Students

Once you have been enrolled in GEAR UP, you can begin meeting with your GEAR UP advisor as often as needed to help you set goals for your future and to follow up on your progress each year in school until graduation.  Feel free to reach out to your GEAR UP advisor today and whenever you need to for additional support.

As a GEAR UP student, you will also be able to participate in GEAR UP workshops, tutoring, college field trips, and other GEAR UP activities.  Click on our Upcoming Events tab to see what’s coming up next!

Once you are a GEAR UP student, you are always a GEAR UP student, even if you transfer to another school that has GEAR UP, such as when you start attending high school.  Each year that you are in school, we will continue reaching out to you to provide guidance and support in your journey to accomplish your dreams.  Additionally, we will continue to stay in touch with you throughout your first year of college to help you get connected with the right people and resources.

Each year that you are in school, there are important things to learn and do to help you be as prepared as possible for a future of success.  Below are the checklists that our advisors use as they work with you each year in school.  Some of our workshops are based on these checklists, so make sure you find out more from your advisor and attend regularly!  

• 7-8th Grade Family Action Plan
• 9th Grade Family Action Plan
• 10th Grade Family Action Plan
• 11th Grade Family Action Plan
• 12th Grade Family Action Plan

En Español:

• 7-8vo Grado Plan de Acciõn Familiar (En Español)
• 9no Grado Plan de Acciõn Familiar (En Español)
• 10mo Grado Plan de Acciõn Familiar (En Español)
• 11vo Grado Plan de Acciõn Familiar (En Español)
• 12mo Grado Plan de Acciõn Familiar (En Español)

Sometimes in order to get good grades and improve your test scores, you need to change or improve the way you study and approach assignments or tests. Here are some great resources online to help you improve your study habits and test-taking skills:

• University of Utah Learning Success Center website
• Shmoop Study Tools

Tutoring, a resource that GEAR UP and/or your school provides, is a great way to meet with a mentor around your age who has “been there, done that” and can give you tips on how to do better in school.  Talk to your GEAR UP advisor for more details on free tutoring services available at your school.

There are several resources online and at your schools that can help you figure out what you want to do as a career.  Here are a few examples:

• Career Interest Profiler Quiz
• Reality Check
• Occupational Outlook Handbook

Volunteering and extracurricular involvement is a great way to increase your likelihood of receiving scholarships and being admitted to your dream school.  It’s also great to include on your resume when looking for jobs during and after high school. 

• Find volunteer opportunities with U Serve Utah and United Way 2-1-1 
• Sign up for at least one school club or after school program. Talk to your school counselor or a teacher about what opportunities are available.

Some colleges and scholarships require you to take specific classes during high school in order to be admitted to their school or to be eligible for their award.  Meet with your school counselor and GEAR UP advisor regularly to make sure you’re on the right track.

GEAR UP encourages you to challenge yourself, when ready, by learning about and taking Advanced Placement (AP), International Baccalaureate (IB), and Concurrent Enrollment (CE) classes.  These are college level classes that you can take at your high school that will help you be more prepared for the rigors of college.  Perhaps more importantly, these classes can help you earn college credit before graduating high school, saving you precious time and money later on when you actually go to college.  Ask your high school counselor, GEAR UP advisor, or teachers for more information on AP, IB, and CE classes at your high school.

The ACT test (taken in 11th grade) is what we call a “college placement” exam, because your score on that test helps determine which classes (e.g. math) that you are placed in when you begin college.  Scoring higher on certain subjects such as math can help you avoid having to take remedial classes in preparation for the required college level classes, and ultimately save you time and money.  Speaking of money, the higher your ACT score is, the more likely you are to automatically qualify for academic scholarships which can range between $250 per semester during your first year, to 100% of your student tuition & fees for all four years of college.  Below are a few resources to help you prepare for the ACT test and increase your scores:

