A study attempted to determine the stability of the occupational aspirations of young adults, using data from the High School and Beyond study. (Data for that study had been gathered from seniors who graduated from high school in 1980 and were followed up in 1982, 1984, and 1986). About 9,400 subjects were used in the descriptive research. Analysis of the subjects' changes in occupational aspiration during this 6-year period revealed only modest trends toward greater aspirational stability over time. More strikingly, various analyses of the data failed to delineate clear patterns in changes to occupational aspiration. These findings tend to question the theoretical notions that occupational aspiration stabilizes with the experience of maturation of youth and young adults. Attributes such as aptitude and socioeconomic status did not seem to have significant influences on the stability of the young people's occupational aspiration. The greatest influence seemed to be the subjects' environment and their adaptation to changing environmental circumstances. The survey concluded that mind-changing seems to be endemic in this age group and that students, parents, and mentors should be wary of acting upon aspirations prematurely formed. The study also posed the question of the relationship between occupational aspiration stability and occupational success as a subject for future research. (37 references and 9 tables) (KC)