Frequently Asked Questions

The mission of the Alray Taylor Second Chance Scholarship is to give promising students a second chance at a college education. Our mission is very specific because we feel that this is an unmet need. Below is a list of frequently asked questions about our eligibility requirements. If you need more information, please contact us at info@alray.org or 617-395-6862.

1.       I took college classes as part of a high school dual enrollment program or as part of my employer’s workplace training. Does that qualify me?

No. Eligible students must have specifically been enrolled in an accredited college or vocational program or trade school. This enrollment had to be undertaken by you, not an employer, and you must have been working toward a degree or certificate from that program.

2.       At my first attempt at college, vocational program, or trade school, I was enrolled only part-time. Do I qualify?

Yes. The fact that you took college, vocational, or trade school classes on a part-time basis will not, alone, hurt your application. If you enrolled in your educational program with the intent to earn a degree or certificate, you qualify for the scholarship.

3.       I don’t currently live in Boston. Do I qualify?

Yes. Applicants do not have to currently reside in Boston. The requirement is that you previously graduated from a Boston public high school or Boston charter school, or earned a GED after attending one of these schools.

4.       I participated in the City of Boston METCO program and took high school classes outside Boston. Am I qualified?

Yes. METCO students who lived in Boston during their high school years are eligible.

5.       During high school, I attended a private school or was home schooled. Am I eligible?

No. Unless you graduated from a Boston public high school or Boston charter school, or received a GED after attending one of these schools, you are not eligible.

6.       I completed my first certificate or college degree, and would now like to apply to a different program. Am I eligible?

No. Usually, unless you were forced to leave your college program and failed to earn your degree, you are not eligible.

Exception: If you earned an Associate’s degree along the way to earning a Bachelor’s, you may qualify. However, you must have previously been enrolled in classes to pursue a Bachelor’s before circumstances forced you to stop your education.

Students who are pursuing a graduate degree are not eligible.

This scholarship is specifically designed for students who struggled or faced obstacles on their first attempt. There may be other scholarships for which you do qualify. We encourage you to continue the scholarship search!

7.       If I received the scholarship once, can I renew or re-apply?

Yes, you may re-apply with your Mentor’s support in future years, but there is no guarantee that you will get another scholarship. We will consider your application in our pool and weigh it against the needs of other students. We will also encourage you to seek other sources of funding and assist you in securing alternative funding if we can.

8.       If I didn’t receive the scholarship, can I re-apply?

Yes. You may submit your application again, but we advise you to rewrite your essays or else demonstrate how your life circumstances now make you a better candidate for the scholarship.  

Updated 11/25/2009.