North Carolina State University
2005 First-Year Student Survey:
College Comparisons of
Educational Intent and Interests

This document reports college differences in respondents' enrollment and general education plans. For information about the survey and analysis methods, see "2005 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.

First Semester Enrollment Status | Reasons for Less Than 15 Credit Hours | Time to Complete Degree | Intended Highest Level of Education | Goals and Objectives at NC State | Certainty of College Major | First Semester Employment Plans | Interest in Co-Curricular Activities

Q First Semester Enrollment Status

Enrollment status		NCSU	College/School
			CALS	CED	CHASS	CNR	COE	COM	COT	Design	FYC	PAMS
15 credit hours of classes or more	%	86.8	82.4	70.1	87.6	84.9	83.9	96.2	92.9	77.6	93.4	85.9
12-14 credit hours of classes	%	13.0	17.4	29.9	12.1	15.1	15.8	3.8	6.3	22.4	6.4	14.1
Less than 12 credit hours of classes	%	0.2	0.2	.	0.2	.	0.3	.	0.8	.	0.1	.
Total	N	3390	533	87	429	73	1006	209	127	76	701	149

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Q Reasons for enrolling in less than 15 cr. hrs. (Among those taking less than 15 cr hrs, Total N=447)

		NCSU	CALS	CED	CHASS	CNR	COE	COM	COT	Design	FYC	PAMS
Need to work	%	19.9%	16.0%	11.5%	34.0%	18.2%	17.9%	50.0%	11.1%	17.6%	15.2%	33.3%
Courses unavailable	%	13.6%	22.3%	7.7%	9.4%	18.2%	9.9%	37.5%	33.3%	5.9%	10.9%	14.3%
Want better grades	%	49.2%	47.9%	50.0%	45.3%	54.5%	47.5%	87.5%	44.4%	58.8%	50.0%	52.4%
Advice of advisor	%	15.2%	14.9%	34.6%	17.0%	27.3%	13.0%	12.5%	22.2%	17.6%	10.9%	4.8%
Did not need more courses	%	7.6%	5.3%	3.8%	1.9%	18.2%	9.9%	0.0%	11.1%	23.5%	6.5%	4.8%
Other obligations	%	2.2%	1.1%	0.0%	1.9%	0.0%	3.7%	0.0%	0.0%	5.9%	2.2%	0.0%
Combination of courses	%	18.1%	25.5%	15.4%	18.9%	0.0%	18.5%	12.5%	11.1%	23.5%	8.7%	14.3%
Family responsibilities	%	2.9%	4.3%	7.7%	7.5%	0.0%	1.2%	0.0%	0.0%	0.0%	0.0%	4.8%
Other	%	10.7%	6.4%	7.7%	17.0%	0.0%	11.1%	0.0%	0.0%	5.9%	13.0%	28.6%
Total	N	447	94	26	53	11	162	8	9	17	46	21

Note: Respondents could provide more than one reason.
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Q Intended time to complete Bachelor's degree

Intended time to complete BA degree		NCSU	College/School
			CALS	CED	CHASS	CNR	COE	COM	COT	Design	FYC	PAMS
Less than 4 years	%	4.7	8.8	4.3	7.2	2.6	3.4	8.9	0.7	2.5	1.8	5.1
4 years	%	71.2	84.8	85.1	83.3	84.2	59.1	76.6	83.6	60.8	62.3	84.7
4 1/2 years	%	7.4	2.6	5.3	3.6	5.3	10.6	5.6	6.4	5.1	10.8	4.5
5 years	%	13.9	1.6	5.3	3.4	6.6	24.7	7.5	8.6	30.4	19.4	3.2
5 1/2 years	%	1.1	0.4	.	0.5	1.3	1.1	0.5	.	1.3	2.8	.
6 or more years	%	1.2	1.4	.	1.4	.	0.9	.	0.7	.	2.2	0.6
Will not complete Bachelor's	%	0.5	0.4	.	0.7	.	0.2	0.9	.	.	0.8	1.9
Total	N	3586	567	94	443	76	1074	214	140	79	742	157

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Q Highest level of education planned

