A College Admissions Feel Good Story about Resilience…and Avoiding Summer Melt

Gabi has had a long-term ambition to finish college, attend law school, and advocate for those who are unable to advocate for themselves. This desire is born of experience but that is her story to tell.

Academically, Gabi is a strong student, but like many without access to test prep, her SAT scores (solid in math, less so in reading) did not reflect her full potential. Outside the classroom, Gabi also excelled but had to limit her activities to assist her family with childcare and bill paying. When I first met with Gabi I knew that she would be an ideal candidate for FSU’s CARE Program, a wonderful mentor-based  program and a perfect destination for students like Gabi who are first generation in college and who face economic hardship.

With some diligent work on her application last summer, Gabi applied to FSU and a handful of other Florida universities (As I mentioned she attended our Summer Application Bootcamp and completed her college applications with the coaching of my team). In December she was initially deferred by FSU but, undeterred and after writing a letter of continued interest, she was later admitted with a spot in the CARE Program! Her acceptance came with additional scholarship, but not enough to ensure that Gabi would be the first in her family to attend college.

The scholarship left Gabi about $4,600 short per year, an insurmountable amount for her family and one that caused much consternation and worry.

This was back in March. We had one lever left to pull: Florida Bright Futures. As I explained to Gabi…if she would consider prepping for and taking the SAT once more, in May, she could earn a Bright Futures award (Florida’s state merit scholarship for students who attend a college in Florida). She hadn’t realized that this was an option still open to her. Gabi studied HARD and retook the test, crushing past the barrier and earning a FL Medallion Scholarship (Bright Futures) which covered the remaining cost of attendance.

I wish the story ends there, but…Gabi received a notice from FSU last week that she was not compliant with FSU’s admissions requirements.

You see FSU, like several other Florida universities, requires students to self-report high school grades. Gabi had complied initially, but then…Gabi neglected to report her final grades, one of which was below a C. Gabi had one day to respond with an explanation; failure to properly do so would result in a cancellation of her admission.

As I knew she would, Gabi took full responsibility for her grade. She owned it, while at the same time she assured FSU that this was an exception, and she would approach her studies with diligence and professionalism.

At the last minute, literally the day before her departure to FSU to start her summer term and the CARE Orientation, we helped Gabi update her SSAR (the self-reported grading system) and craft a Senior Statement that explained her poor grade. Credit to FSU that the school accepted her statement and opted NOT to rescind Gabi’s admission.  

She is now, as we speak, fully immersed in the CARE Program at FSU, looking ahead to a bright future (no pun intended) and preparing to start her college career.

Thankfully, what Gabi was able to avoid is something referred to as Summer Melt, which is unfortunately a common occurrence at many colleges and universities. Too many students, many of them from Title 1 high schools who lack proper resources and guidance, fail to show up at universities despite having been accepted and paying an enrollment deposit. According to Harvard research, anywhere from 10%-40% of college-intending students fail to report to school for a variety of reasons. The problem is particularly acute among students in the lower income brackets.

Gabi benefited by having access to resources to help her through each step of the process, and then she took initiative each step of the way to improve her circumstances. She learned about the FSU Care Program, which would have otherwise been unknown to her, and she proceeded to apply. She received professional guidance on her application and essay, and she accepted that feedback. When she was deferred she didn’t panic or quit; rather, she followed the process and defended her candidacy which led to her admission. When faced with a financial obstacle, she learned how to overcome it, and through hard work and commitment she earned additional scholarship dollars. And finally, when her matriculation was threatened she once again (OK, after wiping away some tears and completing breathing exercises), followed the steps to defend her candidacy.

When it comes to college admissions, the process is not always straightforward. Having the right guidance can make the difference between admission and denial, between affording college or not. If you’re the parent of a college-bound teen, I invite you to make the right decision for your child to give him/her the best chance to succeed. Let’s have a conversation.