To determine factors affecting new students in their first semester, a study was conducted at Diablo Valley College, in California, to draw a profile and track 4,251 students who applied or were identified as new in fall 1992. Percentage distributions were calculated for the sample and for the sub-groups who applied only, completed testing only, completed orientation courses only, and dropped all courses. Study findings included the following: (1) 69.2% (n=2,944) of the sample completed the semester, while 403 applied but did not attend, 221 completed testing and failed to return, 304 completed up to Counseling 105, 20 completed up to Counseling 105A, and 359 dropped all their courses; (2) those who applied but did not attend were more likely to have indicated a goal of other than transfer or vocational degree and were planning to work 31 or more hours per week; (4) students stopping after testing were more likely to be over 30 and planning to transfer without an associate degree; (5) students who stopped after completing the first counseling course were more likely to be between 25 and 29, and have an objective of a vocational degree, general education diploma, certificate, or to maintain a license; (6) those who dropped all their classes were more likely to have an educational objective other than transfer, have graduated prior to spring 1992, and be planning to work more than 30 hours a week; and (7) finally, students who completed the semester were more likely to be under 20 or over 30 and have chosen transfer as their objective. (KP)