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 2016 and Spring 2017.)

Not concerned 54 21%
Somewhat concerned 103 40%
Concerned 49 19%
Very concerned 51 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 174
66%
Asked financial aid office to reevaluate my application 30
11%
Plan to buy fewer books than listed as required, to buy cheaper used books, to read books on reserve 170
64%
Will take more courses per term to complete on-time or early 69
26%
Will take fewer courses so I can work for pay 6
2%
Will accept AP or similar credit instead of taking the course 122
46%
Will take or have taken a community college course because community college courses are cheaper 37
14%
Will take or have taken an online course because online courses are cheaper 8
3%
Worked for pay to save for college 96
36%
Plan to work for pay at least my first year 92
35%
Requested a triple to save money 103
39%
Will live at home to reduce expenses 5
2%
Don't expect cost to be a significant problem 51
19%
Other (please specify)
[Contact OPA for more information]
10
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 132 52%
No 124 48%

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 122 48%
No 134 52%

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 14 6%
Disagree 22 9%
Somewhat disagree 37 15%
Somewhat agree 87 34%
Agree 69 27%
Strongly agree 27 11%

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 34 13%
No 222 87%

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

Housing 3
9%
Food 19
56%
Books 25
74%
Health care 9
27%
Other (Please explain below)
[Contact OPA for more information]
4
12%

4a. In the last 12 months, did you ever cut the size of your meals or skip meals because there wasn't enough money for food?

No 206 81%
Yes, almost every month 14 6%
Yes, some months, but not every month 17 7%
Yes, only 1 or 2 months 16 6%

4b. In the last 12 months, did you ever eat less than you felt you should because there wasn't enough money for food?

No 192 76%
Yes 60 24%

4c. In the last 12 months, were you ever hungry but didn't eat because there wasn't enough money for food?

No 214 85%
Yes 39 15%

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. 205 81%
1995 or earlier 1 0%
1996 2 1%
1997 5 2%
1998 3 1%
1999 0 0%
2000 9 4%
2001 2 1%
2002 5 2%
2003 2 1%
2004 4 2%
2005 6 2%
2006 2 1%
2007 2 1%
2008 1 0%
2009 1 0%
2010 1 0%
2011 0 0%
2012 1 0%
2013 0 0%
2014 or later 1 0%

6. When did you learn to speak English?

English is my native language 165 65%
Before I was 5 years old 55 22%
When I was 5 years old 14 6%
When I was 6-10 years old 18 7%
When I was 11-15 years old 1 0%
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
Parent/Guardian 1 100 153 0
40% 61% 0%
Parent/Guardian 2 90 160 0
36% 64% 0%

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

Zero 55 22%
One 11 4%
Two 24 10%
Three 13 5%
Four 150 59%

8a. What is the highest level of education reached by your parent 1...

In the United States?

None (did not receive formal education) 17 9%
Less than high school diploma 4 2%
High school diploma 26 13%
Associate's or postsecondary certificate 19 10%
Bachelor's degree 50 25%
Post-baccalaureate certificate 4 2%
Master's degree 44 22%
Professional degree 14 7%
Doctorate 17 9%
Do not know 4 2%
Not applicable 51 -

Outside the U.S.?

None (did not receive formal education) 5 4%
Less than high school diploma or equivalent 21 17%
High school diploma or equivalent 23 19%
Associate's or postsecondary certificate 6 5%
Bachelor's degree or equivalent 32 26%
Post-baccalaureate certificate or equivalent 3 2%
Master's degree or equivalent 16 13%
Professional degree or equivalent 4 3%
Doctorate or equivalent 5 4%
Do not know 8 7%
Not applicable 89 -

8b. What is the highest level of education reached by your parent 2...

In the United States?

None (did not receive formal education) 16 9%
Less than high school diploma 6 3%
High school diploma 22 12%
Associate's or postsecondary certificate 16 9%
Bachelor's degree 64 36%
Post-baccalaureate certificate 2 1%
Master's degree 32 18%
Professional degree 7 4%
Doctorate 11 6%
Do not know 3 2%
Not applicable 68 -

In a foreign country?

