Stress is experienced by college students at different educational levels, but colleges can help reduce its destructive forms. There are explanations of why students perform badly under stress, such as "hypervigilance" (i.e., overstudying for an exam) and "premature closure" (i.e., rushing through an exam). Situations that are stressful for undergraduates, and for graduate, law, and medical students and residents are cited. Ways to reduce the negative aspects of stress (distress), include providing students with a feeling of control over their education, giving them information about what to expect, and offering feedback regarding what can be done to improve their own performance. Students who do not feel helpless will adopt their own coping strategies. (LB)