In this article we study the academic aspirations of the students and their relationship with the academic level of their parents. The total number of subjects was 377 young people of upper secondary level. The study was carried out in a quantitative approach with a descriptive, non-experimental and cross-sectional scope. The Questionnaire for the Evaluation of Academic Goals (CEMA-II) was used. The results show that the main reason for the students to enter the high school level was to continue their professional studies 85%, followed by why I need to work 5% and 4.2% say that they did so because of pressure from their parents or guardians. Depending on the academic level of the parents, 27% indicate that their mother has a bachelor's degree, 15% master's degree, 2% doctorate, 25% upper secondary, 22% secondary and 6% primary. In correspondence with the father, they indicate that 26.5% have a bachelor's degree, 16% master's degree, 3% doctorate, 22% average superior, 18% secondary and primary 9%. It is important to work from the tutoring individual goals to guide students regarding their interests and motivations, in relation to the content in class is substantial to work with meaningful learning.