SURVEY OF NEW FRESHMAN STUDENTS FALL 2007

Number of respondents: 2994

 

 

This official survey provides Berkeley administrators with very important information about the concerns, interests and backgrounds of the freshman class. Your answers are strictly confidential, meaning that the Office of Student Research will never permit your survey responses to be connected or identified with you personally. Some questions on the survey require guesses on your part, but please answer each question as best as you can.

1. We are very happy that you chose to be part of the Berkeley freshman class of 2007. You most likely applied and were admitted to other colleges as well as Berkeley. Please tell us which college from the list below was your second choice (the one that lost out to Berkeley). Click on link to view selections.

Second Choice College

 

3. Many students have concerns about college before starting at Berkeley. How concerned are you about each of the following?

 

Not that concerned

Somewhat concerned

Very concerned

Financing my education at Berkeley

811  (27.2%)  

1087  (36.4%)  

1087  (36.4%) 

Finding affordable housing while I'm a student at Berkeley

840  (28.1%)  

1326  (44.4%)  

821  (27.5%) 

Getting into my first choice of major

915  (30.8%)  

1056  (35.5%)  

1002  (33.7%) 

Being able to maintain a high enough GPA

181  (6.1%)  

893  (29.9%)  

1908  (64.0%) 

Getting the academic advising I need

453  (15.2%)  

1325  (44.5%)  

1198  (40.3%) 

Getting the career and professional advising I need

404  (13.5%)  

1274  (42.7%)  

1305  (43.7%) 

Getting the personal counseling I might need

1036  (34.7%)  

1229  (41.2%)  

717  (24.0%) 

Getting along with my roommate(s)

763  (25.6%)  

1289  (43.2%)  

931  (31.2%) 

Being able to balance academic and social activities

367  (12.3%)  

1222  (41.0%)  

1392  (46.7%) 

Being able to make the kind of friends I want

524  (17.6%)  

1158  (38.8%)  

1300  (43.6%) 

Being away from family and friends; being 'homesick'

1246  (41.7%)  

1104  (37.0%)  

636  (21.3%) 

Being able to maintain good health

917  (30.7%)  

1311  (43.9%)  

755  (25.3%) 

Being able to cope with expectations of parents and family

1050  (35.2%)  

1204  (40.3%)  

731  (24.5%) 

My personal safety in and around the city of Berkeley

1024  (34.3%)  

1309  (43.9%)  

649  (21.8%) 

Being overwhelmed with all the things I'm expected to do my first semester

317  (10.6%)  

1191  (40.0%)  

1472  (49.4%) 

If Berkeley is the right choice for me

1262  (42.3%)  

957  (32.1%)  

761  (25.5%) 

 

4. Please identify the ONE thing that really concerns you the most.

73  (2.5%)   Being able to work while I'm in school

  829  (27.9%)   Being able to excel at Berkeley the way I excelled in high school

  276  (9.3%)   Deciding on the right major

  102  (3.4%)   Having enough money for all my expected living expenses & fun

  248  (8.3%)   Financing my education at Berkeley

  11  (0.4%)   Finding affordable housing while I'm a student at Berkeley

  102  (3.4%)   Getting into my first choice of major

  419  (14.1%)   Being able to maintain a high enough GPA

  43  (1.4%)   Getting the academic advising I need

  41  (1.4%)   Getting the career and professional advising I need

  10  (0.3%)   Getting the personal counseling I might need

  27  (0.9%)   Getting along with my roommate(s)

  258  (8.7%)   Being able to balance academic and social activities

  116  (3.9%)   Being able to make the kind of friends I want

  87  (2.9%)   Being away from family and friends; being 'homesick'

  16  (0.5%)   Being able to maintain good health

  32  (1.1%)   Being able to cope with expectations of parents and family

  26  (0.9%)   My personal safety in and around the city of Berkeley

  115  (3.9%)   Being overwhelmed with all the things I'm expected to do my first semester

  145  (4.9%)   If Berkeley is the right choice for me

 

 

 

HOW DO YOU SEE YOURSELF?

 

 

 

6. How well can you describe yourself? Here are a number of personality traits that may or may not apply to you. Please rate the extent to which the pair of traits applies to you, even if one characteristic applies more strongly than the other.

