GEAR UP at Rutgers
Giving New Brunswick students grades 7-12 the tools they need to get ready for higher education.
GEAR UP (Gaining Early Awareness and Readiness for Undergraduate Programs) is a discretionary grant program funded by the U.S. Department of Education and administered by the Office of the Secretary of Higher Education. Operating under the Office of the Provost, GEAR UP at Rutgers, in partnership with New Brunswick Public Schools, seeks to increase the number of low-income students who are prepared to enter and succeed in postsecondary education.
About the Program
GEAR UP at Rutgers works with students, families, and teachers in New Brunswick to:
- Increase the academic performance and preparation for post-secondary education for NJ GEAR UP students
- Increase the rate of high school graduation and participation in post-secondary education for NJ GEAR UP students
- Increase NJ GEAR UP students’ and their families’ knowledge of post-secondary education options, preparation, and financing
Eligibility Requirements
To be eligible, you must:
- Attend one of the NJ GEAR UP target schools
- Show motivation to do well in school and prepare for college
Target Schools
- Blanquita B. Valenti Community School
- New Brunswick Middle School
- Mckinley Community School
- Paul Robeson Community School for the Arts
- Woodrow Wilson Elementary School
- New Brunswick High School
Services Offered
- Academic and personal counseling
- NJSLA, PSAT, and SAT prep classes
- A 6-week summer program on a college campus
- Help with college applications
- Professional development for teachers
- Mentoring
- After-school tutoring
- College visits and tours
- Financial aid information workshops
- Cultural and educational field trips
- Assistance with applying for college grants and scholarships
- Academic and socio-emotional support services to students during their first year of college
Contact Us
If you have any questions about our services, please email us at gearup@rutgers.edu.
