Nominate a Student
Applicants for The Upward Project must be nominated by a school counselor or college access provider.
Nominations open January 4, 2027. Submit by February 5 for priority consideration.
Fall 2026 Information Sessions
Join a 45-minute virtual session about TUP and the application process. All times are Eastern.
For School Counselors and College Access Providers
Nov 20
Friday at 11:30 a.m.
Register →
Dec 10
Thursday at 2 p.m.
Register →
For Students
Student Eligibility
To be an Upward Project Scholar, students must meet the following requirements:
- Be a high-achieving high school student.
- Come from a low-income household.
- Be a first-generation college student in the US.
- Be a U.S. citizen, eligible non-citizen, or lawful permanent resident.
- Live in the Greater Boston area within a commutable distance to downtown Boston.
- Not already be part of an organization with duplicative college and career success advising, including Thrive, Posse, and Minds Matter.
- Be available for in-person summer programming before starting college (dates to be announced later).
- Plan to enroll at a four-year college or university in the fall after high school graduation with strong financial aid support.
About Our Current Scholars
The averages below describe our current Scholars and are not minimum requirements.
- Average high school GPA: 3.8 on an unweighted 4-point scale.
- Average SAT: 1300, roughly equivalent to a 28 on the ACT.
- Current Scholars attend schools including Bates, Dartmouth, Harvard, BU, Tufts, and Northeastern.
Application Process and Priority Dates
Dates below are for the 2027 priority cycle. All submission deadlines are at 11:59 p.m. Eastern.
1. Nominations
January 4 to February 5, 2027
Nominators submit basic student information. TUP will contact the student and nominator if the student is invited to apply.
2. Round One
Student and nominator materials due February 12. Round One decisions shared by February 19.
During Round One, students will be asked to share their college plans and career goals, explain why they’re interested in TUP, and submit supporting materials such as their college essay, resume, and financial aid information. Nominators will need to submit the following:
- Student transcript
- Counselor and teacher recommendations from college applications
- High school profile
- Student Strength & Growth Assessment
3. Round Two
Materials due March 3.
During Round Two, invited students will be asked to share more about themselves and their community through written and video responses. They will also provide their summer plans to confirm availability for TUP programming.
4. Finalist Interviews
Week of March 8.
Selected students will meet with TUP advisors to discuss their college plans and goals and share more about themselves.
5. Decision
Decisions shared by the end of the day on March 19.
Nominate a Student
The nomination form will be available here on January 4, 2027.
Questions? Email applications@theupwardproject.org.