Second Chance Scholarship
Many scholarships understandably prioritize students who maintain strong academic standing, but life doesn’t always go as planned. Sometimes, individuals stumble during their first attempt at higher education and find themselves in need of a second—or even third—chance.
Unfortunately, students in this position often exhaust their financial aid, leaving them with limited opportunities to continue their education. Many students have the drive to begin again but lack the financial means to do so. Everyone deserves a chance to rewrite their story. A GPA doesn’t always capture a person’s potential, and with the right encouragement, they can thrive academically and personally.
This scholarship aims to support students who have faced significant obstacles in their educational journeys but refuse to give up.
Any low-income undergraduate student with a 2.5 GPA or below may apply for this scholarship opportunity if they are facing a significant challenge, such as a mental health challenge, working full-time while enrolled, being a single parent, recovering from a personal crisis (such as illness, family loss, or other emergencies), being a first-generation college student, being an adult learner returning to school, having caregiving responsibilities, being a former student-athlete who didn’t receive athletic scholarships, or being a non-traditional student with interrupted education.
To apply, tell us why you’re pursuing higher education, what your long-term academic and professional goals are, what has changed in your educational situation, and why you believe second chances are important in life.
Explain why you are seeking a second chance at higher education. What motivates you to pursue your academic and career goals, and how do you plan to ensure your success this time around? (350-400 words)
Also provide a response to one of the prompts below (200-300 words):
What are your long-term academic and career goals? How will receiving this scholarship help you achieve them, and what impact do you hope to make in your community or field of study?
What has changed in your life since your previous academic struggles? How are you better equipped to succeed now?
Why do you believe second chances are important in life and education? Share how this belief aligns with your journey.
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FAQ
The application deadline is Oct 12, 2026. Winners will be announced on Nov 13, 2026.
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Award amounts per winner are designated by the donor. Check the award amount for a detailed breakdown.
The winner will be publicly announced on Nov 13, 2026. Prior to the announcement date, we may contact finalists with additional questions about their application. We will work with donors to review all applications according to the scholarship criteria. Winners will be chosen based on the merit of their application.
Award checks will be sent to the financial aid office of the winner's academic institution in their name to be applied to their tuition, and in the name of their institution (depending on the school's requirements). If the award is for a qualified educational non-tuition expense, we will work with the winner directly to distribute the award and make sure it goes towards qualified expenses.
Before we award the scholarship, the winner will be required to confirm their academic enrollment status. Depending on the circumstances, verification of Student ID and/or their most recent transcript will be required.
If you have any questions about this scholarship or the Bold.org platform, just email contact@bold.org and we’ll get back to you as quickly as we can.
Yes. The terms and conditions for this scholarship can be found here.
