This document reports the frequency distribution by gender and race/ethnicity of survey item #18 of the 2000 Graduating Senior Survey. A table comparing mean ratings is available on the web.

Exact wording of question: To what extent do you think your college education contributed to your knowledge, skills, and personal development in each of the following areas?

General Education | World Views | Personal Development

Writing skills

	All	Women	Men	AfAm	White	Other
Not at all	0.9%	0.3%	1.5%	0.0%	1.0%	1.3%
Very Little	8.6%	8.6%	8.6%	7.1%	8.6%	10.0%
Somewhat	45.8%	45.8%	45.8%	35.7%	47.1%	37.5%
Very Much	44.7%	45.3%	44.1%	57.1%	43.3%	51.3%

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Speaking skills

	All	Women	Men	AfAm	White	Other
Not at all	1.6%	1.1%	2.0%	2.4%	1.4%	3.8%
Very Little	8.3%	8.1%	8.5%	8.2%	8.6%	5.0%
Somewhat	43.3%	41.7%	44.8%	37.6%	43.8%	42.5%
Very Much	46.8%	49.0%	44.8%	51.8%	46.3%	48.8%

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Listening skills

	All	Women	Men	AfAm	White	Other
Not at all	1.6%	1.3%	2.0%	2.4%	1.6%	1.3%
Very Little	8.8%	7.5%	10.0%	7.1%	9.2%	5.0%
Somewhat	44.0%	39.8%	47.9%	42.4%	44.4%	40.0%
Very Much	45.6%	51.4%	40.2%	48.2%	44.8%	53.8%

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Comprehension skills (understanding written information)

	All	Women	Men	AfAm	White	Other
Not at all	1.3%	1.0%	1.5%	1.2%	1.3%	1.3%
Very Little	6.3%	5.5%	7.0%	6.0%	6.6%	2.5%
Somewhat	39.9%	38.3%	41.3%	33.3%	40.6%	36.3%
Very Much	52.6%	55.2%	50.2%	59.5%	51.5%	60.0%

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Using mathematics skills

	All	Women	Men	AfAm	White	Other
Not at all	1.4%	1.6%	1.2%	0.0%	1.4%	2.6%
Very Little	12.6%	17.7%	7.8%	8.5%	13.0%	10.4%
Somewhat	32.2%	37.8%	27.1%	32.9%	32.2%	31.2%
Very Much	53.8%	42.9%	63.9%	58.5%	53.3%	55.8%

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Applying scientific methods of inquiry

	All	Women	Men	AfAm	White	Other
Not at all	1.1%	1.3%	0.9%	0.0%	1.1%	2.6%
Very Little	8.6%	12.0%	5.6%	2.4%	9.1%	9.2%
Somewhat	33.4%	36.4%	30.6%	32.5%	33.5%	31.6%
Very Much	56.9%	50.3%	62.9%	65.1%	56.3%	56.6%

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Enhancing analytic skills

	All	Women	Men	AfAm	White	Other
Not at all	0.5%	0.5%	0.5%	1.2%	0.3%	2.5%
Very Little	3.2%	3.6%	2.9%	2.4%	3.5%	1.3%
Somewhat	32.0%	35.3%	29.0%	31.8%	32.2%	28.8%
Very Much	64.3%	60.6%	67.7%	64.7%	64.0%	67.5%

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Developing computer skills

	All	Women	Men	AfAm	White	Other
Not at all	0.6%	0.5%	0.8%	0.0%	0.6%	1.3%
Very Little	6.0%	6.0%	5.9%	0.0%	6.3%	7.5%
Somewhat	25.9%	26.7%	25.1%	26.7%	26.4%	17.5%
Very Much	67.5%	66.8%	68.2%	73.3%	66.6%	73.8%

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Developing a tolerance for divergent views

