Discover Your Strengths with CliftonStrengths for Students
The Common Experience at NC State supports first-year students in engaging with CliftonStrengths for Students, an online assessment that measures students’ talents and sorts them into a unique rank. This tool helps NC State deepen student and campus engagement, enhance campus culture, increase retention, improve wellbeing, develop leadership skills, and help students consider postgraduation possibilities. Over 4000 members of the Wolfpack have taken the CliftonStregnths Talent Assessment!
With a focus on how first-year students can make the most of their talents to achieve their goals at work and everywhere else, CliftonStrengths for Students is a powerful starting place for understanding the strengths that shape the way an individual navigates life. Whether in the classroom, within a student organization, or amongst your peers, NC State believes this tool can be instrumental in your success on campus and beyond.
Assesment Priority Deadline
Students are strongly encouraged to complete the assessment by Thursday, August 18 to take advantage of various opportunities this fall.
Strength Stories
Students, faculty, and staff have all been impacted by integrating their top 5 Strengths into their everyday lives. Fill out this form to be featured on our website and social media!
If you have NEVER taken the assessment before:
- Visit the NC State Strengths portal at https://ncsu.gallup.com
- Log in with your Unity ID and password (what you would use to login to MyPack Portal)
- Select your language
- Choose “Take the CliftonStrengths assessment” and get started!
If you HAVE taken the assessment before:
If you have taken the assessment before, you can link your previous CliftonStrengths account/Top 5 to NC State by completing the steps below!
- Visit the NC State Strengths portal at https://ncsu.gallup.com
- Log in with your Unity ID and password (what you would use to login to MyPack Portal)
- Select your language
- Choose “Copy your results from a time you took CliftonStrengths under a different Access code or username/password combination.” You will be asked to enter that username & password OR the code you used. Finally, you will be asked to confirm the Top 5 Strengths results that the system has listed for you.
Laila Mohamed (she/her)
Psychology 22′
“CliftonStrengths really helped me to see what kind of role I take on with group projects, school work, and just life in general. Since I knew my strengths, I was able to play to them and put my best foot forward with anything that I did.”
Developer – Empathy – Intellection – Adaptability – Responsibility
Kathryn Zavadil (she/her)
Computer Science 24’
“CliftonStrengths taught me a lot about how I communicate in my personal and professional lives. Through learning my strengths, I’ve been able to put my skills forward and use them to positively impact group projects and collaborate with others in a productive manner.”
Restorative – Includer – Relator – Learner – Developer
Taleek Harlee (he/him)
Agriculture Education 22’
“CliftonStrengths was an important tool for me to have, especially beginning to enter into the professional environment. CliftonStrengths allowed me to identify and be able to hone in on my strengths, this was exactly what a developing professional needs.”
Harmony – Communication – Consistency – Positivity – Arranger
Sarah Simmons (she/her)
CNR 26′
“Academically, learning about them (strengths) has boosted my confidence in my abilities and helps motivate me to set expectations and goals for myself as an individual… One thing I have most enjoyed after learning my top 5 strengths is that I have realized more of my capabilities and passions for making differences in society.”
Input – Responsibility – Discipline – Futuristic – Connectedness
Briley Bickerstaff (she/her)
CALS ’26
” I believe my dominant Signature Themes are on target. I think knowing my strengths will help me in all areas of my life – personally, professionally, and academically. I look forward to learning more about CliftonStrengths and how I can best use my strengths to learn and serve at NCSU!”
Achiever – Discipline – Focus – Input – Activator
Arabella Colditz (she/her)
PCOM 26′
“…Since I have learned what my top 5 strengths are, I have realized how important they are to me, and I have noticed how much I use them in my day to day life. I feel that these five strengths describe me best and allow me to be the best person, student, and employee that I can be.”
Restorative – Developer – Consistency – Harmony – Analytical
Emma Meyer(she/her)
COS 26′
“These made me realize my strengths (and weaknesses) that I can work on individually or pursue with a friend who has differing traits. I will enjoy seeing my future friendships build and fuel my traits.”
Input – Restorative – Intellection – Relator – Belief
Sophia Davis (she/her)
PCOM 26′
“My achiever trait has always pushed me to be better whether it was in the classroom or on the tennis court. Along with my includer trait, these two make me a great tennis captain; showing that example of achieving more than asked and including others made the team feel like our own little community…!”
Includer – Achiever – Learner – Learner – Woo – Responsibility
Spencer Houlden (he/him)
COE 26’
“CliftonStrengths was an important tool for me to have, especially beginning to enter into the professional environment. CliftonStrengths allowed me to identify and be able to hone in on my strengths, this was exactly what a developing professional needs.”
Restorative – Learner – Analytical – Input – Achiever
Leah Hoyek (she/her)
COS 26′
“I most enjoyed learning about myself and how each answer I made revealed more about my personality and how I view life… Reading each description of the categories I believe it captured who I am very well.”
Connectedness – Achiever – Belief – Adaptability – Relator
Camryn Thompson (she/her)
CNR 26′
“Being a problem solver has always helped in situations where a final decision needed to be made, on things like a project or an everyday life decision. Working hard shows that you have given as much effort into something as you can, doing your best is all you can do… “
Discipline – Achiever – Strategic – Responsibility – Relator
Faith Gortman
COE 26′
“These strengths affect my life, personally and academically, significantly well in which I am able to learn and grow as a person, and also achieve anything that’s possible. I also love to learn and/or gain knowledge daily.”
Harmony – Consistency – Discipline – Analytical – Input
Get Involved
Whether you want to learn more about CliftonStrengths with others or on your own, the Office of Student Leadership and Engagement offers you more insight into utilizing your strengths in various settings. From class and leadership positions to a job search and personal relationships, you can leverage your strengths. You can find resources to learn with others, as well as resources to learn on your own.
- Is this required? Participating in the Common Experience is not required by the university; however, your academic college/major or organization may require it. If you are required to take CliftonStrengths, you will be notified by your college or organization.
- How long does it take to complete? Keep in mind that the best results are obtained when the entire survey is taken in one sitting, which requires approximately 30-40 minutes for the average person. For this reason, please allow enough time to take the entire survey without interruption.
- Can I retake the assessment? Your first completion of the CliftonStrengths assessment will yield the purest and most revealing results. For this reason, we are asking that you only complete the assessment one time through the NC State portal.
- What if I need accommodations? There is a 20-second timer for each statement on the CliftonStrengths assessment. However, it can be turned off if you need accommodations that require you to take the CliftonStrengths assessment without a time limit. If this is the case, please contact New Student Programs at new-students@ncsu.edu for assistance.
- Who has access to my StrengthsFinder results? Your results may be accessed by University faculty and staff to ensure your success as a student. For example, your academic adviser, career counselor, or instructor may use a strengths-based approach to help you learn more about yourself and others and opportunities to engage on campus.
- Will I be labeled, stereotyped, or put in a box based on my Talent Themes? No. The StrengthsFinder assessment is a tool to help your own self-discovery and to take action. Your Top 5 Talent Themes are not intended to box you in but rather serve as a platform for reflection and conversation to help you as you navigate opportunities related to academics, career, relationships, and getting involved on campus.