 

Disagree strongly
Disagree somewhat
Neither agree or disagree
Agree somewhat
Agree strongly

Extraverted, enthusiastic

69  (2.3%)
371  (12.5%)
547  (18.4%)
1382  (46.5%)
602  (20.3%)

Critical, quarrelsome

564  (19.0%)
1000  (33.7%)
725  (24.5%)
586  (19.8%)
89  (3.0%)

Dependable, self-disciplined

17  (0.6%)
114  (3.9%)
260  (8.8%)
1332  (45.2%)
1224  (41.5%)

Anxious, easily upset

541  (18.3%)
951  (32.1%)
780  (26.3%)
579  (19.5%)
111  (3.7%)

Open to new experiences, complex

11  (0.4%)
91  (3.1%)
361  (12.2%)
1407  (47.5%)
1091  (36.8%)

Reserved, quiet

324  (10.9%)
641  (21.6%)
713  (24.0%)
945  (31.8%)
351  (11.8%)

Sympathetic, warm

16  (0.5%)
148  (5.0%)
502  (16.9%)
1477  (49.7%)
826  (27.8%)

Disorganized, careless

774  (26.0%)
1002  (33.7%)
644  (21.7%)
462  (15.5%)
92  (3.1%)

Calm, emotionally stable

28  (0.9%)
222  (7.5%)
650  (22.0%)
1318  (44.5%)
743  (25.1%)

Conventional, uncreative

783  (26.3%)
968  (32.6%)
822  (27.6%)
346  (11.6%)
54  (1.8%)

 

 

7. How stressful do you expect UC Berkeley to be? Please use the following 1 - 7 scale.

12  (0.4%)   1 (Not stressful)

26  (0.9%)   2

102  (3.4%)   3

315  (10.6%)   4

1096  (36.8%)   5

997  (33.5%)   6

427  (14.4%)   7(Extremely stressful)

 

 

8. How able are you to cope with UC Berkeley? Please use the following 1 - 7 scale.

8  (0.3%)   1 (Not able to cope)

27  (0.9%)   2

128  (4.3%)   3

629  (21.1%)   4

1074  (36.1%)   5

862  (29.0%)   6

247  (8.3%)   7(Extremely able to cope)

 

 

9. From our surveys we know that many freshmen are concerned about their ability to get a high gpa here at Berkeley. Fifty percent of all freshmen last year had a first year gpa between 2.95 and 3.67 with the average being 3.27. What do you guess your first-year Berkeley gpa will be? Pick the gpa below that you think will be the closest match to your gpa:

65  (2.2%)   2.8

303  (10.2%)   3.0

407  (13.7%)   3.2

653  (22.0%)   3.4

825  (27.8%)   3.6

540  (18.2%)   3.8

179  (6.0%)   4.0

 

9a. How satisfied would you be with this first year gpa?

172  (5.8%)   Very dissatisfied

369  (12.4%)   Dissatisfied

613  (20.6%)   Somewhat dissatisfied

810  (27.3%)   Somewhat satisfied

695  (23.4%)   Satisfied

313  (10.5%)   Very satisfied

 

 

10. To what extent do you agree with the following statements?

 

Strongly disagree
Disagree
Disagree somewhat
Agree somewhat
Agree
Strongly agree

I know I made the right decision in choosing to attend Berkeley.

32  (1.1%)
32  (1.1%)
133  (4.5%)
603  (20.3%)
1120  (37.8%)
1044  (35.2%)

I think that I will feel that I belong at Berkeley.

36  (1.2%)
31  (1.0%)
157  (5.3%)
736  (24.8%)
1144  (38.5%)
864  (29.1%)

 

 

11. People have different ideas about how college life will be. What do you expect to get out of your college experience? Please be honest, and rank the importance of each, choosing only one as "The most important".