None (did not receive formal education) 2 2%
Less than high school diploma or equivalent 28 22%
High school diploma or equivalent 27 21%
Associate's or postsecondary certificate 12 9%
Bachelor's degree or equivalent 29 23%
Post-baccalaureate certificate or equivalent 4 3%
Master's degree or equivalent 11 9%
Professional degree or equivalent 3 2%
Doctorate or equivalent 3 2%
Do not know 8 6%
Not applicable 86 -

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

Wealthy 2 1%
Upper-middle or professional-middle 74 29%
Middle-class 104 41%
Working-class 41 16%
Low-income or poor 31 12%

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 11 4%
No 241 96%

11. To the best of your knowledge, which category includes the total annual combined income of your parent(s) before taxes in 2014?

Less than $10,000 9 4%
$10,000 to $19,999 17 8%
$20,000 to $34,999 16 7%
$35,000 to $49,999 20 9%
$50,000 to $64,999 14 6%
$65,000 to $79,999 20 9%
$80,000 to $99,999 18 8%
$100,000 to $124,999 30 13%
$125,000 to $149,999 20 9%
$150,000 to $199,999 25 11%
$200,000 or more 38 17%
Not applicable - independent student 11 -
Skipped branch-determining question about independent status 8 -

11. To the best of your knowledge, which category includes your household's total annual combined income before taxes in 2014?

Less than $10,000 2 18%
$10,000 to $19,999 0 0%
$20,000 to $34,999 2 18%
$35,000 to $49,999 1 9%
$50,000 to $64,999 1 9%
$65,000 to $79,999 0 0%
$80,000 to $99,999 1 9%
$100,000 to $124,999 1 9%
$125,000 to $149,999 0 0%
$150,000 to $199,999 2 18%
$200,000 or more 1 9%
Not applicable - dependent student 241 -
Skipped branch-determining question about independent status 8 -

12. What is your religious preference?

Spiritual but not associated with a major religion 23 9%
Not particularly spiritual 34 14%
No preference 26 11%
Agnostic 27 11%
Athiest 28 11%
Baptist 4 2%
Buddhist 4 2%
Christian Church (Disciples) 14 6%
Eastern Orthodox 3 1%
Episcopalian 2 1%
HIndu 1 0%
Jewish 8 3%
Lutheran 3 1%
Methodist 0 0%
Mormon 1 0%
Muslim 6 2%
Presbyterian 9 4%
Quaker 0 0%
Roman Catholic 33 13%
Seventh Day Adventist 0 0%
Sikh 1 0%
Taoist 0 0%
Unitarian/Universalist 0 0%
United Church of Christ/Congreational 1 0%
Other Christian 16 7%
Other Religion 3 1%

13. What is your sexual orientation?

Bisexual 12 5%
Gay/Lesbian 6 3%
Heterosexual 203 84%
Questioning/Unsure 13 5%
Self-identified Queer 1 0%
Decline to state 0 0%
Other (Please specify)
[Contact OPA for more information]
6 3%

14. With which gender do you identify?

Woman 171 70%
Man 74 30%
Decline to state 0 0%
Other (Please specify)
[Contact OPA for more information]
1 0%

15. Do you identify as transgender?

Yes 1 0%
No 248 100%

16. How would you characterize your political orientation?

Very liberal 23 9%
Liberal 98 40%
Slightly liberal 45 18%
Moderate or middle of the road 54 22%
Slightly conservative 19 8%
Conservative 8 3%
Very conservative 1 0%

17. Where will you be living this term?

Clark Kerr Campus 29 12%
Foothill 21 8%
Bowles 0 0%
Stern 10 4%
Unit 1 55 22%
Unit 2 (excluding Wada Apartments) 76 30%
Unit 3 (including Beverly Cleary Hall) 55 22%
Channing-Bowditch Apartments 0 0%
Martinez Commons 0 0%
University Village Albany (family housing) 0 0%
Wada Apartments 0 0%
Living with family 0 0%
Sorority or fraternity 0 0%
Co-op Housing 3 1%
Living off-campus in a house or apartment 3 1%
Other
[Contact OPA for more information]
0 0%

18. How far from campus do you live?

On campus or less than 1 mile 209 83%
1 mile to 2 miles 38 15%
3 miles to 10 miles 3 1%
11 to 20 miles 0 0%
21 miles or more 2 1%

19. With whom do you live?

No one. I live alone 0 0%
I share an apartment or dorm room with at least one other Cal student 245 98%
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 1 0%
Other
[Contact OPA for more information]
5 2%

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) 2 22 100 7 121
1% 9% 40% 3% 48%
 0 (Zero)12345 or more
Children or teenagers under the age of 18 (do NOT count yourself as 1) 180 18 13 7 6 15
75% 8% 5% 3% 3% 6%

21. Are you a legal guardian or parent?

No 240 96%
Yes 10 4%

22a. IF YES: How many children or dependents do you care for?

