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Adriana Lara knew as a high school sophomore she would go to college. She also knew other kids like her with similar aspirations who were getting some extra support.

"I am low-income, first-generation and I was very driven to go to college," she says. So she applied for the Upward Bound program at Northfield Mt. Hermon School in Gill, Massachusetts, which has opportunities for students from high schools in Lara's hometown of Greenfield, the two nearby cities of Springfield and Holyoke, and the public school serving Gill (and adjacent Montague).

Upward Bound is a U.S. Department of Education-funded summer and school-year program that provides classes, tutoring, advising, college application support and other services for students who qualify economically and are typically poised to be the first in their families to attend college. Over 960 sites all over the country offer Upward Bound to qualified high school students who must apply, be accepted and commit themselves to the program. They typically pay nothing in cash, but must take courses in summer programs for about six weeks each of three summers and participate during the school year in community service, academic advising, test prep and, if necessary, tutoring. Upward Bound students must maintain at least a B in all of their academic subjects. Most students begin with Upward Bound in ninth grade, though Lara entered in 10^th.

The program at Northfield Mt. Hermon, a co-ed independent boarding school, is uncommon because it's situated on a high school campus, but provides the same services offered at colleges, says director Gisele Litalien, who was herself the first in her family to attend college.

"I had to really struggle to figure out how to get to college," Litalien says. One high school teacher took an interest in helping her, though, and Litalien says that's the role that Upward Bound advisors play. Lara says her advisor offered her lots of support and also made suggestions about the best things to pursue on the path toward college. "She was my favorite part of Upward Bound."

College advising

In addition to advising or tutoring, the UB staff introduces students to colleges that might interest them and even takes students on trips to visit various schools. Lara graduated this spring from Franklin and Marshall College in Lancaster, Pennsylvania, a campus she first visited on an Upward Bound trip.

"I never would have heard about my college if I hadn't been able to go on that college trip," she says.

Litalien says in addition to rigorous academics during the summer, designed to advance the students so they might take an honors rather than a regular level class in the fall, for example, the residential program includes what she calls a "social curriculum."

"These kids didn't grow up at a table with a parent who is an engineer." She says. "These kids have not heard every day of their lives that they're going to college."

During their on-campus time at Upward Bound, conversations around the meal table are likely to be continuations of classroom discussions. The staff includes college students from many top colleges. Lara went back every college summer and worked at Upward Bound.

College prep

Also among the summer activities are practice interviews with actual college representatives. The students are advised on how to dress for and conduct themselves during an interview and the college representatives offer feedback.

Lara enjoyed spending summers with dedicated students like herself and says living in a dorm room for six weeks each summer introduced her to what college living would be like.

"I think having the Upward Bound experience helped me acclimate to college a lot faster," especially because she'd been a rather quiet teen. "I learned how to network with people and how to really reach out to people."

The summer work also helps alleviate some of the school-year pressure, especially going into the senior year.

"We wrote our college essays the summer before our senior year," Lara remembers, "so we were already ahead of everybody else that we went to school with." And then during their senior year, Upward Bound students also get help completing the critical financial aid application.

Litalien appreciates the commitment students make--there's nothing a la carte about Upward Bound. Once students are in, they must attend each summer program, complete about 52 community service hours each year, and participate in all the after school meetings. Incentives and trips can be mini-rewards, but the big payoff is getting into (and graduating from) college, and the students must be internally motivated to achieve that, Litalien says.

High success rate

From Northfield Mt. Hermon's Upward Bound program, 88 percent of seniors enrolled in a program of postsecondary education the fall after high school graduation and of those, 86 percent continued on the following year. One hundred percent of participants achieved proficiency on the Massachusetts Comprehensive Assessment System (MCAS) statewide standardized test.

Litalien says ambition pushes students forward, but even the most determined of the Upward Bound students can face hurdles that might stymie them. That's perhaps when Upward Bound can be most helpful.

"They have ups and downs. They can feel they're college-bound one day and then…" Litalien's voice trails off. She explains that seemingly small things can derail them. "We try to be the thread for them and to hold that vision [of college] even when they can't hold it for themselves."

For related news and other coverage from Schools.com, see:

• Five paths to a career-focused college education
• How to improve your college application with a video essay
• 7 money mistakes recent grads should avoid
• Budget deal protects Pell Grants for low-income learners