THE PURPOSE OF THIS PAPER IS TO PRESENT A SUMMARY OF PRESENT KNOWLEDGE CONCERNING RURAL AND URBAN DIFFERENCES IN STUDENT ASPIRATION AND OCCUPATIONAL CHOICE OF YOUTH. THE PAPER RELIED HEAVILY ON DATA OBTAINED IN A WISCONSIN RESEARCH PROJECT FINANCED BY THE ROCKEFELLER FOUNDATION AND THE U.S. PUBLIC HEALTH SERVICE. OTHER STUDIES MENTIONED INDICATED THAT THE EDUCATIONAL PLANNING AND ASPIRATIONS OF RURAL YOUTH WERE GENERALLY LOWER THAN THOSE OF URBAN YOUTH. THE WISCONSIN DATA CONFIRMED PREVIOUS EDUCATIONAL PLANNING STUDIES AND ALSO INDICATED THAT THE OCCUPATIONAL CHOICE OF YOUTH WAS RELATED TO PLACE OF RESIDENCE. FACTORS CITED FOR THESE DIFFERENCES INCLUDED THE SOCIOECONOMIC STATUS AND ACADEMIC ACHIEVEMENT OF THE HOME, SCHOOL AND COMMUNITY ATTITUDES, AND MEASURED INTELLIGENCE. SUGGESTIONS FOR IMPROVEMENT INCLUDED INCREASED QUALITY OF RURAL SCHOOLS, BETTER EDUCATIONAL AND OCCUPATIONAL GUIDANCE IN THE RURAL SCHOOLS, ESTABLISHMENT OF PARENTAL GUIDANCE PROGRAMS, EARLY TALENT IDENTIFICATION OF SUPERIOR STUDENTS, AND INCREASED AVAILABILITY OF COLLEGE FACILITIES. (JS)