Part 2: Background

Concern About Cost

1. How concerned are you about paying for your undergraduate education NEXT YEAR? (Next year is defined as Fall 2015 and Spring 2016.)

Not concerned 48 22%
Somewhat concerned 76 34%
Concerned 54 24%
Very concerned 44 20%

2. Which of the following have you done in the past year or do you plan to do this year to meet anticipated college expenses?

Applied for financial aid 158
71%
Asked financial aid office to reevaluate my application 31
14%
Plan to buy fewer books than listed as required, to buy cheaper used books, to read books on reserve 142
64%
Will take more courses per term to complete on-time or early 44
20%
Will take fewer courses so I can work for pay 15
7%
Will accept AP or similar credit instead of taking the course 105
47%
Will take or have taken a community college course because community college courses are cheaper 31
14%
Will take or have taken an online course because online courses are cheaper 10
5%
Worked for pay to save for college 72
32%
Plan to work for pay at least my first year 82
37%
Requested a triple to save money 68
31%
Will live at home to reduce expenses 9
4%
Don't expect cost to be a significant problem 42
19%
Other (please specify)
[Contact OPA for more information]
8
4%

3a. Have you heard about the Blue and Gold Opportunity Plan, which ensures that scholarships and grants will cover fees for U.S. students from families making less than $80,000 a year, with financial need?

Yes 120 54%
No 101 46%

3b. Have you heard about the Berkeley Middle Class Access Plan (MCAP), a new financial aid program available to families in the $80,000 - $150,000 annual income range?

Yes 109 49%
No 112 51%

3c. To what extent do you agree or disagree with this statement: Given the grants and scholarships, if any, that you receive, the total cost of attending UC Berkeley is manageable.

Strongly disagree 10 5%
Disagree 19 9%
Somewhat disagree 35 16%
Somewhat agree 72 33%
Agree 65 29%
Strongly agree 20 9%

3d. Since you have come to UC Berkeley, have you encountered a situation where lack of financial resources kept you from having basic student necessities (housing, food, books, healthcare, etc)?

Yes 24 11%
No 196 89%

3d. Please select from the following list all basics you have foregone as a result of finances.

Housing 4
17%
Food 11
46%
Books 21
88%
Health care 5
21%
Other (Please explain below)
[Contact OPA for more information]
1
4%

4. Is there anything else that you would like to tell us about the impact of the cost to attend on your educational experience at Cal?

[Contact OPA for more information]

5. When did you come to the United States to live?

I was born in the U.S. 177 81%
1994 or earlier 1 1%
1995 0 0%
1996 4 2%
1997 4 2%
1998 4 2%
1999 1 1%
2000 6 3%
2001 4 2%
2002 1 1%
2003 4 2%
2004 2 1%
2005 2 1%
2006 0 0%
2007 1 1%
2008 2 1%
2009 1 1%
2010 2 1%
2011 3 1%
2012 0 0%
2013 or later 0 0%

6. When did you learn to speak English?

English is my native language 145 66%
Before I was 5 years old 43 20%
When I was 5 years old 14 6%
When I was 6-10 years old 12 6%
When I was 11-15 years old 5 2%
After turning 16 years old 0 0%

7. To the best of your knowledge, where were your parents born?

 In the U.S.Outside the U.S.Do not know
Your mother 71 148 0
32% 68% 0%
Your father 75 144 0
34% 66% 0%

To the best of your knowledge, how many of your grandparents were born outside of the United States?

Zero 32 15%
One 16 7%
Two 24 11%
Three 7 3%
Four 140 64%

8. What is the highest level of education reached by your mother...

In the United States?

None (did not receive formal education) 16 10%
Less than high school diploma 4 2%
High school diploma 31 19%
Associate's or postsecondary certificate 17 10%
Bachelor's degree 39 23%
Post-baccalaureate certificate 4 2%
Master's degree 40 24%
Professional degree 2 1%
Doctorate 11 7%
Do not know 2 1%
Not applicable 50 -

In a foreign country?

None (did not receive formal education) 6 5%
Less than high school diploma or equivalent 18 15%
High school diploma or equivalent 29 24%
Associate's or postsecondary certificate 7 6%
Bachelor's degree or equivalent 47 39%
Post-baccalaureate certificate or equivalent 1 1%
Master's degree or equivalent 4 3%
Professional degree or equivalent 1 1%
Doctorate or equivalent 3 3%
Do not know 3 3%
Not applicable 79 -

9. What is the highest level of education reached by your father...

In the United States?

