This study examined the relationship between academic delay of gratification (ADOG) and college students' use of action control. College students (n=113) at a large midwestern university completed the academic delay of gratification scale developed by the authors and the motivated strategies for learning questionnaire, which included an adaptation of the behavioral component of Kuhl's action control scale which assesses an individual's tendencies to control his/her actions in order to meet goals. The study found a significant correlation between the ADOG scale and the action control scale, supporting the view that delay of gratification can be considered a volitional strategy, which along with other self-regulating strategies is important for successful academic performance. Both ADOG and action control were significantly correlated to students' motivational tendencies and use of cognitive, metacognitive, and other self-regulatory strategies. The ADOG scale is appended. (Contains 16 references.) (DB)