1. (1) A candidate shall be eligible to compete for such scholarships who, at the time of application, is enrolled in high school and is a candidate for graduation from high school or for early admission to postsecondary study by the effective date of the scholarship award, and the award of such scholarship shall be contingent upon the receipt of a high school diploma or admission to postsecondary study by such date. However, other persons may be admitted to the competition if previously unable to compete because of illness, acceleration, or other reason acceptable to the commissioner, except that no person shall be eligible to compete after having completed a year of postsecondary study.

2. (2) A candidate for the Regents scholarship in Cornell University shall also make formal application for admission to Cornell University before the deadline date established by Cornell University and shall meet the requirements for admission to Cornell University.

   (b) Regents professional education in medicine, dentistry, optometry or veterinary medicine scholarships.

   A candidate shall be eligible to compete for such scholarships under the provisions of subdivision 3, 3-a or 3-b of section 605 of the Education Law if such candidate:

3. (1) is in attendance upon or has satisfactorily completed an educational program fitting him to enter upon the professional study of medicine, dentistry, osteopathy, optometry or veterinary medicine; and

4. (2) has not yet entered upon the professional study of medicine, dentistry, osteopathy, optometry or veterinary medicine. However, a candidate who has entered upon professional study following completion of an organized program of accelerated preprofessional study may at the discretion of the commissioner be admitted to the competition, if otherwise eligible, if study of the basic sciences is normally completed in such accelerated program during the college year immediately preceding the beginning of professional study. Also, competition for veterinary medicine scholarship awards for the 1980-81 academic year shall be open to candidates who commenced professional study in veterinary medicine during the fall of 1980.

   (c) Regents war service scholarships for veterans.

   No person shall be eligible to compete for such scholarships who has previously received benefits from an earlier series of such scholarships.

   (d) Herbert H. Lehman Graduate Fellowships.

   A candidate shall be eligible to compete for such fellowships:

5. (1) who shall have received baccalaureate degree prior to the fall term following the competition; and
6. (2) who shall not yet have entered upon any study as a graduate student prior to the summer term following the competition.

(a) Empire State scholarships of excellence, Regents college scholarships, Regents professional education in nursing scholarships, and Regents scholarships in Cornell University.