2003 First-Year Student Survey Data Tables:
Gender and Racial/Ethnic Comparisons
of Students' Evaluation of the Application Process

 

This document reports gender and racial/ethnic differences in the respondents' experiences with the application process and factors influencing their decision to attend NC State. For information about the survey and analysis methods see "2003 First-Year Student Survey: Introduction, Methods, and Student Demographic Profile". Exact question wording is available on the web or by clicking on the "Q" next to the table heading.

Number of Schools Applied To | Contacts During the Admissions Process | Factors Influencing Attendance Decision | Most Influential Factor | Satisfaction with Admissions | Virtual Advising Center Rating

 

QNumber of Schools to Which Respondents Applied
Number of colleges All Women Men AfAm White Other
One 20.8% 15.9% 24.4% 9.4% 22.2% 20.9%
Two 23.0% 20.5% 24.8% 19.8% 23.3% 23.8%
Three 24.1% 26.4% 22.4% 26.5% 24.3% 18.7%
Four 16.9% 18.8% 15.5% 19.2% 16.5% 19.1%
Five or more 15.2% 18.4% 12.8% 25.1% 13.8% 17.4%
Total (N) 3,344 1,424 1,920 339 2,770 235
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QContacts During the Admissions Process
Type of contact made  All Women Men AfAm White Other
Call from faculty/staff 21.2% 19.5% 22.5% 33.3% 19.5% 24.3%
Call from current student 23.1% 24.1% 22.5% 37.2% 22.2% 14.5%
Call from graduate 7.3% 6.9% 7.6% 10.3% 7.0% 6.8%
Letter from outside Admissions Office 66.6% 68.1% 65.5% 71.1% 66.4% 62.1%
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QFactors Influencing Decision to Attend NC State
FACTOR

MEAN

Scale: 1="very weak influence," 2="weak influence,"
3="moderate influence," 4="strong influence," 5="very strong influence"

