAQs) says:
If she met the eligibility requirements for those 2 years, it sounds like she was entitled to the grant. @Sybbie719 might have some insight on how it works.
Her college SUNY Albany is looking into it. They said a minor class credits are not ‘required’ credits. The classes she has left are 3 credits and most of the classes build on each other so the adviser doesn’t suggest taking them all in 3 semesters. I am trying to contact the state to see about the payback. I wasn’t sure if she would have to pay it back but if she doesn’t she is still held to working the 5 years in NYS. I am just discouraged because she is following the expectations and the scholarship isn’t taking into consideration that most of these students will be ahead in the game. She is taking STEM courses related to her major and will be working towards a Master with a combined degree. This little bit of help really helped us and we counted on it!
From HESC FAQs
According to HESC, if she does not meet the requirement this semester, she will not get credited with the tuition payment this semester. The only way that she would have to pay back the back monies if she switches to a non approved major or does not complete the service requirement.
How many college AP credits did she transfer in?
It seems that it may have been to her detriment, because now she, she cannot meet the degree requirement.
Did your D meet with her adviser before registering for classes in order to work out a graduation plan that would allow her to fulfill the requirements of the scholarship? Find out if there are alternatives, additional courses or research that she can use toward the degree requirement.
Is there someone at the school who coordinates the scholarship and advises students as to what courses meet the requirement?
From UALbany, What to consider before taking the STEM scholarship
http://www.albany.edu/financialaid/forms/STEM_scholarship_flyer.pdf
I recommend that you contact the HESC Scholarship Unit at scholarships@hesc.ny.gov or 888-697-4372 with yor questions to get further clarification
Thank you so much for the responses - so helpful!! I think we assumed that if we followed he map/pathway for her combined major that we would fulfill the requirements. I wasn’t thinking that having so many credits would be a bad thing. Her adviser is talking/meeting with people that are associated with this scholarship. He actually has another student in the same situation. Kind of a bummer that she will not get that extra help financially. Especially when the electives she is taking or will be taking are research in her field that they do not count. I have several calls and emails sent to HESC but haven’t heard back yet.
http://www.albany.edu/chemistry/bsForensic.shtml
Can she switch from chemistry to biochemistry, or forensic chemistry, or add education?
It mentions a 3 cr research or internship in the above link. Can she add that?
Have her meet with her advisor to see what can be done.
I do not see anything on the NYS STEM website stating that a certain amount of credits is required.
Applicants for the NYS Science, Technology, Engineering, and Mathematics Incentive Progam awards must execute a Service Contract in which they:
Agree to work full-time for five years in an approved occupation in the fields of science, technology, engineering, or mathematics in New York State, while maintaining residency within the State, regardless of the number or amount of award payments.
Agree to repay the amounts disbursed plus interest pursuant to the terms of their Service Contract if they:
fail to complete an approved undergraduate program in science, technology, engineering
or mathematics; or
change majors to a program of undergraduate study other than in science, technology, engineering or mathematics; or
fail to complete five years of continuous full-time employment in an approved STEM occupation with a public or private entity located within New York State upon completion of their undergraduate degree program; or
fail to maintain residency in New York State for such period of employment; or
fail to respond to requests by HESC for the status of their academic or
professional progress; or
breach the terms of the Service Contract.
I wonder what percent of the top 10% of NYS students use this program? I’ll bet many just don’t want to deal with the hassle. I would love to see the data on how many students fulfill the program (4 years of school and 5 years of work in NY). I’ll bet the percent is minuscule. It’s supposed to be an incentive, not a hassle.
The whole point of the program is to get top STEM students to stay and work in New York. If the state makes it too cumbersome and difficult and is looking for ways to “boot” you, why would anyone want to deal with it?
I hope it works out for you @STEMconcern
Thank you everyone! As of now she will not get it next year. Her university is contacting everyone to get some more information but they don’t see it happening as of yet. I think her class of 2019 was the first allowed to apply for the scholarship so I thought maybe they would look into it and say “oh - something isn’t right here”.
Can she choose not to use some of her AP credits?
@Greg24, See post #3. The HESC website says students have to take at least 12 credits that count toward their degree.
I wanted to raise your thread because of the proposal for free tuition that is waiting to be passed by the NYS assembly.
If you make under 100K, your child should still be eligible for full tuition under this initiative (yes, she is still going to be required to work in NYS after graduation).
I would contact the financial aid office at UAlbany to see how this initiative would affect your D.
Like the STEM scholarship, it is designed to be a last payer, meaning it will cover tuition after all other credits (TAP/PELL/scholarships) are applied. I hope that this can be a viable solution for your family.