North Carolina State University
2010 First-Year Student Survey:
Gender and Racial/Ethnic Comparisons
Preparation for College
This document reports gender and racial/ethnic differences in how well respondents are preparation for college, such as high school preparation, participation in pre-college programs, and current development of various knowledge, skills, and personal development goals. For information about the survey and analysis methods see "2010 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.
High School Preparation | Self Preparation | Participation in Pre-College Programs
Knowledge, Skills, and Personal Development:
Current Development
Importance
Scatterplots: Comparisons of Goal Ratings
| High School preparation for college | NCSU | Men | Women | Asian Amer |
Black / Afr Amer |
Hispanic |
White |
Other / Unknown |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Very well | 50.2% | 50.1% | 50.2% | 51.0% | 48.7% | 49.5% | 50.0% | 54.7% |
| Somewhat well | 42.2% | 42.3% | 42.0% | 42.7% | 43.4% | 45.0% | 42.2% | 37.1% |
| Not very well | 7.7% | 7.6% | 7.8% | 6.3% | 7.9% | 5.5% | 7.8% | 8.2% |
| Total (N) | 2,778 | 1,349 | 1,429 | 143 | 228 | 109 | 2,139 | 159 |
| Self preparation for college | NCSU | Men | Women | Asian Amer |
Black / Afr Amer |
Hispanic |
White |
Other / Unknown |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Very well | 52.4% | 49.4% | 55.3% | 42.3% | 48.2% | 54.6% | 53.5% | 51.6% |
| Somewhat well | 45.2% | 47.8% | 42.8% | 52.1% | 49.6% | 43.5% | 44.3% | 46.5% |
| Not very well | 2.4% | 2.8% | 1.9% | 5.6% | 2.2% | 1.9% | 2.2% | 1.9% |
| Total (N) | 2,758 | 1,343 | 1,415 | 142 | 226 | 108 | 2,125 | 157 |
| NCSU | Men | Women | Asian Amer |
Black / Afr Amer |
Hispanic |
White |
Other / Unknown |
|
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Educational Talent Search | 2.8% | 2.7% | 2.9% | 3.4% | 5.1% | 7.3% | 2.1% | 4.8% |
| Upward Bound | 1.2% | 1.5% | 0.9% | 0.7% | 6.4% | 0.0% | 0.8% | 0.6% |
| GEAR UP | 0.8% | 0.8% | 0.8% | 0.0% | 2.6% | 0.9% | 0.6% | 0.6% |
| Early College | 3.4% | 3.8% | 3.1% | 3.4% | 7.2% | 3.6% | 2.6% | 8.5% |
| Total (N) | 2,837 | 1,386 | 1,451 | 145 | 235 | 110 | 2,182 | 165 |
Back to Top Q Knowledge, Skills, and Personal Development Current Development
| General Education Goals | Mean Rating (4=Excellent, 3=Good, 2=Fair, 1=Poor) |
|||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| All |
Men |
Women |
Asian Amer |
Black / Afr Amer |
Hispanic |
White |
Other / Unknown |
|
| Development: Listening skills | 3.30 | 3.25 | 3.34 | 3.18 | 3.39 | 3.47 | 3.29 | 3.25 |
| Development: Logical reasoning skills | 3.30 | 3.39 | 3.22 | 3.06 | 3.24 | 3.41 | 3.32 | 3.27 |
| Development: Ability to adapt to changing technologies | 3.28 | 3.39 | 3.18 | 3.28 | 3.41 | 3.43 | 3.26 | 3.34 |
| Development: Ability to plan/carry out projects independently | 3.26 | 3.14 | 3.36 | 3.05 | 3.21 | 3.29 | 3.28 | 3.18 |
| Development: Problem-solving skills | 3.22 | 3.30 | 3.14 | 3.08 | 3.15 | 3.22 | 3.24 | 3.18 |
| Development: Comprehension skills | 3.12 | 3.12 | 3.13 | 2.92 | 3.18 | 3.30 | 3.12 | 3.20 |
