A three-year study was conducted at a California junior college to determine the number of college freshmen who needed assistance/counseling in reading achievement. In the first phase of the study (1974-1975), all entering freshmen were administered the Nelson-Denny Reading Test, Form C. The same instrument was used during the second phase of the study (1976/1977), but only for a random sample of 50% of the freshmen class. The total reading scores during the three year period ranked 7 to 8% of the freshmen at the elementary level of reading ability to 11% at junior high level, and 20 to 21% in the lower high school range (below grade 11.6). Other findings are that more individuals scored lower in comprehension than in vocabulary, that significantly more males scored lower than females, and that significantly more Spanish-surnamed students demonstrated the need for reading skills development. (RL)