In the spring and summer of 1988, I was sitting in Germany with three U.S. graduate school admissions in hand, two of them to similar prestigious programs in Washington D.C. - Johns Hopkins University (SAIS) and Georgetown University. I didn't get to visit either campus. I had never been to the United States, had no emotional, family and other ties to either university. Where to attend?
The decision to attend Johns Hopkins came about through a random set of conversations with friends of friends and a German professor with prior exposure to both graduate schools.
As a result of my personal experience, I have a keen appreciation for the challenge of international students to choose suitable university programs in the United States. What can American universities do once the students have submitted deposits? The decision is critical for both sides. For the university, tuition revenue, achieving the desired mix of students, and minimizing melt are key factors. The student is frequently making a once-in-a-lifetime decision with important implications for his / her future. On a personal note, I met my future wife at graduate school, but little did I know that this was included as part of my school choice.
As we know, students drop out and change their mind for all types of reasons. University administrators have limited control if the student moves off of the waitlist at their first choice school.
Here are suggestions and thoughts about reducing summer melt:
- Continue to communicate with the student after enrollment: send updates, photos, videos from graduation, other summer activities.
- Express your excitement that the student will attend your university in the fall. Don't take it for granted.
- Try to reduce the anxiety of coming to the United States.
- Create a buddy system. Arrange matches between current students and incoming students. Maybe summer tour guides can be responsible for connecting with incoming students.
- Internationally you can use free video communication such as SKYPE, VSEE, QQ (China) to connect with students. Create an emotional bond. Answer questions. Often students who have existing peer groups from their country/region informally connect.
We all know that word-of-mouth is one of the most powerful recruiters. But this only helps the schools with large existing international student populations and favors students from the same country.
- Don't leave relationship building up to chance.
- Orientation events are common for international and domestic students. Build enthusiasm for such events. Send a university T-Shirt or hat if you can. Send little digital clues. Make it a game.
We realize that smaller schools have an easier time providing personalized attention. Large programs committed to minimizing summer melt, need to have processes in place to create that attention.
Please send us other examples for how you address summer melt for domestic and international students.
