Part 3: Random Module

Academic Experience
Student
Items of Special Interest

Academic Experience

1. We would like to hear more about your perception of being an undergraduate at a research university. Please indicate your level of agreement with the following statements.

 Strongly disagreeDisagreeDisagree somewhatAgree somewhatAgreeStrongly agree
Berkeley has a strong commitment to undergraduate education 0 2 4 15 44 25
0% 2% 4% 17% 49% 28%
Attending a university with world-class researchers is important to me 0 3 2 17 32 36
0% 3% 2% 19% 36% 40%
The emphasis on research at Berkeley detracts from the quality of teaching on this campus 5 18 29 22 13 2
6% 20% 33% 25% 15% 2%

2. How important to you are the following aspects of being an undergraduate at a research university like UC Berkeley?

 Not
important
Not very importantSomewhat importantImportantVery importantEssential
Learning about faculty research 4 7 18 25 27 9
4% 8% 20% 28% 30% 10%
Having courses with faculty members who refer to their own research as part of the class 5 14 20 30 15 6
6% 16% 22% 33% 17% 7%
Learning research methods 2 5 15 24 29 15
2% 6% 17% 27% 32% 17%
Assisting faculty members in their research, for pay or as a volunteer 2 6 13 26 24 18
2% 7% 15% 29% 27% 20%
Pursuing your own research 3 6 16 24 28 13
3% 7% 18% 27% 31% 14%
The prestige of this campus/faculty when you apply to grad school 2 3 9 18 30 28
2% 3% 10% 20% 33% 31%
The prestige of this campus when you apply for a job 0 1 6 17 29 36
0% 1% 7% 19% 33% 40%
Having access to a world-class library collection 0 6 13 24 24 23
0% 7% 14% 27% 27% 26%
Being able to attend plays, concerts, lectures, and other cultural events 2 2 10 31 24 21
2% 2% 11% 34% 27% 23%

3a. How do you expect to use the library and library staff while you are at Berkeley? (Check all that apply)

To find data and statistical information 63
67%
As a quiet place to study 58
62%
For help in learning to do academic research 55
59%
To find scholarly articles 55
59%
For help in organizing my research 58
62%
As a place to work on group projects 54
57%
For printing, copying and scanning 59
63%
To find books 58
62%
Other (please specify)
[Contact OPA for more information]
1
1%

3b. If you were seeking help in doing library research, which ways would you prefer to communicate? Rank the following from 1 to 6 or from 1 to 7 if 'Other' is specified

 1234567
Individual help at a library reference desk 28 21 19 4 7 6 1
33% 24% 22% 5% 8% 7% 1%
Individual help by appointment 16 20 15 21 8 6 0
19% 23% 17% 24% 9% 7% 0%
Take an hour-long clas in library research methods 10 10 10 6 12 39 0
12% 12% 12% 7% 14% 45% 0%
Use a virtual chat widget 1 8 11 16 31 18 1
1% 9% 13% 19% 36% 21% 1%
Email 24 11 15 17 13 4 2
28% 13% 17% 20% 15% 5% 2%
Phone 6 16 15 22 14 13 0
7% 19% 17% 26% 16% 15% 0%
Other
[Contact OPA for more information]
2 0 1 0 1 0 12
13% 0% 6% 0% 6% 0% 75%

4. While attending UC Berkeley, how often would you like to...

 NeverRarelyOccasionallySomewhat oftenOftenVery often
Interact with students from a country or state outside of your own in class (e.g., through section discussions, study groups or class projects) 1 0 7 12 45 24
1% 0% 8% 14% 51% 27%
Interact with students from a country or state outside your own in social settings (e.g., in clubs or student organizations, or in informal settings) 1 0 6 14 44 24
1% 0% 7% 16% 49% 27%
Develop a friendship with a student from a country or state outside of your own 0 0 4 14 40 30
0% 0% 5% 16% 46% 34%
Work with a faculty member on a project with an international/global theme 1 5 20 18 24 19
1% 6% 23% 21% 28% 22%
Present a paper at a symposium or conference or participate in a panel on international / global topics 5 12 24 24 14 10
6% 14% 27% 27% 16% 11%
Attend lectures, symposia, workshops or conferences on international/global topics 2 4 18 23 23 19
2% 5% 20% 26% 26% 21%
Attend a performance with an international/global focus 1 10 22 16 17 23
1% 11% 25% 18% 19% 26%

