Our Program
Our program is designed to help our Scholars succeed in college, create transformative career paths, and step boldly into their futures.
Program Overview
At the Upward Project we combine academic support with real-world career readiness. This holistic approach allows students to thrive on campus while identifying career paths aligned with their strengths and interests, and leverage their college experience to launch into high-wage fields.
Our Scholars are all from the greater Boston area, attending college across the country. Each cohort begins the summer before matriculating to college and continues through the first year after graduation. Our program is a powerful combination of highly personalized academic coaching, career advising, and financial resources, designed to empower our Scholars and remove barriers to access. Our program is also designed to ensure our Scholars have fun, build community, and grow in confidence.
During their years at college we support our Scholars in several key ways:
Pre-College Summer Intensive
This two-week summer intensive ensures that Scholars hit the ground running when school begins. Scholars participate in college and career readiness workshops, career exploration trips, social and cultural experiences, and 1:1 meetings with their Upward Project Advisor to map out their early college career pathway.
Academic Success Coaching
1:1 coaching supports Scholars for all four years of college, helping them to navigate academic demands, choose courses, and adjust to life on campus. This also helps to foster strong relationships and to create a safe space to discuss challenges and to celebrate wins.
Early Career Alignment
Scholars orient themselves toward their chosen career path from day 1, with support in choosing courses that align with their academic and career goals, building professional networks, and increasing awareness of impactful opportunities.
Internship & Career Development
We support Scholars in finding internships and work on skills like writing resumes and cover letters, seeking networking opportunities, preparing for interviews, and joining an office environment. As Scholars receive full-time job offers, we support them in evaluating offers and negotiating salaries and benefits.
Alumni Network
Our Alumni provide an important network for each other and for current Scholars, creating an ongoing and uplifting mentorship cycle among generations of TUP Scholars, as well as important professional contacts and expanded professional networks and opportunities.
Real World Financial Advising
Scholars transition to Alumni after their first year of employment, but our support doesn’t end. All alumni are matched with a financial advisor, which is fully subsidized for one year, so they can create an individualized financial plan for their future and learn about managing their finances, investing, and building wealth.
Why Our Program Works
We focus on career development from the start, guiding our Scholars in setting clear goals, building networks, and securing vital career-aligned experiences like internships and other growth opportunities.
From learning how to network and navigate professional spaces, to exploring career options and building workplace confidence, we ensure that our Scholars graduate ready to thrive and lead in the professional world. And when financial barriers threaten to stand in the way, we step in with timely support so that every Scholar can stay focused on their future.
We create a safe space to share challenges, celebrate progress, and grow in confidence. The strong and lasting relationships our Scholars build with their advisors—and with The Upward Program itself—are at the heart of what makes our model work.
Get Involved with TUP
There are many opportunities to engage with TUP and our Scholars, from networking connections to sharing about your field and career.
Fill out this short form to let us know how you would like to get involved.
