Adults who have chosen to interrupt their educational careers often face the problem of rusty academic skills. The Veterans Upward Bound Program at Humboldt State University developed a ten-week college preparatory program designed to help these people make the transition to college life with appropriate academic skills. Two different mathematics courses were offered. Based on scores on the McGraw-Hill Basic Skills System Mathematics Test students were sorted into a high skills algebra program or an individualized progressive basic mathematics through algebra program for the less well prepared. The individualized program utilized commercially available materials and was designed as a remedial or developmental program while the algebra class was taught in traditional lecture format. In three academic quarters the individualized program produced a greater degree of test score improvement and a greater than expected preparation of students for college algebra. (Author/MP)