The data presented in this paper is taken from the results of two much larger studies of mature student decision-making and Higher Education (HE), which consider processes of agency from initial consideration of the "possibility" of becoming a student to eventually "becoming" one. In this paper, six categories of applicant to HE are discussed: (1) "Delayed traditional students"; (2) "Late starters" who have undergone a life-transforming event e.g. redundancy or divorce and require "a new start"; (3) "Single parents"; (4) "Careerists", who are currently in employment who seek a qualification to make progress in their existing careers; (5) "Escapees" who are currently in employment who want a qualification as a way out of "dead-end" jobs; and (6) Finally, the "personal growers", a small number pursuing education for its own sake. These categories of applicants are discussed in light of the factors that both catalyse and inhibit individuals' decision-making during application to HE.