What can I expect if I’m selected to participate in Upward Bound?

          You can expect to have a wonderful time learning, making friends, and sharing new experiences. You’ll have interesting classes, scholarship opportunities, seminars on how to succeed in high school and college, college tours, exciting field trips, all the food you can eat, and make friends you’ll treasure forever!

I’m shy and I’m scared.

           Don’t be! It’s natural to feel apprehensive when you’re meeting new people and starting a program. But relax--EVERYONE else felt the same way and will go out of their way to make you feel welcome.

Can my parents visit?

           Absolutely! Parents and family members are welcome any time and encouraged to participate in many of our activities. We also welcome your friends during free time and invite them to join us in pick-up volleyball games, Ultimate Frisbee and more. Of course, your guests must obey by our rules while they are here.

What if I get homesick?

           Well, the truth is, you may be a bit homesick in the beginning. And that’s not a bad thing--I’d hate to think you didn’t miss your family at all! But if you stick with us, you’ll soon be involved in activities, meet new friends and feel completely at home. Our Biggest problem is trying to talk people into going home on the weekends!

I need to attend church camp/basketball camp/FFA camp during the program weeks.

           Our program runs throughout the academic year, but the “meat” of our work is done in the summer, so it is vital that students participate in the summer residential portion of the program. Students are excused to attend the Governor’s Scholars Program and the Governor’s School for the Arts, both of which provide full scholarships to participants. The summer dates are provided months in advance so that you can schedule your family vacation and other activities around those weeks.

Who will be my roommate?

           You choose your own roommate late in the spring, after you’ve become acquainted with everyone in the program. Sometimes best friends from the same school choose to room together, other times people seek out someone they know only slightly. One student said recently, “It’s better to choose someone you don’t know well--that way you get to know each other’s friends quickly. And you don’t get bored with someone you see all year long!” It’s your decision!

What are the bedrooms, bathrooms, and showers like?

           Bedrooms are fairly typical college resident hall rooms-- two beds, two dressers, two desks, two chairs, two closets. Each room has a small refrigerator, cable hook-up, and telephone connection. (You bring your own phone.) You may bring a TV, stereo, posters, musical instruments, etc. The university rule is no amplifiers or drum sets, but if we’re in our own residence hall we may be flexible--after all, you need to practice for the variety show! You can decorate it as you like.
Bathrooms are communal--a couple on each floor for the students living there--but have private toilet stalls and private showers. It’s not like gym class! They are cleaned daily and work well.

How do I know what classes to take?

           Your summer classes will be selected based on what you’ll be taking the next year in school. For example, if you’re scheduled to take trigonometry, French, physics, and English in your junior year, those are the subjects you’ll concentrate on the summer before. We want to give you a background in your upcoming subjects, a “leg up on the competition”. You’ll be in small classes and have opportunities for individual tutoring so you’ll feel comfortable with those subjects when you return to school.