Timely, personalized communication alongside support with financial aid and complex enrollment tasks, trusted relationships and summer advising can meaningfully increase college enrollment and persistence, particularly for low-income and first-generation students, according to a new report.
Researchers from University of Pittsburgh, the Brookings Institution and the Annenberg Institute at Brown University examined the phenomenon of “summer melt” — when college-intending high school graduates fail to matriculate — and found several strategies that local educational agencies can utilize to help students successfully transition to college.
Each year, between 10 and 20 percent of high school graduates who intend to go to college never enroll in the fall, and melt rates are significantly higher among low-income students. Researchers note that many students lose momentum in the months after graduation, when they are expected to finalize financial aid, register for classes and complete other enrollment steps just as their usual supports fade away.
For example, high schools often stop tracking students after graduation and counselors are unavailable over the summer, and while colleges have detailed information about tasks and deadlines, their communication with students may not begin until orientation or after enrollment deadlines have passed. As a result, many are met with unanticipated costs — such as housing deposits, meal plans or health insurance — or miss deadlines due to confusion related to administrative steps like submitting forms, signing up for orientation, completing placement tests and more.
“Both high schools and colleges have critical, complementary roles to play. High schools are best positioned to reach all students, especially those who haven’t yet committed to an institution, are applying late, or plan to attend community college,” the report states. “Districts that are well-positioned to lead summer melt efforts often have restructured staffing, funding, and data infrastructure. Districts that extend counselor roles, partner with community organizations, or implement year-round advising models, like those used by the College Advising Corps, are better equipped to ensure students follow through on their college plans. Policies for archiving senior records may also need adjustment so that summer support staff and college access partners can view key data (e.g., graduation lists, contact information, FAFSA completion, and college intentions). With the right systems in place, districts can close the support gap, help students follow through on their college plans, and strengthen the long-term impact of their college access investments.”
Strategies for improvement
The report identifies four models determined to be effective in reducing summer melt, including behavioral nudges and messaging, counselor-led summer outreach, peer or near-peer mentoring, and summer bridge programs. Each model includes examples of effective programs and their content, and descriptions of delivery methods and the infrastructure required to maintain high-quality programming.
Researchers also identified eight common elements across the range of successful models that LEAs can integrate into existing supports, even if they aren’t replicating a full programmatic model. They include:
Starting early and extending support beyond graduation. The most effective programs start as early as junior year and extend into the post-graduation period when traditional guidance structures fade and students face critical next steps on their own.
Focusing support on students most at risk of summer melt. This includes students from low-income families, first-generation college-goers and those attending community colleges. Focusing on these students ensures limited resources are allocated where they are needed most.
Building trust between support providers and students. The report found that students are more likely to respond to support from people and institutions they know, relate to or affiliate with. Programs that build on existing trust by training school counselors, hiring recent alumni as mentors, or partnering with college staff to offer credible, consistent guidance have found success in reducing summer melt.
Creating and supporting year-round college access roles. Summer melt programs are most effective when staff are both available and well-prepared to support students through the summer transition. Districts can create 12-month counselor or college-access positions, or provide summer stipends, to ensure students have access to guidance when it’s needed most. Staff should also receive targeted training and supervision to help them address students’ logistical and emotional needs effectively, the report states.
