It’s summer!! It’s finally heating up in most places and you might feel like you are melting especially if your community pool is closed because of COVID-19. However, “summer melt” means something very different for colleges. Each year, colleges require students to submit an enrollment deposit to enroll as freshmen in the fall usually by May 1st, but this year some colleges extended the deadline to June 1st. After that deposit deadline passes, colleges count up the number of deposits they have received and decide whether they need more students to fill their freshman class. If so, this may lead them to admit students who are on their waitlist. Those newly admitted students probably sent deposits to other colleges, but now those students tell the other colleges they are no longer going to attend, which means that other college has now an empty seat, and so on and so forth. That’s summer melt for colleges – students who had originally sent their deposit deciding later not to enroll, causing the college to fall short of their freshman class goals.
The pandemic has created a lot of anxiety for enrollment managers. Predictions of students deferring college enrollment all together or staying closer to home have admission directors eyeing their waitlists. Here at EdMission Possible, we are anticipating that students may hear from more colleges about waitlists and other offers even late into the summer.
What does “summer melt” mean for you?
Well, it means that if you were on the waitlist at a school, you might get admitted. Additionally, although unlikely, it’s possible that you could get a revised financial aid package from a college that admitted you. This may cause you to rethink your enrollment choice. However, unless it’s an admission offer from your dream college or a truly unbeatable scholarship award, you are probably better off sticking with your original deposit. You spent a lot of time weighing your options when you made that initial decision. Don’t second guess yourself unless there is a very compelling reason! Stick with what your gut tells you and look forward to freshman year with excitement.
Order a sweatshirt from the bookstore, get a sticker for your car, tell all your friends, and be proud of your choice. You did it! You are officially a college student!
At EdMission Possible, we help our students transition to college life with ease. If you have any questions during this important time of your life, call or e-mail us today.
Happy transitioning!
Warmly,
Burcak Deniz Cakir
Founder and President | EdMission Possible
Phone: +1(732)640-5550
E-mail: bdcakir@EdMissionPossible.com
Burcak Deniz Cakir has a B.A. in Foreign Language Education, an M.A. in English Language Teaching, and an M.B.A., all of which have laid the solid foundation for her professional experiences as an educator. She has completed the College Counseling Program at UCLA, which is known to be the most prestigious certificate program in the profession. She has previously taught English as a Foreign/Second Language (EFL/ESL) in Turkey and in the U.S. at Virginia Tech, Harcum College, Rutgers University (Newark and New Brunswick Campuses), and Pace University. Having taught EFL/ESL at the college level for over 20 years, Burcak can communicate effectively with college-age students from different countries. She is bilingual in Turkish and English. Her extensive experience with international students from many countries including but not limited to Turkey, Saudi Arabia, Korea, and China has given her the opportunity to understand their unique problems that domestic students may not be facing throughout the college admissions process, such as but not limited to extra testing requirements (TOEFL, IELTS), the translation of high school transcripts and recommendation letters, different financial forms and statements required, visa issues, being homesick, culture shock, etc.
Burcak is an Associate Member of the Independent Educational Consultants Association (IECA) and a Voting Member of the International Association for College Admission Counseling (IACAC). She currently lives in Edison, New Jersey with her husband, two daughters, and her four-legged son. In her free time, she can be found spending time with her family, reading (lots!) about college admissions and college essays, watching her favorite movies, getting lost in design magazines, and decorating her house.
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