North Carolina State University
2011 First-Year Student Survey:
Open-Ended Comment Coding Scheme
The First Year Survey now includes two open-end questions, asking students 1) what they are most excited about in coming to NC State; and 2) what they are most concerned or nervous about in starting their first semester of college. Verbatim comments for each question were grouped into different categories by topic. (A single comment could be included in multiple categories.) The different categories for the First Year Survey open-ended comments are listed alphabetically below.
Campus Life/Involvement (e.g., Student organizations, Club sports, Arts/Theater, Campus events, ACC athletics, etc.)
Co-curricular Activities (e.g., Co-op experience, Student research, Internships, Service learning/programs, ROTC)
Community/Campus Environment (e.g., Atmosphere, Location, Prestige/reputation of university)
Diversity (e.g., Different types of people, Exposure to different cultures)
Financial (e.g., Financial aid and loans, Scholarships, Ability to pay bills/budget effectively, Tuition and other educational costs)
FYC (First-Year College)
Health (e.g., Mental health, Physical health, Feeling stressed/overwhelmed)
Independence (e.g., Making decisions on one's own, Freedom, Leaving home/family of origin)
Instruction (e.g., Classes, Faculty/instructors)
Living/Roommate (e.g., Sharing space with others, Relationship with roommates/suitemates, Quality of living facilities, Unique campus housing)
Performance/Workload (e.g., Difficulty of coursework, Performing well/receiving good grades, Ability to keep up with course demands, Volume of coursework/homework)
Personal/Career Development (e.g., Major/field/program-related comments, Ability to change major, Fit of major, Gaining knowledge, Career progression, Graduating, Feeling intellectually challenged)
Registration (e.g., Getting into necessary courses, Enrolling in correct/enjoyable courses, Waitlisting)
Biggest Concerns
Safety (e.g., Fear of crime, particularly theft, assault, and rape, General safety concerns, Fear of harassment)
Biggest Concerns
Social Life (e.g., Making friends/establishing a social network, Meeting new people, Fitting in, Feeling lonely)
Time Management (e.g., Meeting deadlines, Staying organized/focused, Balancing different demands, Autonomy to control one's time)
Transition to College (e.g., Adapting to college lifestyle, Experiencing new things/a "fresh start", Navigating campus, Finding classes, Leaving one's hometown)
Transportation (e.g., Busing, Parking, Getting around without a personal vehicle)
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: May 2012
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