None (did not receive formal education) 10 6%
Less than high school diploma 6 3%
High school diploma 27 16%
Associate's or postsecondary certificate 12 7%
Bachelor's degree 35 20%
Post-baccalaureate certificate 3 2%
Master's degree 33 19%
Professional degree 14 8%
Doctorate 27 16%
Do not know 6 3%
Not applicable 43 -

In a foreign country?

None (did not receive formal education) 8 7%
Less than high school diploma or equivalent 17 15%
High school diploma or equivalent 31 26%
Associate's or postsecondary certificate 4 3%
Bachelor's degree or equivalent 33 28%
Post-baccalaureate certificate or equivalent 0 0%
Master's degree or equivalent 9 7%
Professional degree or equivalent 4 3%
Doctorate or equivalent 5 4%
Do not know 6 5%
Not applicable 82 -

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

Wealthy 5 2%
Upper-middle or professional-middle 62 28%
Middle-class 84 38%
Working-class 35 16%
Low-income or poor 33 15%

10. Are you a financially independent student? Some students have no contact with their parents, and therefore cannot use their tax information for filing the FAFSA. If you find yourself in this situation and have been formally declared an independent student, then please answer yes.

Yes 1 1%
No 218 100%

11. To the best of your knowledge, which category includes the total annual combined income of your parent(s) before taxes in 2013? (seen by those who respond "No" to above financially independent item)

Less than $10,000 6 3%
$10,000 to $19,999 19 9%
$20,000 to $34,999 21 10%
$35,000 to $49,999 17 8%
$50,000 to $64,999 15 7%
$65,000 to $79,999 19 9%
$80,000 to $99,999 14 7%
$100,000 to $124,999 34 16%
$125,000 to $149,999 11 5%
$150,000 to $199,999 21 10%
$200,000 or more 31 15%
Not applicable - independent student 1 -

11. To the best of your knowledge, which category includes your household's total annual combined income before taxes in 2013? (seen by those who respond "Yes" to above financially independent item)

Less than $10,000 0 0%
$10,000 to $19,999 0 0%
$20,000 to $34,999 0 0%
$35,000 to $49,999 0 0%
$50,000 to $64,999 0 0%
$65,000 to $79,999 0 0%
$80,000 to $99,999 0 0%
$100,000 to $124,999 1 100%
$125,000 to $149,999 0 0%
$150,000 to $199,999 0 0%
$200,000 or more 0 0%
Not applicable - dependent student 218 -

12. What is your religious preference?

Spiritual but not associated with a major religion 19 9%
Not particularly spiritual 32 15%
No preference 16 8%
Agnostic 19 9%
Athiest 27 13%
Baptist 5 2%
Buddhist 4 2%
Christian Church (Disciples) 9 4%
Eastern Orthodox 2 1%
Episcopalian 1 1%
HIndu 3 1%
Jewish 8 4%
Lutheran 0 0%
Methodist 1 1%
Mormon 0 0%
Muslim 7 3%
Presbyterian 8 4%
Quaker 0 0%
Roman Catholic 30 14%
Seventh Day Adventist 0 0%
Sikh 4 2%
Taoist 0 0%
Unitarian/Universalist 0 0%
United Church of Christ/Congreational 2 1%
Other Christian 17 8%
Other Religion 0 0%

13. What is your sexual orientation?

Bisexual 7 3%
Gay/Lesbian 3 1%
Heterosexual 195 90%
Questioning/Unsure 2 1%
Self-identified Queer 2 1%
Decline to state 2 1%
Other (Please specify)
[Contact OPA for more information]
5 2%

14. With which gender do you identify?

Woman 133 61%
Man 84 39%
Decline to state 1 1%
Other (Please specify)
[Contact OPA for more information]
0 0%

15. Do you identify as transgender?

Yes 0 0%
No 217 100%

16. How would you characterize your political orientation?

Very liberal 12 6%
Liberal 78 36%
Slightly liberal 38 18%
Moderate or middle of the road 69 32%
Slightly conservative 14 7%
Conservative 3 1%
Very conservative 3 1%

17. Where will you be living this term?

Clark Kerr Campus 24 11%
Foothill 19 9%
Bowles 8 4%
Stern 6 3%
Unit 1 58 27%
Unit 2 (excluding Wada Apartments) 48 22%
Unit 3 (including Beverly Cleary Hall) 42 19%
Channing-Bowditch Apartments 0 0%
Martinez Commons 0 0%
University Village Albany (family housing) 0 0%
Wada Apartments 0 0%
Living with family 5 2%
Sorority or fraternity 0 0%
Co-op Housing 1 1%
Living off-campus in a house or apartment 5 2%
Other
[Contact OPA for more information]
2 1%

