Increasingly, colleges and universities have begun to recognize the potential of students who do not meet standard admissions criteria, or who, despite their talents and abilities, come from educational backgrounds that did not prepare them adequately for the rigors of higher education. As a result, many of these institutions use alternative admissions criteria and provide academic support for students with specific skill needs. Despite this new admissions stance, the best preparation for college is still a solid high school educational program that provides both a rich content background and the opportunity to develop academic and study skills that help assure college success. Many high schools offer these college preparatory skill programs to their students, and a growing number of colleges provide "transition" programs for students entering their school. This research brief departs from others in this series in that it provides a list of school-based programs designed to enhance academic skills for college-bound students and also showcases colleges and universities that make a special effort to recruit, retain and develop students entering under alternative admissions criteria. It is divided into three sections: (1) High School Skills Development Programs; (2) College-based Skills Development Programs for College-Bound Students; and (3) Postsecondary Institutions with Alternative Admissions Systems and Criteria. (Contains 73 online resources.)