4b. What are your values and beliefs with regards to your interaction with other students while attending UC Berkeley? Please tell us your level of agreement with the following statements:

 Strongly disagreeDisagreeSomewhat disagreeSomewhat agreeAgreeStrongly agree
I believe that exposure to students from other
states and countries will help me interact effectively with people from diverse backgrounds and cultures
0 0 0 8 32 49
0% 0% 0% 9% 36% 55%
I believe that exposure to students from other
states and countries will help me be more open to and understanding of different opinions and points of view
0 0 1 9 25 54
0% 0% 1% 10% 28% 61%

5. How important is it to you to graduate in four years or, if you are a transfer student, in two years?

Not important 2 2%
Not very important 1 1%
Somewhat important 3 3%
Important 17 19%
Very important 36 41%
Essential 28 32%
Not applicable 1 1%

6. Regarding choice of a major, what advice have you received?

 Decide on a major as soon as possibleTake your time; explore optionsNo advice given
From your family 21 55 12
24% 63% 14%
From Cal advisors 0 64 24
0% 73% 27%
From friends 9 60 19
10% 68% 22%
From fellow Cal students 8 65 15
9% 74% 17%
High school teachers or counselors 7 70 10
8% 81% 12%

7. What do you plan to do about a major?

I have declared a major 5 6%
I will declare a major as soon as possible 52 59%
I plan to take my time and explore options 31 35%

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Student Life and Development

Goals & Aspirations

Indicate how important each of the following college goals is to you.

 Not importantSomewhat importantVery important
Be in a position to give back to my community after finishing my education 5 27 49
6% 33% 61%
Acquire a well-rounded general education 2 8 70
3% 10% 88%
Explore and discover my personal identity 3 9 69
4% 11% 85%
Discover what kind of person I really want to be 1 8 72
1% 10% 89%
Achieve a high GPA 3 23 55
4% 28% 68%
Form (a) romantic relationship(s) 30 31 19
38% 39% 24%
Establish meaningful friendships 1 10 70
1% 12% 86%
Prepare for graduate or professional school 4 17 60
5% 21% 74%
Obtain the skills I need to pursue my chosen career 0 8 73
0% 10% 90%
Be in a position to make a lot of money after finishing my education 7 32 42
9% 40% 52%
Explore new ideas 2 9 70
3% 11% 86%
Enjoy my college years before assuming adult responsibilities 5 17 59
6% 21% 73%
Develop a personal code of values and ethics 6 13 62
7% 16% 77%
Develop an in-depth understanding of a specific field of study 2 10 69
3% 12% 85%
Integrate spirituality into my life 32 20 29
40% 25% 36%
Establish social networks that will help further my career 4 18 59
5% 22% 73%
Obtain the skills I need to function in the international arena 8 34 39
10% 42% 48%

2. Please indicate how much you agree or disagree that the following factors influenced your decision to choose UC Berkeley: UC Berkeley would...

 Strongly disagreeDisagreeSomewhat disagreeSomewhat agreeAgreeStrongly agree
Challenge and/or change my perspective 1 3 7 20 31 19
1% 4% 9% 25% 38% 24%
Prepare me to succeed in a career 0 0 0 3 31 47
0% 0% 0% 4% 38% 58%
Prepare me to build a better life for myself and/or my family 0 2 1 9 29 40
0% 3% 1% 11% 36% 49%
Teach me to interact effectively with people from diverse backgrounds and cultures 1 5 4 11 30 30
1% 6% 5% 14% 37% 37%
Prepare me to make a difference in this world 0 0 5 13 28 35
0% 0% 6% 16% 35% 43%
Allow me to create own field of study (combine disciplines, create own major, etc.) 3 12 13 20 19 13
4% 15% 16% 25% 24% 16%
Prepare me to get the job I desire 0 0 5 8 31 37
0% 0% 6% 10% 38% 46%
Help increase my social consciousness (e.g., be more aware of people and issues regardless of background, ethnicity; doing things for the public good) 2 3 2 19 24 31
3% 4% 3% 24% 30% 38%
Help me to be more open to and understanding of different opinions and points of view (e.g., openness, freedom) 2 3 2 16 27 31
3% 4% 3% 20% 33% 38%

