Table 4. Coding Categories for Open-Ended Question

Intellectual breadth: Student discusses intellectual breadth, growth, exploration, well-roundedness, taking a diverse set of courses, becoming "well-educated," broadening horizons alpha = .89, Means = .73, .60

Find a major: Student describes desire to find a major, concentration, focus for education alpha = .83, Means = .18, .10

Career preparation: Student describes wanting to prepare for graduate, law, medical school, and/or for a future career, job, employment alpha = .75, Means = . 27, .23

Survival: Student describes wish to survive, make it through college (or the term) alpha = .90, Means = .02, .00

Discover interests: Student describes wish to find out what s/he likes, wants to study, discover passions alpha = .84, Means = .29, .13 (p < .07)

Enjoyment: Students describes fun, recreation alpha = .73, Means = .02, .08

Develop identity: Student describes wish to develop a personal philosophy, discover who s/he is alpha = .74, Means = .09, .03

Writing skills: Student describes wish to develop writing skills alpha = .91, Means = .04, .03

Thinking skills: Student describes wish to develop thinking skills, critical thinking skills, ability to reason, think rationally, problem-solve alpha = .91, Means = .07, .05

Technological skills: Student describes wish to develop computational skills, video skills, laboratory-based skills alpha = .00, Means = .00, .00

Fulfill specific requirements: Student describes wish to fulfill specific course of study (e.g., premed requirements) alpha = .39, Means = ..02, .03

Accomplishment: Student describes a specific accomplishment to be attained (e.g., graduate, be in Phi Beta Kappa) alpha = .87, Means = .09, .08