• Shmoop – All students in the state of Utah get free access to Shmoop’s ACT prep materials and timed practice tests.  GEAR UP students love to use Shmoop because it is both entertaining and super helpful.  To gain free access, follow these 4 steps:
  1. Visit shmoop.com/Utah
  2. Find your school from the alphabetized school picker
  3. Click Create new student account
  4. Enter magic word: HIKING (all caps)
• UtahFutures – There are also practice tests available on UtahFutures.com.  While not as exciting as Shmoop’s website, it can still be a useful resource to help you sharpen your ACT skills.
• ACT - Go to ACT.org for ACT’s official website.  This is where you will find out when the upcoming test dates are each year so that you can register on their website. When you register to retake the ACT test you will need your ACT ID#.  If you took the ACT test at your school during your junior year, your test results, school registrar, or counseling office will have that information for you.  Remember, you can retake the ACT test as many times as you need, just make sure your scores are sent to the college you want to attend so that they have your highest scores.
• AnaProjectPrep - The Ana Project, found on AnaProjectPrep.org, is a non-profit organization providing free ACT and SAT online test preparation
• ACT Registration Fee Waivers – If you would like to retake the ACT test so you can obtain a higher score, check with your GEAR UP advisor and/or high school counselors to see if you are eligible for a registration fee waiver.  Eligible students can use up to 2 fee waivers throughout high school.  

Besides working closely with your GEAR UP advisor and high school counselors, and participating in your high school’s Utah College Application Week, you can find some very helpful information on StepUpUtah.com to guide you through the process of finding the right college for you.  Additionally, you will want to familiarize yourself with the application process found on the websites for each of the colleges you are interested in applying to.  GEAR UP recommends that you apply early during the first half of your senior year to at least 3 colleges before you make your final decision later on.  Applying early will help you avoid missing application and scholarship deadlines to the schools you are applying to.  “The early bird catches the worm!”

• StepUpUtah: Visit StepUpUtah.com for their tips on applying to college.
• Individual college websites: GEAR UP recommends that you apply for colleges during the first half of your senior year to avoid missing priority deadlines and scholarship deadlines 

  Institution	Website	Priority Admission/Scholarship Deadlines
  Brigham Young University	www.byu.edu	December 1
  Dixie State University	www.dixie.edu	March 1
  LDS Business College	www.ldsbc.edu	March 1
  Salt Lake Community College	www.slcc.edu	April 15
  Snow College	www.snow.edu	March 1
  Southern Utah University	www.suu.edu	December 1
  Utah State University	www.usu.edu	January 10
  Utah State University Eastern	www.usueastern.edu	March 14
  University of Utah	www.utah.edu	December 1
  Utah System of Technical Colleges	https://stepuputah.com/college/ustc/	Varies
  Utah Valley University	www.uvu.edu	January 1
  Weber State University	www.weber.edu	December 1
  Westminster College	www.westminstercollege.edu	September 1

Visiting a college or university for a campus tour is a great way to help students decide which school is right for them. If you can't find time to make it here, however, many of these schools also provide a way to take a virtual tour of their campus. Check out some of our Utah college campuses below: 

• Brigham Young University
• Dixie State University
• Salt Lake Community College
• Snow College
• Southern University
• University of Utah    
• Utah State University
• Utah Valley University 
• Weber State University 
• Westminster College

For virtual tours of colleges and universities outside of Utah, be sure to check out websites like YOUniversityTV and You Visit, and the college or university's official website and YouTube page. 

• One Refugee
• “One Refugee is a program that provides 1:1 education mentoring, assisting students with career exploration and tutoring, as well as experiences for students to develop successful resumes, networking skills, and connections for future employment. Eligible participants may also apply for college tuition assistance.”
• To learn more and to apply, click https://onerefugee.org/apply/

There are basically 3 ways you can pay for college: (1) Personal Savings, (2) FAFSA, and (3) Scholarships.  Here are some resources to help you get started:

PERSONAL SAVINGS

1. Opening a college savings account with a Utah Educational Savings Plan (UESP)  
2. Reality Check on UtahFutures.org

FAFSA

The Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA) is often the main source of financial aid for GEAR UP students.  The amount and type of financial aid a student receives through the FAFSA is based on how much annual income their household earned prior to applying, taking into consideration the household size and how many household members will be attending college.  FAFSA money is awarded in three ways: Grants (free money), loans (borrowed money), and work study (earned money). It is possible to be awarded all three, but we discourage accepting any loans if possible.   