 

Of little or no importance
Of some importance
Very important
Essential
The most important

Friends and fun

26  (0.9%)
335  (11.3%)
886  (29.9%)
1497  (50.5%)
219  (7.4%)

Experience an intellectual playground

14  (0.5%)
189  (6.4%)
773  (26.1%)
1490  (50.4%)
491  (16.6%)

A ticket to a better job

36  (1.2%)
292  (9.9%)
763  (25.9%)
1200  (40.7%)
658  (22.3%)

A ticket to a better mind

8  (0.3%)
113  (3.8%)
569  (19.2%)
1492  (50.5%)
774  (26.2%)

Find myself, discover what kind of person I really want to be

54  (1.8%)
239  (8.1%)
527  (17.9%)
981  (33.2%)
1151  (39.0%)

Develop a philosophy of life

159  (5.4%)
677  (23.0%)
868  (29.5%)
974  (33.1%)
264  (9.0%)

Form romantic relationships, perhaps find a long-term partner

703  (23.8%)
1284  (43.5%)
555  (18.8%)
341  (11.5%)
71  (2.4%)

Be in a position to give something back to my community after I finish my education

103  (3.5%)
561  (18.9%)
866  (29.2%)
920  (31.1%)
512  (17.3%)

 

12. Please indicate the importance to you personally of each of the following.

 

Essential
Very important
Somewhat important
Not important

Becoming accomplished in one of the performing arts (acting, dancing, etc.)

186  (6.3%)
306  (10.4%)
933  (31.6%)
1528  (51.7%)

Becoming an authority in my field

704  (23.8%)
1155  (39.1%)
884  (29.9%)
210  (7.1%)

Obtaining recognition from my colleagues for contributions to my special field

594  (20.2%)
1159  (39.3%)
962  (32.7%)
231  (7.8%)

Influencing the political structure

258  (8.7%)
511  (17.3%)
1253  (42.4%)
936  (31.6%)

Influencing social values

414  (14.0%)
1046  (35.5%)
1060  (36.0%)
427  (14.5%)

Raising a family

973  (33.0%)
846  (28.7%)
717  (24.3%)
415  (14.1%)

Having administrative responsibility for the work of others

287  (9.8%)
911  (31.0%)
1161  (39.5%)
580  (19.7%)

Being very well off financially

1038  (35.1%)
1086  (36.8%)
689  (23.3%)
142  (4.8%)

Helping others who are in difficulty

942  (31.9%)
1298  (44.0%)
649  (22.0%)
61  (2.1%)

Making a theoretical contribution to science

349  (11.9%)
652  (22.1%)
984  (33.4%)
959  (32.6%)

Writing original works (poems, novels, short stories, etc.)

212  (7.2%)
355  (12.1%)
828  (28.1%)
1550  (52.6%)

Creating artistic work (painting, sculpture, decorating, etc.)

173  (5.9%)
372  (12.6%)
821  (27.8%)
1582  (53.7%)

Becoming successful in a business of my own

581  (19.7%)
725  (24.6%)
941  (32.0%)
696  (23.6%)

Becoming involved in programs to clean up the environment

432  (14.7%)
861  (29.2%)
1221  (41.4%)
433  (14.7%)

Developing a meaningful philosophy of life

785  (26.7%)
1011  (34.4%)
882  (30.0%)
262  (8.9%)

Participating in a community action program

425  (14.4%)
986  (33.5%)
1136  (38.6%)
398  (13.5%)

Helping to promote racial understanding

534  (18.1%)
977  (33.2%)
1062  (36.1%)
370  (12.6%)

Keeping up to date with political affairs

551  (18.7%)
1034  (35.1%)
1007  (34.2%)
354  (12.0%)

Becoming a community leader

484  (16.4%)
907  (30.8%)
1086  (36.9%)
466  (15.8%)

Integrating spirituality into my life

510  (17.3%)
656  (22.3%)
887  (30.1%)
889  (30.2%)

Improving my understanding of other countries and cultures

933  (31.7%)
1196  (40.6%)
686  (23.3%)
128  (4.3%)

Working to find a cure for a health problem

544  (18.5%)
799  (27.1%)
957  (32.5%)
648  (22.0%)

 

 

 

UNDERGRADUATE LIFE AT BERKELEY - How do you see your first semester unfolding?

 

 

14. Please rate your level of proficiency in the following areas as you start at Berkeley as well as where you think you will be when you graduate. Click on link to view proficiency areas.

