2015 SONS Freshmen - 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 403 27%
Somewhat concerned 481 32%
Concerned 290 19%
Very concerned 318 21%

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 810
53%
Asked financial aid office to reevaluate my application 184
12%
Plan to buy fewer books than listed as required, to buy cheaper used books, to read books on reserve 899
59%
Will take more courses per term to complete on-time or early 367
24%
Will take fewer courses so I can work for pay 74
5%
Will accept AP or similar credit instead of taking the course 754
50%
Will take or have taken a community college course because community college courses are cheaper 212
14%
Will take or have taken an online course because online courses are cheaper 62
4%
Worked for pay to save for college 420
28%
Plan to work for pay at least my first year 365
24%
Requested a triple to save money 514
34%
Will live at home to reduce expenses 37
2%
Don't expect cost to be a significant problem 423
28%
Other (please specify)
[Contact OPA for more information]
84
6%

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 609 41%
No 877 59%

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 631 43%
No 853 58%

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 108 7%
Disagree 175 12%
Somewhat disagree 265 18%
Somewhat agree 464 31%
Agree 338 23%
Strongly agree 135 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 187 13%
No 1302 87%

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

Housing 33
18%
Food 103
55%
Books 133
71%
Health care 47
25%
Other (Please explain below)
[Contact OPA for more information]
13
7%

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 1171 79%
Yes, almost every month 118 8%
Yes, some months, but not every month 110 7%
Yes, only 1 or 2 months 87 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 1142 77%
Yes 341 23%

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

No 1253 84%
Yes 231 16%

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. 1056 72%
1995 or earlier 3 0%
1996 9 1%
1997 24 2%
1998 25 2%
1999 17 1%
2000 20 1%
2001 26 2%
2002 21 1%
2003 18 1%
2004 17 1%
2005 9 1%
2006 14 1%
2007 10 1%
2008 14 1%
2009 6 0%
2010 10 1%
2011 13 1%
2012 14 1%
2013 6 0%
2014 or later 141 10%

6. When did you learn to speak English?

English is my native language 904 61%
Before I was 5 years old 302 21%
When I was 5 years old 92 6%
When I was 6-10 years old 127 9%
When I was 11-15 years old 45 3%
After turning 16 years old 6 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 1 486 986 2
33% 67% 0%
Parent/Guardian 2 431 1016 5
30% 70% 0%

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

Zero 268 18%
One 69 5%
Two 156 11%
Three 35 2%
Four 945 64%

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

In the United States?

None (did not receive formal education) 84 8%
Less than high school diploma 27 3%
High school diploma 91 9%
Associate's or postsecondary certificate 50 5%
Bachelor's degree 250 24%
Post-baccalaureate certificate 14 1%
Master's degree 297 28%
Professional degree 69 7%
Doctorate 159 15%
Do not know 18 2%
Not applicable 0 0%

Outside the U.S.?

None (did not receive formal education) 28 3%
Less than high school diploma or equivalent 97 11%
High school diploma or equivalent 134 16%
Associate's or postsecondary certificate 40 5%
Bachelor's degree or equivalent 298 35%
Post-baccalaureate certificate or equivalent 10 1%
Master's degree or equivalent 139 16%
Professional degree or equivalent 19 2%
Doctorate or equivalent 71 8%
Do not know 27 3%
Not applicable 0 0%

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

In the United States?

None (did not receive formal education) 98 10%
Less than high school diploma 23 2%
High school diploma 94 10%
Associate's or postsecondary certificate 77 8%
Bachelor's degree 257 26%
Post-baccalaureate certificate 11 1%
Master's degree 233 24%
Professional degree 61 6%
Doctorate 97 10%
Do not know 31 3%
Not applicable 381 -

Outside the U.S.?

