How do I send my NY TAP award amount to multiple colleges after FAFSA?

You need to update your TAP application to include all the schools. Log into your HESC account (same place you applied for TAP originally) and select "Change My College Choice". You can add up to 8 NY colleges there. Make sure you list them in order of preference because TAP will only be paid to the first school your son attends.

went through this last yr with my daughter!! u have to call the TAP people directly. its not like fafsa where u can just add schools.

I've been trying to call HESC for TWO WEEKS about a similar issue and can't get through!!! Their phone system is TERRIBLE and keeps disconnecting me after waiting for 45+ minutes. This whole TAP system is ridiculous. Why can't they just let us list multiple schools from the beginning like FAFSA does? It's almost like they WANT to make things difficult for students and parents.

When I had this issue I just called each financial aid office directly and told them I qualified for TAP. Most schools can look up your TAP eligibility with your TAP ID number. You did get a TAP ID number in that email, right?

Just want to add that your son should be careful about which school he lists first on the TAP application! TAP will ONLY pay to the first school on that list that he attends. So if he's still undecided, I'd recommend putting his most expensive option first. If he decides to go there, great. If he decides on a less expensive option, you can always update the TAP application again before school starts in the fall. I made the mistake of listing my daughter's safety school first, and when she decided to attend a more expensive private university instead, we had to update the application again and it caused delays in her financial aid package.

also make sure u check if all those schools accept TAP! not all private NY colleges do even tho most do

To answer your question about timing - when you update your college choices online, it typically takes 3-5 business days for the new schools to receive your TAP information. However, during peak periods (April-June), it can sometimes take up to 10 business days. As a backup, you can take a screenshot of your TAP award email and send it directly to each financial aid office. While they'll still need the official notification to process your aid, this at least lets them know you're eligible and approximately how much you'll receive, which can help them prepare a more accurate financial aid package for your son.

One more important thing about TAP that many parents don't realize: If your son is considering any SUNY schools, there's also the SUNY Tuition Credit that automatically comes with TAP eligibility. This can provide up to $2,000 additional tuition assistance beyond your TAP award. The financial aid office at SUNY Buffalo or Binghamton can provide the exact calculation based on your TAP amount, but it's definitely worth asking about since it could significantly reduce your out-of-pocket costs at SUNY schools versus private institutions.

Just wanted to add my experience as someone who went through this exact situation last year! The online update through HESC is definitely the way to go - much faster than trying to call. One tip that saved me a lot of stress: after you update your college list online, you can actually track the status of each school receiving your information by logging back into your HESC account. There's a section that shows which schools have been notified and when. This helped me know exactly when to follow up with the financial aid offices. Also, don't forget that you can update your college choices multiple times throughout the process if your son changes his mind about his top choice schools. The system is more flexible than it initially appears!