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
| 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 |
| 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 |
| 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 |
| 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 |
| 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 |
| 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 |
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
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