| Development: Understanding everyday influence of science/technology | 3.09 | 3.26 | 2.93 | 2.97 | 3.06 | 3.18 | 3.09 | 3.12 |
| Development: Ability to critically analyze ideas and information | 3.09 | 3.14 | 3.04 | 2.98 | 3.01 | 3.17 | 3.10 | 3.13 |
| Development: Understanding of diverse cultures and values | 3.09 | 2.95 | 3.21 | 3.54 | 3.35 | 3.51 | 2.99 | 3.32 |
| Development: Using mathematics skills | 3.07 | 3.25 | 2.91 | 3.04 | 3.02 | 2.97 | 3.09 | 3.05 |
| Development: Computer skills | 3.07 | 3.11 | 3.03 | 3.03 | 3.31 | 3.20 | 3.03 | 3.18 |
| Development: Using books/journals/articles from library/internet for research | 2.90 | 2.76 | 3.05 | 2.80 | 2.87 | 2.98 | 2.91 | 2.97 |
| Development: Speaking skills | 2.89 | 2.86 | 2.93 | 2.67 | 2.97 | 3.03 | 2.89 | 2.93 |
| Development: Writing skills | 2.85 | 2.77 | 2.93 | 2.66 | 2.86 | 2.88 | 2.86 | 2.88 |
| Development: Applying scientific methods of inquiry | 2.78 | 2.92 | 2.65 | 2.71 | 2.76 | 2.81 | 2.78 | 2.81 |
Back to Top
| Personal Development Goals | Mean Rating (4=Excellent, 3=Good, 2=Fair, 1=Poor) |
|||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| All |
Men |
Women |
Asian Amer |
Black / Afr Amer |
Hispanic |
White |
Other / Unknown |
|
| Development: Ability to function as part of a team | 3.49 | 3.45 | 3.51 | 3.36 | 3.59 | 3.61 | 3.48 | 3.49 |
| Development: Recognizing and acting upon ethical principles | 3.34 | 3.28 | 3.40 | 3.37 | 3.45 | 3.54 | 3.32 | 3.40 |
| Development: Ability to organize steps to complete group project | 3.29 | 3.17 | 3.40 | 3.24 | 3.30 | 3.43 | 3.28 | 3.29 |
| Development: Taking the initiative improve my work | 3.27 | 3.17 | 3.37 | 3.17 | 3.25 | 3.37 | 3.28 | 3.27 |
| Development: Personal growth | 3.23 | 3.22 | 3.24 | 3.13 | 3.31 | 3.24 | 3.23 | 3.20 |
| Development: Self-discipline | 3.18 | 3.14 | 3.21 | 3.11 | 3.27 | 3.17 | 3.18 | 3.08 |
| Development: Ability to lead or guide others | 3.10 | 3.06 | 3.14 | 2.88 | 3.16 | 3.02 | 3.11 | 3.13 |
| Development: Maintaining an active and healthy lifestyle | 3.08 | 3.15 | 3.02 | 2.87 | 3.05 | 3.04 | 3.11 | 3.02 |
| Development: Exercising public responsibility/community service | 3.06 | 2.91 | 3.19 | 3.03 | 3.11 | 3.14 | 3.05 | 3.05 |
| Development: Self-confidence | 3.05 | 3.12 | 2.99 | 2.82 | 3.21 | 3.17 | 3.05 | 3.03 |
| Development: Ability to handle stress | 2.87 | 3.05 | 2.70 | 2.80 | 2.95 | 2.99 | 2.85 | 2.94 |
| Development: Time management | 2.71 | 2.62 | 2.80 | 2.60 | 2.62 | 2.76 | 2.73 | 2.71 |
Back to Top
| World View Goals | Mean Rating (4=Excellent, 3=Good, 2=Fair, 1=Poor) |
|||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| All |
Men |
Women |
Asian Amer |
Black / Afr Amer |
Hispanic |
White |
Other / Unknown |
|
| Development: Appreciating gender equity | 3.64 | 3.56 | 3.72 | 3.67 | 3.77 | 3.80 | 3.61 | 3.72 |
| Development: Appreciating racial equity | 3.61 | 3.55 | 3.68 | 3.72 | 3.83 | 3.85 | 3.56 | 3.74 |
| Development: Ability to work with people from diverse backgrounds | 3.40 | 3.35 | 3.46 | 3.60 | 3.68 | 3.67 | 3.33 | 3.60 |
| Development: Tolerance for divergent views | 3.25 | 3.19 | 3.30 | 3.39 | 3.40 | 3.47 | 3.20 | 3.43 |
