This research study was conducted to determine if certain characteristics were consistently present in students who completed self-paced study courses, as opposed to those who did not. The survey was conducted at the Santa Fe Community College Flex Lab (New Mexico), which was designed to provide students with an alternative, self-paced method of taking college credit courses, allowing them to complete assignments at home, work, or in an open classroom. A survey was administered during orientation meetings for 148 students enrolled during fall 1997. It asked ten factual questions and four opinions of students on topics that included demographic information, educational, personal, financial, and employment background, and basic skills. Results provided a general profile of all students in the sample population and comparisons of characteristics between those who finished the Flex Lab course and those who didn't. Results indicated that the Flex Lab provided a supportive environment with relatively high completion rates, and that students with any one of seven characteristics (computer knowledge, part-time status, caring for children, scholarship funding, typing skills, or being male) had higher completion rates. (Contains 27 references.) (YKH)