Abstract: High intelligence quotient，emotional quotient and adversity quotient are the three necessary keys to career success. Among them adversity quotient plays a decisive role in one’s success when he is not obviously superior in either intelligence or emotional quotients. After analyzing the four component elements of adversity quotient and the status quo of college students’ adversity quotient，the authors suggest that positive attitude to the world and to life should be strengthened among college students by means of situational education and social practice activities. Methods should be taken to improve students’ selfcognition and to provide them with effective techniques for better adjusting to the surroundings.

Key words: adversity quotient, sense of control, scope of influence, situational education