After a full year of operation, many questions have been asked about Empire State College (ESC) concerning the type of students who seek such an institution and how these students handle the major responsibility of planning and carrying out their studies. A group of 10 graduates were selected from the 30 graduated in fall 1972 for lengthy interviews about their experiences at Empire State College. The sample included a range of persons with different educational backgrounds, life experiences, varied career interests, and individual approaches to learning methods. The structure of the student interviews center around six elements: interpersonal competence (the ability to interpret the intention and attitudes of others and to improvise appropriate responses); awareness (openness to new ideas and experiences); clarifying purposes (self examination); Self-reliance; self-understanding and understanding of others; and self-consistency. Initial contacts with ESC, contracts and evaluations of learning, and personal contacts were all rated either satisfactory or better. Orientation, program of study, and assessment of prior learning were rated less than satisfactory. The report included the questions asked during the student interviews. (Author/PG)