Penn & Drexel

GEAR UP

Gaining Early Awareness and Readiness for Undergraduate Programs

Welcome

Universities: Penn & Drexel

Grades Served: 8-12

Our Mission & Constitution

Quick Info

College Resources

College Resources

SAT/ACT Prep

SAT Prep!

News & Events

News!

For Teachers

Hey teachers!

Get Involved

Join our team of coaches and students!

Coach Blog

Coaches share their best experiences

our schools

Our program serves West Philadelphia High School students and teachers during the school day and after school. Coaches serve in math, science, and English classrooms, and also facilitate mentorship/tutoring sessions for the OST program.

School Website 

Our program serves students and teachers at School of the Future during the school day.  Coaches are placed in core subject classes, oftentimes alongside Promise Corps members.

School Website

West Catholic is a private high school just two blocks away from our main site at WPHS. Coaches serve WC students primarily during afterschool sessions, which are often conducted jointly with WPHS students.

School Website

Comegys is an elementary-middle school and Netter Center UACS-supported site. In 2020, our program began serving 8th grade students at Comegys with a high school application mentorship series. Our Coaches hope to continue working with Comegys and other schools to expand GEAR UP’s reach.

School Website

Our Mission & Vision

GEAR UP aims to prepare local Philadelphia high school students for their post-secondary pathways by providing them with academic support and college-positive mentorship. GEAR UP commits a unique and individualized responsibility to its high school students, coaches, and the West Philadelphia community at-large.

We seek to:

  • Empower and guide students in West Philadelphia high schools
  • Strengthen relationships between UPenn/Drexel and local Philadelphia high schools 
  • Hone college students’ skills as tutors by providing professional development and training
  • Enhance the educational experiences of high school students through positive mentor relationships that build and maintain strong work ethic and purpose in students

PREP

I’m a High School Student!

RESOURCES

I’m a Teacher!

get involved

Become a GEAR UP Coach!

Coach Highlight

“My favorite part about being a Coach is hearing students get excited about their post-secondary plans, and dancing with them during the Afterschool program.”

Lionel Smoler-Schatz

GEAR UP Coach

Calendar

Wednesday, Nov. 11

Veteran’s Day – NO PUBLIC SCHOOL

Friday, NOV. 13

Coach GBM #2

COMING SOON

Mental Health & Wellness Workshop

Coaches

hours served

Schools

Years Established

Get In Touch

Send us a message if you need the Zoom link for our program!

Email: gearupupenndrexel@gmail.com

Program Hours: Mon – Fri, 3:30 – 5:30 pm EST