Introduction: In the educational context, emotional and personality factors have been related to students' academic performance and quality of life; however, few studies have studied this relationship in depth in educational contexts where students have a high level of demand and competitiveness, as is the case of the students of the National…

The academic records and other characteristics of freshmen in a Spanish university were analyzed to determine the optimal predictors of academic performance in the university. Secondary school grades, academic achievement tests, and university exams were the best predictors. Implications for admissions and counseling are discussed. (MSE)