MikeLigalig.com

By Marshall Loeb
marketwatch.com

An advice to parents...
Here are four things parents can do to help ensure their kids successfully matriculate:

   1. Stress the importance of studying and time management. A review of more than 100 retention studies in 2004 determined that strong study habits and time-management skills were better predictors of who would go on to graduate than high school grades or test scores.

   2. Make sure that students address gaps in their education. Incoming students who lack basic reading, writing or math skills risk getting in over their heads. If your children need extra help, suggest that they use their first year to take some remedial classes. It's important that they take steps to fill these gaps early on, as most college dropouts leave by the end of their first year.

   3. Encourage them to get involved. Students who join clubs or participate in other campus activities early in their freshman year are more likely to effectively assimilate, according to Raley. "One of the key influences on a student's commitment to completing college is whether the student successfully integrates into social circles," Raley writes.

   4. Don't disengage. Entering college is a challenging transition, so take the time to ask your child about grades, social network and general state of mind. If you find that they are having a hard time connecting with peers or faculty, it may be time for a reappraisal. Students sometimes falter when they find themselves surrounded by people who don't share their values or culture, Raley warns. Perhaps your child should consider moving to a different dorm -- or even a different school?

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