Only 15 percent of West Virginians 25 and older have a bachelors degreethe lowest in the nation, according to the Census Bureau.

To close the education gap, West Virginia University is playing host this week to College Summit, an intense, four-day crash course in getting into college.

The programfilled with seminars designed to make the application process go smoothlyruns from Thursday, July 15, through Sunday, July 18, at the Evansdale Residential Complex. Thirty-five rising seniors from Kanawha and Hampshire counties are participating.

The Summits mission is to put college within the reach of every student,said Mandy Weaver, WVU admissions counselor.Some of these low-income students may become the first in their families to go to college.

Students will learn all the ins and outs of the admissions processhow to put together an effective admission essay with the help of a writing coach, for example, or how to apply for financial aid and scholarships, she added.

They will also get a taste of college life by spending three nights in a residence hall and visiting the Student Recreation Center.

Jennifer McIntosh, executive officer of the Presidents Office for Social Justice, will be the guest speaker at a banquet at 7 p.m. Saturday, July 17, in the ERC Banquet Hall.

Started in 1993, in the basement of a low-income housing project in Washington, D.C., College Summit works with colleges and universities to helpunderrepresentedkids prepare for higher education.

Nationwide, 46 percent of low-income students go to college. Nearly 80 percent of those who complete the seminars enroll in college with an 80 percent retention rate, said Summit officials.

The nonprofit organization was profiled in the Bush Administrations Education Department Report on College Access Innovations and featured during former President Clintons National Youth Conference.

This year, College Summit is conducting five workshops in West Virginia with nearly 1,000 students from eight counties served by the initiative.