OBJECTIVES OF THE STUDY WERE TO DETERMINE THE NUMBER OF COLLEGE-ABILITY HIGH SCHOOL SENIORS IN ARKANSAS WHO DO NOT CONTINUE THEIR EDUCATION, AND TO WHAT EXTENT RURAL-URBAN BACKGROUNDS, SOCIOECONOMIC FACTORS, AND INDIVIDUAL MOTIVATIONS ARE RELATED TO STUDENTS' EDUCATIONAL AND OCCUPATIONAL PLANS. THE STUDENTS GRADUATING IN 1957 WHO ACHIEVED A SELECTED LEVEL OR ABOVE IN THE ACE PSYCHOLOGICAL EXAMINATION FORMED THE BASIC POPULATION. APPROXIMATELY 15,000 HIGH SCHOOL SENIORS WERE ASKED TO REPLY TO A QUESTIONNAIRE CONCERNING THEIR PLANS FOR FURTHER EDUCATION AND RELATED FACTORS. A FOLLOWUP WAS MADE TO DETERMINE HOW MANY OF THE 1957 GRADUATES WENT ON TO COLLEGE. QUESTIONNAIRE DATA WERE ANALYZED TO IDENTIFY FACTORS WHICH WERE INVOLVED IN EDUCATIONAL AND OCCUPATIONAL PLANS AND WHICH DIFFERENTIATED BETWEEN THE HIGH-ABILITY STUDENTS WHO GO ON TO COLLEGE AND THOSE WHO DO NOT. THE EXTENT TO WHICH ARKANSAS SENIORS PLANNED TO ATTEND AND DID ATTEND COLLEGE WAS SOMEWHAT DISAPPOINTING. WHILE 45 PERCENT OF THE RESPONDENTS, IN APRIL, INDICATED PLANS FOR ATTENDING COLLEGE, ONLY 28 PERCENT WERE ACTUALLY ENROLLED IN COLLEGE THE FOLLOWING FALL SEMESTER. GENERAL RECOMMENDATIONS FOR IMPROVEMENT OF CURRENT HIGH SCHOOL PROGRAMS ARE INCLUDED. (JH)