The combined total of 3,861 entering students during fall 1976 and spring l977 at Essex County College, New Jersey, were given the Comparative Guidance and Placement Test battery. This test and enrollment files provided the following student characteristics data: enrollment was 75% black, approximately 60% female, 64% high school graduates, about 8% veterans, approximately 24% married students, and 93% local residents. Socioeconomic data revealed that 77% had a parental income of $9,000 or less with 44% of fathers and 34% of mothers holding service or semi-skilled jobs, 50% were living in their own residence and 36% were living with parents, 66% used public transportation, and 84.5% commuted 10 miles or less. Almost half of the fathers and mothers had less than a high school education, and 26% of students had worked three or more years before enrolling. High school averages showed 25% had achieved above an 80% average and 54% between a 70-79% average. Educational goals included completing vocational programs (27%), attaining a bachelor's (28%) or master's (11%) degree, but only 16% registered for pre-professional transfer programs. Students chose the college because it was close to home, had a strong major in their field, was inexpensive, and had a good academic reputation. Recommendations are included and 21 tables supplement the text. (RT)