Summer Melt: “A phenomenon in which students pay a deposit to attend a particular college but unfortunately do not matriculate at that college or any other college in the fall.”
Scary right? I know!
The summer melt is the Boogeyman of all college-bound students and creates anxiety and fear in the hearts of college access professionals everywhere. You would think that recent developments in technology and more frequent outreach attempts would help to remedy the situation but unfortunately, it is showing no signs of slowing down. The summer melt affects about 40% of college intending students but disproportionately affects low-income students and students of color. Contributing factors range from lack of access to resources and information, incomplete enrollment steps, poor support system, and procrastination.
There are many things we can do as a community to beat the melt but it requires that we step up to take action to help students avoid being swept up in the chaos. Here is a list of important steps that need to be completed to ensure that students are able to sit for the first day of classes this fall:
- Accept financial aid awards by or before the deadline! Can’t pay for school if there aren’t any funds available.
- Submit paperwork for verification if selected. This step takes a long time because the IRS has to be brought into the mix. Letters of non-filing and IRS Tax Transcripts can take up to 2-3 weeks to come in the mail which can delay award letters that break down the aid amount and cause funds to also be disbursed too late. 😷 COVID-19 Update: Check with the college to get guidance on verification form submission. Some may ask for tax forms instead of the tax transcript.
- Take college placement exams to see if remedial courses are needed or which college-level courses they qualify for. Some schools will defer students to the following semester if they handle this too late. This must be a priority!
- Complete housing forms and put down a deposit. Not taking care of this may cause some challenges to housing security in the future. This is another reason why some students melt. 😷 COVID-19 Update: Check in with the school to see if they will be housing students on campus or if there is another plan for the fall.
- Submit all paperwork and documents to the right offices by the deadline. Immunization, residency, etc. are standard and can delay enrollment if not submitted on time.
- Settle all bills and decide how to pay the balance.
- Attend orientation.
- Register for classes.
If you know a young person who will be a first-time freshman this fall, connect them to my app “On Track For College” so that they can get access my Smooth Transition Tips and Off To College Transition Resources. Feel free to download using this link Bit.ly/downloadotc and share widely!
Learn more about Mizz P.’s offerings here: www.mizzp.nyc