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	125	16%
Somewhat concerned	256	32%
Concerned	177	22%
Very concerned	241	30%

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	526
	64%
Asked financial aid office to reevaluate my application	169
	21%
Plan to buy fewer books than listed as required, to buy cheaper used books, to read books on reserve	408
	50%
Will take more courses per term to complete on-time or early	222
	27%
Will take fewer courses so I can work for pay	48
	6%
Will accept AP or similar credit instead of taking the course	74
	9%
Will take or have taken a community college course because community college courses are cheaper	321
	39%
Will take or have taken an online course because online courses are cheaper	54
	7%
Worked for pay to save for college	339
	42%
Plan to work for pay at least my first year	246
	30%
Requested a triple to save money	63
	8%
Will live at home to reduce expenses	96
	12%
Don't expect cost to be a significant problem	124
	15%
Other (please specify) [Contact OPA for more information]	70
	9%

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	494	62%
No	301	38%

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	352	45%
No	439	56%

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	78	10%
Disagree	74	9%
Somewhat disagree	91	11%
Somewhat agree	233	29%
Agree	199	25%
Strongly agree	120	15%

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	248	31%
No	547	69%

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

Housing	105
	43%
Food	163
	66%
Books	137
	56%
Health care	76
	31%
Other (Please explain below) [Contact OPA for more information]	43
	17%

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	463	59%
Yes, almost every month	131	17%
Yes, some months, but not every month	125	16%
Yes, only 1 or 2 months	73	9%

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	461	58%
Yes	333	42%

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

No	556	70%
Yes	238	30%

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.	462	59%
1995 or earlier	32	4%
1996	3	0%
1997	8	1%
1998	5	1%
1999	7	1%
2000	6	1%
2001	4	1%
2002	5	1%
2003	5	1%
2004	7	1%
2005	6	1%
2006	8	1%
2007	10	1%
2008	10	1%
2009	10	1%
2010	17	2%
2011	37	5%
2012	70	9%
2013	69	9%
2014 or later	6	1%

6. When did you learn to speak English?

English is my native language	422	54%
Before I was 5 years old	78	10%
When I was 5 years old	44	6%
When I was 6-10 years old	99	13%
When I was 11-15 years old	79	10%
After turning 16 years old	66	8%

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7a. 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	334	452	2
	42%	57%	0%
Parent/Guardian 2	300	474	6
	39%	61%	1%

7b. To the best of your knowledge, how many of your grandparents were born outside of the United States?

Zero	213	27%
One	46	6%
Two	93	12%
Three	27	3%
Four	409	52%

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

In the United States?

None (did not receive formal education)	55	11%
Less than high school diploma	31	6%
High school diploma	147	29%
Associate's or postsecondary certificate	38	7%
Bachelor's degree	116	23%
Post-baccalaureate certificate	6	1%
Master's degree	72	14%
Professional degree	13	3%
Doctorate	25	5%
Do not know	9	2%
Not applicable	0	0%

In a foreign country?

None (did not receive formal education)	15	4%
Less than high school diploma or equivalent	78	20%
High school diploma or equivalent	94	24%
Associate's or postsecondary certificate	24	6%
Bachelor's degree or equivalent	98	25%
Post-baccalaureate certificate or equivalent	4	1%
Master's degree or equivalent	34	9%
Professional degree or equivalent	11	3%
Doctorate or equivalent	18	5%
Do not know	22	6%
Not applicable	0	0%

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

In the United States?

None (did not receive formal education)	63	13%
Less than high school diploma	30	6%
High school diploma	145	30%
Associate's or postsecondary certificate	60	13%
Bachelor's degree	81	17%
Post-baccalaureate certificate	5	1%
Master's degree	56	12%
Professional degree	15	3%
Doctorate	8	2%
Do not know	17	4%
Not applicable	217	-

Outside the U.S.?

