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Palmetto Fellows Scholarship Frequently Asked Questions

Initial Eligibility
Do I have to apply for the Palmetto Fellows Scholarship?
Yes. A student must apply through their high school guidance office for this scholarship, and it must be applied for prior to high school graduation. Specific deadlines are announced each year by the Commission on Higher Education (CHE). The website address is www.che.sc.gov and includes the detailed criteria that a high school student must meet in order to qualify for this award.

Study Abroad and Co-op
If I Study Abroad one semester, can I use the Palmetto Fellows Scholarship?
Some (not all) Study Abroad programs do allow a student to use their Palmetto Fellows Scholarship funds for the semester abroad. Students should meet with the Study Abroad Coordinator in the Financial Aid Office. Students can call (864) 656-2280 to set up an appointment.


If I Study Abroad, and my transcripts from the foreign school are not sent back to Clemson before the next school year starts, can I have the Palmetto Fellows Scholarship while I am waiting for the credits to be posted?
No. The Palmetto Fellows Scholarship requires 30 or more credit hours earned each academic year, and the student can not have the scholarship while they are 'waiting for Study Abroad transcripts' to be processed at Clemson. However, once the credit hours from the Study Abroad have been added to Clemson's transcript, the scholarship can be awarded at the time, even if the semester has already begun. Students would then be reimbursed once the scholarship is credited.

What happens to my Palmetto Fellows Scholarship when I do a Co-op?
If a student is enrolled in a Co-op that is in either the Fall or Spring terms, they are not charged full tuition & fees. Thus, the Palmetto Fellows Scholarship stipend for that semester cannot be used and remains available for future semesters providing the student meets the regular Palmetto Fellows Scholarship criteria (credit hours and Clemson GPA of 3.0 or better).

Financial Aid
Can the Palmetto Fellows Scholarship be used to pay for my apartment?
The Scholarship is applied as a general credit towards the student's University account. On the first day of classes, if all other tuition & fees are satisfied and the student is enrolled full time, excess financial aid is released in a refund to the student. These funds can certainly include the Palmetto Fellows Scholarship, and the refund can be used for any college- related expenses, including off campus housing.


If I drop a class, will I lose my Palmetto Fellows Scholarship?
The Financial Aid Office is required to verify that all Scholarship recipients are enrolled full time (12 credit hours minimum) at the end of the Drop/Add period at the start of each semester. University policy allows students to drop courses during the semester up to a certain date. The Palmetto Fellows MAY be affected by a course withdrawal depending on when the course is dropped. Students are advised to contact the Financial Aid Office prior to dropping BELOW 12 credit hours during the semester.

Continuing Eligibility
How do I keep the Palmetto Fellows Scholarship for the next year?
The continuing eligibility requirements for students are the same for each academic year: a student must earn a minimum of 30 credit hours and have a cumulative CLEMSON GPA of 3.0 or better. The academic year consists of Fall + Spring + Summer each year. Here is a handy GPA calculator: GPA Calculator


If I take a course in the summer BEFORE I start college, will those credits count towards the 30 credit hours I need my first year?
No. A student with the Palmetto Fellows Scholarship begins counting the credit hours when they enroll in college for the first time. Although the transfer credit hours often will count towards the student's degree requirements, they do NOT count if they were earned PRIOR to the start of college.


How long can I receive the Palmetto Fellows Scholarship?
Once a student begins college, (assuming they have met the initial criteria to be awarded the scholarship), they have up to 8 semesters of potential eligibility. If a student graduates before using all 8 semesters, the student forfeits any remaining Palmetto Fellows Scholarship semesters (stipends).


If I graduate early, can I use any remaining semesters towards graduate courses?
No. The Palmetto Fellows Scholarship is only available to students who are pursing their first baccalaureate degree from an accredited university.


If I have less than the 30 credit hours and/or less than the 3.0 Clemson GPA at the end of the year, do I permanently lose the Palmetto Fellows scholarship?
Yes. Once a student has failed to meet the renewal requirements (either GPA, credit hours, or both by the end of the academic year, which is Fall + Spring + Summer each year) they lose the scholarship permanently. The student may be eligible for the LIFE Scholarship if they meet the criteria for that program.


I have lots of Advanced Placement credits that have been posted to my transcript at Clemson. Do I get to count any of those credits for the 30 credit hours I need each year?
No. Advanced Placement credit hours do not count in the credit hour requirement.


My Clemson transcript shows that I have 'Duplicate Credit' for a math course that I took at Clemson. I took that same course at a Technical school before I started college. Will the course I took at Clemson (listed as 'Duplicate Credit') count towards the 30 hours I need to earn ?
No. Duplicate credits DO NOT COUNT towards the 30 credit hours requirement. However, a duplicate credit CAN be used if it is replacing AP credit in the Freshman year only.

What happens if I take a semester off to work or just to be away from school for personal reasons?
The semester you are not enrolled is STILL counted as one of the 8 total terms of potential eligibility. Future eligibility may be jeopardized due to lower credit hours earned and/or low GPA after a student has taken a semester off. A student must also file an appeal to the Commission on Higher Education for a review of their file under certain circumstances. Typically, just 'taking off' a semester is NOT considered a valid reason to request a review by CHE. The web address for the Commission on Higher Education (the governing agency for the State Scholarship Programs) is www.che.sc.gov.


What happens if I have to take a medical withdrawal from Clemson?
There are instances where a student MUST leave school for documented medical reasons, including psychological. If a student takes a medical withdrawal during the Fall term, they should still be able to enroll and use their Palmetto Fellows as a full time student in the Spring term, since the scholarship is awarded for a year at a time. Irregardless of the semester itself, we would advise the student to submit an appeal to the Commission on Higher Education for review of the student's eligibility for the next academic year. The web address for CHE is www.che.sc.gov.


If I transfer to another school, will the Palmetto Fellows Scholarship automatically be transferred to the other school?
No. The student must complete the Transfer Request form available on the CHE website. The Commission can then notify the new school that the student transferring in should be awarded the Palmetto Fellows for the upcoming semester.

If you have additional questions, please contact the Financial Aid Office.







 

 

 

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