The following is presented as part of The Columbian’s Opinion content, which offers a point of view in order to provoke thought and debate of civic issues. Opinions represent the viewpoint of the author. Unsigned editorials represent the consensus opinion of The Columbian’s editorial board, which operates independently of the news department.
The summer before his freshman year of college, David Hernandez got a notice from the University of California asking him for a housing deposit he had no idea was due.
Hernandez — the first in his family to attend college — was oblivious to the fact that, as a minority student on financial aid, he had access to more affordable housing options. So he worked all summer, got his bill paid and made sure he secured a job close to his new campus as well. He showed up to his dorm room on the first day in uniform, fresh off his shift at a local pizza place.
At least he got there.
Many students in the same position — high school graduates who were accepted to a college or university for the fall — never arrive on campus, due to unexpected financial pressures, unfamiliarity or just plain fear.
This phenomenon is called “summer melt.” Harvard University’s Strategic Data Project analyzed longitudinal data from three large public school districts, and it estimates that rates of summer melt range from 10 percent to 40 percent of “college-intending” students.
The rates are even higher for students from low- and moderate-income families and for those with lower academic achievement. Melt rates are also considerably higher among students who intend to enroll at community colleges rather than four-year universities. And, as you can imagine, melt also tends to be higher at schools with greater proportions of students who qualified for free or reduced-price lunch.
Variety of challenges
The Fort Worth Independent School District in Texas had a summer-melt rate of 48 percent in 2010, according to Harvard’s study. But the rate was significantly higher for low-income and Latino graduates, who had melt rates of 56 percent and 59 percent, respectively. The melt rate for white students in the same district was 19 percent.
It should go without saying that students who are the first in their families to go to college are even likelier to “melt.” And it’s not always a money issue — though even students going to college on a full scholarship face unexpected expenses that threaten their plans.
Sometimes they’re scared to move away from a tight-knit family that may depend on them to help cover rent or food costs. Sometimes it’s fear that they won’t be able to hack it. And sometimes it’s just plain lack of emotional support or too much pressure to be everyone’s hope for a better future.
Hernandez says he’s pleased that more colleges and universities are investing in reducing summer melt, but it’s still crucial to build these young adults’ confidence throughout the summer.
Stay strong during the summer, incoming freshmen, and know that if you feel like melting away, someone at your new school will likely be eager to help — you just have to ask.
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