1. For more information about FAFSA visit  StepUpUtah
2. To submit your FAFSA, visit the FAFSA site
3. To learn more about the FAFSA and what you need to complete it, please visit Weber State's FAFSA site
4. Watch this FAFSA video walkthrough, created by UtahFutures

SCHOLARSHIPS 

Scholarships come in many varieties.  While most scholarship applications are available to high school seniors, there are some scholarships available for high school juniors and other grade levels, which can be held in reserve until you attend college.  We often hear about unique scholarships such as the Left-Handed or the Duck-Tape Prom scholarships. However, there are many other scholarships that students can apply for such as academic achievement, college major or career related, diversity, leadership, need-based, and talent-based scholarships.  Getting scholarships takes a lot of work and preparation, but that effort can pay off!  To help you prepare, StepUpUtah has a very helpful scholarship toolkit on their website that we recommend you use. Basically, there are 3 types of scholarships:

1. Institutional Scholarships: Institutional scholarships are those which are awarded by the college or university that you plan to attend. When it comes to getting scholarships, institutional scholarships are the ones you’re most likely to receive and can range anywhere from a few hundred bucks to full tuition and fees during your entire time as a college student.  Some colleges/universities include the scholarship application as part of their admission process, while other schools require you to apply for institutional scholarships separately.  All institutional scholarships have a priority deadline, so find out when that is for the schools you are interested in possibly attending, and apply well in advance!  For more information on institutional scholarships, visit the scholarship or financial aid page on the website of the college you are interested in attending (see the “College Applications” section for Utah college & university websites).

2. Private Scholarships: Private scholarships, sometimes referred to as “outside funding,” are scholarships funded by individuals or businesses within the community, or any source outside of the college or university you are applying to.  Sometimes your best chance in obtaining private scholarships will be to apply for those which are awarded by local businesses (e.g. banks, grocery stores) and companies that you or your parents/guardians work for.  The truth is, most private scholarships you apply for you will likely not receive, but it is that one scholarship that you do receive that can make all the difference, so apply for as many as you possibly can!  Here are a few resources to help you find private scholarships:

• Utah Futures website
• The U.S. Department of Labor’s Scholarship Finder
• Utah College Advising Corp Scholarship Blog
• Other commonly used scholarship websites:
  • JLV College Counseling
  • College Green Light
  • Fast Web
• *Please note: It’s important to note that scholarship fraud does exist, so please be careful and avoid scams. If, for example, you receive an email or other notification stating that you have to pay to apply for a scholarship or enter your bank information, it is likely a scam. Following the above links will help you stay clear of any scholarship scams that exist.

3. State-Funded Scholarships:  These are another type of scholarship funded by state money, and are definitely worth applying for.  In Utah, these scholarships include:

• Regent’s Scholarship Program
• New Century Scholarship
• Centennial Scholarship for Early Graduation Program
• Scholarships through various Utah credit unions
• Western Undergraduate Exchange

Compared to other states, it is relatively inexpensive to attend public institutions of higher education in Utah.  Keep in mind, however, that the cost of college is more than just tuition and fees. Students must also consider expenses like transportation, housing, food, books, school supplies, and more.  Most colleges will try to give you a realistic snapshot on their websites of what it will cost to attend college there, and those amounts are usually overestimated to be on the safe side. A useful tool to help you calculate the cost of college is the College Net Price Calculator. 

Should you need additional guidance, your GEAR UP advisor is available to help you figure out what your college expenses will be and help you create a plan for affording college.  Make sure you have this conversation early on to avoid missing any financial aid deadlines.  See the "Preparing Financially for College” section for more details on how to afford college.

If you are a foster youth, this guide highlights some of the specific challenges you may face in their journey to getting a college degree, and provides resources to help you find success.

Navigating education as an undocumented student can be challenging.  GEAR UP is here to assist you in every way we can, and we are committed to your success.  Meet with your GEAR UP advisor regularly to find out how to apply for colleges and what scholarships are available to you.  Many colleges and universities in Utah are very supportive of your desire to attend college and accomplish your dreams. Here are just a few resources for undocumented students found on college websites and Step Up Utah that are worth looking into:

1. Weber State University’s Resources for Undocumented Students 
2. Salt Lake Community College
3. University of Utah
4. StepUpUtah

Additional resources for undocumented students

1. Dreamers Road Map
2. Educate Utah
3. My Undocumented Life