Upward Bound's number one goal is to pave the path to college graduation. We tell students every year — anyone can get into college, but not everyone is prepared to graduate. We work extensively with each student to explore career paths, cultivate an appropriate college list, ensure they take the right classes, build their academic and service resume, apply to colleges and financial aid, and gain real world experience. Not only does this give students a roadmap to follow, it also helps them become more confident, self aware, and prepared for the day they step foot on campus.

We offer a number of leadership trips and opportunities throughout the school year that push students out of their comfort zone, allow them to meet other Upward Bound students from New England and Northern New York, and develop critical leadership skills that they can utilize in their schools, community, and life beyond school.

We prioritize the academic side of college preparation, but there is a whole world outside of the small towns we work with. Whether it's seeing play in Boston, visiting the Bread and Puppet Theater Co in Glover, VT, or touring our nation's capitol, students get the chance to broaden their horizons, try new things, and experience more of the world outside of the Northeast Kingdom.