This report examines the plans and aspirations of high school students for their educational and vocational future and the influences having a role in shaping those decisions. This is accomplished by use of a large national sample of males and females, along with analyses that incorporate both descriptive and causal approaches. Specific priorities of student choice and the potential influences stemming from family, peers, school, and skill-achievements that shape educational and vocational decisions are described. In addition, assessment is made of the relative contributions of each of those personal-demographic characteristics and causal modes by which they are likely to exercise their impact. Not only should such information provide clues for shaping high school curricula, or individualizing courses and programs, it should also aid in guiding students along more effective educational paths through an understanding of the consequences of their decisions. Thus, a major focus of the analysis is on identifying, where feasible, the comparative differences between plans and aspirations of students enrolled in differing curricula and unique influences that impinge on such decisions for members of each group. (Author/RC)