Eligibility

Project Upward Bound (PUB) works with schools to identify students as early as 8th grade who have demonstrated the potential to succeed at the college level. Usually, regular attendance, acceptable behavior, motivation to achieve, and good grades are indicators of potential.  The minimum qualifying cumulative Grade Point Average is 2.50 on a regular curriculum track.

For students in grades 8-12 who meet the qualifying GPA, there are several ways to be eligible to apply for PUB membership:

• Attend Pontiac High School, International Technology Academy, Pontiac Academy for Excellence High School,  or Oak Park High School
• Live in Pontiac or Royal Oak Township, regardless of the high school attended
• Live with a parent who does not have a bachelor’s degree
• Live in a household that meets government low-income guidelines  (This is based on income after deductions - not gross income)
• Be in a foster care situation
• Be non-proficient in either math or ELA on the 8th-grade or 11th-grade state standardized test.

Coordination of Services

PUB members may participate in other extra-curricular and college-readiness programs. PUB needs to be informed of other memberships so that compatible schedules can be negotiated and so that services are not being duplicated.

A student can be a member of only one Upward Bound program at a time. However, if a PUB Scholar moves to an area served by a different UB program, PUB can facilitate a transfer without the Scholar having to be requalified for service from that project.

When and How to Apply

Applications are accepted year-round from high school students. If admitted, they would become active in the summer Ramp Up cohort immediately following their middle school graduation. If admitted, they may become active in Ramp Up, PUB’s summer non-residential program immediately following middle school graduation. Then, with continued participation in the following academic year, they would be eligible to live on campus in the next residential Summer Academy.

PUB’s Project Advisor (PA) is the point person for recruitment. The PA works through counselors at the high schools to recruit and provide PUB services in the school environments.  For students who do not attend one of these target schools, applications are available directly from the PUB office or online.  Applications are available online; click the link below or see “Membership Application” in the menu bar.

Online membership application

These are the ways to apply:

• Simply use the link to complete and submit the online application
• Attend an application workshop to get information and apply (parents are welcome)
• Meet a PUB representative at the PUB table at a Parent/Teacher Conference

After the application is submitted with support documents, applicants who are eligible and their parents will be scheduled for an interview. Once the interview is complete, the entire application packet (including interview notes) will be evaluated, and the parent(s) of the applicant will be notified of the outcome.

If all of your questions are not answered on this website, or you just want to speak with a live person, contact PUB’s Project Advisor using the information provided on the menu bar to the left.