During 1979-80 a study was conducted to contrast the characteristics of new entrants to the City University of New York's (CUNY's) community college career programs with the characteristics of those who were accepted by CUNY institutions but who did not enroll. Separate questionnaires were sent to enrollees (N=4,246) and non-enrollees (N=2,503). Four analytical groups were identified among the survey respondents: CUNY community college enrollees (N=1,612); students attending other postsecondary institutions (N=263); admittees who had not attended school at all (N=182); and students who had begun at CUNY in Fall 1979 and had dropped out (N=94). The study report describes methodology and details findings in the areas of: (1) demographic variables (i.e., age, hours worked, family educational background, number of dependents, and mobility index); (2) academic characteristics; (3) non-academic characteristics (e.g., satisfaction with preparation for work and with counseling and high school activities); (4) extent of knowledge about the college's programs; (5) relation between education and jobs and salaries; (6) current attitudes toward school; (7) influences on choice of college and career programs; (8) first choice of college and program; and (9) discriminant analyses. Profiles are provided for each of the respondent groups, and the questionnaires are included. (KL)