Information on college applications, acceptances, financial aid, and attendance is presented based on base-year and first follow-up data for the National Longitudinal Study and the High School and Beyond Study of the Federal Center for Education Statistics. The focus is on changes that occurred between 1972 and 1980 in the two senior cohorts. Many of the analyses include several control variables: race, sex, socioeconomic status, and ability level. Information is included on: changes in the percentages applying to any postsecondary institution as well as the changes in those applying to one, two, or three or more institutions; changes in the types of institution selected; changes in characteristics of institutions selected (quality, in-state versus out-of-state, cost, and size); percentages of students who applied for aid at their first, second, and third choice colleges; the percentages of students in both cohorts who received an aid offer; the percentages who received grants, loans, or work-study aid among those who received an aid offer; changes in attendance rates; attendance rates by number of applications; and changes in attendance at colleges offering aid. Information on the research methodology and statistical analyses is appended. Concluding the document are tables (comprising two-thirds of the document) that detail the content and methodology of the project. (SW)