Highest level of education planned		NCSU	College/School
			CALS	CED	CHASS	CNR	COE	COM	COT	Design	FYC	PAMS
Bachelor's degree	%	28.2	14.0	26.1	23.2	50.0	34.5	23.7	43.2	37.5	31.0	17.2
Master's degree	%	41.1	17.2	60.9	32.5	35.5	48.1	61.9	45.3	56.3	46.0	33.1
Doctoral degree	%	12.8	13.5	7.6	16.0	7.9	13.6	5.1	9.4	6.3	10.5	30.5
Doctor of Veterinary Medicine	%	4.9	27.7	.	.	.	0.2	.	.	.	1.6	2.6
Medical degree	%	8.0	27.5	1.1	4.0	.	2.7	0.9	1.4	.	7.0	16.6
Law degree	%	4.6	.	4.3	22.5	6.6	0.7	8.4	0.7	.	3.7	.
Divinity degree	%	0.3	.	.	1.6	.	0.3	.	.	.	0.1	.
Do not intend to complete a degree	%	0.1	.	.	0.2	.	.	.	.	.	0.1	.
Total	N	3557	563	92	449	76	1059	215	139	80	733	151

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Q Goal/objective for attending NC State

Goal/objective for attending NC State		NCSU	College/School
			CALS	CED	CHASS	CNR	COE	COM	COT	Design	FYC	PAMS
BA/certificate only	%	9.7	6.4	14.1	7.6	23.6	11.9	6.4	11.4	8.9	9.9	6.0
BA for school preparation	%	55.6	80.7	48.9	63.3	34.7	43.8	62.7	41.4	48.1	49.7	72.2
BA for career preparation	%	33.1	11.6	35.9	27.9	38.9	43.2	29.4	42.9	40.5	37.8	21.9
Improve for current profession	%	1.6	1.3	1.1	1.2	2.8	1.1	1.5	4.3	2.5	2.6	.
Total	N	3508	559	92	433	72	1059	204	140	79	719	151

Note: Due to an error in data collection, data for the response options, "to take courses for personal interest" and "other" are not available.
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Q Certainty of college major

Certainty of college major		NCSU	College/School
			CALS	CED	CHASS	CNR	COE	COM	COT	Design	FYC	PAMS
Very certain	%	28.0	39.5	35.8	29.8	28.6	31.4	28.6	19.7	54.9	11.0	27.7
Certain	%	42.3	45.4	32.6	45.4	44.2	48.7	52.1	47.9	41.5	25.1	47.2
Uncertain	%	23.9	13.2	23.2	19.5	23.4	17.7	16.1	28.2	3.7	47.2	23.3
Very uncertain	%	5.8	1.9	8.4	5.3	3.9	2.1	3.2	4.2	.	16.8	1.9
Total	N	3642	575	95	456	77	1082	217	142	82	757	159

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Q Semester employment

Semester employment		NCSU	College/School
			CALS	CED	CHASS	CNR	COE	COM	COT	Design	FYC	PAMS
Do not plan to work	%	63.8	64.0	64.8	58.0	55.4	65.8	63.4	65.2	67.1	63.3	68.4
Less than 20 hrs./wk.	%	29.7	30.6	28.6	31.4	32.4	28.7	29.2	29.6	27.6	30.3	26.3
20 or more hrs./wk.	%	6.5	5.4	6.6	10.6	12.2	5.4	7.4	5.2	5.3	6.3	5.3
Total	N	3461	556	91	436	74	1030	202	135	76	709	152

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Q Interest in NCSU co-curricular programs/activities