None (did not receive formal education)	19	5%
Less than high school diploma or equivalent	64	15%
High school diploma or equivalent	109	26%
Associate's or postsecondary certificate	44	11%
Bachelor's degree or equivalent	111	27%
Post-baccalaureate certificate or equivalent	5	1%
Master's degree or equivalent	24	6%
Professional degree or equivalent	5	1%
Doctorate or equivalent	8	2%
Do not know	27	7%
Not applicable	191	-

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

Wealthy	14	2%
Upper-middle or professional-middle	127	16%
Middle-class	255	33%
Working-class	259	33%
Low-income or poor	128	16%

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	289	37%
No	494	63%

11a. 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	27	6%
$10,000 to $19,999	54	12%
$20,000 to $34,999	63	13%
$35,000 to $49,999	40	9%
$50,000 to $64,999	32	7%
$65,000 to $79,999	43	9%
$80,000 to $99,999	65	14%
$100,000 to $124,999	56	12%
$125,000 to $149,999	24	5%
$150,000 to $199,999	26	6%
$200,000 or more	39	8%
Not applicable - independent student	289	-
Skipped branch-determining question about independent status	19	-

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

Less than $10,000	116	41%
$10,000 to $19,999	59	21%
$20,000 to $34,999	45	16%
$35,000 to $49,999	14	5%
$50,000 to $64,999	16	6%
$65,000 to $79,999	9	3%
$80,000 to $99,999	9	3%
$100,000 to $124,999	6	2%
$125,000 to $149,999	1	0%
$150,000 to $199,999	4	1%
$200,000 or more	2	1%
Not applicable - dependent student	494	-
Skipped branch-determining question about independent status	19	-

12. What is your religious preference?

Spiritual but not associated with a major religion	138	18%
Not particularly spiritual	80	11%
No preference	110	14%
Agnostic	78	10%
Athiest	94	12%
Baptist	10	1%
Buddhist	38	5%
Christian Church (Disciples)	45	6%
Eastern Orthodox	4	1%
Episcopalian	4	1%
Hindu	6	1%
Jewish	10	1%
Lutheran	3	0%
Methodist	0	0%
Mormon	1	0%
Muslim	17	2%
Presbyterian	10	1%
Quaker	1	0%
Roman Catholic	61	8%
Seventh Day Adventist	0	0%
Sikh	2	0%
Taoist	2	0%
Unitarian/Universalist	2	0%
United Church of Christ/Congreational	1	0%
Other Christian	30	4%
Other Religion	15	2%

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13. What is your sexual orientation?

Bisexual	53	7%
Gay/Lesbian	32	4%
Heterosexual	594	82%
Questioning/Unsure	16	2%
Self-identified Queer	17	2%
Decline to state	0	0%
Other (Please specify) [Contact OPA for more information]	16	2%

14. With which gender do you identify?

Woman	429	56%
Man	328	43%
Decline to state	0	0%
Other (Please specify) [Contact OPA for more information]	6	1%

15. Do you identify as transgender?

Yes	6	1%
No	772	99%

16. How would you characterize your political orientation?

Very liberal	131	17%
Liberal	262	34%
Slightly liberal	118	15%
Moderate or middle of the road	191	25%
Slightly conservative	47	6%
Conservative	13	2%
Very conservative	6	1%

17. Where will you be living this term?

Clark Kerr Campus	15	2%
Foothill	17	2%
Bowles	0	0%
Stern	6	1%
Unit 1	29	4%
Unit 2 (excluding Wada Apartments)	25	3%
Unit 3 (including Beverly Cleary Hall)	33	4%
Channing-Bowditch Apartments	33	4%
Martinez Commons	22	3%
University Village Albany (family housing)	29	4%
Wada Apartments	38	5%
Living with family	40	5%
Sorority or fraternity	4	1%
Co-op Housing	19	3%
Living off-campus in a house or apartment	441	58%
Other [Contact OPA for more information]	16	2%

18. How far from campus do you live?

On campus or less than 1 mile	331	43%
1 mile to 2 miles	165	21%
3 miles to 10 miles	127	16%
11 to 20 miles	66	9%
21 miles or more	84	11%

19. With whom do you live?

No one. I live alone	70	9%
I share an apartment or dorm room with at least one other Cal student	431	56%
I share an apartment with peers who are not Cal students	84	11%
I live with my spouse or domestic partner (with or without others)	71	9%
I live with at least one parent	48	6%
Other [Contact OPA for more information]	62	8%

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

	1	2	3	4	5 or more
College students or other adults (count yourself as 1)	111	150	159	122	193
	15%	20%	22%	17%	26%

