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North Carolina State University
2006-2007 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 "2006-2007 Graduating Senior Survey: All Respondents." For information about the survey and analysis methods, see "2006-2007 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 % 18.5 14.4 28.8 20.2 29.3 21.2 12.5 20.0 12.2
Prep. for grad/prof school % 37.6 56.5 24.2 41.8 27.6 25.6 34.5 26.2 50.0
Prep. for new career/profession % 41.8 28.5 43.9 35.6 39.7 51.0 51.2 50.8 34.1
Improve for current profession % 0.9 0.3 1.5 0.9 1.7 0.9 0.7 3.1 1.2
Courses for personal interest % 0.4 . . 0.4 . 0.7 0.2 . 1.2
Other % 0.8 0.3 1.5 1.2 1.7 0.5 0.9 . 1.2
Total N 2,387 361 66 689 116 551 447 65 82

Q Accomplishment of Goal/Objective
  NCSU College/School
CALS CED CHASS CNR COE COM COT PAMS
Fully accomplished % 75.4 68.7 87.9 74.1 71.6 83.3 73.7 80.0 63.4
Partially accomplished % 24.0 30.5 12.1 25.1 27.6 16.5 25.9 18.5 35.4
Not accomplished % 0.6 0.8 . 0.7 0.9 0.2 0.4 1.5 1.2
Total N 2,388 361 66 688 116 552 448 65 82

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 2.46 2.42 2.74 2.57 2.48 2.29 2.52 2.21 2.55
4: Very likely % 21.6 25.9 36.8 25.3 21.7 13.4 20.3 17.9 27.3
3: Probably % 31.4 24.1 23.7 30.9 33.3 35.2 34.2 28.6 27.3
2: Probably not % 18.7 15.7 15.8 19.1 16.7 18.4 22.8 10.7 18.2
1: Not likely % 28.3 34.3 23.7 24.7 28.3 33.0 22.8 42.9 27.3
Total N 1134 166 38 320 60 261 237 28 22
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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 % 15.8 9.7 10.6 5.1 12.1 33.7 19.2 6.2 8.6
Continuing in current position % 2.6 3.6 4.5 2.9 0.9 1.1 3.3 . 2.5
Graduate/prof. school full-time % 20.7 30.6 4.5 22.2 18.1 17.1 16.5 18.5 33.3
G/P school part-time & work part-time % 4.5 4.5 7.6 5.9 7.8 3.1 3.8 1.5 .
Take more undergrad courses % 1.6 1.4 3.0 1.8 0.9 1.8 0.9 1.5 4.9
Still seeking employment % 30.5 27.9 47.0 29.7 34.5 26.0 35.5 43.1 22.2
Not seeking empl./not planning school % 4.3 3.1 3.0 4.9 6.0 3.3 5.1 7.7 3.7
Entering military service % 1.4 1.1 . 1.0 0.9 2.7 0.7 . 4.9
Don't know yet % 13.2 10.0 15.2 18.8 13.8 8.9 11.4 16.9 14.8
Other % 5.3 8.1 4.5 7.6 5.2 2.2 3.6 4.6 4.9
Total N 2,374 359 66 680 116 549 448 65 81
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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 % 49.6% 42.6% 50.0% 47.7% 65.5% 63.6% 40.8% 33.8% 39.0%
Total N 2,384 359 64 687 116 552 449 65 82

