PHILADELPHIA -- Heading to college can be daunting for students of any age but imagine going back to into the classroom more than 20 years after graduating from high school. The Veterans Upward Bound program at the University of Pennsylvania makes the transition smoother for military veterans with free college-preparatory classes.

"We give them the academic resources they need to be successful in college," said Diane Sandefur, director of the VUB program at Penn.

VUB is an intensive 13 weeks of classes in writing, math, Spanish, science and computers taught by professors from Penn and Lincoln University and area high school teachers.

Students attend classes from 5:30 to 9:30 p.m. four days a week. The program, which also provides assistance with college applications, financial aid and educational and career guidance, is geared to low-income, first-generation college students, many of whom have never taken a college course. More than half of the VUB students complete the program and go on to college.

"It made me realize that I'm not as messed up as I thought I was," said Richard Young, an army veteran who was trying to get his life back on track at the age of 48 when he decided that he wanted to pursue a degree in computer engineering. He entered the VUB program in April 2001 to brush up on his writing and math.

Taking the VUB courses helps the students develop skills and confidence.

"I goofed around during most of my life to a point where I thought I couldn't do anything anymore." said Young, who has now completed his first two college classes. "It feels really good knowing that I can do these things, but it takes a little more effort."

"After going through the VUB program, I'm light years from where I was," said VUB graduate Fred Becker. The 43-year old Pennsylvania Air National Guard reservist is now taking classes at Penn State. He was in college for three years before dropping out in 1980; he thought he might not be able to handle the rigors of college life until he enrolled in the VUB program.

"I virtually had no computer skills. I couldn't even do e-mail a year ago. My confidence wasn't there," Becker said. Now he only needs four classes to complete his bachelor's degree in business administration.

Penn's VUB center at 42nd and Pine streets is one of the U.S. Department of Education's 45 centers across the country. The program is offered in three cycles each year. The current cycle of the program began Sept. 9.

For  more information about participating in Veteran's Upward Bound, call 215-898-6892.