This study used a strategic enrollment management (SEM) approach to studying high school students' transition to a two-year college and their initial college success. Path analyses suggested two important findings: (a) clear career choices among students, family influence, academic preparedness, and college recruitment efforts predicted earlier college application submissions, and (b) earlier application submissions predicted both registration timing and initial college success. Early participation in college intervention programs also played a role in preliminary academic performance. These and other findings indicated the need for institutional actions that focus on the interrelated issues of early career choice, application and registration decisions, and academic preparation.