Her dad works at a nursery and is the sole provider for a wife at home with arthritis and six children. The family lives in a two-bedroom Fallbrook apartment.

JOHN GASTALDO / Union-Tribune Marcos worked on a team project with Elaine Navarro (center) of Ladera Ranch and Miriam Viduarri. They are part of CAMP, which helps children from immigrant families get into Cal State San Marcos.

JOHN GASTALDO / Union-Tribune Alejandro Cruz (right), Adam Aguilar and Lilian Serrano walked to class one morning during the six-week summer program they're attending to help them get into Cal State San Marcos.

“Some of us sleep in the living room,” said Lopez, 18. “My dad's working by himself, and I want to help my family. I need to contribute.”

Her goal? A degree from Cal State San Marcos. To aid her dream, Lopez is among 41 incoming freshmen from immigrant families participating in the six-week summer College Assistance Migrant Program, which includes instruction in math, writing, computers and study skills.

The Cal State San Marcos program culminates more than a year's worth of efforts to get these students into college. It is funded through a five-year, $2.2 million U.S. Department of Education grant that also pays for other services ranging from high school outreach to counseling of freshmen.

About 225 students have gone through the program since its inception in 2002. Ninety-five percent of participating freshmen have gone on to their sophomore year – much higher than the school's 70 percent rate – and 36 students have earned bachelor's degrees.

All the students in the program are legal U.S. residents.

“We've been working with these students for over a year just to get them to our campus,” said Minerva Gonzalez, director of the College Assistance Migrant Program, or CAMP.

CAMP staff members begin by reviewing the transcripts of potential Cal State San Marcos students while they're in high school.

“Then we do interventions – 'Hey, you're missing a class in math. You need to take that before you graduate,' ” Minerva said. “We sit down with them and go through a whole educational plan and tell them what they have to do to get into Cal State San Marcos.”

CAMP staffers guide students through the application process for college admissions and financial aid. For many students, that support is what makes it possible to not just get into college, but attend it.

Take 17-year-old Jose Peralta.

He graduated from Brawley Union High School in Imperial Valley. While Jose attended high school, his father worked in the fields and his mother was a homemaker.

They didn't have money for a university education. Everyone Jose knew either went to community college or worked after high school.

“University” wasn't even in his lexicon.

“I never thought about being in a college like this,” he said. “I never thought I'd get in.”

But when Jose applied to Cal State San Marcos at the urging of an adviser, he was admitted. When he was subsequently denied financial aid, he put it out of his mind.

But the CAMP staff didn't. An adviser called Jose's house. He didn't return her call.

“I thought, 'Why talk to her if I'm not going to go?' ” he said.

But she was persistent, calling repeatedly until she finally got Jose on the line. She helped him get the aid he needed.

Izabel Solis, another CAMP adviser, said that without college-educated parents to guide them, these students often make missteps when applying for financial aid. CAMP staffers make sure the students get what they're entitled to.

The first day of the summer program was July 7. It runs from 8 a.m to 5 p.m. Students from out of town stay in on-campus housing. Math classes, mostly remedial, are offered in the mornings. Then the students do team-building activities.

After lunch, they attend their general-education course, which all Cal State San Marcos freshmen are required to take. They learn about study skills, time management and how to use the campus career center and library. There is also a literature and writing component.

The immigrant population is especially vulnerable. Often, they struggle with English and math. They may have moved from school to school growing up and have academic gaps. There are also financial hurdles.

“Some of our students will drop out because they are the eldest in their families, and their father is no longer working,” Gonzalez said. “They have to work full time to contribute.”

Gonzalez said helping these students attain a college degree will lead to them becoming contributing members of the economy and taxpaying citizens.

“If we want them to be whole American citizens in our society, an education is one of those great equalizers,” she said.

Students speak highly of the program.

“You meet new people, so when you come in the fall you're not an outcast,” said Miguel Reyes, 17, who recently graduated from Mission Hills High School in San Marcos.

When summer is over, the program doesn't end. Throughout freshman year, there are workshops, counseling, tutoring and stipends to make up for gaps in financial aid.

“This will make freshman year easier,” Lopez said.

Sherry Saavedra: (619) 542-4598; sherry.saavedra@uniontrib.com