After graduation, roughly 10-40% of students planning to attend college in the fall never enroll, but the counselor-led Summer Melt program seeks to help students in this transition. Students in need are able to contact summer counselor Mary Hobbs for help with paperwork, admission decisions, TSI testing and more starting June 3.
“After the excitement of graduating, reality sets in and students want more information about their future,” Hobbs said. “I help with enrollment assistance to Austin Community College registration, orientation, financial aid, housing deadlines and college readiness.”
The program was first initiated in 2013, after a survey revealed a decline in the amount of graduates attending college or entering the workforce because of unexpected hurdles.
“Apartment and housing was something that was a big issue for me, no one really shows you how to get that done,” senior Ayush Chapagai said. “My parents really wanted me to go to UT Austin because it’s close to home, but unfortunately, I was a bit too late to accept the CAP program, and I didn’t have that option available to me anymore.”
As such, the program’s aid is extended to all McNeil graduates to ensure no one falls behind. Hobbs said she sends emails to all students throughout the summer to remind them of important deadlines.
“The process begins with an introduction, when I make contact over the summer, students tend to remember my name or the program’s name,” Hobbs said. “I then spend the next six weeks contacting them 1-2 times weekly on information about final college details.”
This support can be helpful for students as they run into complications while navigating the requirements needed to successfully enroll in school or enter the workforce in the fall.
“When I applied for FAFSA, I didn’t get any financial aid from the schools that I applied to,” senior Shennie Ye said. “I think it’s kind of daunting, especially [since] I’m going out of state, [but] I had help from my high school counselor.”
Due to the large number of students in need of help with finalizing their plans for the fall, the Summer Melt program remains a continued necessity that ensures students have support even after graduation.
“About 90% of the 13,000 Central Texas high school graduates indicate they plan to pursue postsecondary enrollment, but only 63 percent actually do,” Hobbs said. “Summer melt counselors are important in merging the transition for graduates from high school to college or work.”
After encountering issues like these, Chapagai said he had to look to many different sources for aid, something he found helpful.
“Dr Baker, when she was here, was helping me along with the journey of how to fill out FAFSA and how to get more money from the FAFSA as well,” Chapagai said. “College specialists help you out on what you need for college and financial aid and they break down the costs for you.”