3. How concerned are you now about each of the following?

 Not at all concernedUnconcernedSomewhat unconcernedSomewhat concernedConcernedVery concerned
Financing my education at Berkeley 4 5 10 20 21 21
5% 6% 12% 25% 26% 26%
Finding affordable housing while I'm a student at Berkeley 3 1 9 20 27 21
4% 1% 11% 25% 33% 26%
Getting into my first choice of major 1 3 11 14 26 26
1% 4% 14% 17% 32% 32%
Being able to maintain a high GPA 0 0 2 9 33 37
0% 0% 3% 11% 41% 46%
Getting the academic advising I need 1 8 7 30 23 12
1% 10% 9% 37% 28% 15%
Getting the career and professional advising I need 2 6 5 26 25 17
3% 7% 6% 32% 31% 21%
Getting the psychological counseling I might need 10 10 24 15 11 11
12% 12% 30% 19% 14% 14%
Getting along with my roommate(s) 10 16 15 15 14 11
12% 20% 19% 19% 17% 14%
Being able to balance academic and social activities 1 1 6 17 31 25
1% 1% 7% 21% 38% 31%
Being able to make the kind of friends I want 2 2 5 26 16 29
3% 3% 6% 33% 20% 36%
Being away from family and friends; being 'homesick' 8 12 14 17 14 16
10% 15% 17% 21% 17% 20%
Being able to maintain good health 2 3 14 23 17 22
3% 4% 17% 28% 21% 27%
Being able to cope with expectations of parents and family 6 8 9 23 20 15
7% 10% 11% 28% 25% 19%
Being overwhelmed with all the things I'm expected to do my first semester 2 2 6 16 27 28
3% 3% 7% 20% 33% 35%
Regretting my decision to attend Berkeley 25 11 10 19 9 7
31% 14% 12% 24% 11% 9%

4. Based on your experience and observation, rate the general climate for students at Berkeley along the following dimensions: Campus climate is...

6 - Friendly 18 22%
5 40 49%
4 19 24%
3 2 3%
2 1 1%
1 - Hostile 1 1%
6 - Caring 13 16%
5 29 36%
4 28 35%
3 7 9%
2 1 1%
1 - Impersonal 2 3%
6 - Intellectual 41 51%
5 31 38%
4 6 7%
3 1 1%
2 0 0%
1 - Not intellectual 2 3%
1 - Appreciative of diversity 40 49%
5 24 30%
4 12 15%
3 4 5%
2 0 0%
1 - Unappreciative of diversity 1 1%
6 - Safe 11 14%
5 15 19%
4 28 35%
3 14 17%
2 11 14%
1 - Dangerous 2 3%
6 - Too hard academically 9 11%
5 27 33%
4 41 51%
3 4 5%
2 0 0%
1 - Too easy academically 0 0%
6 - Affordable 5 6%
5 17 22%
4 25 32%
3 17 22%
2 9 11%
1 - Not affordable 6 8%

5. As you start your first semester at Cal, please rank your concerns in these five general areas. One (1) is first or the area of most concern. (Rank the following from 1 to 5)

 12345
Being successful academically (e.g., understanding material, GPA, getting into the major I want) 34 26 12 4 5
42% 32% 15% 5% 6%
Financing my education at Cal (e.g., money for expenses, being able to work, finding affordable housing) 19 7 11 13 31
24% 9% 14% 16% 38%
Making good choices, finding direction for my life (e.g., what I want to do after college, making the right career choice) 8 13 8 29 23
10% 16% 10% 36% 28%
Balancing things, finding time for everything (e.g., balancing academic and social life, not being overwhelmed) 16 22 22 14 7
20% 27% 27% 17% 9%
Making friends, having a personal life (e.g., not being lonely, having a good relationship) 4 13 28 21 15
5% 16% 35% 26% 19%

