The historical change in occupational status projections of Georgia rural youth were examined. Using the time span from 1966 to 1972, the county was the sampling unit used to select sample schools. Criteria used to select sample counties were that they be: (1) rural, (2) characterized by low socioeconomic status, and (3) representative of all State regions. All schools in each county with a 10th grade class were used, although the same schools were not necessarily present at both times due to desegregation. Identical questionnaire and testing procedures were used both times. Responses ranged from: (1) professional to laboring type occupations for occupational aspirations, (2) very sure to very uncertain for certainty of occupational expectations, and (3) most important to least important for intensity of job aspiration. Among the findings were: (1) occupational aspirations and expectations changed from 1966 to 1972 with the pattern of change being from high occupational to intermediate or low occupational choices for all races and sex subgroups; (2) the majority of rural Georgia males aspired to and expected skilled occupational positions in 1972, whereas they aspired to and expected professional occupations in 1966; (3) females still aspired to and expected professional occupations in 1972; (4) females were more likely to be uncertain of their occupational choices in 1972; and (5) "getting the job I want most" was ranked as relatively less important in 1972 by all race sex categories except black females. (NQ)