THE ELIMINATION PROCESSES OF AMERICAN COLLEGES, DETRIMENTAL TO THE MENTAL HEALTH OF STUDENTS, ARE RESULTING IN MANY DROP-OUTS WHO ARE NOT LACKING IN ACADEMIC SKILLS. THE "SURVIVAL OF THE FITTEST" METHOD OF ELIMINATION PRESUPPOSES FAILURE OF THE STUDENTS AND OVERLOOKS PSYCHO-SOCIAL FACTORS WHICH MAY HANDICAP LOWER-MIDDLE OR LOWER CLASS STUDENTS. COLLEGE LEVEL PREVENTIVE PSYCHIATRY SHOULD BE DIRECTED TOWARD BIOLOGICAL, INTRAPSYCHIC, FAMILIAL, AND SOCIAL STRAINS WHICH DISTURB AND DISTORT STUDENTS' LEARNING EXPERIENCES, CAUSING SHORT-TERM EMOTIONAL DIFFICULTIES. EARLY RECOGNITION AND EARLY TREATMENT OF ACUTE EMOTIONAL PROBLEMS WITH SHORT-TERM THERAPY PROVIDE SUPPORT AND HELP FOR COLLEGE STUDENTS AT A FLEXIBLE STAGE IN THEIR LIVES. COLLEGES HAVE A UNIQUE OPPORTUNITY TO PROVIDE MENTAL HEALTH PREVENTION PROGRAMS. THE PSYCHIATRIST, WITH HIS SPECIAL SKILLS AND KNOWLEDGE OF THE COLLEGE, MUST ENLARGE HIS ROLE TO INCLUDE HELPING ALL STUDENTS FULFILL THEIR POTENTIAL. THIS PAPER WAS PRESENTED AT THE ILLINOIS COLLEGE MENTAL HEALTH CONFERENCE AT NORTHERN ILLINOIS UNIVERSITY, MARCH 4, 1965. IT IS A REPRINT FROM THE COMMUNITY MENTAL HEALTH JOURNAL, VOLUME 2, NUMBER 1, SPRING, 1966, PP. 27-34. (WR)