6. As a beginning UC Berkeley student, how would you rate your competencies below?

 Very poorPoorFairGoodVery goodExcellent
Understanding of the complexities of global issues 2 10 28 18 19 3
3% 13% 35% 23% 24% 4%
Ability to apply disciplinary knowledge in a global context 2 9 23 26 16 4
3% 11% 29% 33% 20% 5%
Linguistic and cultural competency in at least one language other than my own 8 9 12 20 20 11
10% 11% 15% 25% 25% 14%
Ability to work with people from other cultures 1 2 10 21 32 14
1% 3% 13% 26% 40% 18%
Comfort working with people from other cultures 1 0 10 17 33 18
1% 0% 13% 22% 42% 23%

7. To what extent do you agree or disagree with the following?

 Strongly disagreeDisagreeDisagree somewhatAgree somewhatAgreeStrongly agree
Opportunities for community service while at Berkeley are important to me 2 1 5 22 30 19
3% 1% 6% 28% 38% 24%
Opportunities to develop my leadership skills while at Berkeley are important to me 1 0 3 21 27 27
1% 0% 4% 27% 34% 34%
Opportunities to connect my academic work with community-based experience at Cal are important to me 2 0 2 18 32 25
3% 0% 3% 23% 41% 32%

back to top

Items of Special Interest

Advising and Course Selection

1. What type of advising do you expect and hope to receive from an advisor? Please rank from 1 to 7, in order of what is personally important to you, assigning a 1 to the option you feel is most important.

 1234567
Career and Professional advising 14 15 9 13 4 11 6
19% 21% 13% 18% 6% 15% 8%
Choosing classes 17 13 16 8 13 3 2
24% 18% 22% 11% 18% 4% 3%
Enrichment opportunities (e.g., Study abroad, research) 6 9 12 14 20 8 3
8% 13% 17% 19% 28% 11% 4%
Financial aid and scholarships 5 12 9 7 7 16 16
7% 17% 13% 10% 10% 22% 22%
Understanding Campus Resources 4 6 6 9 7 17 23
6% 8% 8% 13% 10% 24% 32%
Selecting a major 12 12 7 6 6 12 17
17% 17% 10% 8% 8% 17% 24%
Academic Support 14 5 13 15 15 5 5
19% 7% 18% 21% 21% 7% 7%

2a. With whom did you consult with when selecting courses for your first semester? Please select all that apply.

CalSO leader (i.e., student CalSO staff) 4
5%
College advisor in your home College (e.g., Letters & Science, College of Engineering) 17
22%
Major advisor 7
9%
Co-curricular Advisors/Student Services Support Staff (e.g., advising staff working in offices such as the Student Life Advising Services, Bridge, the Berkeley International Office, the Transfer, Reentry, & Student Parent Center) 6
8%
Faculty member 10
13%
Another student 20
26%
Parent, Guardian, or family member 34
45%
Online (e.g., departmental website, forum, catalog review) 27
36%
Friend(s) 23
30%
No one 6
8%
Other (please specify)
[Contact OPA for more information]
6
8%

2b. Who provided the most useful guidance in the selection of your courses for the current term?

CalSO leader 0 0%
College advisor in your home College (e.g., Letters & Science, College of Engineering) 8 11%
Major advisor 2 3%
Co-curricular Advisors/Student Services Support Staff (e.g., advising staff working in offices such as the Student Life Advising Services, Bridge, the Berkeley International Office, the Transfer, Reentry, & Student Parent Center) 2 3%
Faculty member 3 4%
Another student 6 9%
Parent, Guardian, or family member 17 24%
Online (e.g., departmental website, forum, catalog review) 15 21%
Friend(s) 0 0%
No one 13 18%
Other (please specify)
[Contact OPA for more information]
5 7%

2c. How satisfied are you with the amount of individualized guidance you received from the people you consulted with in selecting your courses?

