The following parts of the application must be provided to the Upward Bound office in order for your application to be considered. Applications must be completed before a student can be considered for admission to the program. Some of the information requested will help us determine whether the student meets the criteria for entry into the program, and help us know how to best assist your student if he or she becomes a participant. You are responsible for making sure that the completed forms are returned to the Upward Bound office. All information provided to us will be kept CONFIDENTIAL.

Please use the following checklist to help you make sure your application is complete:

• Section 1: Student Information
• Student Essay
• Section 2: Parent/Guardian information
• Unofficial Transcript (obtained from counselor or counseling office)

Documents needed after selected for an interview:

• Copy of taxes/income verification
• Copy of social security card

All applications must be returned to:
Upward Bound Program
California State University, Dominguez Hills
1000 Victoria St. VIL 500
Carson, CA 90747

Applications may also be submitted to the COLLEGE AND CAREER CENTER at your high school.

Contact the Upward Bound Program at (310) 243-2292 if you have any questions or need assistance in completing the application. We are available to assist you Monday through Friday 9:00am-5:00pm and have bilingual staff on hand.

The application can be returned to any member of the CSUDH Upward Bound staff.

The following is a brief description of the services and benefits you will receive through the Upward Bound Program.

Upward Bound (UB) is a federally funded program from the Department of Education. UB provides fundamental support to its participants in their preparation for high school graduation and the college entrance process. UB provides opportunities for its participants to succeed in their high school careers and ultimately in their higher education pursuits. UB serves high school students from low-income families; and high school students from families in which neither parent holds a bachelor's degree. The goal of Upward Bound is to increase the rate at which participants complete high school and enroll in and graduate from institutions of postsecondary education.

Upward Bound provides the following services to students:

• Academic tutoring
• Weekly academic advising
• Test preparation workshops (ACT, SAT)
• Parent workshops in their native languages
• Leadership development
• Assistance with A-G college prep course selection
• Financial aid and college application assistance
• College visitation trips
• Career exploration

Upward Bound Summer Program 

Upward Bound's summer component simulates a college-going experience. It is designed to assist students with the challenges of a college-preparation curriculum.  Instruction includes Mathematics, Science, Critical Thinking, and Foreign Language. The students will spend six weeks (Monday-Friday) on the California State University, Dominguez Hills campus.

Requirements for Admission

Participation in the Upward Bound Program requires a year-round commitment from students including summer and all advising sessions, from the time of initial selection until graduation from high school. Students must also be either first-generation college students and/or low income. There is no cost for this program. 

The CSUDH Upward Bound Program assists 185 high school students from the following high school:

Jefferson High School
Gardena High School
Carson High School
Leuzinger High School
Hawthorne High School
Inglewood High School
Morningside High School

Exam Information

Academic Interest

In your own handwriting in blue or black ink, write a short essay about a difficult, challenging, or exciting experience describing how you felt and what you learned from that experience. Also include why you want to join the Upward Bound Program and how you will benefit from the program. (Please attach your essay to the application.)

If needed, please use the following outline as a guide for your essay:

1. Introduction
   1. Introduce yourself/ family (Personal Background)
   2. Introduce your topic
2. Experience
   1. Write about your experience
   2. Describe feelings and what you learned
3. Conclusion

All information is kept confidential! If parents are separated, this section should be completed by the parent whom the student lives with, or by the parent/guardian providing at least 50% of student's financial support.

 

Father/Guardian

Mother/Guardian

If unsure please estimate how much money you make a year, please provide the staff with your most recent tax returns for assistance.

PLEASE READ THIS SECTION CAREFULLY

The Federal Government, through the Department of Education, funds the California State University, Dominguez Hills - Upward Bound TRIO Program (CSUDH-UB). Applicants are admitted regardless of race, color, national or ethnic origin, or physical challenges. The personal information that you provide to the CSUDH - UB TRIO Program is available upon request to the United States Department of Education, California State University Dominguez Hills, and federal and state auditors. Each of these agencies has the authority to gather information on the CSUDH - UB TRIO Program. The information you submit therefore becomes the property of the CSUDH - UB TRIO Program and its affiliates. In accordance with the Privacy ACT of 1974, and any and all applicable amendments, agencies other than those authorized are prohibited access to the files and records of the CSUDH - UB Bound TRIO Program.

I understand the purpose of the Upward Bound Program, which is to prepare participants to successfully complete a program of postsecondary education, and would like to have my child participate. I agree to be involved in the following ways: 1) keeping informed of my child's progress in school; 2) encouraging my child to attend all UB activities; 3) participating in UB events in which parents are invited; 4) sharing concerns about my child's education with Upward Bound staff; I support the mission of Upward Bound and will make it a priority to assist my child in his/her future education.

I hereby attest that all the information is true and correct. I also understand that a false statement or misrepresentation will make the applicant ineligible for the CSUDH Upward Bound program.

With my signature, I hereby grant permission to the staff of the California State University, Dominguez Hills – Upward Bound (CSUDH-UB) TRIO Program to access my child’s school records, including grades, test scores, attendance records, class progress, free or reduced lunch eligibility, and disciplinary records from the time they are admitted into the CSUDH TRIO Upward Bound Program until the time they graduate from high school.

I hereby authorize post-secondary institutions to release to the CSUDH - UB TRIO Program copies of academic records, enrollment data, and student aid awards at any college or university my child attends or will be attending until they graduate from college. These records will be used to access student needs, monitor and report student progress, document eligibility for the program, and report data as required by the United States Department of Education.

As a parent or guardian signing this form, I give permission for my child to participate in all program-sponsored activities. I also give permission for the use of my child’s name and /or photograph for editorial, promotional, recruitment, or educational purposes.

As a parent or guardian signing this portion of the form, I give my permission to the California State University, Dominguez Hills Upward Bound TRIO Program to place my child in a cohort group on which certain academic data will be collected and reported to the United States Department of Education. This data may be used to compare students who do not qualify to receive Upward Bound services.

Only data relevant to academic performance, test results, and college-going rates will be collected on Cohort Grouped Students. This information will be shared with the United States Department of Education who will utilize it in its on-going assessment of TRIO Programs.