The population of scientists in Russia is aging, and it is difficult to attract young graduates to enter the profession. Greater efforts need to be made to change the condition of work for scientists in order to make it attractive to those who will become the next generation of Russian scientists. Creating the conditions favorable to the utilization in labor activity of the professional knowledge and abilities acquired in the years at a college or university is crucial to the state's social and economic policy. In a survey conducted by the authors to determine college students' intentions to become involved in scientific research activity after they obtain a higher professional education, more than half of the respondents gave "preference to scientific research activity." The students who have plans to continue their education, including those who plan to combine working and going to school, exhibit a greater interest and willingness to engage in scientific research activity compared to those who plan to go into other kinds of work activity. In the authors' opinion, this is a high indicator, providing evidence that there is no solid ground for pessimism regarding the scientific aspirations of young college students. Enhancing the attractiveness of scientific research work for young specialists who have acquired a higher education depends on changing attitudes toward the sphere of science in Russian society. In the opinion of the students, top priority has to go to increasing the state's spending on the development of scientific research and development. (Contains 2 figures and 5 notes.)