TAP vs FA

[NASA2014]

Hello,

I’m a rising transfer junior been in college for 5 years and finishing in May 2021. However, I want to know why my minor courses aren’t applied in the TAP. When does FA and TAP run out? Went to CC for three years and started fresh in four years. 2014- 2017 CC, 2017- 2021 university

[thumper1]

In what state are you attending college?

IIRC many of these awards pay for courses to satisfy your degree requirement.

[NASA2014]

Yea, in-state

[thumper1]

@NASA2014

In NY state?

[NASA2014]

Yes. NY

[sybbie719]

TAP only pays out for 4 years whether or not you finished your degree.

Testing for understanding:
You went to CC for 3 years and a 4 year school for your 4th year.

You are a junior who has been in college for 5 years.
Unfortunately then you are out of money.

You will have to find another source to replace the funds that you were getting from TAP (you may have to work, your parents may have to pay a little more, you may have to take out a loan, your parents may have to take out a loan)…

[austinmshauri]

@sybbie719, Does it work the same for ADA students? OP may be on a reduced load. Is TAP still calculated by the year for students taking less than a full course load or is it based on the number of credits?

[NASA2014]

If I don’t count my minor courses I’m at 10 credits. I’m taking three courses that are in my minor, and they said TAP doesn’t cover it.

[sybbie719]

For How Many Semesters Can I Receive TAP?

For an associate degree you may receive TAP for up to 6 semesters. You will be limited to 6 semesters of TAP even if you change majors or transfer to another community college. When you enroll in a 4 year college program at a senior college, you will become eligible for an additional 2 full-time semesters of TAP bringing your undergraduate total to 8 semesters. If you are enrolled in a special program you may receive up to 8 semesters in an Associate Degree program (College Discovery) and 10 semesters in a bachelor degree program (SEEK).

Office of Student Financial Assistance – The City University of New York

@NASA2014

If I don’t count my minor courses I’m at 10 credits. I’m taking three courses that are in my minor, and they said TAP doesn’t cover it.

This is also a reason why you are not getting TAP. The goal of NYS Aid (STEM, TAP, Excelsior) is to come in, take what you need for your degree and get out. They do not pay for courses not associated with your major and courses, that you don’t “need” to graduate. If you double major, major/minor or change majors you could very easily find your self with out funding.

from HESC

@Common Reasons Why Students Lose New York State Award Payments

To avoid losing an award because of your enrollment status, you must take at least 12 credits in classes that are applicable toward your program of study each semester. This means that you must be taking classes that go toward your major or electives that are accepted towards completion of your degree.

TIPS to ensure you meet the full-time requirement for your NYS award:

Check your award program details or speak with your financial aid office about the award requirements.
Take 12 credits or more each semester that will be credited toward your program of study, if you are an undergraduate student.

If you drop a class before the drop/add period and are not identified by the school as enrolled for at least 12 credits, you may not be eligible for your award payment.

If you are identified as being enrolled for at least 12 credits and subsequently drop below 12 credits, you are eligible for your award payment if you incurred full-time tuition.

Check before repeating a class.

If you repeat a class that you already passed and received credit for while in college, the class is not counted toward your full-time status for NYS financial aid purposes.

If, as a college student, you repeat an Advance Placement or other college-credit bearing class that you took as a high school student, the class is not counted toward your full-time status for NYS financial aid purposes.
EXCEPTION: If you repeat a class for your major in which you did not initially receive a passing grade, credits for the repeated class WILL count toward your full-time status. For example, if you require a “B” in a certain class but you earned a “C,” you can repeat the class and the class credits will count toward meeting the full-time requirement for your major.

If you repeat a class because you received a failing grade, the class is counted toward your full-time status for NYS financial aid purposes.