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 % 21.8% 17.6% 15.6% 23.5% 18.4% 25.1% 20.8% 9.1% 21.9%
Could not get classes needed % 17.9% 18.3% 15.6% 18.6% 22.4% 17.1% 14.8% 27.3% 21.9%
Changed majors % 37.9% 48.4% 62.5% 44.8% 44.7% 26.2% 29.5% 50.0% 50.0%
Lost credits when transferred % 23.3% 24.2% 21.9% 32.3% 36.8% 14.2% 18.0% 13.6% 34.4%
Co-op/intern/practicum/teach/etc % 17.0% 7.2% 28.1% 7.9% 19.7% 34.8% 8.7% 0.0% 3.1%
Financial reasons % 10.8% 13.7% 9.4% 15.9% 5.3% 6.3% 11.5% 4.5% 12.5%
Part-time for personal reasons (e.g., medical, family, etc.) % 10.8% 13.7% 15.6% 15.5% 6.6% 5.7% 8.2% 9.1% 28.1%
Took semester or more off for personal reasons % 16.6% 18.3% 21.9% 24.7% 21.1% 8.5% 13.7% 4.5% 25.0%
Double major/minor % 19.9% 22.9% 15.6% 16.8% 17.1% 20.8% 18.0% 31.8% 40.6%
Study abroad % 4.7% 5.2% 3.1% 7.0% 6.6% 2.8% 3.8% 0.0% 3.1%
Hours spent working % 22.6% 26.1% 6.3% 29.0% 15.8% 18.5% 25.1% 13.6% 12.5%
Other reasons % 10.8% 7.8% 6.3% 11.9% 10.5% 10.3% 12.6% 18.2% 9.4%
Total N 1,182 153 32 328 76 351 183 22 32
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 % 78.2 77.1 69.2 73.2 78.3 83.7 80.8 84.4 76.5
Yes, not seriously % 10.8 12.6 15.4 11.7 9.6 8.7 10.0 10.9 11.1
Yes, seriously % 8.4 7.8 13.8 10.9 10.4 6.2 7.3 3.1 8.6
Yes-left & returned % 2.6 2.5 1.5 4.2 1.7 1.4 1.8 1.6 3.7
Total N 2,380 358 65 686 115 552 449 64 81

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 % 25.7% 22.0% 10.0% 25.5% 28.0% 27.8% 27.9% 60.0% 15.8%
Financial reasons % 10.4% 6.1% 15.0% 11.4% 16.0% 10.0% 12.8% 0.0% 5.3%
Personal reasons % 47.7% 52.4% 45.0% 51.6% 52.0% 42.2% 44.2% 20.0% 42.1%
NCSU/city environment % 12.7% 9.8% 25.0% 14.7% 24.0% 7.8% 14.0% 10.0% 0.0%
Hassle (lose credit hrs,etc.) % 14.7% 12.2% 25.0% 10.3% 8.0% 21.1% 20.9% 20.0% 5.3%
Miscellaneous/other % 3.1% 6.1% 0.0% 2.2% 0.0% 4.4% 2.3% 0.0% 5.3%
Total N 518 82 20 184 25 90 86 10 19
Note: Respondents could provide more than one reason

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Q Reasons for leaving or considering leaving NC State (among those who considered leaving/those who left and returned)
  NCSU College/School
CALS CED CHASS CNR COE COM COT PAMS
For better program/program not offered at NCSU % 29.9% 28.0% 15.0% 29.3% 40.0% 36.7% 26.7% 40.0% 15.8%
Poor advising at NC State % 1.9% 1.2% 5.0% 2.2% 0.0% 2.2% 1.2% 0.0% 5.3%
Poor academic performance % 6.0% 9.8% 0.0% 4.9% 8.0% 7.8% 2.3% 10.0% 10.5%
Class environment at NC State % 6.9% 4.9% 5.0% 3.3% 8.0% 15.6% 10.5% 0.0% 0.0%
Campus life % 19.3% 15.9% 25.0% 19.6% 24.0% 14.4% 23.3% 20.0% 26.3%
Financial reasons % 7.3% 2.4% 10.0% 8.7% 12.0% 4.4% 9.3% 0.0% 15.8%
Personal reasons % 28.6% 30.5% 40.0% 32.1% 20.0% 23.3% 26.7% 10.0% 31.6%
Location % 8.5% 13.4% 0.0% 5.4% 8.0% 6.7% 9.3% 30.0% 21.1%
Non-academic opportunity % 1.7% 2.4% 0.0% 1.1% 0.0% 2.2% 1.2% 20.0% 0.0%
Wanted to attend different school/NCSU not first choice % 4.1% 2.4% 5.0% 5.4% 0.0% 3.3% 4.7% 0.0% 5.3%
Total N 518 82 20 184 25 90 86 10 19
Note: Respondents could provide more than one reason

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For more information on the 2006-2007 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: December, 2007

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