	All	Women	Men	AfAm	White	Other
Not at all	3.1%	3.0%	3.3%	2.4%	3.1%	3.9%
Very Little	11.6%	9.8%	13.4%	10.6%	12.2%	5.2%
Somewhat	41.2%	38.3%	43.9%	35.3%	42.2%	33.8%
Very Much	44.0%	48.9%	39.4%	51.8%	42.5%	57.1%

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Understanding of diverse cultures and values

	All	Women	Men	AfAm	White	Other
Not at all	4.3%	3.3%	5.2%	4.7%	4.1%	6.4%
Very Little	13.9%	11.6%	16.0%	15.1%	14.2%	7.7%
Somewhat	42.5%	39.6%	45.3%	43.0%	43.6%	26.9%
Very Much	39.4%	45.5%	33.5%	37.2%	38.1%	59.0%

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Recognizing and acting upon ethical principles

	All	Women	Men	AfAm	White	Other
Not at all	4.0%	2.7%	5.1%	8.4%	3.5%	5.1%
Very Little	16.4%	15.3%	17.3%	14.5%	17.1%	9.0%
Somewhat	44.4%	42.3%	46.3%	44.6%	44.9%	37.2%
Very Much	35.3%	39.6%	31.2%	32.5%	34.5%	48.7%

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Exercising public responsibility and community service

	All	Women	Men	AfAm	White	Other
Not at all	8.8%	6.5%	11.0%	4.9%	9.1%	8.5%
Very Little	25.6%	24.3%	26.9%	25.9%	26.0%	19.7%
Somewhat	40.5%	42.1%	39.0%	39.5%	41.2%	31.0%
Very Much	25.1%	27.2%	23.1%	29.6%	23.7%	40.8%

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Appreciating racial equity

	All	Women	Men	AfAm	White	Other
Not at all	7.8%	4.7%	10.6%	11.8%	7.6%	5.3%
Very Little	21.3%	21.1%	21.4%	18.8%	21.7%	17.3%
Somewhat	38.9%	38.0%	39.8%	37.6%	39.5%	32.0%
Very Much	32.1%	36.1%	28.2%	31.8%	31.1%	45.3%

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Appreciating gender equity

	All	Women	Men	AfAm	White	Other
Not at all	7.6%	5.2%	9.9%	10.6%	7.5%	5.4%
Very Little	19.9%	19.5%	20.2%	18.8%	20.1%	17.6%
Somewhat	39.5%	37.3%	41.5%	37.6%	40.0%	33.8%
Very Much	33.1%	38.0%	28.5%	32.9%	32.4%	43.2%

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Advancing your appreciation of the arts

	All	Women	Men	AfAm	White	Other
Not at all	12.2%	8.6%	15.5%	7.1%	12.6%	11.1%
Very Little	28.6%	29.0%	28.3%	28.2%	29.4%	16.7%
Somewhat	36.1%	36.9%	35.3%	43.5%	35.7%	33.3%
Very Much	23.2%	25.6%	20.9%	21.2%	22.3%	38.9%

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Understanding issues and problems facing the world

	All	Women	Men	AfAm	White	Other
Not at all	4.5%	2.8%	6.2%	3.6%	4.4%	7.7%
Very Little	17.4%	14.8%	19.8%	17.9%	18.0%	9.0%
Somewhat	43.4%	42.7%	44.0%	38.1%	44.5%	33.3%
Very Much	34.7%	39.7%	30.0%	40.5%	33.2%	50.0%

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Understanding the present as it relates to history

	All	Women	Men	AfAm	White	Other
Not at all	3.5%	4.1%	2.9%	2.3%	3.5%	5.1%
Very Little	18.9%	20.1%	17.8%	15.1%	19.3%	17.7%
Somewhat	46.1%	45.1%	46.9%	44.2%	47.0%	35.4%
Very Much	31.6%	30.7%	32.4%	38.4%	30.3%	41.8%

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Understanding how science and technology influence everyday life

