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North Carolina State University
2007-2008 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 "2007-2008 Graduating Senior Survey: All Respondents." For information about the survey and analysis methods, see "2007-2008 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 15.0% 11.6% 17.0% 15.6% 20.6% 16.2% 15.9% 13.0% 9.2%
Prep. for grad/prof school 39.4% 56.1% 15.1% 49.5% 23.5% 26.2% 26.6% 18.8% 50.0%
Prep. for new career/profession 43.4% 30.3% 66.0% 33.4% 50.0% 55.7% 54.7% 65.2% 36.7%
Improve for current profession 0.8% 1.0% . 0.3% 1.5% 1.2% 0.9% 1.4% 1.0%
Courses for personal interest 0.4% 0.6% . 0.3% . . 0.6% . 2.0%
Other 1.0% 0.3% 1.9% 1.0% 4.4% 0.7% 1.2% 1.4% 1.0%
Total (N) 2,065 310 53 719 68 413 327 69 98

Q Accomplishment of Goal/Objective
  NCSU College/School
CALS CED CHASS CNR COE COM COT PAMS
Fully accomplished 75.2% 72.5% 86.5% 71.5% 73.5% 81.4% 74.0% 78.3% 80.8%
Partially accomplished 24.2% 25.9% 11.5% 28.1% 26.5% 17.9% 25.7% 21.7% 19.2%
Not accomplished 0.6% 1.6% 1.9% 0.4% . 0.7% 0.3% . .
Total (N) 2,064 309 52 719 68 413 327 69 99


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 2.44 2.44 2.26 2.52 2.11 2.34 2.63 2.07 2.08
4: Very likely 21.2% 19.0% 13.0% 20.4% 19.4% 22.1% 27.5% 16.7% 13.5%
3: Probably 32.2% 34.7% 30.4% 37.8% 19.4% 24.9% 33.8% 23.3% 27.0%
2: Probably not 15.8% 17.7% 26.1% 15.1% 13.9% 18.2% 12.5% 10.0% 13.5%
1: Not likely 30.9% 28.6% 30.4% 26.8% 47.2% 34.8% 26.3% 50.0% 45.9%
Total (N) 917 147 23 299 36 181 160 30 37
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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 13.5% 8.1% 9.8% 5.2% 16.2% 29.5% 16.3% 22.1% 8.2%
Continuing in current position 3.1% 4.2% . 2.0% 8.8% 3.4% 4.0% 2.9% 2.0%
Graduate/prof. school full-time 21.7% 34.2% 5.9% 23.4% 10.3% 17.1% 15.6% 11.8% 33.7%
G/P school part-time & work part-time 5.0% 3.2% 2.0% 8.1% 2.9% 3.9% 3.4% 1.5% 3.1%
Take more undergrad courses 0.8% 1.6% . 1.0% 4.4% . 0.3% . 1.0%
Still seeking employment 31.7% 26.1% 60.8% 29.8% 25.0% 30.0% 39.0% 36.8% 31.6%
Not seeking empl./not planning school 5.0% 2.6% 7.8% 5.3% 10.3% 4.6% 5.5% 4.4% 4.1%
Entering military service 1.6% 1.6% . 1.8% 1.5% 1.7% 0.9% . 3.1%
Don't know yet 10.9% 8.7% 9.8% 15.3% 11.8% 7.0% 9.5% 8.8% 9.2%
Other 6.8% 9.7% 3.9% 8.1% 8.8% 2.9% 5.5% 11.8% 4.1%
Total (N) 2,057 310 51 714 68 414 326 68 98
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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
Yes, has taken longer than 4 yrs to graduate 50.5% 40.3% 36.5% 47.1% 83.8% 66.6% 43.6% 56.5% 41.4%
Total (N) 2,065 310 52 720 68 413 326 69 99

