New York State Education Law requires you to be matriculated in an approved program (major) to be eligible for State student financial aid (includes TAP and other grants and scholarships). Although a strict interpretation of the law would require you to be enrolled in an approved program from your first semester to be eligible for aid, the State agencies involved with student aid agreed that students matriculated in two-year or four-year degree programs can defer declaring a major and still be eligible.

If you are enrolled in a two-year academic program leading to an associate degree, you must declare a major no later than within 30 days from the end of your college’s add/drop period in the first term of your sophomore year.

If you are enrolled in a four-year academic program leading to a baccalaureate degree, you must declare a major no later than within 30 days from the end of your college’s add/drop period in the first term of your junior year.