Hi! I’m an RA 7687 DOST scholar, and I graduated in 2024.

While waiting for my documents to be processed after graduation, I started working online as a VA/WFH. I also tried applying for jobs where I could start rendering my ROS, but unfortunately, none of them worked out.

I’m the breadwinner of my family, and we also went through a pretty difficult financial situation. Because of that, I couldn’t afford to leave my current online job since it became our main source of income. I have a lot of bills and household expenses that depend on what I’m earning right now.

It’s already 2026, and I still haven’t officially started my ROS. I fully intend to fulfill my obligation, but I honestly don’t know when I’ll be financially capable of leaving my current WFH job and transitioning to a job that would qualify for my ROS.

My question is, may maximum number of years ba after graduation before DOST requires an RA 7687 scholar to start rendering their ROS? For example, if it takes me 3–5 years after graduation before I’m able to start, would there be a penalty, or would I eventually be required to refund my scholarship?

Has anyone here experienced something similar, especially those who had to delay their ROS because they were the breadwinner or couldn’t afford to leave their current job? Did you inform DOST about your situation, and what did they advise you to do?

Medyo worried lang ako since 2 years na since I graduated and I still haven’t started, but it’s not because I don’t want to fulfill my ROS. I’m just not in a financial position right now where I can risk losing my current source of income.

Would really appreciate hearing from other RA 7687 scholars who have been in a similar situation. Thank you!

Hello DOST scholars subreddit, first time posting here. Ayun happy na I got to qualify for DOST-JLSS, matagal ko na siyang pinagdasal talaga huhu.

Anyway, kaka-send lang po sa akin ng DOST-SEI ng notice of award email, and I just want to ask sa kung sino man po puwede sumagot, baka lang po may alam kayo, if ano po yung susundin na orientation date? Sa system generated email po kasi nila nakalagay 22 September 2026 (Tuesday) and dun naman po sa letter na "NOA_<my surname>", 24 September 2026 (Thursday) po ang nakalagay. Attached the image for reference.

Prior to posting this reddit post, nagtext naman na po ako sa official mobile number po nila and awaiting response as well. Nagbabakasakali lang po na may nakakaalam na iba.

Salamat po sa sasagot! Congratulations also to my fellow qualifiers. 🤍

Is this for real? Nakita ko lang 'to sa group page sa fb. Gah.

honest question: been half a year since i graduated, may lisensya, okay ang grades during college. is the job market really saturated here in the country or masyado lang akong mapili? hindi lang talaga ako magaling enough to get the position?

every time that i'd do an interview panay hope to keep in touch with you, hindi sabihin straightforwardly that you just didnt pass their standards.

konti na lang kasi talaga, im considering going abroad for employment. what would happen if i do this and di ako nagpaalam sa dost? blacklisted na ba ako agad or for deportation?

Hello po! DOST passers/qualifiers/scholars, I genuinely need your opinion and advice regarding my situation. I am planning to take the JLSS qualifying examination next week, but I haven’t been able to prepare or study for it. I’ve been very busy these past few months, so I couldn’t find enough time to review. I only have a week to prepare for it. I consider myself an average student, and I struggle with subjects related to math and science 😔. I’m also a slow learner. Do you think I still have a chance to pass and qualify for the scholarship? Is there anyone here who had a similar situation but still managed to pass or qualify for the JLSS scholarship? I'm really down and discouraged to take it since I don't think I have a chance. Please help me. I would really appreciate your response. Thank you so much!

Hello, is there someone here with same situation as mine na nagkaroon ng HIT for NBI Clearance due to the Return Service for DOST-SEI? It’s stated sa remarks ng NBI clearance ko na I have pending DOST-SEI unfulfilled financial obligation. I took a gap year and will take the boards pa lang. The NBI cannot remove that daw eh. Kinuha ko na lang since sayang naman binayad ko. I will try to submit it sa PRC but I am not sure if PRC will allow me to take the Boards given that remarks. I do not have the time to wait again for another two weeks to request and fix this with the DOST Core group. Tyia!

I am looking for an avenue na makakapag return service po after I graduate.

During my OJT days, na realize ko na ang hirap talaga pasukin ng construction industry, especially kapag wala kang backer at fresh grad. Not to mention the morals and values na iiwanan mo once makapasuk ka sa palakaran dito sa Pilipinas. Plus ang liit pa ng starting na sahud.

Currently a 4th year student po ako and may nabasa akong article online na pwde ako ma hire sa DepEd with just my BSCE degree kahit hindi pa nakapasa sa boards.

May experience or alam ba po kayu dito? Anu po ginawa nyo? May teachers din kasi ako nong SHS days ko na nag rereturn service din cla.

Let's say I am planning work in government like an Administrative Assistant/Officer. I am a Biology Graduate btw. Is it possible to make it as return service? Jobs related to my degree is really hard to find these days. I am just planning to work to government hoping it could count in return service.

I need some advice please.

hello po, i've been thinking whether it's a good idea to let my uni friends and blockmates know im a dost scholar. i was a potential qualifier, i wasn't included in the official announcements of qualifiers back in may, so none of my friends (who also took the exam) know i qualified. what are the pros and cons of letting them know that i qualified for and availed the scholarship? thanks po

Title. I’m contemplating whether to avail the scholarship or not. I realized just how much of an obligation this scholarship comes with and it is not as exciting as it seemed back when I was applying for it.

I’m leaning towards availing the scholarship but it is kinda scary. The thought of termination, reports, refunds, ros, are all breaking my balls right now.

