[A portrait of the student at the Université de Montréal.]

In this article, the author attempts to brush a portrait of students between the ages of 20 and 30. Each year, 5 000 of them come to the Guidance service at the Université de Montreal. Of this number, about 80 % seek advice on how to plan their studies or wish to obtain information on the job market. These statistics are hardly surprising, as students today like those of ten years ago, strive to attain, first and foremost, objectives related to their career plans. However, the present economic situation, the scarcity of openings on the market, the choice of profession made too early in life and the quotas adopted by many faculties make their selection a much more complex process. Those who consult for psychological reasons come in greater number in September and January, at the start of the semester. One of the tables illustrates their concerns which are more serious and critical than they were ten years ago. New attitudes and new behaviour patterns are to be noted. While some young people are more competitive in their studies, others have a casual approach and take more time to complete their training. Generally, students are neither activists nor revolutionaries but, rather, have a peaceful and solitary nature. They are attracted by stable and long-lasting relationships, even think of marriage, but the confusion in their roles, resulting largely from the feminist movement and their difficulty in communicating, puts many obstacles in their path. Notwithstanding their worry about the future, they have decided to survive, come what may, and have adopted a new moral code - the respect of their inner being.