The 5 biggest mistakes college kids make ...

Soon, more than 3 million students will start college. Here are the five most common mistakes freshmen make and how parents can set their kids on the path to success:

Problem: Cutting classes.

Many students figure they can miss six, eight, 10 lectures in each course and still do well.

Fix:

Encourage your child to take responsibility. Point out that on average, each lecture is 3% of the course and 1/350th of tuition cost ($35,000 tuition equals $100 a lecture, and $7,000 tuition equals $20 a lecture).

Problem: Overloading.

Some students make it a point of pride to take as many courses as allowed.

Fix:

Urge your child to sign up for the standard course load and concentrate on doing well in those. Point out that employers won't be impressed by quantity.

Problem: Oversurfing.

Students spend hours a day on Facebook, Twitter and YouTube, then complain that they don't have enough time for studying.

Fix:

Encourage your student to set up “media-free” zones each day.

Problem: Procrastinating.

Many students believe in “no work before its time.” Then they pull all-nighters when the crucial test or term paper is due.

Fix:

Impress on your child that careful planning and time management are essential to success in college, and that without parents and teachers to tell him what to do and when to do it, his success is in his own hands.

Problem: Going it alone.

Many students shy away from visiting their professors. As a result, they end up blowing a test or paper.

Fix:

Be sure students understand that professors must hold twice-weekly office hours and that they want you to help you do well.