Gaining Early Awareness and Readiness for Undergraduate Programs (Gear Up), is a federal initiative established in 1998 intended to encourage the pursuit of undergraduate degrees by providing funds to support parents and students as the student prepares for attending college. The program funding awards focus on lower income areas, but the goal and model could be adopted anywhere. The adaptation of a college culture mindset is an important point because I have found, from working with students and parents, that misunderstanding the complexities of navigating through high school graduation requirements, testing, college admission processes, costs, financial aid, college expectations, and academic success issues is universal.
"Thank you for sharing this information. I was also a first generation college student and would have loved to have this kind of information available."