18. How far from campus do you live?

On campus or less than 1 mile 184 84%
1 mile to 2 miles 28 13%
3 miles to 10 miles 2 1%
11 to 20 miles 4 2%
21 miles or more 1 1%

19. With whom do you live?

No one. I live alone 2 1%
I share an apartment or dorm room with at least one other Cal student 201 94%
I share an apartment with peers who are not Cal students 0 0%
I live with my spouse or domestic partner (with or without others) 0 0%
I live with at least one parent 6 3%
Other
[Contact OPA for more information]
6 3%

20. What is the composition of your residence hall or household while attending Berkeley this term?

 12345 or
more
College students or other adults (count yourself as 1) 7 19 79 8 101
3% 9% 37% 4% 47%
 0 (Zero)12345 or
more
Children or teenagers under the age of 18 (do NOT count yourself as 1) 143 20 13 8 2 18
70% 10% 6% 4% 1% 9%

21. Are you a legal guardian or parent?

No 204 94%
Yes 14 6%

21b. How many children or dependents do you care for?

UNANSWERED 14 -

22. Please indicate whether or not you are a Theme Program resident and, if so, which program you are a part of (choose one):

I am not a Theme Program resident 211 98%
African American Theme Program (AATP) 1 1%
Asian Pacific American Theme House (APATH) 0 0%
Casa Magdalena Mora (CASA) 2 1%
Global Environment Theme Program (GETH) 0 0%
Native American Theme Program (NATP) 0 0%
Unity House 1 1%
Women in Science & Engineering (WiSE) 0 0%

23. During your first year at Berkeley, how often do you expect each of the following to be obstacles to your school work or academic success?

 Not at allRarelyOccasionallyFrequentlyAll the time
Competing job responsibilities (i.e., paid employment) 79 42 58 31 5
37% 20% 27% 14% 2%
Competing family responsibilities 65 79 57 12 2
30% 37% 27% 6% 1%
Other competing responsibilities (e.g., athletics, clubs, internship) 24 37 98 49 6
11% 17% 46% 23% 3%
Weak spoken English skills 178 22 5 7 2
83% 10% 2% 3% 1%
Weak writing skills 104 51 42 13 4
49% 24% 20% 6% 2%
Weak math skills 103 49 39 20 4
48% 23% 18% 9% 2%
Inadequate study skills (e.g., knowing how to start, knowing how to get help, organizing material) 47 60 66 31 10
22% 28% 31% 15% 5%
Poor study behaviors (e.g., wait till last minute, easily distracted, too much social time, too much web surfing) 27 48 81 38 20
13% 22% 38% 18% 9%
Bad study environment (e.g., noisy roommate, poor Internet access, inadequate computer or software) 39 64 76 27 8
18% 30% 36% 13% 4%
Poor library research skills 49 89 58 11 6
23% 42% 27% 5% 3%
Feeling depressed, stressed, or upset 46 57 65 33 13
22% 27% 30% 15% 6%
Physical illness or condition 68 96 43 2 4
32% 45% 20% 1% 2%

24. In general, I consider myself:

1 - Not a very happy person 2 1%
2 6 3%
3 10 5%
4 40 19%
5 73 34%
6 66 31%
7 - A very happy person 19 9%

25. In the past 3 months, compared to most of my peers, I consider myself:

1 - Less happy 10 5%
2 9 4%
3 24 11%
4 49 23%
5 53 24%
6 54 25%
7 - More happy 18 8%

26. Whom can you really count on to help you feel better when you are feeling upset?

parents, guardians 178
82%
friends nearby 178
82%
teachers, coaches 26
12%
siblings 97
45%
online friends 39
18%
clergy 9
4%
other family 15
7%
counselors, therapists 11
5%
UCB student services support staff (counselor, advisor, etc.) 15
7%
Other
[Contact OPA for more information]
18
8%

27. In general, how satisfied are you with how available these people are to you?

Very dissatisfied 6 3%
Fairly dissatisfied 15 7%
A little dissatisfied 15 7%
A little satisfied 18 8%
Fairly satisfied 97 45%
Very satisfied 63 29%

28. Overall, how satisfied are you with the support that you have?

Very dissatisfied 10 5%
Fairly dissatisfied 8 4%
A little dissatisfied 9 4%
A little satisfied 20 9%
Fairly satisfied 78 36%
Very satisfied 90 42%

29. Do you know that all Berkeley students are eligible for up to 5 free counseling visits at Tang Center-University Health Services regardless of whether they have Berkeley SHIP (Student Health Insurance Plan)?

Yes 186 86%
No 30 14%