	All	Women	Men	AfAm	White	Other
Not at all	1.0%	1.1%	0.9%	1.2%	1.0%	1.3%
Very Little	5.7%	6.9%	4.6%	9.5%	5.5%	3.8%
Somewhat	36.6%	33.6%	39.4%	35.7%	37.4%	26.3%
Very Much	56.7%	58.4%	55.2%	53.6%	56.1%	68.8%

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Ability to critically analyze ideas and information

	All	Women	Men	AfAm	White	Other
Not at all	0.6%	0.5%	0.8%	0.0%	0.6%	1.3%
Very Little	2.4%	1.6%	3.0%	2.4%	2.3%	2.6%
Somewhat	32.2%	33.2%	31.3%	31.8%	32.8%	24.4%
Very Much	64.8%	64.7%	64.9%	65.9%	64.2%	71.8%

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Ability to work with people from diverse backgrounds

	All	Women	Men	AfAm	White	Other
Not at all	2.2%	2.0%	2.5%	3.5%	2.2%	1.3%
Very Little	9.8%	9.6%	10.0%	11.8%	9.9%	6.3%
Somewhat	35.7%	34.0%	37.3%	22.4%	37.1%	30.4%
Very Much	52.3%	54.4%	50.2%	62.4%	50.8%	62.0%

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Ability to lead or guide others

	All	Women	Men	AfAm	White	Other
Not at all	2.7%	1.6%	3.7%	3.6%	2.6%	2.5%
Very Little	8.7%	8.8%	8.6%	9.5%	8.6%	8.9%
Somewhat	41.1%	38.6%	43.5%	29.8%	42.6%	31.6%
Very Much	47.5%	51.0%	44.3%	57.1%	46.1%	57.0%

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Ability to function as part of a team

	All	Women	Men	AfAm	White	Other
Not at all	1.4%	1.1%	1.7%	1.2%	1.5%	1.3%
Very Little	6.1%	5.9%	6.2%	8.1%	6.1%	3.8%
Somewhat	30.8%	27.8%	33.5%	25.6%	31.7%	22.8%
Very Much	61.8%	65.1%	58.6%	65.1%	60.7%	72.2%

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Ability to plan and carry out projects independently

	All	Women	Men	AfAm	White	Other
Not at all	0.8%	0.8%	0.8%	2.4%	0.6%	1.3%
Very Little	3.9%	3.9%	4.0%	4.7%	4.1%	1.3%
Somewhat	30.1%	26.3%	33.5%	32.9%	30.4%	22.8%
Very Much	65.2%	68.9%	61.7%	60.0%	65.0%	74.7%

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Valuing learning as a lifelong process

	All	Women	Men	AfAm	White	Other
Not at all	1.8%	1.2%	2.5%	4.8%	1.6%	1.3%
Very Little	6.5%	6.1%	6.9%	3.6%	6.8%	6.4%
Somewhat	31.0%	27.3%	34.5%	30.1%	31.5%	25.6%
Very Much	60.6%	65.5%	56.1%	61.4%	60.1%	66.7%

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Commitment to personal health and fitness

	All	Women	Men	AfAm	White	Other
Not at all	7.3%	5.2%	9.2%	8.3%	7.3%	5.1%
Very Little	19.7%	20.9%	18.5%	20.2%	20.3%	10.3%
Somewhat	42.5%	42.3%	42.6%	41.7%	42.9%	37.2%
Very Much	30.6%	31.5%	29.7%	29.8%	29.5%	47.4%

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Taking responsibility for my own behavior

	All	Women	Men	AfAm	White	Other
Not at all	5.6%	5.1%	6.0%	7.0%	5.4%	6.3%
Very Little	10.6%	9.3%	11.7%	14.0%	10.8%	3.8%
Somewhat	32.9%	29.9%	35.6%	33.7%	33.8%	19.0%
Very Much	51.0%	55.7%	46.6%	45.3%	50.0%	70.9%