Yes, interested in:		NCSU	Collge/School
			CALS	CED	CHASS	CNR	COE	COM	COT	Design	FYC	PAMS
Student Government	%	19.7%	22.6%	12.6%	37.4%	16.9%	10.4%	29.4%	27.3%	15.7%	18.3%	16.4%
Student Judicial Board	%	3.7%	4.2%	1.1%	10.9%	2.6%	2.4%	3.7%	1.4%	1.2%	2.6%	1.9%
Residence Hall Councils	%	10.2%	14.8%	9.5%	14.4%	5.2%	6.8%	10.6%	9.1%	4.8%	10.2%	10.7%
Student Leadership Development (workshops, conferences, etc.)	%	13.6%	19.6%	13.7%	19.9%	11.7%	9.0%	25.7%	17.5%	9.6%	8.8%	11.9%
Co-op program	%	29.1%	9.7%	8.4%	12.3%	19.5%	67.1%	10.6%	16.1%	9.6%	15.7%	15.1%
Study Abroad/Student Exchange	%	41.7%	44.1%	37.9%	56.2%	33.8%	36.1%	43.6%	60.8%	59.0%	35.6%	36.5%
Volunteer Services	%	25.5%	41.8%	29.5%	36.3%	15.6%	14.3%	24.3%	35.0%	26.5%	21.6%	25.2%
ROTC	%	4.0%	1.0%	1.1%	3.7%	2.6%	7.7%	0.9%	0.7%	0.0%	3.1%	5.7%
Club Sports (cycling, baseball, martial arts, ultimate, etc.)	%	42.2%	38.4%	40.0%	38.7%	62.3%	44.5%	42.7%	42.0%	42.2%	42.1%	42.1%
Fitness/Wellness (group fitness classes, yoga, pilates, etc.)	%	39.8%	46.5%	50.5%	43.8%	39.0%	28.8%	46.8%	62.9%	42.2%	41.7%	32.7%
Indoor recreation (cardio room, weights, basketball, etc.)	%	34.4%	32.1%	33.7%	31.5%	49.4%	35.1%	38.1%	36.4%	27.7%	35.4%	31.4%
Intramurals (basketball, flag football, golf, etc.)	%	45.0%	36.6%	50.5%	38.5%	62.3%	51.4%	48.2%	43.4%	33.7%	45.0%	40.9%
Outdoor adventures (trips, equipment checkout, rock climbing workshops, etc.)	%	30.5%	33.3%	22.1%	23.2%	37.7%	34.6%	26.1%	37.1%	33.7%	25.6%	36.5%
Social Fraternity/Sorority	%	27.0%	26.7%	37.9%	38.1%	33.8%	17.9%	40.8%	39.2%	18.1%	28.3%	18.2%
Student Media/Publications	%	10.3%	6.9%	10.5%	21.4%	7.8%	6.1%	14.2%	11.2%	21.7%	9.6%	11.3%
UAB programs/activities (cultural programs, concerts, etc.)	%	6.3%	8.2%	6.3%	9.8%	5.2%	3.5%	6.4%	8.4%	10.8%	6.0%	6.9%
Multicultural/diversity programs/activities	%	11.7%	14.8%	9.5%	19.3%	10.4%	7.6%	10.1%	11.2%	14.5%	11.1%	13.2%
Gender issues (gender communication, sexual assault, domestic violence, etc.)	%	4.4%	5.9%	4.2%	11.8%	6.5%	1.7%	1.8%	5.6%	3.6%	3.1%	4.4%
Healthy lifestyles issues (stress management, sexuality, substance abuse, etc.)	%	8.3%	11.5%	10.5%	11.2%	5.2%	4.3%	11.0%	14.0%	3.6%	8.5%	8.8%
Planning programs/services for children and families	%	5.3%	8.3%	9.5%	10.1%	5.2%	1.5%	7.8%	5.6%	7.2%	4.5%	3.8%
Crafts center programs/activities	%	8.0%	10.1%	10.5%	7.4%	9.1%	4.3%	5.0%	24.5%	26.5%	7.3%	8.8%
Music minor, bands, choirs, orchestras, chamber music, bagpipes, drums	%	14.6%	15.8%	14.7%	16.0%	7.8%	15.8%	9.6%	16.1%	15.7%	12.1%	18.9%
Attending art exhibitions, meeting artists, museum internships	%	11.4%	10.6%	10.5%	16.8%	13.0%	6.6%	6.9%	23.1%	50.6%	10.2%	12.6%
Theater participation as artist	%	7.8%	8.3%	5.3%	13.3%	3.9%	6.1%	3.7%	11.2%	10.8%	7.1%	10.1%
Theater participation as audience	%	16.8%	19.8%	21.1%	22.1%	10.4%	15.8%	11.9%	18.2%	27.7%	12.2%	20.8%
Student Dance Companies	%	7.6%	10.8%	13.7%	13.3%	3.9%	2.0%	5.5%	13.3%	12.0%	8.1%	8.2%
Total	N	3660	576	95	457	77	1089	218	143	83	763	159

Note: Respondents could select multiple programs and activities.
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For more information on the 2005 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: February, 2007

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