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North Carolina State University
2005-2006 Graduating Senior Survey:
College Comparisons of Student Goals and Intentions

This document reports survey data on college differences in respondents' assessment of student goals and intentions while attending NC State. Survey results for all respondents are provided in "2005-2006 Graduating Senior Survey: All Respondents." For information about the survey and analysis methods, see "2005-2006 Graduating Senior Survey: Introduction, Methods, and Student Demographic Profile."

Table of Contents:
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Goals and Objectives | Post-Graduate Plans | Time to Graduate | Withdrawal/Transfer from NC State


Goals and Objectives

Q Primary Goal/Objective
  NCSU College/School
CALS CED CHASS CNR COE COM COT PAMS
Bach. deg./certificate only % 20.1 15.9 9.6 20.7 32.8 23.3 18.6 18.6 10.9
Prep. for grad/prof school % 38.7 57.1 30.8 42.4 15.5 27.5 31.6 37.2 49.1
Prep. for new career/profession % 38.8 25.9 55.8 34.1 48.3 46.1 48.1 41.9 38.2
Improve for current profession % 1.2 0.6 1.9 0.9 3.4 2.2 0.8 . 1.8
Courses for personal interest % 0.4 0.3 . 0.9 . . . . .
Other % 0.8 0.3 1.9 1.0 . 0.8 0.8 2.3 .
Total N 2,123 347 52 778 116 356 376 43 55

Q Accomplishment of Goal/Objective
  NCSU College/School
CALS CED CHASS CNR COE COM COT PAMS
Fully accomplished % 76.2 71.3 75.0 76.1 84.3 82.4 73.7 72.1 74.5
Partially accomplished % 23.3 28.4 25.0 23.0 15.7 17.6 25.8 27.9 25.5
Not accomplished % 0.5 0.3 . 0.9 . . 0.5 . .
Total N 2,122 349 52 775 115 357 376 43 55

Q Likelihood obtain degree at UNC campus (among those in off-campus degree programs)
  NCSU College/School
CALS CED CHASS CNR COE COM COT PAMS
  Mean 2.47 2.37 2.50 2.50 2.40 2.36 2.69 2.00 2.52
4: Very likely % 22.7 18.1 33.3 23.3 17.7 18.8 29.1 11.1 33.3
3: Probably % 30.9 33.6 16.7 31.1 32.3 28.2 34.3 22.2 19.0
2: Probably not % 17.5 15.4 16.7 17.5 22.6 22.8 12.8 22.2 14.3
1: Not likely % 28.9 32.9 33.3 28.1 27.4 30.2 23.8 44.4 33.3
Total N 926 149 24 331 62 149 172 18 21
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Post-Graduate Plans

Q Plans Following Graduation
  NCSU College/School
CALS CED CHASS CNR COE COM COT PAMS
Have accepted a job % 11.0 7.8 17.3 4.0 13.9 25.3 13.3 14.0 7.4
Continuing in current position % 3.1 3.4 5.8 3.1 4.3 2.2 3.5 2.3 .
Graduate/prof. school full-time % 22.0 37.4 7.7 21.6 7.0 18.5 16.3 32.6 29.6
G/P school part-time & work part-time % 4.8 3.4 3.8 7.4 7.0 2.2 3.2 . 5.6
Take more undergrad courses % 1.6 2.9 1.9 1.6 . 0.6 1.3 . 5.6
Still seeking employment % 33.0 24.7 50.0 29.6 41.7 34.8 42.1 27.9 29.6
Not seeking empl./not planning school % 3.8 2.0 5.8 3.9 4.3 3.7 5.1 4.7 1.9
Entering military service % 1.7 . 1.9 2.5 0.9 2.2 1.6 . 3.7
Don't know yet % 12.6 8.9 3.8 18.1 16.5 7.3 9.3 16.3 13.0
Other % 6.3 9.5 1.9 8.4 4.3 3.1 4.3 2.3 3.7
Total N 2,117 348 52 774 115 356 375 43 54
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Time to Graduate

