In an effort to determine to what extent ethnic groups are associated with differences in adolescents' projected frames of status reference, data were collected from Negro, Mexican American, and Anglo youth residing in rural areas of Texas. Occupational and educational status projections were compared to determine levels of aspiration and expectation, anticipatory goal deflection (the divergence between desired and expected status objects), intensity of aspiration, and certainty of expectation. It was found that the 3 ethnic groups studied were similar except in reference to status expectations and intensity of aspiration. Negro youth maintained higher levels of expectation, and Mexican American youth maintained stronger intensity of aspiration. Mexican American youth were least certain of obtaining their expectations; Negro youth held higher educational goals; while Anglo youth manifested the least anticipatory deflection. (DA)