None (did not receive formal education) 24 3%
Less than high school diploma or equivalent 99 11%
High school diploma or equivalent 146 16%
Associate's or postsecondary certificate 66 7%
Bachelor's degree or equivalent 306 34%
Post-baccalaureate certificate or equivalent 10 1%
Master's degree or equivalent 129 15%
Professional degree or equivalent 28 3%
Doctorate or equivalent 47 5%
Do not know 37 4%
Not applicable 333 -

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

Wealthy 48 3%
Upper-middle or professional-middle 529 36%
Middle-class 565 38%
Working-class 180 12%
Low-income or poor 149 10%

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 23 2%
No 1448 98%

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 50 4%
$10,000 to $19,999 67 5%
$20,000 to $34,999 93 7%
$35,000 to $49,999 107 8%
$50,000 to $64,999 90 7%
$65,000 to $79,999 101 8%
$80,000 to $99,999 131 10%
$100,000 to $124,999 183 14%
$125,000 to $149,999 98 7%
$150,000 to $199,999 185 14%
$200,000 or more 228 17%
Not applicable - independent student 23 -
Skipped branch-determining question about independent status 29 -

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 5 23%
$10,000 to $19,999 2 9%
$20,000 to $34,999 1 5%
$35,000 to $49,999 5 23%
$50,000 to $64,999 1 5%
$65,000 to $79,999 2 9%
$80,000 to $99,999 1 5%
$100,000 to $124,999 1 5%
$125,000 to $149,999 1 5%
$150,000 to $199,999 1 5%
$200,000 or more 2 9%
Not applicable - dependent student 1448 -
Skipped branch-determining question about independent status 29 -

12. What is your religious preference?

Spiritual but not associated with a major religion 119 8%
Not particularly spiritual 189 13%
No preference 173 12%
Agnostic 198 14%
Athiest 191 13%
Baptist 25 2%
Buddhist 35 2%
Christian Church (Disciples) 68 5%
Eastern Orthodox 9 1%
Episcopalian 6 0%
Hindu 62 4%
Jewish 38 3%
Lutheran 11 1%
Methodist 8 1%
Mormon 4 0%
Muslim 35 2%
Presbyterian 24 2%
Quaker 0 0%
Roman Catholic 142 10%
Seventh Day Adventist 1 0%
Sikh 9 1%
Taoist 2 0%
Unitarian/Universalist 2 0%
United Church of Christ/Congreational 4 0%
Other Christian 64 5%
Other Religion 13 1%

13. What is your sexual orientation?

Bisexual 64 5%
Gay/Lesbian 35 3%
Heterosexual 1223 87%
Questioning/Unsure 49 4%
Self-identified Queer 4 0%
Decline to state 0 0%
Other (Please specify)
[Contact OPA for more information]
27 2%

14. With which gender do you identify?

Woman 815 56%
Man 625 43%
Decline to state 0 0%
Other (Please specify)
[Contact OPA for more information]
8 1%

15. Do you identify as transgender?

Yes 7 1%
No 1446 100%

16. How would you characterize your political orientation?

Very liberal 135 9%
Liberal 529 37%
Slightly liberal 276 19%
Moderate or middle of the road 333 23%
Slightly conservative 101 7%
Conservative 47 3%
Very conservative 15 1%

17. Where will you be living this term?

Clark Kerr Campus 214 15%
Foothill 221 15%
Bowles 2 0%
Stern 58 4%
Unit 1 337 23%
Unit 2 (excluding Wada Apartments) 261 18%
Unit 3 (including Beverly Cleary Hall) 307 21%
Channing-Bowditch Apartments 0 0%
Martinez Commons 0 0%
University Village Albany (family housing) 4 0%
Wada Apartments 0 0%
Living with family 15 1%
Sorority or fraternity 2 0%
Co-op Housing 2 0%
Living off-campus in a house or apartment 31 2%
Other
[Contact OPA for more information]
6 0%

18. How far from campus do you live?

On campus or less than 1 mile 1195 83%
1 mile to 2 miles 205 14%
3 miles to 10 miles 20 1%
11 to 20 miles 10 1%
21 miles or more 14 1%

19. With whom do you live?

No one. I live alone 14 1%
I share an apartment or dorm room with at least one other Cal student 1355 94%
I share an apartment with peers who are not Cal students 8 1%
I live with my spouse or domestic partner (with or without others) 0 0%
I live with at least one parent 21 2%
Other
[Contact OPA for more information]
43 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) 35 142 463 70 723
2% 10% 32% 5% 51%
 0 (Zero)12345 or
more
Children or teenagers under the age of 18 (do NOT count yourself as 1) 1039 99 68 34 16 74
78% 7% 5% 3% 1% 6%

