A survey was made of characteristics of correspondence students of the Oregon State System of Higher Education, reasons for choosing correspondence study, and attitudes toward it. A questionnaire mailed to 3,241 students, and returned by 1,040, asked 26 questions relating to experiences at each stage (awareness, interest, evaluation, trial, adoption) in the choice of the correspondence method. Data were analyzed from the seven largest occupational groups represented: teachers, college students, high school students, others studying high school students, others studying high school courses, armed forces students, homemakers, and meteorologists. Findings included the following: (1) the majority felt that the role of correspondence study was to provide diploma and degree courses to which one would otherwise lack access; (2) faculties gave relatively little advice or encouragement concerning correspondence study; (3) the majority of the students first learned of the availability of their course, and received the most encouragement to enroll, from such sources as parents, teachers, advisors, and employers; (4) the majority had favorable attitudes toward the correspondence study method. (author/ly)