Despite many parents’ high hopes and excitement for their child’s college career to begin, the graduating high school class of 2006 has many dire, shocking expectations for what college life will bring.

A new survey of recent high school graduates from across the country found that a whopping 59 percent said that they expect to experience depression during their first year, 72 percent said they will probably get drunk at least once during the first month of school and 53 percent believe they will have to work so many hours in college that it will negatively impact their grades. Only 41 percent believe they’ll graduate college within four years and, even if they do, a stunning 74 percent believe they’ll have to move back in with their parents for at least six months after school due to debt. (The 2006 College Bound Reality Report).

These statistics, combined with the already startling statistic that nearly 50 percent of students will drop out or fail out of college, alert us to a growing crisis in our education system.

Though many high school graduates deeply worry about college – only 35 percent believe their high school education prepared them to succeed in college academically, and 37 percent think they’ll get in some kind of trouble at least once during their first year of school – there are some tried-and-true, easy-to-implement strategies for improving their chances at succeeding in their first year in college.

I recommend these 10 strategies to students for surviving and succeeding in their first year:

1. Live on campus and join a campus group within the first month of college.
2. Quickly build a “success squad,” a close group of peer mentors, advisors and professors who can help guide you and motivate you to stay in and excel in school.
3. Get a job, but don’t work more than 20 hour a week if possible so you have adequate study time.
4. Go to every class and build a close relationship with your professors.
5. Know by heart the requirements for success in each and every class
6. Create energy reserves by exercising regularly and eating right
7. Manage your money religiously and vigorously
8.  Protect your private information zealously to avoid identity theft
9. Make your own decisions about how to live your life and live your values
10. Make building strong relationships with your parents, peers and professors your “real” college major

These strategies are pretty straightforward, but, in my experience, rarely acted upon proactively or with consistency. The good news is that you have over a month left of summer to share these strategies with your son or daughter in advance of their first year. While you’re at it, be sure to listen to and validate their feelings and concerns about heading off to college. That way, if and when they do end up part of the 59-plus percent of students who become depressed in college, they’ll know who they can turn to for a shoulder to cry on and some sound advice.