Proficiency Levels

 



16. As an undergraduate at Berkeley there may be times when you have the opportunity, or may even be required, to assert yourself in new or unfamiliar situations. Please tell us how easy or difficult you imagine each of the following would be for you:

 

Very easy

Easy

Neither easy nor difficult

Difficult

Very difficult

Impossible for me to do

Ask for help meeting people who share your interests

252  (8.8%)  

835  (29.1%)  

1086  (37.9%)  

580  (20.2%)  

105  (3.7%)  

11  (0.4%) 

Confront a roommate about inappropriate behavior

201  (7.0%)  

604  (21.1%)  

704  (24.6%)  

1028  (35.9%)  

301  (10.5%)  

26  (0.9%) 

Go to a professor's office hours by yourself

532  (18.6%)  

965  (33.7%)  

682  (23.8%)  

541  (18.9%)  

140  (4.9%)  

6  (0.2%) 

Ask a teaching assistant for help

619  (21.6%)  

1138  (39.8%)  

680  (23.8%)  

361  (12.6%)  

62  (2.2%)  

2  (0.1%) 

Tell your parents about a bad grade in a course

283  (9.9%)  

500  (17.4%)  

665  (23.2%)  

802  (28.0%)  

509  (17.8%)  

108  (3.8%) 

Join a study group where you don't know anyone

257  (9.0%)  

655  (22.8%)  

779  (27.2%)  

898  (31.3%)  

257  (9.0%)  

21  (0.7%) 

Get psychological counseling or advice

138  (4.8%)  

414  (14.5%)  

997  (34.8%)  

784  (27.4%)  

426  (14.9%)  

102  (3.6%) 

Talk to your Residence Adviser about something that's bothering you

214  (7.5%)  

756  (26.4%)  

985  (34.4%)  

695  (24.2%)   

187  (6.5%)  

29  (1.0%) 

Get tutoring for your hardest course

688  (24.0%)  

1083  (37.8%)  

641  (22.4%)  

360  (12.6%)  

79  (2.8%)  

12  (0.4%) 

Ask a question in a small class

740  (25.8%)  

1107  (38.6%)  

574  (20.0%)  

336  (11.7%)  

99  (3.5%)  

12  (0.4%) 

Ask a question in a very large class

225  (7.9%)  

437  (15.3%)  

598  (20.9%)  

957  (33.5%)  

496  (17.3%)  

146  (5.1%) 

Change to a major you like despite the recommendation of your parents

597  (20.8%)  

658  (22.9%)  

795  (27.7%)  

493  (17.2%)  

270  (9.4%)  

57  (2.0%) 

 

 

17. Which of the following are you bringing with you for your first semester at Cal?

 

Yes

No

Personal desktop computer

234  (13.0%)  

1568  (87.0%) 

Personal laptop computer

2694  (96.4%)  

102  (3.6%) 

Cell phone (mobile phone)

2780  (98.4%)  

44  (1.6%) 

Personal digital assistant (PDA) such as Palm or PocketPC

83  (4.8%)  

1651  (95.2%) 

Smart phone (combination cell phone and PDA), such as Treo

134  (7.7%)  

1610  (92.3%) 

Portable digital music player (such as iPod)

2297  (87.6%)  

324  (12.4%) 

Portable electronic translation device

149  (8.6%)  

1593  (91.4%) 

Webcam

1032  (50.1%)  

1029  (49.9%) 

 

 

18. If you are currently working, or have worked, (paid employment) this summer, how many hours per week?

1507  (52.4%)   I did not work any hours this summer

160  (5.6%)   1-5

174  (6.0%)   6-10

183  (6.4%)   11-15

339  (11.8%)   16-25

239  (8.3%)   26-35

275  (9.6%)   More than 35

 

 

19. If you worked (paid employment) this summer, how much did you earn for expenses your first year in college?

1499  (52.4%)   I did not work this summer

198  (6.9%)   Less than $250

234  (8.2%)   $250 - 499

346  (12.1%)   $500 - 999

500  (17.5%)   $1,000 - 2,999

64  (2.2%)   $3,000 - 4,999

16  (0.6%)   $5,000 - 6,999

3  (0.1%)   $7,000 - 9,999

3  (0.1%)   $10,000 or more

 

 

 

20. During a TYPICAL 7-day (168 hour) week during the academic term, how many hours do you expect to spend doing the following?

