The University invites students who would benefit from this high school-to-college transition program to apply to the Summer Bridge Program. Applicants must be admitted to UNC-Chapel Hill and be residents of North Carolina. Program enrollment is limited to approximately sixty entering first-year students.

The program emphasizes recruitment of students from small and medium size high schools. Students from such backgrounds sometimes experience difficulty adjusting to a much larger academic environment and diverse class setting. Consequently, the program attempts to reaffirm the self-confidence and self-esteem of every student. Additionally, those who did not enroll in Advanced Placement courses are encouraged to apply for this program.

Admission to the program is based on, but not limited to, the following criteria: 1) Scholastic Assessment Test (SAT) scores; 2) high school courses and grades; 3) high school class rank; 4) the size of the student's senior class; and 5) extracurricular and leadership activities. Selection is based on students who might benefit most from the program and who are interested in working in a highly structured and culturally diverse environment. For placement purposes only, students are required to submit the results of the Math SAT IIC.