North Carolina State University
2000 First-Year Student Survey:
Highlights
- NC State conducted its annual survey of entering first-year students during New Student Orientation sessions held in June and August 2000. The survey had a response rate of 88.9 percent, and a margin of error of under 1 percent (+.2) at the 95 percent confidence level.
- Over 90 percent of respondents were "moderately" or "very satisfied" with the university (93.7%) and departmental (94.5%) admissions process. The factors rated most influential in the decision to attend NC State were academic reputation, level of support for my intended major, and availability of program, and location. Among the least important influences were NC State publications, attendance at a college fair, and letters from outside the Admissions Office.
- About two-thirds (66.5%) of women compared to 49.5 percent of men said they intended to obtain a baccalaureate degree as preparation for graduate or professional school. Women were also more likely than men to say they intended to go beyond a master�s degree (38.8% vs. 23.3%). 45 percent of African Americans planned on going beyond a master�s degree, compared to 27.9 percent of whites.
- About 11 percent of all respondents reported taking less than a 15 hour credit hour enrollment status in their first semester. The most common reasons given for doing so were that the respondent wants better grades (53.1%), and that the courses they wanted were not available (31.1%).
- African American respondents were three times more likely than whites to report taking less than 15 credit hours because they need to work (36.7% vs 11.3%). Altogether, about one-third of respondents (32.9) planned on being employed during their first semester, with no differences between racial/ethnic groups.
- Almost 80 percent of respondents plan on bringing either a desktop (54.8%) or laptop (24.9%) computer to NC State.
- Students rated personal development goals as more important than general education and world view goals (7 of the 10 highest ratings). Goals central to the University's core general education curriculum received the lowest ratings for both perceived importance and the student's current development (understanding the present as it relates to history, developing an appreciation of the arts, understanding diverse cultures, and developing the ability to apply scientific principles).
For more information on the 2000 First-Year Student Survey contact:
Dr. Nancy Whelchel, Associate Director for Survey Research
Office of Institutional Planning and Research
Box 7002
NCSU
Phone: (919) 515-4184
Email: Nancy_Whelchel@ncsu.edu
Posted: March, 2001
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