 

0
1-5
6-10
11-15
16-20
21-25
26-30
More than 30

Attending classes, discussion sections or labs

2  (0.1%)
11  (0.7%)
104  (6.9%)
406  (26.8%)
526  (34.7%)
265  (17.5%)
135  (8.9%)
65  (4.3%)

Studying and other academic activities outside of class

2  (0.1%)
82  (5.5%)
333  (22.2%)
350  (23.3%)
305  (20.3%)
204  (13.6%)
119  (7.9%)
108  (7.2%)

Paid employment (including paid internships)

649  (43.5%)
227  (15.2%)
289  (19.4%)
189  (12.7%)
96  (6.4%)
25  (1.7%)
10  (0.7%)
6  (0.4%)

Of the total hours you expect to spend working for pay, about how many hours do you expect to work on campus?

785  (52.3%)
232  (15.4%)
262  (17.4%)
130  (8.7%)
67  (4.5%)
18  (1.2%)
4  (0.3%)
4  (0.3%)

Of the total hours you expect to spend working for pay, about how many of those hours do you think will relate to your academic interests?

841  (56.1%)
325  (21.7%)
168  (11.2%)
85  (5.7%)
49  (3.3%)
15  (1.0%)
5  (0.3%)
10  (0.7%)

 

 

21. How much of your first year's educational expenses (room, board, and fees) do you expect to cover from each of the sources listed below?

 

None

Less than $1,000

$1,000 - 2,999

$3,000-5,999

$6,000-9,999

$10,000+

Family resources (parents, relatives, etc.)

318  (11.2%)  

253  (8.9%)  

254  (9.0%)  

212  (7.5%)  

269  (9.5%)  

1525  (53.9%) 

My own resources (savings from work, work-study, other income)

844  (30.4%)  

963  (34.7%)  

642  (23.1%)  

218  (7.8%)  

60  (2.2%)  

52  (1.9%) 

Aid that doesn't need to be repaid (grants, scholarships, military funding, etc.)

849  (30.4%)  

286  (10.2%)  

457  (16.4%)  

320  (11.5%)  

286  (10.2%)  

596  (21.3%) 

Aid that must be repaid (loans, etc.)

1525  (54.9%)  

76  (2.7%)  

240  (8.6%)  

385  (13.9%)  

225  (8.1%)  

326  (11.7%) 

Other than above

2180  (88.3%)  

112  (4.5%)  

83  (3.4%)  

45  (1.8%)  

19  (0.8%)  

29  (1.2%) 

 

 

22. By the time you graduate from Cal, what is the estimated total amount of loans that you and your parents will have to repay?

 

None

Less than $5,000

$5,000-9,999

$10,000-14,999

$15,000-19,999

$20,000 or more

You

1275  (47.5%)  

245  (9.1%)  

253  (9.4%)  

279  (10.4%)  

216  (8.0%)  

418  (15.6%) 

Your parents

1591  (57.2%)  

235  (8.4%)  

176  (6.3%)  

195  (7.0%)  

161  (5.8%)  

424  (15.2%) 

 

 

23. While at Berkeley, do you expect to contribute money to your parents to help pay bills and provide for other family members?

 

Extended Family (e.g., parents, grandparents, siblings)

Spouse or partner only

Children only

Spouse or partner and children

Yes, a substantial amount (more than $50 per month)

105  (7.1%)  

14  (1.2%)  

11  (0.9%)  

16  (1.4%) 

Yes, a small amount only

122  (8.2%)  

24  (2.0%)  

10  (0.9%)  

7  (0.6%) 

No

886  (59.8%)  

1003  (84.4%)  

1005  (85.7%)  

994  (85.7%) 

Not sure

368  (24.8%)  

147  (12.4%)  

147  (12.5%)  

143  (12.3%) 

 

 

24. What undergraduate major do you plan to complete for graduation at Berkeley? If you are not sure, please make your best guess. Choose "I have no idea" (at the bottom of the list) only if you really have no idea whatsoever. If you are planning a "double major", please choose your initial major from the first pull-down menu and your second major from the second pull-down menu. Click on the link to view selected majors.

Majors

 

 

24a1.

How sure are you that you will graduate in this(these) major(s)?

293  (11.8%)   Very sure

790  (31.8%)   Pretty sure

333  (13.4%)   Not sure because I may not get into this major

714  (28.7%)   Not sure because I may change my mind before officially declaring this major

130  (5.2%)   Not sure because I many change my mind after declaring this major

226  (9.1%)   Not sure at all about what I want to major in at this point

 

 

25. Do you plan to take any classes on Fridays?

2624  (91.6%)   Yes

145  (5.1%)   No

96  (3.4%)   Not sure

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25a. Do you plan to take any early morning classes?

