A total of 2,118 8th-grade, 12th-grade, and community college students (66% were Mexican American) from 11 Texas school districts and 3 community colleges were surveyed to determine the extent of family influence over their occupational and career choices. In addition, 581 parents completed mailed questionnaires and 100 more responded to a telephone questionnaire. Statistical methods were used to compare the responses of the Mexican American students and their parents. The Mexican American students perceived their parents as having greater influence in occupational and educational decisions than did the non-Mexican American students. Paying for college was a major concern of Mexican American parents and students alike. Nearly two-thirds of the parents responding to the mail questionnaire reported annual incomes below $20,000. Frequently, the 8th- and 12th-grade students expected their parents to pay for their college education, and most were either unaware of the possibility of financial aid or did not consider it a viable source of funds for college. Among the community college students, availability of financial aid was the biggest factor in choosing a four-year college. Females valued education and their parents' opinions more than males did. (MN)