While the students took a short break in their dorms at the University of South Carolina Aiken, College Summit staffers met for the great review.

Guidance counselors and college admissions officers discussed each student who was part of the four-day conference at the college.

"Student J," who was involved in the Junior Reserve Officers' Training Corps, was at the top of her class, but her low self-esteem could hinder college success; "Student K" had a 2.79 grade-point average and wanted a career in journalism or graphic design, but was painfully shy.

The adult mentors discussed options for schools for these students and areas the students needed to work on.

College Summit, a national nonprofit organization, helps students achieve their college goals, according to YaKima Rhinehart, the executive director of the South Carolina organization.

About 40 rising seniors from Estill, Edisto, Lake Marion, C.A. Johnson, Hunter-Tyler-Kinard and Branchville high schools attended the conference July 10-13 at the college.

During their four days, they lived in dorms and had a glimpse of a college campus. They worked on creating a personal statement and sought to define ways they could get to college.

Terrain Polite, of Hunter-Tyler-Kinard High School, said she learned a lot in the program.

"I've learned how to fill out a college application and apply for financial aid," she said.

College Summit is not in Aiken County schools, but Ms. Rhinehart hopes it will be one day.

College Summit is more that just the four-day seminar. Several seminars were held throughout South Carolina this summer, and more than 200 rising seniors attended them.

College Summit is part of their daily curriculum throughout their senior year. In some school districts, it is a stand-alone class; in others the material is integrated into another academic class. During the 2008-09 school year, more than 1,300 South Carolina students will participate.

Ms. Rhinehart's goal is to get as many South Carolina students into college as possible. She said the transition from high school to college should be as routine as the one from middle to high school. The program has been in South Carolina since 2004.