Summer Melt

This has been one of the fastest school years (in my mind) that I have experienced.  It is hard to believe we are in the 3rd trimester already which consists of winding up the year, testing, Senior awards, and graduation, all while planning for the next school year.  With graduation coming just over two months from now I worry about our Seniors moving on to pursue their postsecondary plans.  Summer Melt has been a real concern for not only our Idaho students, but nationwide as a 2017 Harvard report estimates that 10-40% of all students fail to follow through on postsecondary enrollment plans they had when they graduated high school.  Potential roadblocks to students moving on with their plans include financial concerns, incomplete paperwork, and lack of connection with the college they had decided to attend.  In the State of Idaho we see a declining rate of students going on to college right after high school.  In the Class of 2021, only 37% of the state’s high school graduates went straight to college.  The COVID pandemic certainly contributes to this, as well as students choosing other options such as church missionary service, the military, or going straight to work.

This year as a College and Career Professional I have identified my students whom I am most worried about not following through with their post secondary plans.  Most of these students will be the first members of their families to attend college.  Others may still be working on FAFSA verification steps, need to complete new student orientation, or register for their classes.  Unfortunately my work contract ends the beginning of June and I am left to hope my students can find their way through the obstacles they are still facing at that time with college paperwork.  In my pursuit to improve the go on rate for my students I have made more of an effort this school year to help my students gain a trusted contact at their college of choice – someone they can reach out to for questions and assistance – and someone that will reach out to check on them as new students.  For some of these students it has been a CAMP advisor, a helpful financial aid officer, a campus recruiter, or a retention specialist.  Knowing that this year my students who may need the most help over the summer have that trusted contact helps ease my mind that their transition will go smoother than it would have otherwise.  Hopefully with further collaboration between high school college and career professionals and college personnel we can help out students find more success in starting and staying in higher education.

Richert, Kevin, I. C. S. F. 1. (2022, February 1). Sitting it out: Idaho’s college go-on Rate Falls once again. Idaho Capital Sun. Retrieved from https://idahocapitalsun.com/2022/02/01/sitting-it-out-idahos-college-go-on-rate-falls-once-again/

Tacket, W. L., Pasatta, K., & Pauken, E. (2018, May 31). Lessons learned from a summer melt prevention program. Journal of College Access. Retrieved from https://eric.ed.gov/?q=source%3A%22journal%2Bof%2Bcollege%2Baccess%22&ff1=locMichigan&id=EJ1182300

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Written by Jessica Butler, Region 6 Next Steps Idaho Ambassador (2021-2022)