The National Job Corps Study was undertaken to obtain the information needed to assess the Job Corps' success in providing employment assistance to disadvantaged youths aged 16 to 24 years. The study's findings related to outreach and admissions (OA) and center characteristics and practices that appear to promote positive programmatic experiences for Job Corps applicants and participants were examined by using agency records for a randomly selected sample of youth who were eligible to enroll in Job Corps. The following items had significant impacts on applicants' programmatic experiences: (1) OA counselors' outreach and screening practices; (2) OA counselors' knowledge and experience level; (3) center operator type, size, and location; and (4) the strength of centers' vocational and academic programs. The particular vocational areas offered by centers and the range of vocations offered did not significantly affect students' programmatic experiences. Limited residential living facilities were associated with shorter lengths of stay, but exceptionally good facilities did not appear to promote longer lengths of stay. (Twenty-two tables/figures are included. The following items are appended: the study methodology; results for vocational choices of Job Corps students; results for applicant typologies; and a description of the methods used to estimate impacts for different Job Corps program experiences.) (MN)