**Check before taking classes not needed for your major.

If you are taking a class that is not needed for your major, be sure to take at least 12 credits in classes that go toward your major, including electives, to be deemed in full-time status for NYS financial aid purposes.**

NYS Higher Education Services Corporation - Common Reasons Why StudenNew York State Award Paymentsts Lose

From HESC

For financial aid purposes, there are two types of five-year programs that can entitle an undergraduate student to an additional year of State financial assistance.

According to section 661 of the Education Law, an undergraduate student is eligible for up to four years of undergraduate assistance unless the student is enrolled in an approved five-year program, in which case the student is eligible for five years of undergraduate assistance.

The second type of eligible five-year program is one that is an organized program of remedial study approved by the Commissioner. These include the Higher Education Opportunity Program (HEOP), the Educational Opportunity Program (EOP), the Search for Education, Elevation and Knowledge (SEEK) program, and the College Discovery (CD) program. Students accepted in an opportunity program are considered matriculated on that basis and are eligible for TAP but, in accordance with statute, are not eligible for STAP. An opportunity program student who is enrolled in a second bachelor’s degree program is not eligible for a fifth year of TAP.

NYS Higher Education Services Corporation - TAP Coach - F

If Op is a student with a disability, they should have been coordinating their services with ACCES-VR, which provides educational benefits including up to full tuition at SUNY/CUNY - any financial aid.

http://www.acces.nysed.gov/vr/college-higher-education

[thumper1]

Skip the minor. Take classes to complete your major ASAP. Graduate, get a job, and then take courses you pay for while you are working.

Really, no one needs a minor to graduate from college.

[austinmshauri]

If I don’t count my minor courses I’m at 10 credits. I’m taking three courses that are in my minor, and they said TAP doesn’t cover it.

This is probably your issue. TAP doesn’t cover minors. You need 12 credits that count toward your major to be eligible. Talk to your advisor and ask them to help you plot out your semesters so you can maximize your aid.

[sybbie719]

Op is now a 5th year student This means he is no longer eligible for TAP

[NASA2014]

I need a minor for my math BS major. Math department requires it. However, you don’t need one for a BA. Told my advisor that I already have a lot of credits and he still says I need to complete a minor. I’m doing a double minor History and Atmospheric Sceicne. already have 117 credits.

[austinmshauri]

How many credits do you need to complete your major if you switch to a BA? Can your parents afford to pay for it?

[thumper1]

Well…you don’t need a double minor…right? Pick one…get done.

[sybbie719]

The major minor does not matter for OP’s situation. If he is not an EOP student or in an approved 5 year program he has exhausted his TAP and is no longer eligible. We are just mentioning some of the things that can get in the way of finishing in 4 years. OP’s biggest challenge is making up the money that he would have received from TAP. Do you have a summer job lined up? You may need an additional summer job

[austinmshauri]

@sybbie719, OP said the college where his dad works was paying his tuition.

@Nasa2014, how many years did Colgate cover? How many years of TAP have you used up?

[mommdc]

Just clarifying what sybbie posted above, for Excelsior you need to take and pass 15 credits a semester that count for your major program, right?

You would also need to take 15 credits a semester to graduate in 8 semesters for a typical 120 credit degree.

[sybbie719]

I am confused about this situation with TAP because I remember in his posts that he mentioned getting tuition benefits from Dad who works at Colgate. Since he is getting tuition benefits from Colgate, how/why is he even getting TAP. Congrats nsidering thecost of tuition at Colgate are you saying your dads benefit won’t cover 7k at SUNY?

Just read Colgate’s employee benefit where they pay up to one half of ** Colgate”s tuition[|b] for employ children who matriculates at an accredited college/university.

[austinmshauri]

Some colleges only pay for 4 years of tuition benefits. Colgate might not be paying anymore.

@mommdc, If OP has accommodations and is registered with the disability office he can take fewer than 15 credits/semester, but I don’t know how many semesters he could do that. It seems like it should be enough to finish but I don’t really know. All the credits have to count toward the major though. But if OP gets a tuition credit from his dad’s college or qualifies for full TAP he won’t get the Excelsior.