Of the 7,396 new freshmen entering the University of Maryland, College Park in the fall of 1976, 2,738 completed the University New Study Census in the summer before their entry. The majority of these were 18 years old and almost all entered college directly from high school. Almost half indicated they would be living on campus, either in a residence hall or a sorority or fraternity house. Another third planned to live with parents or relatives. Although a substantial majority of new freshmen reported that they had been A or B students in high school, only 39 percent felt their high school had prepared them well for college. Most had selected UMCP as their first or second choice of college, and a third said they were attending because of its academic program. Depending on the division in which enrolled, the percent expecting to earn an advanced degree ranged from 40 to 77. Financial concerns were reflected in students' responses about degree completion and student employment. A substantial majority saw college as a means of obtaining career skills or deciding on a career goal, although few saw the function of the University to be solely career-related. The responses clearly indicate that freshmen were uncertain about several of their "survival skills": budgeting time wisely, studying efficiently, and earning satisfactory grades. Over one-fourth felt that math was their weakest area, while writing was cited by 16 percent and reading by 8 percent of the respondents. (Author/MSE)