1 1 100%
2 0 0%
3 0 0%
4 0 0%
5 or more 0 0%

22b. How many of your dependents are under the age of 18?

None 0 0%
1 1 100%
2 0 0%
3 0 0%
4 0 0%
5 or more 0 0%

23. 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 230 94%
African American Theme Program (AATP) 2 1%
Asian Pacific American Theme House (APATH) 2 1%
Casa Magdalena Mora (CASA) 1 0%
Global Environment Theme Program (GETH) 2 1%
Native American Theme Program (NATP) 1 0%
Unity House 5 2%
Women in Science & Engineering (WiSE) 2 1%

24. 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) 85 48 75 30 8
35% 20% 31% 12% 3%
Competing family responsibilities 80 81 62 19 4
33% 33% 25% 8% 2%
Other competing responsibilities (e.g., athletics, clubs, internship) 26 33 98 78 11
11% 13% 40% 32% 5%
Weak spoken English skills 205 21 13 4 1
84% 9% 5% 2% 0%
Weak writing skills 126 56 44 16 2
52% 23% 18% 7% 1%
Weak math skills 110 65 53 12 3
45% 27% 22% 5% 1%
Inadequate study skills (e.g., knowing how to start, knowing how to get help, organizing material) 56 81 77 24 7
23% 33% 31% 10% 3%
Poor study behaviors (e.g., wait till last minute, easily distracted, too much social time, too much web surfing) 38 53 87 55 12
16% 22% 36% 22% 5%
Bad study environment (e.g., noisy roommate, poor Internet access, inadequate computer or software) 44 77 95 27 2
18% 31% 39% 11% 1%
Poor library research skills 51 85 81 23 5
21% 35% 33% 9% 2%
Feeling depressed, stressed, or upset 36 62 86 45 17
15% 25% 35% 18% 7%
Physical illness or condition 75 113 43 7 6
31% 46% 18% 3% 3%

25. In general, I consider myself:

1 - Not a very happy person 5 2%
2 5 2%
3 12 5%
4 49 20%
5 63 26%
6 85 35%
7 - A very happy person 26 11%

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

1 - Less happy 9 4%
2 13 5%
3 40 16%
4 45 18%
5 63 26%
6 46 19%
7 - More happy 30 12%

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

Friends nearby 163
64%
Friends that are not nearby (e.g., home or high school friends) 190
74%
Boyfriend or girlfriend, partner, spouse or significant other 70
27%
Teachers, coaches 33
13%
Parents, guardians 168
66%
Siblings 129
50%
Other family 63
25%
Clergy 9
4%
Counselors, therapists 28
11%
UCB student services support staff (counselor, advisor, etc.) 21
8%
No one (else) / myself only 10
4%
Other (please specify)
[Contact OPA for more information]
6
2%

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

Very dissatisfied 4 2%
Fairly dissatisfied 7 3%
A little dissatisfied 29 12%
A little satisfied 23 10%
Fairly satisfied 103 43%
Very satisfied 72 30%

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

Very dissatisfied 2 1%
Fairly dissatisfied 10 4%
A little dissatisfied 14 6%
A little satisfied 32 13%
Fairly satisfied 96 39%
Very satisfied 91 37%

30. 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 194 79%
No 53 22%

31a. Have you utilized any of the following University resources for EMOTIONAL support since coming to Berkeley? (Check all that apply)

African American Student Development 0
0%
Asian Pacific American Student Development 0
0%
Chicano/Latino Student Development 0
0%
Multicultural Community Center 0
0%
Multicultural Immigrant Student Program 0
0%
Native American Student Development 1
0%
The Student Learning Center 3
1%
Theme program RD's 2
1%
No, none of these 239
93%

31b. Have you utilized any of the following University resources for ACADEMIC support since coming to Berkeley? (Check all that apply)

African American Student Development 0
0%
Asian Pacific American Student Development 0
0%
Chicano/Latino Student Development 1
0%
Multicultural Community Center 0
0%
Multicultural Immigrant Student Program 1
0%
Native American Student Development 1
0%
The Student Learning Center 18
7%
Theme program RD's 2
1%
No, none of these 224
88%