Very dissatisfied 1 1%
Dissatisfied 4 6%
Somewhat dissatisfied 8 11%
Somewhat satisfied 21 30%
Satisfied 24 34%
Very satisfied 13 18%

3. Since being admitted, have you ever received advice from two different offices or staff members at Cal that was contradictory or in conflict?

Yes 4 6%
No 68 94%

3a. Please explain what happened (when you received advice from two different offices or staff members at Cal that was contradictory or in conflict)

[Contact OPA for more information]

3b. Please describe how you decided which advice to follow

[Contact OPA for more information]

4. Select the top three factors that most influenced how you selected courses for your first semester.

First:

Academic Advisor 3 4%
Co-curricular Advisor/Student Services Support Staff 0 0%
Course(s) fulfilled a general or breadth requirement (e.g., Reading and Composition, American Cultu 39 54%
I found the subject generally interesting 26 36%
I thought/had heard a course was not as rigorous or demanding 0 0%
Parental desires 1 1%
Recommendation of another new UC Berkeley student 1 1%
Recommendation of continuing UC Berkeley student 1 1%
Reputation of professor 1 1%

Second:

Academic Advisor 5 7%
Co-curricular Advisor/Student Services Support Staff 1 1%
Course(s) fulfilled a general or breadth requirement (e.g., Reading and Composition, American Cultu 13 18%
I found the subject generally interesting 32 44%
I thought/had heard a course was not as rigorous or demanding 5 7%
Parental desires 0 0%
Recommendation of another new UC Berkeley student 3 4%
Recommendation of continuing UC Berkeley student 7 10%
Reputation of professor 6 8%

Third:

Academic Advisor 10 14%
Co-curricular Advisor/Student Services Support Staff 2 3%
Course(s) fulfilled a general or breadth requirement (e.g., Reading and Composition, American Cultu 12 17%
I found the subject generally interesting 8 11%
I thought/had heard a course was not as rigorous or demanding 11 16%
Parental desires 3 4%
Recommendation of another new UC Berkeley student 1 1%
Recommendation of continuing UC Berkeley student 10 14%
Reputation of professor 13 19%

5. What other factors did you consider when setting up your course schedule for the current term?

[Contact OPA for more information]

6. How satisfied are you with each of the following, based on your experiences with accessing courses for the current semester?

 Very dissatisfiedDissatisfiedSomewhat dissatisfiedSomewhat satisfiedSatisfiedVery
satisfied
Availability of courses for general education or breadth requirements 1 4 7 23 28 9
1% 6% 10% 32% 39% 13%
Availability of courses to fulfill prerequisite requirements 5 4 11 25 20 7
7% 6% 15% 35% 28% 10%
Ability to get into the lectures or seminars (i.e., primary courses) you wanted 3 6 15 19 21 8
4% 8% 21% 26% 29% 11%
Ability to get into the discussion sections or labs (i.e., secondary courses) you wanted 3 9 12 20 20 8
4% 13% 17% 28% 28% 11%
Variety of courses available 10 5 14 21 16 6
14% 7% 19% 29% 22% 8%
Access to small classes 0 2 6 15 29 20
0% 3% 8% 21% 40% 28%

AP Experiences

At UC Berkeley, there are "common-good" courses that are identified as serving the broad student community as well as being critical to students' intellectual development, academic success, and timely graduation. These common-good courses include Reading and Composition (both 1a and 1b), lower division "gateway" courses in Math & Science (Chemistry, Statistics, Math, Physics, and Biology), and Foreign Language Instruction. As the campus continues to work toward increasing access to these common-good courses, planning for the appropriate number of students who will be enrolling in these courses is essential for proper resource allocation. Thus, we would like to get a sense of whether you, personally, have fulfilled some of these requirements through exams (e.g., AP, A-level English, International Baccalaureate Higher Level English Language A1 or A2) and, if so, if you still plan to enroll in a course at Berkeley that would also fulfill the requirement.

1. Do you have an exam score in the appropriate subject that, if used, will fulfill your UC Berkeley Reading and Composition 1a requirement?

