Pipeline Opportunities for Inter-Collegiate STEM Education Program
Interested in learning more about the POISE Program? Contact:
Michael Hutmaker
CUNY BMCC Dean for Student Affairs mhutmaker@bmcc.cuny.edu
Erwin Wong
CUNY BMCC Provost and Senior Vice President for Academic Affairs
ewong@bmcc.cuny.edu
David Morales-Carrera NYU CAS Academic Advisor dm3938@nyu.edu
POISE Program Eligibility:
- BMCC sophomore graduating this 2024–2025 academic year (Fall 2024 through Summer 2025)
- Cumulative 3.5 GPA
Administered by NYU College of Arts and Science (CAS) and CUNY Borough of Manhattan Community College (BMCC), the POISE Program serves as a pipeline for promising BMCC sophomores to continue their education and receive a Bachelor's degree from NYU. To accomplish this, the POISE Program is a yearlong program that provides the following benefits to those selected POISE Scholars:
What is the POISE Scholarship? How do I become eligible for it?
The POISE Scholarship is a two-year, tuition-only scholarship that meets a student's demonstrated financial need to help fund their pursuit of a Bachelor's degree at NYU. It is awarded to up to five (5) POISE Scholars that are admitted to New York University and choose to attend.
To remain eligible for the POISE Scholarship, POISE Scholars must:
Beyond the POISE Scholarship, what makes the POISE Program unique?
The POISE Program allows BMCC students nearly unrestricted access to NYU's campus, resources, and community, allowing the opportunity to experience firsthand what a four-year institution is like. Due to the automatic membership into the Academic Achievement Program (AAP), POISE Scholars are encouraged to take advantage of the many events offered by AAP and NYU to find out if NYU is the right fit for them both socially and academically before having to make a commitment. Engagement with NYU and AAP is a required component of being in the POISE Program.
What does it mean to be "engaged" with the NYU and AAP community? Why does it matter?
The POISE Program expects all POISE Scholars to seriously explore whether NYU is the right school for them or not—beyond just what degree programs are offered. The best way for you to do that is to experience what student life is like on campus by interacting and engaging with members of the community. By engaging with NYU and AAP, POISE Scholars are expected to actively and intentionally events, programs, utilize resources, and maintain communication with POISE Program administrators. All these things contribute to support systems that will be invaluable to you if you decide to attend NYU. The transition from a two-year community college to a four-year university can be a difficult one, and students who are already ingrained in the NYU community are more likely to ask for help then those who do not have that strong of a support system.
When can I start applying for the POISE Program?
Applications are invite-only. In Summer 2024, eligible BMCC students are identified by Dean Michael Hutmaker and Provost Erwin Wong and contacted to participate in a preliminary interview. Those that continue in the process will then be invited to participate in a final interview with an NYU administrator in the beginning of the Fall 2024 semester. Selected finalists, now known as POISE Scholars, form this year's POISE Program cohort.
How can I make myself a competitive POISE Scholar to receive the scholarship?
The awarding of the POISE Scholarship is based on two things. POISE Scholars must first be admitted to the University based on their submitted transfer application. Competitive applicants have strong academic records, a letter of recommendation, personal statements, as well as extracurricular activities. POISE Scholars are also expected to be engaged members of the NYU & AAP community. This is best done by actively and intentionally attending events, programs, and utilizing resources. The POISE Program is not meant to have POISE Scholars compete amongst themselves. The POISE Program values engagement with the NYU and AAP community above all else.
I'm currently in College Discovery/ASAP. Will I be able to continue these services like HEOP at NYU?
Unfortunately, the Higher Education Oppotunity Program (HEOP) does not take transfer students—even if they were previously in similiar Opportunity Programs such as CD/ASAP. However, there are many other academic and support resources that all students can take advantage of.
