The Role of Pregraduation Counseling in Reducing “Summer Melt” for Low-Income Students

• In Event: Postsecondary Experiences of Low-Income Students and Families

Abstract

College enrollment rates for low-income students continue to lag behind enrollment rates for students from high-income families. One cause of these lower rates of enrollment is summer melt, a phenomenon through which students with strong intentions to attend college at the time of graduation drop out of the enrollment process over the summer and fail to enroll in the fall. This study evaluates the potential of GO Centers, college counseling centers in Texas high schools, to address summer melt by providing students with information and resources to facilitate the college application and financial aid processes. Results indicate that low-income students who use GO Centers are significantly less likely to end up as summer melt.

Author

• Lindsay Daugherty, RAND Corporation