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Self-confidence

	All	Women	Men	AfAm	White	Other
Not at all	3.1%	2.1%	4.0%	5.8%	2.9%	2.5%
Very Little	10.4%	10.1%	10.7%	19.8%	9.9%	7.5%
Somewhat	39.3%	39.3%	39.2%	33.7%	40.5%	27.5%
Very Much	47.3%	48.5%	46.2%	40.7%	46.7%	62.5%

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Sense of personal identity

	All	Women	Men	AfAm	White	Other
Not at all	4.4%	2.8%	5.9%	9.4%	4.2%	2.6%
Very Little	11.4%	10.4%	12.3%	14.1%	11.4%	9.0%
Somewhat	36.3%	33.8%	38.6%	31.8%	37.5%	24.4%
Very Much	47.9%	53.0%	43.1%	44.7%	47.0%	64.1%

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Independence and self-reliance

	All	Women	Men	AfAm	White	Other
Not at all	3.6%	2.6%	4.4%	5.8%	3.4%	2.5%
Very Little	6.2%	5.7%	6.6%	10.5%	6.0%	3.8%
Somewhat	28.3%	25.5%	30.8%	25.6%	28.6%	26.6%
Very Much	62.0%	66.1%	58.2%	58.1%	62.0%	67.1%

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Potential for success

	All	Women	Men	AfAm	White	Other
Not at all	1.7%	1.5%	1.8%	2.3%	1.5%	2.5%
Very Little	3.6%	3.4%	3.8%	3.5%	3.5%	5.1%
Somewhat	30.4%	30.5%	30.3%	36.0%	30.7%	20.3%
Very Much	64.3%	64.6%	64.1%	58.1%	64.2%	72.2%

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Coping with change

	All	Women	Men	AfAm	White	Other
Not at all	3.1%	1.8%	4.3%	3.5%	3.1%	2.6%
Very Little	7.2%	5.4%	8.9%	7.1%	7.3%	6.5%
Somewhat	36.6%	34.7%	38.3%	37.6%	37.2%	26.0%
Very Much	53.1%	58.1%	48.5%	51.8%	52.4%	64.9%

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Ability to handle stress

	All	Women	Men	AfAm	White	Other
Not at all	3.9%	2.3%	5.5%	4.7%	4.0%	2.5%
Very Little	9.1%	10.0%	8.4%	8.1%	9.2%	8.8%
Somewhat	33.4%	35.2%	31.7%	34.9%	33.6%	28.8%
Very Much	53.5%	52.5%	54.4%	52.3%	53.1%	60.0%

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Personal growth

	All	Women	Men	AfAm	White	Other
Not at all	2.5%	1.6%	3.2%	2.3%	2.6%	1.3%
Very Little	4.5%	3.3%	5.7%	2.3%	4.6%	6.3%
Somewhat	32.0%	28.8%	35.0%	36.0%	32.4%	21.3%
Very Much	61.1%	66.3%	56.1%	59.3%	60.5%	71.3%

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Time management

	All	Women	Men	AfAm	White	Other
Not at all	2.3%	1.3%	3.2%	2.3%	2.3%	2.5%
Very Little	6.8%	5.5%	7.9%	7.0%	6.4%	11.3%
Somewhat	32.7%	33.1%	32.3%	36.0%	32.9%	26.3%
Very Much	58.3%	60.1%	56.6%	54.7%	58.4%	60.0%

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Self-discipline

	All	Women	Men	AfAm	White	Other
Not at all	2.7%	1.3%	3.9%	2.3%	2.7%	2.5%
Very Little	6.2%	4.9%	7.4%	9.3%	6.1%	3.8%
Somewhat	32.0%	30.6%	33.3%	31.4%	32.0%	32.9%
Very Much	59.2%	63.3%	55.4%	57.0%	59.2%	60.8%

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For more information on the 2000 Graduating Senior 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: May, 2001

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