When college freshmen are asked what was the most difficult part of their first year at college, a vast majority respond that adjusting to classes at the college level and learning how to really study was the most stressful for them.

As many college freshmen quickly learn, it was possible to get good grades in high school without knowing how to study effectively and efficiently. Before your son or daughter gets to college, you can help him or her prepare for the pace of college classes by encouraging good study habits through the high school years.

• Have a designated study area for your son or daughter - A desk in the corner of a bedroom, a comfortable chair in the basement, or a dining room table are all potential study zones. The important thing is that this area is only used for studying; this will make it easier for your child to focus on the task at hand because an association develops between the place and the activity.
• Make sure there are no distractions - Distractions can include phone calls, computer games, e-mail, extraneous noise, television, friends, and even parents. Try not to interrupt your student when he or she is studying. Encourage the use of an answering machine. Your student must determine what level of noise he or she needs to concentrate best, so be flexible.
• Have plenty of room to work – Students who study in a clean, organized environment with supplies easily within reach can best concentrate on their work and accomplish their tasks efficiently.

• Allow study breaks – Researchers have found that students who study material for 50 minutes, take a 10 minute break, and study for another 50 minutes retain more information than students who try to study for four hours straight. Encourage your student to adopt this pattern of having a snack, stretching out, or walking around a bit between study sessions.
• Know how to schedule – It is important for your student to take note of the time usually needed to complete a task and allow enough time for it in his or her schedule. While assignments may vary, a student who has a general idea of his or her work pace can set realistic goals. This is an invaluable tool in college, and the more your student can learn about his or her own study habits in high school, the better.
• Set mock deadlines – This inspires students to finish an assignment early enough that it can be looked over and revised before it is turned in. This technique also helps manage assignments that share a real deadline when one of which can be completed ahead of schedule.

• Make a list of things to do – When a task is completed, the student is rewarded by the sense of accomplishment that comes with crossing the item off the list.
• Pile all of the necessary books on one side of the desk – As your student completes a subject, the pile gets smaller and he or she can see the progress being made.
• Work on a least favorite subject first – This technique encourages students to get less enjoyable subjects out of the way so more interesting tasks can serve as a reward.
• Use rewards effectively – Studies find that a small immediate reward, such as a piece of a candy bar, is more motivational than a delayed reward such as a trip to the movies next weekend.

What this comes down to is that eventually it will be up to your son or daughter to develop study habits for some challenging course work. You can help your student now by encouraging good study habits when the classes are not as challenging and supervision is available. That way, your son or daughter will already have the right study techniques to adapt to the rigors of college classes.