Michigan GEAR UP (Gaining Early Awareness and Readiness for Undergraduate Programs) is a statewide collaborative effort providing early intervention services in two key areas:

• Early college exposure: This includes financial aid/admissions information, college choice, and other knowledge necessary for students to become prepared to pursue postsecondary options.
• Readiness for undergraduate programs: This refers to skill building and academic preparedness, including reading literacy, critical thinking skills, study techniques, and test-taking ability.

The U.S. Department of Education awarded a multimillion grant to Michigan, spread out over a seven-year program, distributed among the 15 public universities. The program begins in seventh grade and students are followed through their first year of college. The program assists students in their senior year of high school with financial aid by providing important information about FAFSA applications and competitive scholarships, including limited funding for scholarships awarded to longtime program participants.