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In our community, given the chance to be able to get a head start on classes, and even preparation for college is a once in a lifetime chance. Or is it?
Countless programs have been started to give students, mainly suburban, a chance to get ahead on the college life and actually know what it feels like to be a real college student. So naturally most of us who are probably first generation prospective college students, or just to have the funds to even dream of college think nothing more of the subject. But what if someone told you that these were actually the qualifications for a program that would have you going farther beyond any of your wildest dreams?
Upward Bound Math and Science (UBMS) is a TRIO program that allows students to spend six weeks in the summer as a residential at Penn State Main Campus. Here students in the state of Pennsylvania, and even some from Alabama come and take part in intensive math and science classes as well as experience hands-on research at Penn State's premier research facilities in the College of Earth and Mineral Sciences.
This summer experience provides students with first-hand familiarity with what it's like to be a college student. The students live in the dormitories with secure supervision, eat in the dining commons, and take classes in real PSU classrooms.
But everything doesn't just stop after the six weeks. During the academic school year, participants take part in local meetings within their area, and also travel to the campus to have group meetings. In addition to academic guidance, career and college counseling, and as tutoring, students participate in visits to local work sites with mentors, trips to various educational sites and postsecondary institutions and cultural activities.
Unlike most TRIO programs, UBMS is an all-around residential program. This means that unlike their sister program Upward Bound who allows their students to go home each weekend; UBMS students stay all six weeks. This is mainly due to the fact that Upward Bound has a very limited selection of where the students come from. Whereas UBMS has students from all over Pennsylvania and Alabama, and it is just impossible to accommodate students going home.
To be eligible for this wonderful program, students must be residents of Pennsylvania, must be enrolled in either 9, 10, or 11 grade, must meet income guidelines where the household taxable income falls below a certain level and/ or live in a household where you would be a first generation college student, and finally have an interest in either a math or science related career field. While any student throughout Pennsylvania can participate in our program, Penn State UBMS maintains a special relationship with four target schools in urban school districts in the state. One of them is your very own Reading High, along with two Philadelphia schools, and Harrisburg High.
It costs approximately $5,000 dollars per student for the services, which are provided by UBMS, however, there is absolutely no cost to students or families due to a TRIO grant of $288,383 (2005-06) from the United States Department of Education. These funds cover the costs of transportation to University Park in the beginning of the program, and transportation home, activities, housing, meals, activities throughout the program, are covered as well. The students are also given a $15 a week stipend during the duration of the summer program.
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