Three hundred ninety female freshmen who had career interests that were traditional, nontraditional, or neutral for women were compared on encouragement to pursue career goals, Scholastic Aptitude Test (SAT) scores, college grade-point average (GPA), persistence in original major, and persistence at the university after four semesters. In addition, 309 males who entered the university as freshmen at the same time were included in the study. Results showed that women with nontraditional goals received less encouragement in high school to pursue these goals but had higher SAT scores than other women. No significant differences were found in GPAs, persistence in original major, or persistence at the university among the women in the study. Compared to men with career interests traditional for men, nontraditional women received more encouragement to pursue their career interests, had lower Math SAT scores and higher college GPAs but were no different on Verbal SATs or persistence in their major or at the university. Men and women with interests in engineering were also compared. The only difference was that the females reported more encouragement to pursue their goals. Results suggested these recommendations: the expending of more resources to identify and encourage nontraditional women and more specific counseling programs for nontraditional women. (YLB)