THE EDUCATIONAL AND OCCUPATIONAL CAREER ORIENTATIONS OF YOUTH AND THE EFFECT OF ECONOMIC DISPARITIES ON THEIR CHOICES WERE STUDIED. A QUESTIONNAIRE WAS CONSTRUCTED, VALIDATED, AND ADMINISTERED TO 3,047 SECONDARY SCHOOL SOPHOMORE MALES IN 6 THIRD-CLASS CITIES. ONE-HALF OF THE CITIES WERE ECONOMICALLY DISTRESSED AREAS. THE OTHER THREE WERE PROSPEROUS. THE COMPLETED QUESTIONNAIRES SHOWED 90-95 PERCENT WERE FILLED OUT CAREFULLY AND CONSCIENTIOUSLY. THE FINDINGS INDICATED THAT EDUCATIONAL AND OCCUPATIONAL CAREER ASPIRATIONS AND EXPECTATIONS OF ADOLESCENTS DID NOT VARY AT RANDOM, BUT VARIED AS A COMPLEX AND INADEQUATELY UNDERSTOOD FUNCTION OF A NUMBER OF VARIABLES. FUTURE RESEARCH WAS SUGGESTED USING LONGITUDINAL PANEL DESIGN WHICH WOULD FOLLOW A GIVEN SAMPLE FROM ELEMENTARY SCHOOL, THROUGH HIGH SCHOOL AND COLLEGE, AND THEN INTO THE ACTUAL OCCUPATIONAL WORLD. (RS)