An analysis was conducted to compare two national surveys of American youth and to examine the life goals and occupational aspirations of college students in 1978 and of those in 1983. Two national data sets were used in the analysis. Both are based on traditional multistage probability design. The first was the 1978 National Public Affairs Study, a national sample of high school and college students (N=1,422). The second was the 1983 National College survey, a national sample of college students (N=2,011). The results revealed that there was an increase in religious conservatism from 1978 to 1983 among the students. Students in 1983 showed higher levels of commitment to career and family life goals than did students in 1978. The gender gap between males and females on career-oriented life goals decreased from 1978 to 1983. The number of students indicating a future career in education decreased from 1978 to 1983, while there was an increase in those indicating a future business career during the same time period. There was a gender-year interaction with occupational prestige of the intended occupation. In 1978 those who aspired to high prestige occupations were more likely to be males, while those who aspired to medium prestige occupations were more likely to be females. These positions reversed in 1983. (Author/NB)