Why Students Stall Before They Start
Students stall for reasons that are often preventable:
• Financial barriers and confusion: Aid letters that arrive late or seem unclear can derail plans. One study found 22% 2 of the lowest-income; college-intending students never matriculated. • Administrative hurdles: Complex portals, multiple deadlines, and unclear communications create friction. • Life demands: Work, family, or health responsibilities compete for time and resources. • Lack of belonging: Without affirmation, students doubt whether they fit or can succeed. Even new access strategies don’t solve the issue on their own. Direct admissions – where institutions automatically admit students who meet criteria – is growing quickly. Idaho’s statewide program produced a 4-8% increase in first-time undergraduate enrollment 3 , and SUNY’s direct-admissions initiative offered admission to 125,000 high-school seniors statewide, helping drive overall system enrollment up 2.3% in Fall 2024.⁴ But large-scale studies show that while direct admissions increases intent, it often shows no significant increase in ultimate enrollment. The result: access without follow-through. The real challenge shifts from “getting in” to “showing up.” “We have great campaigns to bring students in, but not enough hours in the day to keep them moving once they’ve raised their hand,” one enrollment director admitted. “The gaps aren’t in our intent – they’re in our bandwidth.”
4
Powered by FlippingBook