1952  (68.2%)   Yes

655  (22.9%)   No

257  (9.0%)   Not sure

 

 

 

26. How likely is it that you will attend one or more summer session classes while at Berkeley? (Please select the likelihood for each summer.)

 

Very likely

Likely

No idea

Unlikely

Very unlikely

The summer after my freshman year

497  (17.5%)  

576  (20.3%)  

1013  (35.7%)  

402  (14.2%)  

351  (12.4%) 

The summer after my sophomore year

484  (17.0%)  

802  (28.1%)  

1212  (42.5%)  

203  (7.1%)  

154  (5.4%) 

The summer after my junior year or later

388  (13.6%)  

622  (21.8%)  

1453  (51.0%)  

224  (7.9%)  

164  (5.8%) 

 

 

27. When do you think you will get your undergraduate degree here at Berkeley?

129  (4.5%)   Fall 2010 or earlier (less than 4 years)

2396  (83.6%)   Spring 2011 (4 years)

163  (5.7%)   Summer 2011 (4 years + summer)

142  (5.0%)   Fall 2011 (4 years + 1 semester)

36  (1.3%)   Spring 2012 or later (5 years or more)

 

 

 

28. What is the highest degree that you plan to obtain?

305  (10.7%)   Bachelor's (BA, BS)

531  (18.6%)   Academic Master's (MA, MS)

171  (6.0%)   Professional Master's (MSW, MLW)

375  (13.1%)   Business (MBA)

501  (17.6%)   Medical (MD, OD, DDS)

231  (8.1%)   Law (LLB, JD)

587  (20.6%)   Doctorate (Ph.D., Ed.D.)

152  (5.3%)   Doctorate plus other professional degree

 

 

 

29. What career are you interested in? Please check out the 12 categories below and find your one chosen career goal from the appropriate "pull-down menu". Click on link to view selected careers.

Careers

 

 

30. How sure are you that this is the career you want?

364  (12.8%)   Very sure

839  (29.5%)   Sure

1347  (47.3%)   At this point it's just a guess

296  (10.4%)   I have no idea what career I want to pursue

 

 

 

DEMOGRAPHIC INFORMATION

 

 

 

To provide the best advising and services possible, it is important that campus administrators and planners be well informed about the backgrounds of Berkeley students. The information you provide is confidential.

 

 

31. When did you first come to the United States to live?

2117  (74.1%)   I was born in the United States

123  (4.3%)   2003 or later

37  (1.3%)   2002

55  (1.9%)   2001

44  (1.5%)   2000

34  (1.2%)   1999

42  (1.5%)   1998

32  (1.1%)   1997

44  (1.5%)   1996

37  (1.3%)   1995

43  (1.5%)   1994

249  (8.7%)   1993 or earlier

 

 

 

32. Were your parents born in the United States?

93  (31.2%)   Both my mother and father were born in the United States

 166  (5.8%)   My father was born in the US, but my mother was not

1557  (54.5%)   Neither my mother nor my father were born in the US

119  (4.2%)   I'm not really sure

 

 

 

33. How many of your grandparents went to college?

917  (32.1%)   I don't know

969  (33.9%)   None

236  (8.3%)   One

315  (11.0%)   Two

188  (6.6%)   Three

235  (8.2%)   Four

 

 

 

34. Which of the following best describes your social class when you were growing up?

63  (2.2%)   Wealthy

914  (32.0%)   Upper-middle or professional-middle class

1102  (38.6%)   Middle-class

476  (16.7%)   Working-class

303  (10.6%)   Low-income or poor

 

 

 

35. To the best of your knowledge, which category includes the total annual combined income of your parent(s) before taxes in 2006?

120  (4.4%)   Less than $10,000

  175  (6.4%)   $10,000 to $19,999

  319  (11.7%)   $20,000 to $34,999

  198  (7.3%)   $35,000 to $49,999

  216  (7.9%)   $50,000 to $64,999

  227  (8.4%)   $65,000 to $79,999

  292  (10.7%)   $80,000 to $99,999

  402  (14.8%)   $100,000 to $124,999

  203  (7.5%)   $125,000 to $149,999

  238  (8.8%)   $150,000 to $199,999

  328  (12.1%)   $200,000 or more

  [276 missing]     Combined income

 

 

 

35a. How confident are you that your estimate is reasonably accurate?

