Upward Bound

The University of Pennsylvania High School Upward Bound Program is a college preparatory program designed to motivate and prepare students in the program for the successful pursuit of a four-year college education. The goal of the program is to increase the rate at which low-income, first-generation-to-college students enroll in and graduate from a college or university with a bachelor's degree. The mission of the program is to provide high school students in grades 9th – 12th, at the identified high schools, with academic, career and cultural enrichment resources and programming to assist students to graduate from high school and increase the rate at which low income, first generation college students matriculate and graduate from post secondary institutions.

The Upward Bound program is funded by the U. S. Department of Education, under Title IV of the Higher Education Act known as a TRIO, program to serve 92 students. The program is administered under the Vice Provost for University Life's Office of Equity and Access Programs.

The program seeks students that are committed to their education and are highly motivated in their pursuit of attaining a college education and achieving their career and professional goals.

Only students from the following Philadelphia public high schools are eligible to apply:

To qualify, students must be from a low-income and/or first-generation-to-college background and in the 9th or 10th grade at the time of their application. Parents of Upward Bound students are strongly encouraged to become involved in all aspects of their child's participation, including attending meetings of the Upward Bound Parent Association.

Students may enroll starting in the ninth grade through graduation from high school. The program is year-round for a maximum of four years per student. On average, 98%-100% of University of Penn Upward Bound students are accepted at and attend college.

2012-2013 Academic Year Program

Our 2012-2013 Upward Bound Program began on October 1st. It has been a very engaging and exciting academic year with new instructors and a new curriculum along with college prep workshops, partnerships with University of Pennsylvania student groups, and local college and university visits.

Summer Residential Component

The summer residential component is six weeks of intensive instruction. The program runs from late June through the end of July. Students attend classes in with a rigorous curriculum that includes composition, literature, mathematics through pre-calculus, laboratory science, technology, foreign language, history and other subjects. In addition, workshops are offered on such topics as financial aid and financial literacy, college selection, reading/study skills, speech/communications, journalism, drama, and art. During the summer, students also participate in local and out-of state field trips to other college campuses, museums, musical concerts, and various career environments. In addition, students participate in recreational activities that may include tennis, swimming, basketball, and intramural competition.