This study was undertaken to determine why students came to Hofstra, and to compare their reasons with those of students who were accepted but chose not to attend. A questionnaire was sent to 856 freshmen entering Hofstra in 1966, asking them to list their reasons for attending Hofstra, list the colleges which accepted them in order of preference, and provide some background achievement data. 535 students or 62% responded. The reasons most frequently listed for attending Hofstra were location, academic program, and financial factors. The academically superior student cited financial reasons more frequently, while the poorer student was more influenced by academic reasons. Better students who perceived Hofstra less favorably, and those for whom Hofstra was not first choice were more likely to be influenced by financial reasons. . Those who made Hofstra first choice were more influenced by academic reasons. Results indicate that in order to attract better students, Hofstra must continue to improve its academic reputation and the quality of its programs, and make more financial aid available. (AF)