All Women Men AfAm White Other
Academic reputation 4.13 4.16 4.10 4.39 4.10 4.17
Availability of program 3.86 3.83 3.88 4.08 3.83 3.82
Level of support for my intended major 3.70 3.60 3.77 3.92 3.68 3.79
Facilities and resources available 3.64 3.64 3.65 3.88 3.63 3.55
Location 3.60 3.67 3.54 3.78 3.57 3.39
Acceptance into the First Year College program 3.63 3.73 3.52 3.46 3.66 3.33
Recommended by friend, etc. 3.35 3.37 3.33 3.25 3.36 3.57
Campus visit prior to orientation 3.18 3.38 3.02 3.52 3.15 3.47
Cost 3.16 3.12 3.20 3.14 3.14 3.05
Contact with a current student 3.12 3.28 3.00 3.21 3.13 3.00
Size 3.01 3.12 2.93 3.22 2.99 3.14
Scholarships/financial aid available 2.92 3.02 2.85 3.80 2.78 3.32
Extracurricular opportunities 2.95 3.01 2.90 3.34 2.91 3.20
Contact with a graduate 2.81 2.92 2.72 2.82 2.82 2.75
Contact with a faculty/staff member 2.48 2.59 2.41 2.95 2.43 2.27
Publications from NC State 2.36 2.45 2.29 2.90 2.30 2.33
Attendance at a college fair 2.28 2.31 2.25 2.75 2.20 2.50
Number of hours transferred/credited 2.20 2.21 2.20 2.42 2.16 2.43
Letter from someone other than Admissions Office 2.10 2.11 2.09 2.68 2.01 2.40
Other 4.34 4.70 4.12 4.41 4.37 3.50
Frequency Distributions: Gender/Ethnicity
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QMost Influential Factor Influencing Decision to Attend NC State
Most influential factor All Women Men AfAm White Other
Academic reputation 25.0% 24.3% 25.5% 27.1% 24.7% 26.0%
Availability of program 16.3% 16.1% 16.4% 12.7% 17.1% 11.2%
Level of support for my intended major 13.7% 10.7% 16.0% 11.8% 14.3% 9.8%
Location 9.9% 9.9% 9.8% 8.9% 9.9% 10.2%
Scholarships/financial aid available 6.0% 6.8% 5.4% 13.7% 5.1% 6.0%
Recommended 5.8% 6.8% 5.0% 3.8% 6.0% 5.6%
Cost 5.0% 4.1% 5.7% 5.1% 4.4% 11.6%
Campus visit prior to orientation 3.1% 4.2% 2.3% 2.5% 3.3% 1.4%
Facilities and resources available 2.7% 2.6% 2.8% 2.2% 2.7% 3.3%
Contact with a current student 2.3% 3.1% 1.7% 1.6% 2.4% 2.3%
Acceptance into First Year College 2.3% 3.0% 1.8% 1.6% 2.3% 3.3%
Size 1.3% 1.5% 1.3% 1.3% 1.4% 0.5%
Extracurricular opportunities 1.2% 1.6% 1.0% 1.6% 1.2% 1.4%
Contact with a graduate 0.6% 0.5% 0.7% 0.0% 0.6% 1.9%
Contact with a faculty or staff member 0.6% 0.7% 0.5% 1.0% 0.6% 0.0%
Number of hours transferred/credited 0.4% 0.2% 0.6% 0.6% 0.4% 0.5%
Attendance at a College Fair 0.3% 0.4% 0.2% 1.0% 0.2% 0.5%
Letter from someone other than admissions 0.2% 0.2% 0.1% 0.6% 0.1% 0.0%
Publications from NC State 0.0% 0.0% 0.1% 0.0% 0.0% 0.0%
Other 3.3% 3.4% 3.2% 2.9% 3.2% 4.7%
Total (N) 3,043 1,296 1,747 314 2,514 215
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QSatisfaction with University Admissions
Extent of Satisfaction All Women Men AfAm White Other
4: Very satisfied 50.4% 54.5% 47.3% 53.1% 51.0% 38.8%
3: Moderately satisfied 44.3% 40.9% 46.9% 41.0% 44.2% 51.3%
2: Moderately dissatisfied 4.6% 4.0% 5.0% 5.0% 4.2% 8.6%
1: Very dissatisfied 0.7% 0.6% 0.8% 0.9% 0.7% 1.3%
Total (N) 3,335 1,422 1,913 339 2,764 232
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QSatisfaction with Departmental Admissions
Extent of Satisfaction All Women Men AfAm White Other
4: Very satisfied 46.6% 52.6% 42.1% 49.4% 46.9% 38.1%
3: Moderately satisfied 47.3% 41.3% 51.7% 42.9% 47.5% 51.6%
2: Moderately dissatisfied 5.1% 4.9% 5.2% 5.5% 4.7% 8.8%
1: Very dissatisfied 1.1% 1.2% 1.0% 2.1% 0.9% 1.4%
Total (N) 3,179 1,345 1,834 326 2,638 215
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QSatisfaction with Financial Aid Process
Satisfaction with financial aid process All Women Men AfAm White Other
4: Very satisfied 25.6% 28.0% 23.8% 36.5% 23.3% 31.7%
3: Moderately satisfied 45.7% 46.7% 44.9% 40.6% 47.5% 34.9%
2: Moderately dissatisfied 20.4% 16.9% 23.0% 17.1% 20.6% 23.3%
1: Very dissatisfied 8.3% 8.5% 8.2% 5.7% 8.6% 10.1%
Total (N) 2,516 1,073 1,443 315 2,012 189
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QVirtual Advising Center Rating
Rating All Women Men AfAm White Other
Excellent 7.9% 9.1% 7.0% 12.4% 7.5% 6.0%
Good 19.0% 19.9% 18.3% 18.9% 18.8% 21.3%
Fair 2.6% 2.1% 2.9% 2.4% 2.6% 2.6%
Poor 0.4% 0.4% 0.4% 0.6% 0.3% 0.9%
Know about/did not use 12.2% 14.0% 10.9% 12.4% 12.2% 12.3%
Did not know about 58.0% 54.5% 60.6% 53.4% 58.6% 57.0%
Total (N) 3,345 1,425 1,920 339 2,771 235
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For more information on the 2003 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: January, 2004

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