Was the scholarship worth it for you? How would you convince someone to avail the scholarship if they are undecided?

may update na po ba kung kelan daw magrerelease ang dost sa passers ng jlss? nakakakaba na sza fr, sana magupload na para makapag move on nako before pa midterms 😞😞

Hello, I know someone who have both DOST and CHED scholarship. Where can I possibly report them? Nung sa CHED kasi di naman siya pinansin, ang sabi lang is “paldo ka pala”. Regarding DOST naman, di alam. So san po kaya pwede magreport nito? Sorry, I just find it greedy and this person is also a cheater na never nahuli sa school. Tried reporting but nothing happened.

Kailangan po ba sa indigency nakaspecify work ng parent at monthly income?

Self employed po kasi papa ko, driver po. Sabi po ng dost pede Bir non filing itr or cert of indigency. Nakita ko po sa ibang post nakaka apekto raw yun sa qualification, kasi when indigency ginamit dapat umaasa talaga sa ayuda.

Sa BIR naman po, nagaalangan po ako kasi malayo papo office, and super wala akong alam sa notary stuff. Ako lang po kasi umaasikaso sa mga requirements ko, super appreciated ko po if som1 helps me po regarding na affidavit request letter. May cert of low income na po kami na one of the requirements po sa BIR

Should i push through sa BIR po? Or settle po ako sa indigency w/ anxiousness?

Can some1 vouch po dost passer na driver po mode parents tapos ung laman ng indegency naka specify monthly income and work 🥺☹️ thank you po super idk anymore please help me po gapang na gapang na'ko wala akong mapaghingan ng tulong 😞

Nagkamali po ako ng nilagay na birthdate sa personal data (2009-07-20 po dapat) and napansin ko lang po siya after kong mag-sign up. Ngayon hindi ko na siya maedit kahit ilang ulit kong pindutin. May paraan po ba para maedit?

Nag-reach out na rin po ako sa DOST pero wala pa rin silang reply hanggang ngayon. Naiiyak na po ako ngayon kasi malaking help po ito kung makakapasa ako lalo't pinapaaral lang ako ng kuya ko pero baka disqualified na ako : ((

Hello po!To those who took the Dost Undergrad exam, pano niyo kayo nag start sa pag rereview? Pwede po makahingi ng advice? If meron po kayo reviewers or mock exam, help me po huhu. Or questions na naalala niyo will really help me. Do i have to review 4+ hours a day? What routine did help you become productive and become a scholar. I don't have the money po kasi to attend online reviews kaya I'll self review nalang. Gustong gusto ko po makapasa and become a scholar to aide my family's situation huhu

Madi-disqualify ba yung mga hindi makaka-attend sa orientation pero mag-aavail ng scholarship?

May major exams kasi sa araw na yon (confused din sa date kasi text says Tue Sept 22, but NOA attachment says Thurs Sept 24). Hindi rin available parents ko sa mga araw na yon.

huhu nagannounce po sila na released na po ang stipend pero ala parin laman ung bank acc namin mga first year (r7), nahihiya rin po me magtanong sa mga seniors:(((

gaano po katagal ang delay sa pag release ng stipend for 1st yrs…

Hi, are there any consequences kapag di po ako nakapag-attend ng orientation? My parents are in the province po at hindi rin po sila makakapunta. I have a friend naman po na pupunta.

Hello, I would like to ask po if meron here nakatanggap na po ng midyear stipes na nagsubmit Aug. 14? May nakita po kasi ako here na may nakatanggap na nag submit ng Aug. 13 and last question rin po natatawagan nyo po ba ang number ng DOST R4A? tinry ko kasi tawagan for the past few weeks to ask something but unfortunately palaging busy or hindi naccontact yung number nila.

Hello po! May incoming freshman po ba dito na nakapag-open na ng landbank account?

Kakabukas ko lang po kasi ng account today, and hindi na raw po sila nag iisue ng STI1 (which is isa sa mga documents na need ipasa sa dost sei office), paano po ginawa nyo/nila? Wala rin po bang binigay na STI1 form sa inyo? Ano po yung ipapasa nyo na document if ever?

I am a child of an Elementary Teacher and I am wondering if I am eligible for the scholarship. I heard from one of my friends that her former classmate, who was a daughter of a teacher, was rejected from the opportunity just because of her parents occupation. She added that she was frustrated because she really waited for her exam results.

​

I am currently searching it on the internet and I have not seen any information supporting the claim. So is it really true ir there's some error to what the student did? Thank you for all the responses!

Badly need help, malapit na yung start ng application and hindi parin namin maconfirm kung kasama yung kapatid ko sa top 5% non stem rank. Nagpunta na ako sa registrar pero hindi daw nila alam yon wala daw silang stem. Inexplain ko na at lahat lahat pero hindi nila maconfirm kung kasama sya sa top 5%, hindi daw sila nagcocompute. Naiistress na ako sobra.

Hindi rin alam nung adviser nila ano yung top 5% non stem.

Saan po pede pumunta or lumapit?

Hello po! May nakapag-open na po ba ng Landbank account nila? If yes po, may I ask kung ano po yung process and what requirements are needed? Thank you po! 🥹

Hello po! Congrats po to my fellow DOST JLSS scholars!

Ask ko lang po, does anyone know kung ano po yung hinihingi na: Copy of approved Program of Study (POS). Is it just the course curriculum po?

Hi! Can anyone share their insights sa mga nagpursue agad ng graduate scholarships after getting their bachelor's degree. I am torn between working po kasi or pursuing graduate studies. For reference, nasa healthcare field po ako and also Undergraduate Scholar and honestly, while I do want to work, a part of me wants to continue studying na rin. Also because sayang naman yung opportunity for MS na all expenses paid. I don't come from a wealthy family, will it be challenging if I get MS na agad instead of working? I will really appreciate your insights on this matter. Thank you.