Freshmen of lower and middle socioeconomic status identified by the W. Lloyd Warner Index of Status Characteristics were studied to determine: (1) differences in the motives, values, attitudes, goals, aspirations, self-concepts, and interests of these two groups; (2) if any of these factors distinguish between nonachievers (GPA below 2.0) of different socioeconomic backgrounds; (3) if measures of motivation distinguish between achieving and nonachieving students; (4) if socioeconomic background is related to achievement in junior college and career aspirations; and (5) the implications of the findings. Among the conclusions: (1) achieving lower-class students have a higher need to achieve than achieving middle-class students; (2) the high proportion of Mexican-American students in the lower socioeconomic group typically receive D or F grades in the lowest available remedial English class, which contributes substantially to their underachievement; and (3) the personality measures administered distinguish between socioeconomic groups, but not between achievers and nonachievers. It was concluded overall that the junior college is not meeting the needs of many of its students, and special curricula and help from the counseling staff in providing realistic evaluation of students' aspirations are needed. (MC)