Gear Up Gives A Helping Hand on Common App

One of many posters advertising another Gear Up program that benefits students at Watauga. “Gear Up is a program that primarily starts when students are [in] middle school. And it follows them all the way to high school,” said Karen Norris, Watauga Gear Up Coordinator. Photo Credit: Aspen Hickman

Aspen Hickman, Junior Editor and News Desk Lead for The Powderhorn

As the leaves begin to turn and the weather gets cooler, college applications are top of mind for many of Watauga’s seniors. And with college applications come application fees, often through the Common App. What many college hopefuls don’t know, though, is that many of these fees can be waived by simply checking a box.

“[Students] have the option to click ‘yes,’ I am part of a Gear Up program, and therefore, I am eligible for a waiver. That waiver would provide free application,” said Watauga Gear Up coordinator Karen Norris. “Now, there are some colleges out there that don't accept the waiver. So you have to make sure that the college is denoted as ‘yes,’ we accept a Common App waiver. And if [they] do, then you don't have to pay for that college application fee.”

Gear Up is a federal grant with the purpose of helping students understand their future opportunities in college and beyond, as well as helping them achieve those futures. Currently, the grant applies to all WHS and WIA students, meaning everyone can benefit from the fee waiver through Gear Up. In middle school, that means visits to local colleges like Lees McRae and ETSU.  

“This grant picked up students that were in Bethel, Mabel, Green Valley, and Cove Creek, and when they were in 6th grade, they received support,” said Norris. “So we start planting the seeds early. Then, once those students get to the high school, the entire high school gets served.”

The Common App fee waiver is just one of many Gear Up programs for students at Watauga. For example, Tutor.com is free for all students through Gear Up and can help with a variety of subjects students might struggle with. But Norris cautions, in order for Watauga to continue to receive this grant when it comes time for the county to apply again, students must fill out their FAFSA forms as soon as possible. The benefits of Gear Up are certainly worth the toll of the FAFSA.

“For me specifically, it's helped [take] the stress off of that part of the process. I mean, the applications themselves are so tedious. And now I can apply to the colleges I want to apply to without having to worry about how much they cost,” said Sammy Morgan, a senior at Watauga. “It really helps low income students specifically by not taking any educational opportunities away from them. And I think it just makes it a lot more fair for everyone.”

The fee waiver undoubtedly removes major barriers for many students. Even if someone is able to pay application fees, they still qualify for the waiver. No one at Watauga is excluded from the grant, even if they went to a K-8 school that didn’t qualify.

“Yes, all students are under the Gear Up umbrella. No matter what,” said Lindsey Gough, a counselor at Watauga. “If you do pick a school that requires a fee, it'll show that you can answer that question. Do you qualify for a fee waiver? And we want all of our students to say ‘yes.’”