NEW YORK — Only about 40 percent of students entering public four-year colleges will graduate. For those attending private institutions, graduation rates hover around 57 percent.

So how can parents keep college freshmen from ending up on the wrong end of this bell curve? Helping them adjust to life outside the nest is critical, reports Scientific American Mind contributor Yvonne Raley, associate dean at Felician College.

Here are four things parents can do to help ensure a successful transition:

• Stress the importance of studying and time management. A 2004 review found strong study habits and time-management skills were better predictors of who would go on to graduate than high school grades or test scores.

• Make sure that students address gaps in their education, taking remedial classes early if necessary.

• Encourage participation in clubs or campus activities to effectively assimilate.

• Don't disengage. Take the time to ask your child about grades, social network and general state of mind. Students sometimes falter when surrounded by people who don't share their values or culture. Perhaps your child should consider moving to a different dorm or school.

By MCT News Service