Prevent Summer Melt

Question 1

What is summer melt?

Answer 1

Summer melt is the phenomenon of prospective college students’ motivation to attend college “melting” away during the summer between the end of high school and beginning of college.

Question 2

What students are at most risk for summer melt?

Answer 2

• Higher among low and moderate income families
• students from families with lower academic achievement
• students who’s prespective school is a community college

Question 3

What are some common tasks for counselors to help reduce and prevent summer melt?

Answer 3

1. Determining cost of attendance
2. Making sense of financial aid award letters
3. Understanding tuition bills and required deposits
4. Identifying and budgeting for expenses (i.e. health insurance, textbooks, meals)
5. Registering for and attending orientation
6. Receiving required immunizations
7. Taking placement tests
8. Completing housing forms
9. Registering for classes
10. Arranging transportation
11. Accessing and navigating online portals

Question 4

What are some strategies to help students at risk for summer melt?

Answer 4

1. providing direct outreach via texts, e-mails and phone calls
2. forming collaborative relationships and establishing outside contacts
3. communicating with parents
4. adjusting work hours to meet student and parent schedules; advocating on behalf of students to university and college admissions, financial aid, housing and student affairs offices.

Question 5

What are some things counselors should know?

Answer 5

i. Should have general understanding about financial aid and college going process
ii. Should be able to provide continuous support with the transition process
iii. Advocate restructuring of the school’s counselor contracts and priorities
iv. Partner with colleges to reduce summer melt

Question 6

What times of events should counselors create for students?

Answer 6

Provide workshops and hands-on assistance to students and their families in completing the FAFSA form.

ii. Schedule FAFSA completion events before major deadlines.
iii. Organize a meeting, and invite stakeholders invested in increasing college opportunity in your community.

Question 7

What are some tasks for counselors to reduce summer melt?

Answer 7

i. Design interventions to reach out to college-intending students
ii. Connect students and parents to web-based resources that demonstrate the importance of FAFSA completion.
iii. Administer a student exit survey to gather contact information and the most current student information.
iv. Build collaborative relationships with others who are also committed to addressing summer melt