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North Carolina State University
2010 First-Year Student Survey

This document lists survey questions and response options for the 2010 First-Year Student Survey. To view frequency distributions of responses to a question, click on the question number.


A. APPLYING TO NC STATE

1. How many colleges/universities did you apply to this year, including NC State?


2. After applying for admission to NC State, did you receive a phone call or phone calls from any of the following people? Yes No Don't know / Don't remember
a. An NC State faculty or staff member
b. A current NC State student
c. A graduate of NC State


3. After applying for admission to NC State, did you receive a letter from someone other than the admissions office?


4. To what extent did each of the following factors influence your decision to attend NC State? Very strong influence Strong influence Moderate influence Weak influence Very weak influence Not applicable
a. Academic reputation
b. Cost
c. Location
d. Size
e. Availability of program
f. Recommended by a friend, family member, teacher, counselor, etc.
g. Number of hours transferred/credited
h. Level of support for my intended major
i. Facilities and resources available
j. Scholarships/financial aid available
k. Pack Promise Program
  Very strong influence Strong influence Moderate influence Weak influence Very weak influence Not applicable
l. Campus visit prior to orientation
m. Contact with a current student
n. Contact with a faculty or staff member
o. Contact with a graduate
p. Letter from someone other than Admissions Office
q. Attendance at a College Fair
r. Publications from NC State
s. Extracurricular opportunities
t. Acceptance into the First Year College Program
u. Campus Recreation programs
v. Carmichael Complex Recreational facilities (e.g., gym, pool, fitness center, fields)
w. Other


5. Using the list from question 4, please select the single most influential factor in your decision to attend NC State.
 


6. In thinking about the various schools to which you applied (regardless of whether or not you were accepted), was NC State your first choice of colleges to attend?


7. How satisfied were you with each of the following: Very
satisfied
Moderately
satisfied
Moderately
dissatisfied
Very
dissatisfied
Don???t know/
Didn???t use
a. The NC State University admissions process?
b. Your departmental admissions process?


8. Overall, how would you rate the NC State Virtual Advising Center Web site?


B. PAYING FOR COLLEGE

1. How much of your first year???s educational expenses (room, board, tuition and fees) do you expect to cover from each of the sources listed below? None Less than $1,000 $1,000-
$2,999
$3,000-
$5,999
$6,000-
$9,999
$10,000
or more
a. family resources (parents, relatives, spouse, etc.)
b. your own resources (savings from work, work-study, other income)
c. aid that does not need to be repaid (grants, schlarship, military funding, etc.)
d. aid that must be repaid (loans, etc.)
e. other than above


2. Did you or your parents/guardians submit a FAFSA (Free Application for Federal Student Aid)?


3. Please indicate what, if any, kind(s) of financial aid you are receiving. (Mark all that apply.)


4. How satisfied were you with the NC State University financial aid process (the process for applying for aid, not the award amount)?


C. PREPARING FOR COLLEGE

1. How well do you think: Very well Somewhat well Not very well
a. your high school prepared you for college?
b. you prepared yourself for college?


2. What is your primary goal or objective for attending NC State?


3. How certain are you about your choice of a college major?


4. Below is a list of knowledge, skills, and personal development goals held by NC State for your undergraduate preparation. In the first column rate your current level of development of the goal, and in the second column rate how important the goal is to you.
General Education Goals CURRENT LEVEL
OF DEVELOPMENT
IMPORTANCE TO
YOU CURRENTLY
Writing skills
Speaking skills
Listening skills
Comprehension skills (understanding written information)
Using mathematics skills
Understanding how science and technology influence everyday life
Applying scientific methods of inquiry
Computer skills
Logical reasoning skills
Ability to adapt to changing technologies
Ability to critically analyze ideas and information
Using books, journals, and/or articles from the library/internet etc. for a research paper/project
Problem-solving skills
Ability to plan and carry out projects independently
Understanding of diverse cultures and values
Personal Development Goals CURRENT LEVEL
OF DEVELOPMENT
IMPORTANCE TO
YOU CURRENTLY
Recognizing and acting upon ethical principles
Ability to lead or guide others
Ability to function as part of a team
Ability to organize the steps to successfully complete a group project
Taking the initiative to make improvements in the work I do
Exercising public responsibility and community service
Maintaining an active and healthy lifestyle
Personal growth
Self-confidence
Ability to handle stress
Time management
Self-discipline
World View Goals CURRENT LEVEL
OF DEVELOPMENT
IMPORTANCE TO
YOU CURRENTLY
Understanding issues and problems facing the world
Ability to work with people from diverse backgrounds
Tolerance for divergent views
Appreciating gender equity
Appreciating racial equity
Understanding the present as it relates to historical events and processes
Appreciation for the arts, music, and literature


D. NEW STUDENT ORIENTATION

These first few questions ask you to think about the New Student Orientation program that you attended at NC State over the summer.

