Any advice and guidance offered to students about to embark on tertiary level distance education courses should help them to address problems that are not only practical and organizational, but also educational and intellectual. Students need to consider the suitability of distance education for their needs and circumstances as well as the intellectual demands of studying at the tertiary level. Several institutions provide assistance by means of materials in which a student-centered approach is adopted. These are designed to enable individuals to realistically assess their expectations and aspirations. Some examples of such materials are discussed in order to illustrate the advantages (and limitations) of this approach. Seven examples of materials for self evaluation by students are appended. These forms are designed to help the student: (1) analyze time used for studying; (2) assess his or her personal situation; (3) analyze family and friends' reactions to the student's decision to study with the Open University; (4) determine what the student expects to gain from such study; (5) assess the student's level of knowledge for a learning module and work that remains to be done; (6) evaluate progress in a course; and (7) identify the characteristics of a first-rate student. (9 references) (Author/EW)