	0 (Zero)	1	2	3	4	5 or more
Children or teenagers under the age of 18 (do NOT count yourself as 1)	588	41	32	13	8	9
	85%	6%	5%	2%	1%	1%

21. Are you a legal guardian or parent?

No	698	90%
Yes	75	10%

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

1	28	62%
2	14	31%
3	2	4%
4	1	2%
5 or more	0	0%

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

None	10	23%
1	20	46%
2	11	25%
3	3	7%
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	709	98%
African American Theme Program (AATP)	3	0%
Asian Pacific American Theme House (APATH)	3	0%
Casa Magdalena Mora (CASA)	1	0%
Global Environment Theme Program (GETH)	1	0%
Native American Theme Program (NATP)	2	0%
Unity House	2	0%
Women in Science & Engineering (WiSE)	0	0%

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 all	Rarely	Occasionally	Frequently	All the time
Competing job responsibilities (i.e., paid employment)	246	101	211	144	50
	33%	13%	28%	19%	7%
Competing family responsibilities	205	182	214	97	50
	27%	24%	29%	13%	7%
Other competing responsibilities (e.g., athletics, clubs, internship)	172	159	238	145	37
	23%	21%	32%	19%	5%
Weak spoken English skills	516	80	91	41	24
	69%	11%	12%	6%	3%
Weak writing skills	392	137	145	53	27
	52%	18%	19%	7%	4%
Weak math skills	362	188	135	48	17
	48%	25%	18%	6%	2%
Inadequate study skills (e.g., knowing how to start, knowing how to get help, organizing material)	215	221	207	78	29
	29%	30%	28%	10%	4%
Poor study behaviors (e.g., wait till last minute, easily distracted, too much social time, too much web surfing)	173	192	241	95	52
	23%	26%	32%	13%	7%
Bad study environment (e.g., noisy roommate, poor Internet access, inadequate computer or software)	188	232	209	92	30
	25%	31%	28%	12%	4%
Poor library research skills	221	275	184	49	24
	29%	37%	24%	7%	3%
Feeling depressed, stressed, or upset	116	135	259	157	83
	16%	18%	35%	21%	11%
Physical illness or condition	257	287	127	53	30
	34%	38%	17%	7%	4%

25. In general, I consider myself:

1 - Not a very happy person	22	3%
2	35	5%
3	64	8%
4	115	15%
5	207	27%
6	221	29%
7 - A very happy person	99	13%

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

1 - Less happy	56	7%
2	52	7%
3	84	11%
4	160	21%
5	164	22%
6	151	20%
7 - More happy	96	13%

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

Friends nearby	417
	53%
Friends that are not nearby (e.g., home or high school friends)	391
	50%
Boyfriend or girlfriend, partner, spouse or significant other	322
	41%
Teachers, coaches	91
	12%
Parents, guardians	400
	51%
Siblings	302
	39%
Other family	137
	18%
Clergy	21
	3%
Counselors, therapists	87
	11%
UCB student services support staff (counselor, advisor, etc.)	78
	10%
No one (else) / myself only	58
	7%
Other (please specify) [Contact OPA for more information]	29
	4%

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

Very dissatisfied	47	7%
Fairly dissatisfied	54	8%
A little dissatisfied	65	9%
A little satisfied	79	11%
Fairly satisfied	258	37%
Very satisfied	202	29%

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

Very dissatisfied	39	5%
Fairly dissatisfied	73	10%
A little dissatisfied	63	8%
A little satisfied	88	12%
Fairly satisfied	281	38%
Very satisfied	202	27%

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	407	54%
No	354	47%

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	3
	0%
Asian Pacific American Student Development	8
	1%
Chicano/Latino Student Development	5
	1%
Multicultural Community Center	5
	1%
Multicultural Immigrant Student Program	2
	0%
Native American Student Development	0
	0%
The Student Learning Center	20
	3%
Theme program RD's	0
	0%
No, none of these	715
	91%

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	2
	0%
Asian Pacific American Student Development	6
	1%
Chicano/Latino Student Development	6
	1%
Multicultural Community Center	6
	1%
Multicultural Immigrant Student Program	2
	0%
Native American Student Development	4
	1%
The Student Learning Center	110
	14%
Theme program RD's	0
	0%
No, none of these	626
	80%

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