NC State logo

North Carolina State University
2008 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 "2008 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.

Reasons for Less Than 15 Credit Hours | 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 Reported Reasons for Less than 15 Credit Hours (Among Those Taking Less Than 15 credit hours)
  NCSU College/School
CALS CED CHASS CNR COE COM COT Design FYC PAMS
Will need to work 4.8% 3.8% 0.0% 9.4% 7.3% 6.7% 2.9% 2.9% 0.0% 3.0% 3.7%
Courses unavailable 4.0% 4.7% 3.4% 2.4% 10.9% 3.2% 1.4% 4.3% 12.9% 2.0% 12.2%
Want better grades 9.3% 8.5% 8.6% 5.3% 18.2% 14.3% 7.2% 1.4% 9.7% 4.3% 12.2%
Advice of advisor 2.7% 2.5% 6.9% 2.9% 9.1% 2.4% 0.7% 1.4% 3.2% 2.0% 3.7%
Did not need more courses 2.4% 2.2% 0.0% 0.6% 3.6% 5.2% 1.4% 0.0% 3.2% 0.7% 1.2%
Combination of courses 4.3% 3.8% 1.7% 3.5% 7.3% 5.6% 1.4% 2.9% 3.2% 1.7% 14.6%
Family responsibilities 0.5% 0.3% 0.0% 0.6% 0.0% 0.4% 0.7% 1.4% 0.0% 0.7% 0.0%
Other 3.6% 3.8% 1.7% 2.4% 3.6% 4.6% 4.3% 1.4% 3.2% 3.0% 3.7%
Total (N) 1,716 316 58 170 55 496 139 69 31 300 82
Back to Top

Q Intended Highest Level of Education
Highest level of education planned NCSU College/School
CALS CED CHASS CNR COE COM COT Design FYC PAMS
Bachelor's degree 25.7% 10.5% 29.1% 24.0% 44.2% 29.8% 23.6% 43.6% 30.7% 30.2% 17.2%
Master's degree 42.2% 15.6% 61.7% 35.4% 39.2% 47.8% 65.6% 45.9% 61.3% 47.8% 32.5%
Doctoral degree 14.2% 16.3% 8.5% 16.9% 6.7% 17.5% 3.2% 6.8% 8.0% 10.6% 31.4%
Doctor of Veterinary Medicine 5.7% 29.3% . 0.5% 4.2% 0.3% . . . 1.0% 1.8%
Medical degree 8.4% 27.3% . 5.6% . 3.2% 0.9% 3.0% . 6.8% 16.6%
Law degree 3.7% 1.0% 0.7% 16.9% 5.8% 1.2% 6.7% 0.8% . 3.4% 0.6%
Divinity degree 0.1% . . 0.7% . . . . . 0.1% .
Do not intend to complete a degree 0.0% . . . . 0.1% . . . . .
Total (N) 4,083 717 141 413 120 1,208 343 133 75 764 169
Back to Top

Q Goals and Objectives in 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 8.5% 3.2% 15.7% 7.6% 12.2% 9.9% 8.8% 8.4% 5.5% 11.2% 3.8%
BA for school preparation 57.5% 82.6% 43.3% 62.3% 36.5% 49.2% 53.5% 40.5% 58.9% 51.0% 74.4%
BA for career preparation 30.9% 12.5% 38.8% 26.0% 47.8% 37.5% 34.1% 48.9% 30.1% 34.1% 20.5%
Improve for current profession 1.3% 0.4% 1.5% 2.0% 1.7% 1.3% 1.8% 1.5% 2.7% 1.6% .
Courses for personal interest 0.7% 0.1% . 0.7% 1.7% 0.9% 0.3% 0.8% . 1.1% 0.6%
Other 1.1% 1.2% 0.7% 1.5% . 1.1% 1.5% . 2.7% 0.9% 0.6%
Total (N) 3,930 694 134 408 115 1,140 340 131 73 739 156
Back to Top

Q Certainty of College Major
Certainty of college major NCSU College/School
CALS CED CHASS CNR COE COM COT Design FYC PAMS
Very certain 29.3% 40.8% 47.9% 31.8% 32.0% 31.4% 20.7% 25.7% 57.9% 9.9% 38.8%
Certain 43.4% 45.6% 39.4% 38.3% 46.7% 51.5% 54.3% 42.6% 40.8% 27.6% 41.8%
Uncertain 22.5% 12.3% 9.9% 23.4% 15.6% 15.9% 21.8% 26.5% 1.3% 48.1% 18.2%
Very uncertain 4.7% 1.2% 2.8% 6.5% 5.7% 1.3% 3.2% 5.1% . 14.4% 1.2%
Total (N) 4,142 723 142 418 122 1,228 348 136 76 779 170
Back to Top

Q First Semester Employment Plans
Semester employment NCSU College/School
CALS CED CHASS CNR COE COM COT Design FYC PAMS
Do not plan to work 63.9% 63.7% 65.2% 55.3% 57.1% 65.4% 67.7% 62.8% 82.4% 63.2% 65.8%
Less than 20 hrs./wk. 30.3% 32.1% 31.1% 37.6% 33.0% 27.9% 26.6% 32.6% 16.2% 30.8% 28.6%
20 or more hrs./wk. 5.9% 4.2% 3.7% 7.1% 9.8% 6.7% 5.7% 4.7% 1.4% 6.0% 5.6%
Total (N) 3,960 689 135 407 112 1,188 331 129 74 734 161
Back to Top

