For many students, college doesn't enter their minds during the first couple years of high school. By the time they begin to contemplate their futures it's often too late.

"The problem is that many students make decisions early on that close the doors," said Judy Maurice, Imperial County Office of Education associate superintendent.

That attitude is something ICOE administrators and the University of California system set out to change when they established a unique-to-Imperial County program called the College Going Initiative.

The UC system approached ICOE with the idea of creating a program that would bring together multiple student outreach programs with the goal of increasing the number of students eligible to gain entrance into the UC system. The initiative got off the ground in 2001.

Imperial County has the lowest UC eligibility rate in the state, said ICOE Superintendent John Anderson.

In 2000, only 7.5 percent of the county's students were eligible, compared to the state average of 12.5 percent.

After the implementation of the College Going Initiative, that number increased to 9.5 percent in 2001. However, initiative organizers still were short of the 12.5 percent statewide average.

Additionally, the number of Imperial County students admitted to the UC system are few. Every year the county sees a marked improvement but that growth isn't parallel with the growth in population.

In 1994, a meager 64 students were admitted to UC schools. In 2000 that number grew to 129; 130 in 2001; 154 in 2002.

The number of students who actually enroll in a UC is even fewer. In 1994 some 36 students enrolled at a UC school; 41 in 2001; and 99 in 2002.

By 2006, initiative organizers hope to substantially increase all those numbers.

Combining and augmenting programs that reach out to students and demystify the idea of attending college is the main objective of the College Going Initiative.

Outreach programs such as California State Summer School for Mathematics and Science — which places students on either the University of California, Irvine, Santa Cruz or Davis campuses — Upward Bound and Advancement Via Individual Determination are a few of the programs administrators hope to expand.

Another summer program called the Algebra Institute — first implemented at Brawley and Central union high schools — was so successful this summer it was offered at Calipatria High School and next year will be expanded to Bill Manes High School in San Pasqual.

Come September, Anderson hopes to cut loose the UC ties and work quasi-independently, looking to San Diego State University-Imperial Valley campus, Imperial Valley College and local businesses for contributions.

Doing so will allow districts to assess what their particular schools need, said Anderson.

Anderson also wants to encourage students to not only attend a UC but a California State University or private college.

"We want kids to be better prepared for whatever they need in life," said Anderson.

Doing so will involve ensuring every high school in the county offers the classes required by all UC, CSU and private colleges and familiarizing students with the college environment.

In September recruiters from more than eight UC and CSU campuses will visit each high school in the county.

If all goes well with the initiative, students will have their academic careers mapped out from the time they step onto the high school campus.

In the ninth grade students can attend summer academies and informational sessions. In 10th grade they can visit college campuses with their families. During their junior years they can study and take college placement exams, and their senior years they can focus on college activities and tours.