| Development: Appreciation for arts, music, literature | 3.17 | 3.00 | 3.33 | 3.31 | 3.19 | 3.31 | 3.13 | 3.38 |
| Development: Understanding present as it relates to history | 3.02 | 3.08 | 2.96 | 2.89 | 3.04 | 3.02 | 3.02 | 3.07 |
| Development: Understanding world issues/problems | 2.92 | 2.98 | 2.85 | 2.85 | 3.03 | 3.10 | 2.89 | 3.06 |
Back to Top Importance
| General Education Goals | Mean Rating (4=Very important, 3=Somewhat important, 2=Not very important, 1=Not at all important) |
|||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| All |
Men |
Women |
Asian Amer |
Black / Afr Amer |
Hispanic |
White |
Other / Unknown |
|
| Importance: Problem-solving skills | 3.74 | 3.73 | 3.74 | 3.78 | 3.76 | 3.75 | 3.73 | 3.75 |
| Importance: Comprehension skills | 3.72 | 3.65 | 3.80 | 3.78 | 3.83 | 3.81 | 3.71 | 3.69 |
| Importance: Logical reasoning skills | 3.71 | 3.72 | 3.70 | 3.73 | 3.65 | 3.81 | 3.71 | 3.73 |
| Importance: Ability to plan/carry out projects independently | 3.70 | 3.61 | 3.78 | 3.76 | 3.76 | 3.84 | 3.68 | 3.68 |
| Importance: Listening skills | 3.70 | 3.62 | 3.77 | 3.71 | 3.80 | 3.73 | 3.69 | 3.64 |
| Importance: Ability to adapt to changing technologies | 3.63 | 3.63 | 3.62 | 3.60 | 3.68 | 3.73 | 3.62 | 3.62 |
| Importance: Ability to critically analyze ideas and information | 3.62 | 3.59 | 3.64 | 3.67 | 3.65 | 3.73 | 3.60 | 3.68 |
| Importance: Speaking skills | 3.59 | 3.50 | 3.69 | 3.69 | 3.81 | 3.70 | 3.56 | 3.61 |
| Importance: Computer skills | 3.57 | 3.57 | 3.57 | 3.59 | 3.71 | 3.63 | 3.55 | 3.53 |
| Importance: Using mathematics skills | 3.55 | 3.62 | 3.49 | 3.61 | 3.64 | 3.67 | 3.53 | 3.54 |
| Importance: Understanding of diverse cultures and values | 3.44 | 3.24 | 3.62 | 3.67 | 3.75 | 3.74 | 3.36 | 3.61 |
| Importance: Understanding everyday influence of science/technology | 3.44 | 3.51 | 3.38 | 3.46 | 3.55 | 3.55 | 3.43 | 3.41 |
| Importance: Using books/journals/articles from library/internet for research | 3.42 | 3.28 | 3.55 | 3.43 | 3.55 | 3.64 | 3.39 | 3.44 |
| Importance: Writing skills | 3.35 | 3.16 | 3.53 | 3.42 | 3.60 | 3.51 | 3.31 | 3.40 |
| Importance: Applying scientific methods of inquiry | 3.21 | 3.27 | 3.17 | 3.30 | 3.31 | 3.32 | 3.20 | 3.19 |
Back to Top
| Personal Development Goals | Mean Rating (4=Very important, 3=Somewhat important, 2=Not very important, 1=Not at all important) |
|||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| All |
Men |
Women |
Asian Amer |
Black / Afr Amer |
Hispanic |
White |
Other / Unknown |
|
| Importance: Time management | 3.85 | 3.79 | 3.91 | 3.87 | 3.91 | 3.88 | 3.85 | 3.81 |
| Importance: Self-discipline | 3.82 | 3.77 | 3.87 | 3.74 | 3.89 | 3.89 | 3.81 | 3.80 |
| Importance: Ability to handle stress | 3.81 | 3.74 | 3.87 | 3.84 | 3.84 | 3.85 | 3.80 | 3.77 |
| Importance: Self-confidence | 3.79 | 3.74 | 3.84 | 3.79 | 3.85 | 3.80 | 3.79 | 3.73 |
| Importance: Personal growth | 3.77 | 3.71 | 3.82 | 3.78 | 3.83 | 3.80 | 3.76 | 3.71 |
| Importance: Ability to function as part of a team | 3.76 | 3.73 | 3.79 | 3.72 | 3.80 | 3.79 | 3.77 | 3.70 |
