With a goal of forming interventions and programs to address needs of student athletes (such as group and individual career interventions as well as time management training), this study compared attitudes of 73 freshman athletes and 73 nonathlete freshmen at the University of Maryland toward their college experience. A questionnaire concerning the students' expectations and attitudes about college was administered and analyzed using chi square and multivariate analysis of variance. The athletes included football, basketball, lacrosse, tennis and baseball players. The group included 51 White/Caucasians, 17 African Americans, 2 Asian Americans, 2 biracial, and 1 Hispanic student. They ranged in age from 17 to 22; 51 were male and 21 were female. The nonathlete group included a nearly equal number of males and females, fewer African Americans and more Asian/Asian Americans. Among some of the results, the data suggested that freshman athletes were significantly more likely than their nonathlete counterparts to report: (1) difficulty in getting good grades, (2) greater career confusion, (3) a lack of time as a barrier to college adjustment, (4) an easier time obtaining leadership skills, and (5) less concern in paying for their education. (Contains 15 references.) (DM)