Will I still be eligible for TAP?

I am going the CUNY New York City College of Technology only for the spring 2017 term. Tuition for 1 term is $3,360. So far from PELL will receive $1,454 and estimated to recieve $2,582 from TAP plus s $665 TAP waiver. The school is still processing TAP so I am not sure what they will make of me. The financial aid office told me in order be eligible for tap I must be registered for 12 credits, within my major. My major is Communication Design and the classes i am taking for my major ad up to only 10 credits. Will that mean I will be disqualified from the TAP award? The only other class i have is a prerequisite math class. If I do not receive the TAP award I will have to use my $2,000 loan that I took for books supplies and other expenses since my EFC is pretty much -0.

We’re NYS residents. My son is at a state college studying computer science. He qualifies for a small TAP grant. His total credits have to be 12 or more. They have to lead to a degree (which means the electives needed to earn his degree count), but they don’t all have to be CS related. @sybbie719 can confirm this, but I think if the math is a required course for graduation then you’re meeting the requirements.

Yes, you must take 12 credits for your full tap award.

What exactly is your EFC?

If you are only getting $1454 in Pell a term, then you do not have a 0 EFC (it is closer to $3,000).

This means that it is highly unlikely that you are going to receive full TAP even if you are full time.

Log into your FAFSA, review your SAR. You can also log in to HESC

https://www.hesc.ny.gov/pay-for-college/apply-for-financial-aid/nys-tap/apply-for-tap.html

to check your TAP or get an estimate of how much you will receive.

It says EFC: 000000 on both TAP and FASFA. Thanks for clearing this up

Usually the prerequisite courses do not count toward meeting full time status. You need to make sure that class does, or take another 2 credit class (something you enjoy like a PE class, art, music?)

Just in case you are right and i think you are, i added a photography class worth 2 credits. I studied film or 1 semester at SVA and still dont know how to work a camera which is embarrassing so i think ill love this class. All designers should know how to use a camera and how to edit photos IMO. I will make sure though. Thanks guys