Tips for avoiding Summer Melt

Graduation season is our favorite time of the year. And for good reason. It’s the culmination of hard work, dedication and overcoming tremendous challenges. Maintaining the momentum to push forward, particularly during summer months can be difficult, so we fervently celebrate high school and college graduates, acknowledging each student’s will to succeed.

For our high school seniors, we celebrate not only that they have reached graduation, but we also celebrate that they are committing to attending college this fall. So when the school year ramps down, our summer transition activities ramp up to ensure that students stay engaged and ready for college in just a few short months.  

State-wide celebrations 

All around the state, year-end celebrations brought together CSF Scholars and their families, CSF advisors, school faculty, and local community supporters to honor students’ incredible determination as they graduate and commit to continue to college in the fall. From Seattle to Yakima and Spokane; from Port Angeles to Tacoma, our students glowed with optimism as the whole community rallied around to cheer them on. 

What is “summer melt” – and why does it matter? 

“Summer melt” is a phenomenon that affects recently-graduated high school students from fulfilling their intention to attend college. Despite applying to, being accepted by, and/or making a deposit to their college of choice, these students are susceptible to losing sight of higher ed opportunities due to loss of momentum during the critical summer months. It has less to do with a student’s intentions or desires, and more to do with whether they have the resources they need to navigate the complex forms and processes that prevent them from reaching the finish line. And it’s a serious issue. According to the Center for Education Policy Research at Harvard University, an estimated 10-40% of high school students who intend to enroll in college the following fall never actually do so.  

Furthermore, students most underrepresented on college campuses (e.g., students of color, students from low-income backgrounds and first-generation students) are the most vulnerable to the challenges of “summer melt.” The pandemic has further exacerbated this problem with many students feeling more drawn to immediately generating income. Or questioning the value of campus life when the pandemic so gravely affected the full potential of the college experience. 

Summer transition activities to keep students engaged 

As the thermometer rises, so do the summer transition activities. Throughout the summer we’ve been hosting in-person and virtual webinars to provide students easy access to discussions and resources on relevant topics for college first-years, such as:  

• “Crunching the Numbers” provides budgeting tips for new college students, and continues to deepen their understanding of financial aid and scholarships. 
• “Managing Stress in Times of Uncertainty” shares stress management strategies that help students navigate the new demands of college. 
• “Building Community on Campus” arms students with the why’s and how’s for finding resources, support and connection on their college campus. 
• “Working During Your First Year” acknowledges that a majority of our students will need to work while attending college, so we share insights on how to successfully juggle both.  

CSF Advisors are actively coaching and engaging with students, including at our virtual drop-in Zoom sessions every Monday where students can chat with a CSF Advisor on anything related to their high school to college transition.  

Despite all the challenges and setbacks since the onset of the pandemic, we remain optimistic about the future and believe in the full potential of our scholars. We’ll continue to do everything in our power to help them succeed.