GEAR UP (Gaining Early Awareness and Readiness for Undergraduate Programs) is a federally funded program aimed at encouraging disadvantaged middle and high school students to have high expectations, stay in school, and take college preparatory courses. The West Virginia Department of Education received funding to conduct the program in eight rural southwestern counties. Baseline information on incoming seventh-grade students' and parents' attitudes and aspirations toward postsecondary education was gathered from 5,645 student and parent surveys from 25 middle schools in the 8-county region. Students reported doing well in English, math, science, and history. About half felt they needed help with a specific subject, usually math. Less than half expressed interest in after-school tutoring, but over two-thirds were interested in having a mentor. Parent involvement in school activities was limited, especially for fathers. Students indicated feeling confident and responsible for their own learning, but did not view their learning as interesting or exciting and did not feel that teachers valued their thoughts or that they were given many opportunities for exploration. Students' aspirations for postsecondary education were less than their parents' aspirations for them. Students seemed to understand what is required to prepare for college, but few reported planning to take higher-level high school courses. Parents and students perceived financial difficulties to be the greatest deterrent to postsecondary education, but students were more optimistic about their abilities to afford such education than were their parents. Seven recommendations are presented. (Contains 20 references and survey questionnaires.) (TD)