Stop Summer Melt Early

Each spring, high school seniors across the country tear open acceptance letters, share their joy on social media, and picture themselves stepping onto campus in the fall. But for thousands of students, those dreams quietly slip away before college even begins. This phenomenon is known as summer melt and is both common and preventable.

Summer melt refers to what happens when students who intended to enroll in college never actually make it to the first day of class. It’s not because they changed their minds about college.

"Often, it’s because of small, fixable things: missed deadlines, confusion about bills, or uncertainty about what comes next."

The good news? There’s a way through. The summer between high school and college doesn’t have to be filled with stress or setbacks. With some planning and a bit of guidance; students and families can move forward with confidence.

The Small Gaps That Create Big Problems

Imagine a student who’s done everything right so far. They applied to college, got accepted, and celebrated the achievement. Then comes summer. Emails about housing, tuition bills, and orientation flood in. Deadlines pass quietly in the background of part-time jobs, summer trips, or simple overwhelm. By the time September arrives, they’ve missed too many steps to start school on time.

Summer melt doesn’t usually come down to one big mistake. It’s the result of little things that add up. A forgotten immunization form. A housing deposit that didn’t get paid. A tuition bill that felt confusing. These aren’t problems of ability or ambition—they’re logistical snags that can trip up any student.

And they can be prevented.

The Tools That Keep Students on Track

If there’s one piece of advice that matters most, it’s this: get organized early. Write down every deadline from housing, tuition payments, orientation to final transcripts. Set reminders. Use a calendar that works for you. Navicore Partners offers a free College Planning Checklist, a simple tool that breaks down the major tasks and dates that matter.

Understanding tuition payment plans is another key step. Many colleges allow families to split tuition into smaller monthly payments, making costs more manageable. But these plans often require early setup. Waiting until August or September can create last-minute headaches. Navicore’s Paying for College Hub offers guidance on how these plans work, along with tips for managing other college costs.

Then there’s financial aid. Even if you’ve submitted the FAFSA®, it’s important to check that all parts of the process are complete. Is your loan entrance counseling done? Are your scholarships applied to your bill? Navicore’s Scholarship & Grant Hub can point you to extra funding opportunities that might still be available.

One detail that often catches families by surprise is FERPA, the Family Educational Rights and Privacy Act. Once a student starts college, schools can’t share information about grades, bills, or other records with parents unless the student gives permission. It’s worth having that conversation now, so you can fill out any needed forms before the semester begins.

The Power of Early Connection

There’s a lot to be said for making contact early. Reach out to financial aid, housing, or academic advising offices now, not later. Ask questions. Make sure you’re on the right path. Many colleges offer summer bridge programs, orientation workshops, or online tools designed to help students adjust before classes start.

And if you’re ever unsure about bills, forms, deadlines, or anything else, call the college. The sooner, the better.

Moving Forward, One Step at a Time

The transition from high school to college is full of excitement. But it can also be full of small, hidden tasks that are easy to overlook. Summer melt doesn’t happen because students don’t care. It happens because the final steps are harder to navigate than most people expect.

With a bit of planning—and the right support—you can keep those college dreams on track.

Resources to Explore

• Navicore College Tools — Planning checklists and guides

• Navicore Scholarship & Grant Hub — Search for funding

• Navicore Paying for College Hub — Tips for tuition and payment plans

• Federal Student Aid — Manage FAFSA® and federal loans