A College Freshman Will Need More Help These Next Few Weeks.

The excitement of acceptance into that dream college has passed.  Or has it?

The first day of classes is still weeks away.  But the resources provided by high school teachers and school computer labs are no longer available for these new graduates.  That's when some college-bound students fall through the cracks and are at risk of abandoning higher education plans.

Researchers and academic counselors call it "summer melt."  Studies show that first-generation college students and those from low-income families are particularly vulnerable.  In St. Louis, a drop-in counseling center helps such students negotiate financial aid agreements, housing contracts and the other details of college enrollment.

School districts in Chicago, Dallas, Miami, Minnesota and West Virginia are among those using text messages to keep aspiring college students on track.

Source:  AP