Q Reasons for taking longer than 4 years to graduate (Among those who took longer than 4 years)
Reasons: NCSU College/School
CALS CED CHASS CNR COE COM COT PAMS
Wanted/advised lighter courseload 22.1% 24.0% 26.3% 21.2% 15.8% 26.5% 19.0% 25.6% 9.8%
Could not get classes needed 18.1% 17.6% 15.8% 18.0% 14.0% 20.7% 12.7% 28.2% 22.0%
Changed majors 40.3% 43.2% 63.2% 50.7% 54.4% 22.2% 33.1% 41.0% 61.0%
Lost credits when transferred 22.2% 26.4% 26.3% 28.3% 17.5% 14.9% 24.6% 15.4% 12.2%
Co-op/intern/practicum/teach/etc 15.3% 5.6% 47.4% 7.7% 12.3% 34.9% 7.0% 7.7% 4.9%
Financial reasons 12.0% 17.6% 26.3% 15.9% 7.0% 6.5% 12.7% 2.6% 7.3%
Part-time for personal reasons (e.g., medical, family, etc.) 11.5% 13.6% 21.1% 16.2% 10.5% 4.4% 13.4% 2.6% 12.2%
Took semester or more off for personal reasons 22.2% 23.2% 26.3% 29.8% 12.3% 12.0% 26.1% 15.4% 31.7%
Double major/minor 25.8% 31.2% 10.5% 19.5% 15.8% 28.0% 27.5% 41.0% 43.9%
Study abroad 4.7% 2.4% 5.3% 4.7% 7.0% 2.9% 7.0% 12.8% 2.4%
Hours spent working 22.6% 28.0% 21.1% 27.1% 22.8% 16.0% 24.6% 17.9% 9.8%
Other reasons 10.8% 8.0% 10.5% 11.2% 19.3% 8.4% 9.2% 17.9% 12.2%
Total (N) 1,043 125 19 339 57 275 142 39 41
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 77.6% 79.9% 76.9% 71.0% 73.5% 86.9% 78.5% 78.3% 78.6%
Yes, not seriously 10.4% 10.0% 5.8% 13.1% 14.7% 6.8% 10.1% 7.2% 10.2%
Yes, seriously 9.0% 7.4% 11.5% 12.8% 8.8% 3.9% 7.7% 14.5% 7.1%
Yes, left & returned 3.0% 2.6% 5.8% 3.1% 2.9% 2.4% 3.7% . 4.1%
Total (N) 2,060 309 52 717 68 413 326 69 98

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 23.6% 24.2% 16.7% 24.0% 22.2% 29.6% 14.3% 40.0% 28.6%
Financial reasons 9.1% 3.2% 16.7% 10.1% 11.1% 7.4% 10.0% 13.3% 9.5%
Personal reasons 42.5% 51.6% 50.0% 44.7% 22.2% 38.9% 44.3% 20.0% 23.8%
NCSU/city environment 17.4% 17.7% 8.3% 19.7% 22.2% 9.3% 25.7% 0.0% 0.0%
Hassle (lose credit hrs,etc.) 18.2% 8.1% 16.7% 17.8% 33.3% 20.4% 17.1% 26.7% 33.3%
Miscellaneous/other 1.1% 3.2% 0.0% 1.0% 0.0% 1.9% 0.0% 0.0% 0.0%
Total (N) 461 62 12 208 18 54 70 15 21
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
Curriculum/program reasons 33.4% 19.4% 41.7% 37.5% 22.2% 35.2% 27.1% 46.7% 47.6%
Poor advising at NC State 2.6% 0.0% 0.0% 2.4% 0.0% 1.9% 4.3% 6.7% 9.5%
Poor academic performance 3.3% 4.8% 0.0% 2.4% 0.0% 7.4% 4.3% 0.0% 0.0%
Class environment at NC State 8.2% 8.1% 25.0% 5.8% 0.0% 9.3% 12.9% 13.3% 9.5%
Campus life 25.2% 27.4% 25.0% 29.8% 11.1% 11.1% 22.9% 40.0% 14.3%
Diversity issues 4.1% 3.2% 0.0% 5.3% 0.0% 0.0% 7.1% 6.7% 0.0%
Financial reasons 7.4% 8.1% 0.0% 8.2% 5.6% 11.1% 4.3% 0.0% 9.5%
Personal reasons 34.5% 37.1% 33.3% 31.3% 50.0% 40.7% 34.3% 20.0% 38.1%
Location 3.3% 0.0% 0.0% 4.3% 5.6% 3.7% 2.9% 6.7% 0.0%
Non-academic opportunity 2.0% 1.6% 0.0% 2.4% 5.6% 3.7% 0.0% 0.0% 0.0%
Wanted to attend different school/NCSU not first choice 3.0% 6.5% 8.3% 3.4% 0.0% 0.0% 2.9% 0.0% 0.0%
Total (N) 461 62 12 208 18 54 70 15 21
Note: Respondents could provide more than one reason
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For more information on the 2007-2008 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: April, 2009

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