To determine if there was a pattern to undergraduate applicants who were admitted to but did not attend the University of California at Berkeley ("no shows"), a survey of these "no shows" was conducted in Fall Quarter 1976. The main focus of the study was on freshmen whose demographic profiles and high school achievement levels could be compared with existent studies of Berkeley freshmen enrolled for the quarter in question. "No shows" were divided into three sub-populations: those who attended some other high prestige institution, those who attended less selective or prestigious institutions, and those who did not attend college at all that quarter. The Gourman ratings and Barron's selectivity index were used to classify institutions. Applicants who attended other institutions were requested to compare them to Berkeley on 15 decision factors including academic, administrative, and personal preferences. Analysis of the survey results clearly showed the institutional strengths and weaknesses of a distinguished state university as perceived by applicants who chose to go elsewhere. Implications for a more effective admissions process follow directly from the study findings. (Author/SPG)