How to Apply to Marist HEOP

The Arthur O. Eve Higher Education Opportunity Program (HEOP) is a comprehensive academic support program for New York State residents and first-time college students. An HEOP candidate must be both academically and economically eligible. The academic guidelines are set by the Admissions Office of the HEOP-sponsoring college/university. The economic guidelines are set by the New York State Board of Regents for all opportunity programs statewide.

Application

Students wishing to participate in the HEOP must apply to Marist College by submitting a Marist College Application or the Common Application to the Admissions Office. In addition, a Supplementary Application for the Higher Education Opportunity Program must be completed. You can obtain the Supplementary Application by clicking on the link below or from the Undergraduate Admission Office at (845) 575-3226.

Please note: All application materials, described below, must be received in the Undergraduate Admissions Office on or before the deadline you choose to apply either Early Action November 15th or Regular Decision February 15th. However, we prefer that applications be filed as early as possible. There is no Early Decision option.

The applicant must submit an application to the Marist Admissions Office by either November 15th or February 15th:

• Marist College application

When all information has been received in their respective offices, the entire application will be reviewed by both the HEOP office and the Undergraduate Admissions Office. Applicants should be aware that admission to this program is competitive, and that only a limited number of spaces are available each year. Early application is strongly recommended.

• HEOP  Application

To apply to Marist College’s HEOP, you must submit the following items to the Admissions Office by November 15th or February 15th:

1. A Marist College Application with the “HEOP” box checked off [Please note: There are three different application forms for Marist admissions: Freshman, Transfer, and Adult (22 years and older)]. The Common Application for colleges/universities is also acceptable.
2. The HEOP Supplemental Application.
3. Official high school transcript or General Equivalency Diploma (GED). If you are a transfer student we will need official academic transcripts from each institution of higher learning you attended.
4. Two letters of recommendation, preferably from current teachers.
5. An essay/personal statement explaining how an education will help you achieve your future goals, or describe an event that has had an impact on your academic and/or personal development.
6. Official score reports of the SAT, ACT, or TOEFL exam are preferred. This information is not necessary for transfer students unless requested.
7. Transfer students will need to submit a Marist HEOP Transfer Eligibility Form from all of the institutions attended in the past to verify that they were previously enrolled in an opportunity program

Interview

After applications have been reviewed, those most qualified and suited to the program will be invited to a required on-campus interview.  When calling to schedule the interview, the applicant must have all of the financial documents in hand to answer questions on his/her economic eligibility for HEOP. Students must also bring the most current grade report to this meeting.

To determine your economic eligibility, the following materials must be submitted directly to the HEOP Office on the date of your interview:

1. A signed copy of your/your parent's/guardian's 2022 Federal Income Tax Return (Form 1040, 1040A or 1040EZ) AND/OR a letter of documentation from Social Services AND/OR the Social Security Administration for all family members AND/OR a notarized letter stating the amount of child support received in 2022 for all children in the household.
2. Copy of your 2024-25 Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA).

Economic eligibility cannot be confirmed without all of the supporting documents.

Acceptance to the Program

Each year a select group of genuinely motivated students is recommended to the Admissions Office to be accepted into the college as participants in our program. Selecting among the numerous qualified applicants is always challenging and the admission is competitive. When submitting our recommendations, we place a strong emphasis on a student's potential for success and his/her willingness to utilize the supportive resources offered through membership in HEOP and the Marist Community at large. Those who gain acceptance clearly demonstrate not only a need for the service, but also the determination, skill and maturity required to manage the demands of college.

If accepted, the deposit deadline for the fall semester is May 1st.