Despite increasing graduation requirements and the limited vocational offerings in rural schools, many rural high school students still enroll in vocational education courses. This study examined factors influencing the decisions of rural Ohio high school students to select vocational education courses. In spring 1988, an interview and questionnaire were administered in 8 rural Ohio high schools to 105 sophomores who intended to enroll in vocational education courses in their junior year. Subjects were 55% male and 97% white; 76% lived with both parents. Chosen vocational specialties included agriculture (21%), business (19%), and trade and industry (15%). Thirty percent planned to attend joint vocational schools, and this decision was related to lower socioeconomic status and lower grade point average. The primary reasons for selection of vocational education were job preparation (58%) and enjoyment of vocational subject matter and learning environment (52%). Plans to attend joint vocational schools were related to positive perceptions of such schools. Parents, friends, and relatives had supported the vocational decisions of 47% to 59% of students, with encouragement focusing on increased job opportunities provided by vocational preparation and on the fun, easiness, or challenge of vocational courses. Friends and parents made discouraging comments to 34% of students, mostly related to attending joint vocational schools. This paper contains 9 statistical tables. (SV)