Yes 48 66%
No 20 27%
Don't know 5 7%

2. Do you have an exam score in the appropriate subject that, if used, will fulfill your UC Berkeley Reading and Composition 1b requirement?

Yes 20 27%
No 47 64%
Don't know 6 8%

1a.Will you use your exam score to actually fulfill the Reading & Composition 1a requirement?

Yes 42 88%
No 5 10%
Don't know 1 2%

2a. Will you use your exam score to actually fulfill the Reading & Composition 1b requirement?

Yes 14 70%
No 2 10%
Don't know 4 20%

1b. You indicated that you have an exam score that will fulfill your UC Berkeley Reading & Composition 1a requirement, but that you will NOT use this score to fulfill the requirement. Please share with us the reason(s) why you will not use your exam score to fulfill your R&C 1a requirement and will instead enroll in one of the UCB courses that will fulfill this requirement.

[Contact OPA for more information]

2b. You indicated that you have an exam score that will fulfill your UC Berkeley Reading & Composition 1b requirement, but that you will NOT use this score to fulfill the requirement. Please share with us the reason(s) why you will not use your exam score to fulfill your R&C 1b requirement and will instead enroll in one of the UCB courses that will fulfill this requirement.

[Contact OPA for more information]

3. Are you currently enrolled/planning to complete a Reading & Composition 1a course this semester?

Yes 31 42%
No 43 58%

4. Are you currently enrolled/planning to complete a Reading & Composition 1b course this semester?

Yes 26 35%
No 48 65%

3a. Why did you not enroll in a Reading & Composition 1a course this semester? (Please select the primary reason)

I had a preference for an R&C 1a course in a particular department, but it was already full 0 0%
I could not gain access into ANY of the R&C 1a courses offered across the various departments on campus 1 33%
I did not like the times of the remaining courses that had available seats 0 0%
I decided to wait until another semester for reasons not listed above 0 0%
I will be using exam credit (e.g., AP, A-level English, International Baccalaureate Higher Level English Language A1 or A2) instead 0 0%
I did not know my AP score 1 33%
I have not yet passed the Analytical Writing Paper Exam (AWPE) 0 0%
I don't know 1 33%
Other, please specify:
[Contact OPA for more information]
0 0%

4a. Why did you not enroll in a Reading & Composition 1b course this semester? (Please select the primary reason)

I have not yet satisfied the first half of the R&C requirement (R&C 1a) 23 68%
I had a preference for an R&C 1b course in a particular department, but it was already full 0 0%
I could not gain access into ANY of the R&C 1b courses offered across the various departments on campus 0 0%
I did not like the times of the remaining courses that had available seats 0 0%
I decided to wait until another semester for reasons not listed above 2 6%
I will be using exam credit (e.g., AP, A-level English, International Baccalaureate Higher Level English Language A1 or A2) instead 1 3%
I did not know my AP score 2 6%
I don't know 4 12%
Other, please specify:
[Contact OPA for more information]
2 6%

You indicated that the primary reason for not enrolling in an R&C course was because you had a preference for an R&C course offered in a particular department and that course was full. May you please share with us which department(s) you were hoping to take an R&C course from and briefly describe why you prefer to take a course from that particular department:

[Contact OPA for more information]

5. Did you have an AP of 4 or 5 in Math, Chemistry, Biology or Physics?

Yes 53 72%
No 21 28%

6. Regarding use of AP eligibility, what advice have you received?

 Don't AP out; take the entry course at BerkeleyAP out; take a more advanced courseNo advice given
From my family 11 28 32
16% 39% 45%
From Cal advisors 18 11 41
26% 16% 59%
From friends 11 32 28
16% 45% 39%
From fellow Cal students 16 27 29
22% 38% 40%
High school teachers or counselors 3 34 33
4% 49% 47%

7. If you could have used your AP scores for course credits, what did/will you do?

Not applicable 7 10%
I am taking all the credit that I can and enrolling in advanced courses 31 43%
I am taking some credit but not all that I could 25 34%
I am taking the entry courses at Berkeley instead of the credit 8 11%
Other, please specify:
[Contact OPA for more information]
2 3%