Note: The following question was for students in the colleges of CED, COE, CNR, CHASS, COM, and FYC only (automatically handled behind the scene)
1a. My advising session(s) at New Student Orientation helped me to plan my fall schedule.


Note: The following question was for students in the colleges of Design, COT, PAMS, and CALS only (automatically handled behind the scene)
1b. The information and advice I received from my college/department prior to attending orientation helped me to plan my fall schedule.


2. The advising session(s) at New Student Orientation provided me the opportunity to get answers to my academic questions. (If you would like to comment further, please do so in question 7 below.)


3. I am satisfied with the attention I received during my college/department advising period.


4. How useful was the information you received during New Student Orientation about each of the following: Very
useful
Moderately
useful
Slightly
useful
Not at all
useful
a. How academic advising works
b. Academic requirements
c. Resources to help you get involved on campus if you wanted to do so
d. Safety and security on campus
e. Technology resources on campus
f. How to use the MyPack Portal to register for classes
g. The value of interacting with faculty and staff at NC State


5. New Student Orientation made clear the university's expectation for students to act with respect and civility towards others.


6. The information I received during Orientation helped me feel better prepared to start my first semester at NC State.




E. GETTING INVOLVED AT NC STATE

PLEASE READ THESE IMPORTANT INSTRUCTIONS: Unlike ALL the other questions in this survey, the information you provide in this section is NOT confidential. We are asking these questions to pro-actively help you get involved at NC State. For any/all activities below in which you indicate an interest, we will share your name and contact information with the person(s) on campus responsible for that activity so that they can send you information about the activity. We will NOT connect any of your responses to other questions in the survey with the information we provide to these people.

1. In which of the following co-curricular programs/activities at NC State are you interested in learning about and/or participating? (Mark all that apply)
 


2. Do you play any musical instrument(s)?


3. Have you recently participated in a choral group in your school, community, or place of worship?


4. In which of the following pre-college programs did you participate? (Mark all that apply.)


5. Please indicate which, if any, of the following religious organizations at NC State you are interested in learning about and/or participating in. (Mark all that apply.)


6. What is your religious preference(s)? (Mark all that apply.)
 


F. TECHNICAL CAPABILITIES

1. This fall, will you have a computer for your personal use at NC State?


2. How frequently do you use a handheld mobile device (e.g., cell phone, smartphone, PDA) to: Never -- I do not have a handheld mobile device Never--my mobile device/plan does not provide this capability or I never use it for this Once a month or less Several times per month Several times per week Once per day Several times per day More than five times per day
a. Access the internet
b. Check email
c. Send/receive text messages


G. CONCLUSIONS: SOME BACKGROUND INFORMATION ABOUT YOU

This final section of the survey asks you to provide us with a variety of information about yourself. Collecting data from all respondents on these questions is important so that we can better and more reliably report differences and similarities between people from different backgrounds.

We understand that you might be concerned about sharing some of this information. Please be assured that the responses you provide are kept completely confidential. Any identifying information will be separated from your answers. Results are reported using the average, or pooled answers to the questions, instead of the responses of any one individual. However, if you are uncomfortable answering a question, please feel free to skip it.

1. What is the highest level of education you plan to complete?


2. What is the highest level of education completed by your parent(s)/guardian(s)?
Father/Male guardian Mother/Female guardian


3. Which best describes the area in which you lived during high school?


4. What is your veteran status? (Mark all that apply.)


5. Do you self-identify as a member of the GLB (gay, lesbian, bisexual) community?


6. Do you self-identify as a member of the transgender community?


7. For the year 2009, what was the amount of your parents??? or guardians??? combined pre-tax income? Please try to answer even if you are financially independent.


8. What is the total number of people financially supported by your parents/guardians, including yourself and parents/guardians? (i.e., What is the size of your family household?)


9. How many of your parents' or guardians' dependents including yourself are currently enrolled in college?


10. During the time school is in session this coming year, about how many hours do you plan on working on- and/or off-campus?
On-campus Off-campus


11. How long do you intend to take to complete your bachelor???s degree at NC State?


12. After graduation, where do you plan to seek employment?


H. CONCLUSIONS: YOUR FINAL THOUGHTS

In this last section of the survey we would like you to provide some information in your own words. You comments will be grouped with others talking about similar issues, and (after removing any personally identifying information) shared with the relevant offices on campus so that they may have a better understanding of how to make your time at NC State as productive and successful as possible. However, in asking you to share your comments we must also inform you that our promise to maintain your confidentiality does not apply where the university has a legal duty to act on the information you provide, such as reports of criminal activity or unlawful harassment.



For more information on the 2010 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 2011

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