| Importance: Maintaining an active and healthy lifestyle | 3.76 | 3.71 | 3.81 | 3.73 | 3.80 | 3.77 | 3.76 | 3.75 |
| Importance: Taking the initiative improve my work | 3.74 | 3.67 | 3.81 | 3.72 | 3.79 | 3.81 | 3.74 | 3.75 |
| Importance: Recognizing and acting upon ethical principles | 3.66 | 3.55 | 3.76 | 3.70 | 3.77 | 3.75 | 3.64 | 3.67 |
| Importance: Ability to organize steps to complete group project | 3.63 | 3.57 | 3.68 | 3.65 | 3.65 | 3.71 | 3.62 | 3.57 |
| Importance: Ability to lead or guide others | 3.60 | 3.56 | 3.64 | 3.58 | 3.68 | 3.68 | 3.60 | 3.52 |
| Importance: Exercising public responsibility/community service | 3.52 | 3.35 | 3.68 | 3.55 | 3.63 | 3.59 | 3.51 | 3.50 |
Back to Top
| World View Goals | Mean Rating (4=Very important, 3=Somewhat important, 2=Not very important, 1=Not at all important) |
|||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| All |
Men |
Women |
Asian Amer |
Black / Afr Amer |
Hispanic |
White |
Other / Unknown |
|
| Importance: Appreciating racial equity | 3.71 | 3.60 | 3.82 | 3.81 | 3.89 | 3.90 | 3.67 | 3.75 |
| Importance: Appreciating gender equity | 3.69 | 3.59 | 3.79 | 3.73 | 3.87 | 3.85 | 3.66 | 3.71 |
| Importance: Ability to work with people from diverse backgrounds | 3.68 | 3.58 | 3.78 | 3.82 | 3.88 | 3.85 | 3.64 | 3.72 |
| Importance: Understanding world issues/problems | 3.62 | 3.55 | 3.68 | 3.59 | 3.71 | 3.67 | 3.60 | 3.68 |
| Importance: Tolerance for divergent views | 3.60 | 3.48 | 3.71 | 3.65 | 3.73 | 3.68 | 3.57 | 3.62 |
| Importance: Understanding present as it relates to history | 3.38 | 3.35 | 3.41 | 3.40 | 3.47 | 3.49 | 3.36 | 3.38 |
| Importance: Appreciation for arts, music, literature | 3.29 | 3.12 | 3.44 | 3.39 | 3.38 | 3.37 | 3.26 | 3.35 |
Back to Top
Scatterplots: Comparisons of Goal Ratings
(a graphical representation of the relationship between current development and importance ratings of knowledge, skills, and personal development goals)
Scatterplot Comparing Goal Development and Goal Importance Ratings (All Respondents)
| 1 Appreciating gender equity | 18 Ability to lead or guide others |
|---|---|
| 2 Appreciating racial equity | 19 Ability to critically analyze ideas and information |
| 3 Ability to function as part of a team | 20 Understanding everyday influence of science/technology |
| 4 Ability to work with people from diverse backgrounds | 21 Understanding of diverse cultures and values |
| 5 Recognizing and acting upon ethical principles | 22 Maintaining an active and healthy lifestyle |
| 6 Logical reasoning skills | 23 Using mathematics skills |
| 7 Listening skills | 24 Computer skills |
| 8 Ability to organize steps to complete group project | 25 Exercising public responsibility/community service |
| 9 Ability to adapt to changing technologies | 26 Self-confidence |
| 10 Taking the initiative improve my work | 27 Understanding present as it relates to history |
| 11 Ability to plan/carry out projects independently | 28 Understanding world issues/problems |
| 12 Tolerance for divergent views | 29 Using books/journals/articles from library/internet for research |
| 13 Personal growth | 30 Speaking skills |
