Anyone know if you can be considered a full time student in your last semester if you need less than 12 hours to graduate? (For scholarship/finanical aid purposes)

Example: I only need 9 hours to graduate...Do I have to bother taking some bullshit class for credit only just to get up to 12 hours and keep full time status?

1/10/2011 12:20:03 AM

12 hours is the minimum for undergraduates ( to be considered full time and for financial aid ).

No way around it.

[Edited on January 10, 2011 at 12:27 AM. Reason : x]

1/10/2011 12:26:40 AM

Thats what most of the info I had found online was pointing towards, but I had a buddy claim different. Well damn...in that case, any suggestions for a class to take with as little as work/effort as possible?

1/10/2011 12:31:13 AM

Tried looking it up, didn't see anything helpful here:

"Progress Toward Undergraduate Degree
REG 02.05.3
Academic Policies and Regulations"
http://www.ncsu.edu/policies/academic_affairs/academic_progress/REG02.05.3.php

Quote :

"2.3. Continuous full-time enrollment (a minimum of 12 credit hours) during consecutive semesters (i.e., Fall, Spring) until graduation, and successful completion of at least 24 credit hours of NC State or transferable course work each academic year, unless otherwise justified by an approved Plan of Study. "

This part seemed more interesting:

Quote :

"5.4.3. successfully earn at least 24 credit hours of NC State or transferable course work that is included in the approved Plan of Study each academic year, unless fewer credit hours are required to complete all degree requirements."

So it seems like they recognize that particular circumstance as something that happens to students, but its only talking about progress towards a degree, rather than scholarship/financial aid requirements.

I'll skim this and see if it has anything:

"Financial Aid – Eligibility for Continued Receipt of Financial Aid
REG 02.70.2
Scholarships and Financial Aid"
http://www.ncsu.edu/policies/academic_affairs/enrollment/financial_aid/REG02.70.2.php

Quote :

"2.1.1 All full-time (defined as 12 or more credit hours per semester) continuing undergraduate degree students must be making satisfactory academic progress to be eligible for continued financial aid."

Not looking good so far.

Didn't find anything there that looked really conclusive, checking the financial aid website FAQ

http://www7.acs.ncsu.edu/financial_aid/faq.html

Nothing. I'll try eligibility:

http://www7.acs.ncsu.edu/financial_aid/eligibility.html

I'm not finding anything conclusive. I think your best bet is to talk to your advisor, or directly to someone in the Office of Scholarships and Financial Aid unless another tdubber has had experience to share ont his. Here are the e-mails and phone numbers for Fin Aid ppl:

http://www7.acs.ncsu.edu/financial_aid/contact.html

1/10/2011 12:35:06 AM

Quote :

"in that case, any suggestions for a class to take with as little as work/effort as possible?"

Find a subject you are somewhat interested in. Intro classes are usually relatively easy like intro to psych or soc. Low level history classes can be fun. Maybe you could do it credit only to make it even easier.

1/10/2011 12:37:37 AM

i remember last semester a classmate telling me they were taking 11 hours the next semester which was their last and they would still be full time.

1/10/2011 12:41:58 AM

Thanks.

The only thing that gives me hope is that in this older registration and records text it says the 12 hour rule DOES apply for last semester seniors.

http://www.ncsu.edu/policies/academic_affairs/enrollment/financial_aid/archive-financial_aid/REG230.03.1archiveasof9-15-97.php

But the newer updated text doesn't mention it.

http://www.ncsu.edu/policies/academic_affairs/enrollment/financial_aid/REG02.70.2.php

1/10/2011 12:43:19 AM

Talk to your advisor... i'm pretty sure it can count as full time

1/10/2011 4:58:09 AM

just take a class for credit only or audit it or something

1/10/2011 4:32:37 PM

yeh, auditing counts towards needed credit hours

1/10/2011 4:59:01 PM

^i hope you're being sarcastic

1/10/2011 5:28:39 PM

it won't count towards needed credit hours but if he only needs 9, the 3 audited will make him a full time student.

1/10/2011 6:30:08 PM

yeh, didn't mean to say credit hours, but that audited classes count towards min hrs to be considered full time

1/10/2011 7:25:02 PM

Update...

Both scholarships from NCSU and from the College of Engineering were cool with me only taking 9 hours. No need for the extra bullshit class. Not sure if I'm considered full-time, but both said I'll still get my scholarships. They just have to approve it when it gets flagged.

1/10/2011 10:29:17 PM

federal student loans require half-time, so at least 6 hours
(fyi for other students who may be in that situation)

1/11/2011 12:20:25 AM

audits won't make you full time

1/11/2011 4:54:35 AM

they did for me recently

1/11/2011 11:38:04 AM

i'm pretty sure that in your last semester, you're considered full time no matter how many hours you're taking

I read it in the rules and regs, but it might have been the old version

1/19/2011 7:06:24 PM