Steps for Transitioning Recent Graduates in the Summer

It's graduation season! We want to thank you, counselors and advisors, for the pivotal role that you played in preparing your students and their families for this momentous event.

We suspect your campuses will be abuzz those first few weeks of June as recent graduates revisit their high school campuses to pick up official diplomas and request final transcripts. Some students might even come to campus looking for you to further discuss their postsecondary plans. If your responsibilities include assisting recent graduates with their transition, we have some tips, strategies and resources for you that are informed and inspired by the work of Benjamin L. Castleman and Lindsay C. Page in the book Summer Melt: Supporting Low-Income Students Through the Transition to College.

Here are some common challenges recent graduates encounter, and some suggestions on how to address those over the summer months:

Challenge #1: The summer after graduation marks a moment when graduates, usually tired from a lifetime of educational experiences, feel less drawn to higher education because of the lure of other opportunities for more immediate employment or connection. They experience a sudden lack of confidence in their skills and abilities, and they begin to doubt their competence.

Right after Seniors graduate in the Summer consider:

1. Cohort programming for students attending the same college.  This type of summer programming can be completely formal and/or informal.  Any chance to get the students together who are attending the same college is beneficial because it allows for them to connect and chat about what they have (or have not!) completed in order to step foot onto campus in the Fall.  It is always good for them to build connections and friendships which they can rely on later when they’re in college.  You might want to even consider programming: focused on intending location - those attending out-of-state, those in-state but not local, and those that are local; those attending highly selective institutions, etc.  In these instances conversation can be focused on what they are likely to encounter and ways to address that challenge proactively. 

2. Send-off events or alumni socials.  They had their high school graduation at the beginning of the summer, and now recent graduates get the chance to come back to campus right before the start of the school year.  This is a great time to be recognized and honored by staff, reconnected with their graduating class, and updated on anything related to postsecondary transition.  

Challenge #2:  High school graduates experience significant financial struggles during the summer. 

During the Summer encourage graduates to:

1. Leverage their college campus connections.  If they are encountering or anticipate some specific financial challenges that could impact their ability to pay their Fall bill and/or get to campus, they should reach out to the financial aid office immediately to review their options.  The financial aid office at that college is in the best position to advise students for that college.  We've seen students: 

2. Sign-up for monthly payment plans.  These plans allow for students to pay portions of their bill each month versus paying once in August and then in January.  Have students ask if there are any fees or interest associated with this option.  

3. Secure small, emergency loans.  These loans come from the university and are short-term, sometimes without interest.  These loans are typically issued not for paying tuition, but rather to aid with those indirect costs like books and transportation.  

4. Direct deposit their financial aid.  Financial aid officers are increasingly encouraging students to direct deposit their aid so that it shows up quicker in their account than a paper check that needs to be picked up.  Students should see if this is an option.  It can provide those immediate funds that are required to cover immediate, indirect costs.  Students should always be ready to cover their direct costs (tuition and fees, housing and meal plans) before using aid to cover indirect costs.  

Challenge #3:  Graduates often underestimate or misunderstand all of the academic and transitional tasks associated with getting to and succeeding that first semester.  

During the Summer:

1. Consider following up with graduates through text nudges.  Students, and sometimes parents/caregivers, would receive brief reminders via text about completing these transition tasks.  They also serve as a way to stay connected and encourage asking for help when anything is unclear or uncertain.  Many College and Career Readiness Platforms now have the technology to text students through that platform.  If your school uses one, check to see if this technology is available.  

2. Hold office hours.  Maybe you're setting up for the next school year and you're on campus, consider holding space and time where graduates can drop-in and get direct support from you on whatever tasks they still need to complete.  

Log-in for free to Contigo Ed's on-demand resources to access more Transition & Summer Melt support. We have resources like Transition Checklists and practitioner-centered videos that will walk you step-by-step on bringing this kind of programming to life.