Q NC State Co-Curricular Programs/activities (Percent Expressing Interest)
Yes, interested
in:
NCSU College/School
CALS CED CHASS CNR COE COM COT Design FYC PAMS
Student Government 16.4% 17.5% 18.3% 31.5% 4.1% 10.6% 20.5% 13.2% 11.8% 17.6% 14.1%
Student Judicial Board 3.5% 3.3% 2.8% 10.1% 0.8% 2.2% 3.1% 0.7% 0.0% 3.4% 4.1%
Residence Hall Councils 8.4% 7.6% 15.5% 12.9% 2.5% 6.5% 6.3% 3.7% 5.3% 10.8% 11.2%
Student Leadership Development (workshops, conferences, etc.) 12.5% 14.6% 14.8% 17.2% 4.1% 9.8% 14.8% 13.2% 17.1% 11.6% 11.8%
Co-op program 21.5% 9.8% 5.6% 8.2% 13.1% 49.6% 17.4% 11.0% 6.6% 7.4% 7.6%
Study Abroad/Student Exchange 45.1% 49.3% 35.9% 56.9% 36.9% 34.9% 51.9% 54.4% 57.9% 45.5% 55.3%
Volunteer Services 26.6% 42.0% 33.8% 33.4% 23.0% 16.1% 22.2% 27.2% 25.0% 25.6% 30.6%
ROTC 3.0% 2.1% 0.0% 4.5% 2.5% 4.4% 2.3% 1.5% 0.0% 1.8% 4.7%
Club Sports (cycling, baseball, martial arts, ultimate, etc.) 41.2% 37.9% 32.4% 33.2% 48.4% 44.1% 44.2% 36.0% 34.2% 45.7% 37.6%
Fitness/Wellness (group fitness classes, yoga, pilates, etc.) 34.7% 42.6% 44.4% 39.3% 24.6% 23.7% 37.0% 42.6% 34.2% 40.8% 30.0%
Indoor recreation (cardio room, weights, basketball, etc.) 34.2% 34.8% 23.2% 28.2% 50.8% 34.8% 38.7% 34.6% 25.0% 35.6% 26.5%
Intramurals (basketball, flag football, golf, etc.) 40.3% 37.6% 38.0% 33.6% 59.8% 43.2% 46.4% 30.1% 27.6% 41.2% 32.4%
Outdoor adventures (trips, equipment checkout, rock climbing workshops, etc.) 31.4% 36.0% 16.9% 30.6% 35.2% 32.6% 25.1% 15.4% 39.5% 32.4% 31.8%
Social Fraternity/Sorority 29.9% 30.2% 35.9% 33.2% 24.6% 20.1% 43.0% 38.2% 15.8% 38.9% 22.4%
Student Media/Publications 9.8% 5.8% 5.6% 26.1% 9.0% 7.4% 9.7% 8.8% 14.5% 9.1% 11.2%
UAB programs/activities (cultural programs, concerts, etc.) 7.7% 9.6% 2.8% 12.7% 10.7% 5.2% 8.3% 9.6% 10.5% 7.0% 7.1%
Multicultural/diversity programs/activities 12.0% 17.4% 9.9% 20.9% 7.4% 7.4% 12.3% 9.6% 6.6% 11.7% 10.6%
Gender issues (gender communication, sexual assault, domestic violence, etc.) 4.9% 6.6% 7.0% 11.5% 2.5% 1.9% 2.6% 2.9% 3.9% 5.4% 6.5%
Healthy lifestyles issues (stress management, sexuality, substance abuse, etc.) 9.2% 14.0% 7.0% 12.0% 7.4% 5.3% 8.3% 8.1% 5.3% 11.7% 6.5%
Planning programs/services for children and families 5.0% 5.9% 14.8% 7.5% 2.5% 2.5% 4.6% 4.4% 0.0% 5.5% 7.6%
Crafts center programs/activities 10.8% 12.0% 9.9% 10.8% 8.2% 8.3% 7.1% 21.3% 32.9% 12.0% 10.6%
Music minor, bands, choirs, orchestras, chamber music, bagpipes, drums 15.5% 15.6% 11.3% 14.4% 11.5% 19.6% 9.4% 10.3% 18.4% 13.5% 20.6%
Attending art exhibitions, meeting artists, museum internships 11.8% 12.1% 6.3% 16.5% 5.7% 8.4% 7.1% 23.5% 55.3% 11.4% 15.9%
Theater participation as artist 7.9% 10.3% 7.7% 14.1% 6.6% 6.1% 4.3% 9.6% 13.2% 6.0% 10.0%
Theater participation as audience 17.6% 20.8% 16.2% 23.5% 9.8% 15.8% 12.8% 19.1% 38.2% 14.4% 23.5%
Student Dance Companies 7.4% 9.4% 14.8% 10.6% 3.3% 4.0% 6.8% 11.0% 6.6% 8.5% 5.9%
Pre-Law services/planning 5.5% 1.9% 2.1% 21.9% 8.2% 1.4% 9.7% 2.2% 0.0% 6.5% 2.4%
Total (N) 4,169 726 142 425 122 1,237 351 136 76 784 170
Back to Top


For more information on the 2008 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, 2009

Return to 2008 First-Year Student Survey Table of Contents Page

Return to OIRP Survey Page

Return to OIRP Home Page