324  (11.6%)   Not at all confident

490  (17.6%)   Not very confident

977  (35.1%)   Fairly confident

539  (19.4%)   Confident

454  (16.3%)   Certain

 

 

 

36. What was the primary language other than English, if any, that was spoken in your house while you were in high school? Click on link to view second languages.

Languages

 

 

 

37. When did you learn to speak English?

1221  (42.8%)   English was the first and only language I learned as a child

972  (34.1%)   I learned both another language and English by the time I was 5 years old

442  (15.5%)   I learned another language first and then I learned English between the age of 5 and 10

194  (6.8%)   I learned another language first and then I learned English between the age of 11 and 15

23  (0.8%)   I learned another language, but didn't learn English until after I was 15 years old

 

 

 

38. During your last year in high school, what proportion of the time did you live with:

 

All

Most

Some

None

Mother

2495  (87.6%)  

143  (5.0%)  

107  (3.8%)  

104  (3.7%) 

Father

2137  (75.9%)  

119  (4.2%)  

227  (8.1%)  

331  (11.8%) 

Stepmother

18  (0.8%)  

12  (0.6%)  

45  (2.1%)  

2050  (96.5%) 

Stepfather

59  (2.8%)  

23  (1.1%)  

28  (1.3%)  

2030  (94.9%) 

Grandparent

132  (5.9%)  

61  (2.7%)  

202  (9.0%)  

1851  (82.4%) 

Legal guardian

103  (4.8%)  

14  (0.7%)  

21  (1.0%)  

1990  (93.5%) 

Other adult(s)

85  (4.0%)  

44  (2.0%)  

102  (4.7%)  

1920  (89.3%) 

 

 

39. Are your parents:

2234  (78.1%)   Both alive and living with each other

519  (18.2%)   Both alive and divorced or living apart

33  (1.2%)   Mother deceased

69  (2.4%)   Father deceased

4  (0.1%)   Both deceased

 

 

 

40. Select the category from the pull-down menu that best describes your race or ethnicity. If multi-racial, use additional pull-down menus, selecting one category per menu. Click on link to view selected ethnicities.

Ethnicity

 

41. What is your current religious preference or affiliation? If none, please indicate (top of the list). Click on link to view selected religions.

Religion

 

 

 

YOU’RE ALMOST DONE!

 

42/42a. What was the last book you read for recreation or fun? Who was the author?

Most frequently mentioned authors

 

Author

Number

Percentage*

J K Rowling

900

30%

Khaled Hosseini

57

2%

Dan Brown

49

2%

Jane Austen

37

1%

Kurt Vonnegut

32

1%

George Orwell

27

1%

Mitch Albom

27

1%

Ayn Rand

25

1%

J D Salinger

21

1%

John Steinbeck

19

1%

Stephen King

19

1%

Joseph Heller

14

0%

Steven D. Levitt and Stephen J. Dubner

14

0%

Orson Scott Card

13

0%

 

Most frequently mentioned titles

 

Title

Number

Percentage*

Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows (#7)

668

22%

Harry Potter (unspecified)

181

6%

Kite Runner

39

1%

Da Vinci Code

25

1%

Harry Potter and the Half-Blood Prince (#6)

23

1%

1984

20

1%

Pride and Prejudice (includes one mention of Austen's "complete works")

19

1%

A Thousand Splendid Suns

18

1%

Catcher in the Rye

16

1%

Harry Potter and the Order of the Phoenix (#5)

16

1%

Angels & Demons

15

1%

Freakonomics

14

0%

Slaughterhouse-five

14

0%

Catch-22

12

0%

The Five People You Meet in Heaven

12

0%

 

* Out of all survey respondents, including those who skipped question

 

43. Did you receive the book, "Lincoln at Gettysburg" by Garry Wills, in the mail from Cal?

1649  (57.8%)   Yes

1204  (42.2%)   No

 

 

43a. Have you read it yet?

307  (11.5%)   Yes

2354  (88.5%)   No

 

 

43b. Do you plan to enroll in one of the Freshman or Sophomore Seminars to discuss it?

301  (11.3%)   Yes

2359  (88.7%)   No