This report examines the relationship between Maryland students' academic performance and experiences in high school and how well they did in their initial year in college. It includes students who graduated from a Maryland high school in the 1993-94 school year and who enrolled at a Maryland college or university during the 1994-95 academic year. The report's two sections present data on: (1) differences between the college performance of students who did (core) or did not complete (non-core) a college preparatory curriculum in high school and (2) results of a multiple regression analysis to identify factors that best predict first-year college performance. Core students performed better than non-core on measures of college achievement and non core students were more likely to need remediation. Core students attained higher grades in first college math and English courses and earned a grade point average of 2.5 in college versus 2.2 for non-core students. The best predictors of college grade point average (GPA) were high school GPA followed by Scholastic Assessment Test verbal score, average grades in high school English and social studies courses, number of years of foreign language, and enrollment in honors English and calculus. Data tables by institution, jurisdiction, gender, and race compare core versus non core students. Tables also provide results of the multiple regression analysis. (JLS)