21. Are you a legal guardian or parent?

No 1402 97%
Yes 47 3%

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

1 1 50%
2 0 0%
3 0 0%
4 1 50%
5 or more 0 0%

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

None 1 50%
1 0 0%
2 0 0%
3 1 50%
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 1350 95%
African American Theme Program (AATP) 4 0%
Asian Pacific American Theme House (APATH) 8 1%
Casa Magdalena Mora (CASA) 12 1%
Global Environment Theme Program (GETH) 10 1%
Native American Theme Program (NATP) 5 0%
Unity House 14 1%
Women in Science & Engineering (WiSE) 13 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) 616 265 352 133 42
44% 19% 25% 9% 3%
Competing family responsibilities 522 459 304 87 30
37% 33% 22% 6% 2%
Other competing responsibilities (e.g., athletics, clubs, internship) 161 211 562 375 93
12% 15% 40% 27% 7%
Weak spoken English skills 1116 168 79 24 19
79% 12% 6% 2% 1%
Weak writing skills 725 318 270 71 22
52% 23% 19% 5% 2%
Weak math skills 676 346 264 89 31
48% 25% 19% 6% 2%
Inadequate study skills (e.g., knowing how to start, knowing how to get help, organizing material) 360 402 418 159 69
26% 29% 30% 11% 5%
Poor study behaviors (e.g., wait till last minute, easily distracted, too much social time, too much web surfing) 231 308 499 258 116
16% 22% 35% 18% 8%
Bad study environment (e.g., noisy roommate, poor Internet access, inadequate computer or software) 285 426 473 184 41
20% 30% 34% 13% 3%
Poor library research skills 380 472 399 129 29
27% 34% 28% 9% 2%
Feeling depressed, stressed, or upset 270 359 454 217 107
19% 26% 32% 15% 8%
Physical illness or condition 481 575 282 42 23
34% 41% 20% 3% 2%

25. In general, I consider myself:

1 - Not a very happy person 21 2%
2 50 4%
3 106 7%
4 213 15%
5 413 29%
6 464 33%
7 - A very happy person 157 11%

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

1 - Less happy 63 4%
2 90 6%
3 167 12%
4 309 22%
5 371 26%
6 281 20%
7 - More happy 143 10%

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

Friends nearby 990
68%
Friends that are not nearby (e.g., home or high school friends) 1010
69%
Boyfriend or girlfriend, partner, spouse or significant other 301
21%
Teachers, coaches 202
14%
Parents, guardians 947
65%
Siblings 693
48%
Other family 265
18%
Clergy 38
3%
Counselors, therapists 90
6%
UCB student services support staff (counselor, advisor, etc.) 118
8%
No one (else) / myself only 71
5%
Other (please specify)
[Contact OPA for more information]
31
2%

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

Very dissatisfied 41 3%
Fairly dissatisfied 102 8%
A little dissatisfied 122 9%
A little satisfied 158 12%
Fairly satisfied 580 43%
Very satisfied 353 26%

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

Very dissatisfied 36 3%
Fairly dissatisfied 79 6%
A little dissatisfied 106 8%
A little satisfied 192 14%
Fairly satisfied 605 43%
Very satisfied 394 28%

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 1044 74%
No 377 27%

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 4
0%
Asian Pacific American Student Development 2
0%
Chicano/Latino Student Development 13
1%
Multicultural Community Center 13
1%
Multicultural Immigrant Student Program 1
0%
Native American Student Development 4
0%
The Student Learning Center 36
3%
Theme program RD's 11
1%
No, none of these 1335
92%

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 1
0%
Asian Pacific American Student Development 2
0%
Chicano/Latino Student Development 9
1%
Multicultural Community Center 5
0%
Multicultural Immigrant Student Program 1
0%
Native American Student Development 2
0%
The Student Learning Center 389
27%
Theme program RD's 6
0%
No, none of these 992
68%

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