This study was conducted to ascertain changes in the aspirations of rural youth in Ohio as they matured during their high school years and entered college or the work force. A Student Information Questionnaire (SIQ) was developed to measure the following variables: (1) sources of influence on curriculum decisions; (2) changes in desired and expected careers; (3) gender differences in expected salary, plans for further education, and level of aspirations; and (4) relationship of high school curriculum to aspirations. The instrument was administered to the same 191 subjects in 1985 and in 1988. In 1985 these youths, while in high school, had ranked the top four sources of influence on curriculum and career decisions as: self, parents, friends, and counselors. In 1988, the youth who had graduated listed self, mother and father, friends, and teachers as the top influencers. The data indicate that overall, aspirations tended to increase with increasing maturity of students. Expected occupation and salary became higher in the 1988 than in the 1985 data. The two-year college became a less popular choice and the four-year college became more popular in the 1988 than in the 1985 data. Females expected lower salaries than males and were more likely to attend college. High job aspirations were held by 43 percent of the students in the academic curriculum and none of the students in the vocational curriculum. Implications for schools include involving parents in educational and career planning, encouraging females to set higher salary goals, and encouraging vocational students to prepare for college. (KS)