Q Taken longer than 4 years to graduate?
  NCSU College/School
CALS CED CHASS CNR COE COM COT PAMS
Has taken longer than 4 yrs to graduate % 52.2% 40.5% 59.6% 51.4% 70.7% 63.5% 47.1% 66.7% 41.8%
Total N 2,118 348 52 776 116 353 376 42 55

Q Reasons for taking longer than 4 years to graduate (Among those who took longer than 4 years)
  NCSU College/School
CALS CED CHASS CNR COE COM COT PAMS
Wanted/advised lighter courseload % 24.7% 22.7% 16.1% 25.1% 22.0% 27.7% 27.7% 14.3% 13.0%
Couldn't get classes needed % 20.7% 19.9% 9.7% 20.6% 22.0% 24.6% 16.9% 32.1% 17.4%
Changed majors % 43.7% 41.8% 74.2% 50.6% 63.4% 21.0% 40.7% 57.1% 52.2%
Lost credits when transferred % 22.7% 23.4% 29.0% 26.3% 30.5% 14.3% 22.6% 10.7% 17.4%
Co-op/intern/practicum/teach/etc % 12.8% 4.3% 38.7% 7.5% 20.7% 25.0% 9.6% 7.1% 4.3%
Financial reasons % 11.8% 10.6% 9.7% 15.3% 11.0% 10.3% 9.6% 3.6% 4.3%
personal reasons % 27.3% 32.6% 19.4% 36.1% 28.0% 15.2% 24.9% 7.1% 13.0%
Double major/minor % 21.3% 24.8% 25.8% 17.5% 23.2% 25.0% 14.1% 39.3% 47.8%
Study abroad % 3.9% 0.7% 0.0% 5.8% 1.2% 4.0% 3.4% 10.7% 0.0%
Hours spent working % 25.7% 23.4% 19.4% 28.3% 20.7% 27.2% 25.4% 10.7% 26.1%
Other reasons % 12.9% 14.2% 9.7% 12.5% 7.3% 14.7% 14.1% 10.7% 8.7%
Total N 1,105 141 31 399 82 224 177 28 23
Note: Respondents could provide more than one reason
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Withdrawal/Tranfer from NC State

Q Ever consider withdrawal/transfer from NC State
  NCSU College/School
CALS CED CHASS CNR COE COM COT PAMS
No % 75.0 78.6 69.2 69.0 69.8 84.3 76.2 86.0 76.4
Yes, not seriously % 11.1 9.5 15.4 13.0 14.7 7.8 10.4 9.3 9.1
Yes, seriously % 9.7 7.2 9.6 12.4 10.3 6.2 10.2 4.7 10.9
Yes-left & returned % 4.2 4.6 5.8 5.6 5.2 1.7 3.2 . 3.6
Total N 2,117 346 52 774 116 357 374 43 55

Q Reasons for staying or returning to NC State (among those who considered leaving/those who left and returned)
  NCSU College/School
CALS CED CHASS CNR COE COM COT PAMS
Program at NCSU % 30.2% 33.8% 31.3% 31.3% 34.3% 26.8% 25.8% 33.3% 23.1%
Financial reasons % 6.2% 4.1% 0.0% 5.0% 11.4% 7.1% 10.1% 16.7% 0.0%
Personal reasons % 34.6% 43.2% 43.8% 34.6% 34.3% 32.1% 27.0% 33.3% 38.5%
NCSU/city environment % 14.0% 14.9% 12.5% 14.6% 2.9% 10.7% 18.0% 16.7% 15.4%
Hassle (lose credit hrs,etc.) % 13.6% 12.2% 0.0% 13.3% 2.9% 16.1% 21.3% 0.0% 15.4%
Miscellaneous/other % 4.0% 4.1% 0.0% 3.3% 8.6% 3.6% 4.5% 0.0% 7.7%
Total N 529 74 16 240 35 56 89 6 13
Note: Respondents could provide more than one reason

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For more information on the 2005-2006 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: October, 2006

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