1. Put the Freeze on Summer Melt
Dana Evans, Senior Consultant
April 26, 2012
2. PUT THE FREEZE ON SUMMER MELT
Put the Freeze
on Summer Melt
What we will cover today:
• Statistics
• Why we experience summer melt
• Who is at risk for summer melt
• Ideas to stop summer melt
3. PUT THE FREEZE ON SUMMER MELT
What We Know:
• Average yield is down 41% for 4-year
colleges
Statistics from NACAC State of College Admissions and Noel Levitz Cost of Recruiting
Undergraduate Students
4. PUT THE FREEZE ON SUMMER MELT
What It Costs You:
• $2,185 – 4-year private college
median cost to recruit new
undergrads
• $457 – 4-year public college median
cost to recruit new undergrads
Statistics from NACAC State of College Admissions and Noel Levitz Cost of Recruiting
Undergraduate Students
5. PUT THE FREEZE ON SUMMER MELT
Why do we experience
summer melt?
• Students get off a wait list
• Cold feet (second thoughts)
about attending college
• Receive tuition bill
6. PUT THE FREEZE ON SUMMER MELT
Who is “at risk” for
summer melt?
• Identify warning signs
‣ Less than enthusiastic students
‣ Students missing deadlines
‣ Those on a wait list at another college or
university
7. PUT THE FREEZE ON SUMMER MELT
Who is “at risk” for
summer melt?
• Find out who is more historically at risk. . .
‣ Those who deposit early or those who deposit
late?
‣ Early applicants or late applicants?
‣ Those who live geographically close to the
school or greater distances?
‣ What about academic criteria? Academically
weak or strong students?
8. PUT THE FREEZE ON SUMMER MELT
Stop Summer
Melt by . . .
• Building relationships between
students and your college.
• Putting time to the task – where
should you spend your time?
• Make it a priority
• Don’t move on too fast
9. PUT THE FREEZE ON SUMMER MELT
Stop Summer
Melt by . . .
• Communicating with students
who have deposited
• Communicating with parents
• Partner with others on campus
• Housing
• Registration
• Orientation
•Personalization
10. PUT THE FREEZE ON SUMMER MELT
Stop Summer
Melt by . . .
Engaging new students
throughout the summer:
• Alumni hosted send-offs
• Facebook, class of 2016
• Connect them with current
students
• Fun surveys for the
incoming class
11. PUT THE FREEZE ON SUMMER MELT
Final Thoughts:
• Create a post-yield plan
• Debrief as a staff
• Put it in writing
• Evaluate
13. PUT THE FREEZE ON SUMMER MELT
Thank you
Janet Sieff Dana Evans
412-904-3133 336-655-2137
janet@psandl.com devans@psandl.com
www.psandl.com
SMART
(Sales Management and Academic Recruitment Training)