| 14 Problem-solving skills | 31 Ability to handle stress |
| 15 Self-discipline | 32 Writing skills |
| 16 Appreciation for arts, music, literature | 33 Applying scientific methods of inquiry |
| 17 Comprehension skills | 34 Time management |
Back to Top
| 1 Appreciating gender equity | 18 Ability to lead or guide others |
|---|---|
| 2 Appreciating racial equity | 19 Ability to critically analyze ideas and information |
| 3 Ability to function as part of a team | 20 Understanding everyday influence of science/technology |
| 4 Ability to work with people from diverse backgrounds | 21 Understanding of diverse cultures and values |
| 5 Recognizing and acting upon ethical principles | 22 Maintaining an active and healthy lifestyle |
| 6 Logical reasoning skills | 23 Using mathematics skills |
| 7 Listening skills | 24 Computer skills |
| 8 Ability to organize steps to complete group project | 25 Exercising public responsibility/community service |
| 9 Ability to adapt to changing technologies | 26 Self-confidence |
| 10 Taking the initiative improve my work | 27 Understanding present as it relates to history |
| 11 Ability to plan/carry out projects independently | 28 Understanding world issues/problems |
| 12 Tolerance for divergent views | 29 Using books/journals/articles from library/internet for research |
| 13 Personal growth | 30 Speaking skills |
| 14 Problem-solving skills | 31 Ability to handle stress |
| 15 Self-discipline | 32 Writing skills |
| 16 Appreciation for arts, music, literature | 33 Applying scientific methods of inquiry |
| 17 Comprehension skills | 34 Time management |
Back to Top
| 1 Appreciating gender equity | 18 Ability to lead or guide others |
|---|---|
| 2 Appreciating racial equity | 19 Ability to critically analyze ideas and information |
| 3 Ability to function as part of a team | 20 Understanding everyday influence of science/technology |
| 4 Ability to work with people from diverse backgrounds | 21 Understanding of diverse cultures and values |
| 5 Recognizing and acting upon ethical principles | 22 Maintaining an active and healthy lifestyle |
| 6 Logical reasoning skills | 23 Using mathematics skills |
| 7 Listening skills | 24 Computer skills |
| 8 Ability to organize steps to complete group project | 25 Exercising public responsibility/community service |
| 9 Ability to adapt to changing technologies | 26 Self-confidence |
| 10 Taking the initiative improve my work | 27 Understanding present as it relates to history |
| 11 Ability to plan/carry out projects independently | 28 Understanding world issues/problems |
| 12 Tolerance for divergent views | 29 Using books/journals/articles from library/internet for research |
| 13 Personal growth | 30 Speaking skills |
| 14 Problem-solving skills | 31 Ability to handle stress |
| 15 Self-discipline | 32 Writing skills |
| 16 Appreciation for arts, music, literature | 33 Applying scientific methods of inquiry |
| 17 Comprehension skills | 34 Time management |
Back to Top
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 2011
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