Kaila Wherry doesn't know where she will attend college.

But she knows where she can attend college.

On Monday, UT Arlington said she was more than welcome to major in Biology on its campus while prepping for medical school and a career as a pediatrician.

It's a promise that's signed, sealed and, as of Monday, delivered - even though her high school graduation isn't until 2015.

UT Arlington will wait, and not just for Wherry, a junior at Seguin High School, but for every other AISD junior cracking the top 20 percent of their graduating class.

These 20 percenters are part of the Bound for Success Initiative, a new UT Arlington-AISD partnership seeking to increase the number of college-bound high school students through a comprehensive pre-admission program. Some of those students were on hand Monday in the Little Theater at Bowie High School along with AISD Superintendent Dr. Marcelo Cavazos and UT Arlington President Dr. Vistasp M. Karbhari, who made the announcement.

While UT Arlington would love to attract the area's top students - the one and two percenters, for instance - the major push behind the program is to entice students who do not necessarily have higher education on their radar.

Dr. Cavazos said emphasis has long been placed on the Top 10 percent of Texas high school students (they already get automatic admission to state schools), but some who rank in the Top 20 percent never even apply to college. A recent Arlington school district student survey revealed that 20 percent of graduating seniors didn't bother to apply to college and as many as 27 percent of Hispanic graduates did not apply.

"With this program, we are re-affirming that these students are prepared for success," said Dr. Cavazos, "and that we are going to help guide them along their path to a college degree."

UT Arlington staff will help guide participating students to take courses that best prepare them for college work, learn about financial aid and be invited to attend special receptions, lectures, athletic event and other campus activities to get a better feel for campus life.

Martin High School Counselor Dana Bishop said Bound for Success will provide a key opportunity for students with the potential to succeed who may not readily "believe it." This makes it a reality for them.

"Getting a letter of acceptance, especially in their junior year, will provide confidence and motivation to continue to work hard," Bishop said.

The other benefit for UTA: attracting students like Wherry, who had her sights on Texas Tech, up until she learned that UT Arlington had its sights on her.

"I'll be honest, I hadn't really thought about UTA at all," Wherry said. "Now I am."