The Texas GEAR UP for College Summer Camp is a four-day intensive college readiness and prep program for rising high school juniors and seniors from GEAR UP cohorts around the state. Dates for the in-residence camp at St. Edwards University in
Austin, Texas are June 26 –30, 2016 . The experience of living on a college campus combined with an engaging curriculum focused on academics, soft-skills, and financial literacy will help prepare your GEAR UP student to enter and succeed in postsecondary education. Students will take part in activities that build character, discipline, vision, creativity, listening skills, problem solving, teamwork, public speaking, and more.
Students will also receive SAT/ACT test taking prep, financial aid information, and begin designing their own road map to college portfolio.
APPLICATION PROCESS
In order to be considered for admission to the camp, students must complete and submit the following application to their GEAR UP Coordinator by Friday, March 11th, 2016 .
Students will be selected based on a holistic review of their grades, activities/extracurricular involvement, essays, recommendations, interest in a post-secondary education, as well as available space. Students will be notified in early-April about their application status and will receive further communication about the camp if selected.
STUDENT TRANSPORTATION
If selected to attend the camp, the student and/or a school/district will be responsible for providing student transportation to/from St. Edwards University in Austin.
LODGING AND MEALS
All students will stay in dorms on the St. Edwards campus. Students will be assigned to double rooms, and in some cases, they may be sharing a room with a student from a different high school. Camp counselors will also be living in the dorms and will provide monitoring and overnight supervision of campers. All meals (breakfast, lunch, and dinner) will be provided by the St. Edwards University dining halls.
COST
All Texas GEAR UP For College activities, lodging, and meals are provided at no cost to participating students.
SPECIAL ACCOMMODATIONS
If you have a student that requires accommodations due to a disability, please contact
Michael King, Project Specialist, at MKing@IPSI.utexas.edu
.

The following application should be completed by the student and parent/guardian and submitted to your GEAR UP Coordinator by Friday, March 11, 2016 . We encourage you to use the below checklist to ensure you have included all of the required documents in your application. Applications missing any of the following items will be considered incomplete and will not be considered for admission.
 Student Information Form
 Student Essay
 Student Transcript
 One Signed Letter of Recommendation
Note: Completing an application is the first step of the process and does not guarantee a summer camp position. You will be notified about your application status once received.
Mail complete applications to the following address, postmarked by 3/11/2016:
Texas GEAR UP State Grant Technical Assistance Office
The University of Texas at Austin
Institute for Public School Initiatives
5316 US-290 #510
Austin, TX 78735
Attn: Michael King, Outreach and Special Events

Please type or print neatly in ink .
STUDENT INFORMATION
First Name Middle Initial(s) Last Name
Gender ( Please circle ): M F Birthdate
School School District
Current Grade ( Please circle ): 10 th 11 th
Street Address or PO Box Apt #
City State Zip
Home Phone Number Email Address
PARENT/GUARDIAN: PRIMARY EMERGENCY CONTACT INFORMATION
First Name Last Name
Relation to student: (i.e.: mother/father, aunt, family friend)
Street Address or PO Box Apt #
City State Zip
Email Address
Primary Emergency Contact Phone Numbers:
( ) ________ - _________ (please circle): home work cell
( ) ________ - _________ (please circle): home work cell
( ) ________ - _________ (please circle): home work cell

SECONDARY EMERGENCY CONTACT INFORMATION
First Name Last Name
Relation to student: (i.e.: mother/father, aunt, family friend)
Emergency Contact Email Address
Secondary Emergency Contact Phone Numbers
( ) ________ - _________ (please circle): home work cell
( ) ________ - _________ (please circle): home work cell
( ) ________ - _________ (please circle): home work cell
PARENT/GUARDIAN SIGNATURE
By signing below, I give permission for my student, named above, to apply to attend the
Texas GEAR UP For College Summer Camp. I understand that my child will be supervised by Texas GEAR UP employees at all times during his or her stay at the camp.
Parent/Guardian’s Name (print) Date
Parent/Guardian’s Signature Date

In a separate document, type one essay that addresses the three questions below. Make sure your name is at the top of the essay, and be sure to attach the document to your application packet when you submit it. Remember, you are applying to go to camp
– writing a strong, detailed essay will give you the best opportunity for being accepted. With that in mind, your essay should be:

Your best writing
– make sure you proofread for clarity, grammar, spelling, and punctuation.
 Between 150-300 words.
 Double-spaced.
In your essay, please respond to the following prompts:
1. How have you participated in GEAR UP? Provide 2-3 examples. How has this helped you prepare for life after high school?
2. Describe your plans for life beyond high school.
3. What do you hope to learn by participating in the camp?
Please provide a copy of your most recent high school transcript.
Please provide one letter of recommendation from a current teacher, school counselor, work supervisor, or mentor (cannot be a family member or relative) outlining your strengths as a student and community member/leader, as well as your potential as a summer program participant.