This study investigated the role of emotional skills in the academic achievement and retention of university freshmen. The research group was a randomly selected sample of first semester freshmen students (N=165), and cumulative grade point average was used as the criterion for academic success. The study was designed to investigate: (a) the relationship of emotional skills to academic achievement and retention, (b) gender and ethnicity differences in emotional skills, and (c) the emotional skill patterns of successful and unsuccessful freshmen. The results of the study indicate that the emotional skills of Time Management, Goal Achievement, and Assertive Communication were significant factors in freshmen achievement and retention. (Contains 19 references and 7 tables.) (Author)