2016 SONS Freshman - Part 3: Random Module

Academic Experience
Student Life and Development
Items of Special Interest (Advising and Course Selection)Items of Special interest (AP Experiences)

Academic Experience

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
UC Berkeley has a strong commitment to undergraduate education 9 14 35 156 303 183
1% 2% 5% 22% 43% 26%
Attending a university with world-class researchers is important to me 8 11 28 148 262 237
1% 2% 4% 21% 38% 34%
The emphasis on research at UC Berkeley detracts from the quality of teaching on this campus 47 133 121 158 136 97
7% 19% 18% 23% 20% 14%

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

 Not important at allNot very importantSomewhat importantImportantVery importantEssential
The prestige of this campus/faculty when you apply to grad school 24 17 87 197 212 163
3% 2% 12% 28% 30% 23%
The prestige of this campus when you apply for a job 9 11 50 165 257 204
1% 2% 7% 24% 37% 29%
Having access to a world-class library collection 13 62 130 173 185 135
2% 9% 19% 25% 27% 19%
Being able to attend plays, concerts, lectures, and other cultural events 24 65 115 189 167 136
3% 9% 17% 27% 24% 20%

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

Selected
To find data and statistical information 414
59%
As a quiet place to study 400
57%
For help in learning to do academic research 410
58%
To find scholarly articles 365
52%
For help in organizing my research 397
56%
As a place to work on group projects 379
54%
For printing, copying and scanning 396
56%
To find books 372
53%
Other (please specify)
[Contact OPA for more information]
7
1%

If you were seeking help in doing library research, which ways would you prefer to communicate? Rank the following in order of preference from 1 (strongest preference) to 6 or from 1 to 7 if you select 'Other' below.

- Individual help at a library reference desk

ResponseNumberPercent
1 266 41%
2 139 22%
3 101 16%
4 83 13%
5 29 5%
6 17 3%
7 8 1%

- Individual help by appointment

ResponseNumberPercent
1 109 17%
2 173 27%
3 132 21%
4 104 16%
5 82 13%
6 37 6%
7 3 1%

- Take an hour-long class in library research methods

ResponseNumberPercent
1 35 6%
2 28 4%
3 65 10%
4 63 10%
5 116 18%
6 308 48%
7 23 4%

- Use a virtual chat widget

ResponseNumberPercent
1 45 7%
2 77 12%
3 82 13%
4 122 19%
5 173 27%
6 129 20%
7 7 1%

- Email

ResponseNumberPercent
1 142 22%
2 156 24%
3 124 19%
4 109 17%
5 74 11%
6 39 6%
7 4 1%

- Phone

ResponseNumberPercent
1 55 9%
2 66 10%
3 129 20%
4 152 24%
5 147 23%
6 85 13%
7 8 1%

- Other [Contact OPA for more information]

ResponseNumberPercent
1 6 5%
2 8 7%
3 6 5%
4 3 3%
5 10 8%
6 14 12%
7 72 61%

While attending UC Berkeley, how often would you like to interact with students from a country or state outside of your own in class (e.g., through section discussions, study groups or class projects)?

ResponseNumberPercent
Never 4 1%
Rarely 16 2%
Occasionally 86 12%
Somewhat often 166 24%
Often 239 35%
Very often 181 26%

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

ResponseNumberPercent
Not important 3 0%
Not very important 8 1%
Somewhat important 45 7%
Important 98 14%
Very important 220 32%
Essential 307 45%
Not applicable 0 0%

If changes to course availability and other factors made it possible to earn your degree in 3 years, what is the likelihood you would attempt to graduate in 3 years?

ResponseNumberPercent
Very likely 162 24%
Somewhat likely 228 33%
Neither likely nor unlikely 124 18%
Somewhat unlikely 101 15%
Very unlikely 75 11%

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 213 375 96
31% 55% 14%
From UC Berkeley advisors 43 505 138
6% 74% 20%
From friends 102 415 167
15% 61% 24%
From fellow UC Berkeley students 104 424 156
15% 62% 23%
From former teachers, instructors, or counselors 76 468 139
11% 69% 20%

What do you plan to do about a major?

ResponseNumberPercent
I have declared a major 183 27%
I will declare a major as soon as possible 322 47%
I plan to take my time and explore options 183 27%

Student Life & Development

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 39 220 412
6% 33% 61%
Acquire a well-rounded general education 16 117 538
2% 17% 80%
Explore and discover my personal identity 30 145 494
5% 22% 74%
Achieve a high GPA 16 184 470
2% 28% 70%
Form (a) romantic relationship(s) 180 293 199
27% 44% 30%
Establish meaningful friendships 7 91 571
1% 14% 85%
Be in a position to make a lot of money after finishing my education 40 251 381
6% 37% 57%
Explore new ideas 9 145 516
1% 22% 77%
Enjoy my college years before assuming adult responsibilities 29 163 478
4% 24% 71%
Develop an in-depth understanding of a specific field of study 6 116 550
1% 17% 82%
Integrate spirituality into my life 334 195 143
50% 29% 21%
Establish social networks that will help further my career 17 170 485
3% 25% 72%

On the scale from 1 to 6 below, please indicate how concerned you are about each of the following:

 Not at all concerned (1)(2)(3)(4)(5)Very concerned (6)
Financing my education at UC Berkeley 155 102 91 105 93 121
23% 15% 14% 16% 14% 18%
Finding affordable housing while I'm a student at UC Berkeley 95 75 121 114 124 133
14% 11% 18% 17% 19% 20%
Getting into my first choice of major 138 66 82 95 115 169
21% 10% 12% 14% 17% 25%
Being able to maintain a high GPA 16 19 60 122 192 255
2% 3% 9% 18% 29% 38%
Getting the academic advising I need 56 83 99 155 142 127
9% 13% 15% 23% 22% 19%
Getting the career and professional advising I need 50 65 93 146 160 147
8% 10% 14% 22% 24% 22%
Getting the psychological counseling I might need 137 163 126 118 66 53
21% 25% 19% 18% 10% 8%
Getting along with my roommate(s) 147 137 125 106 76 71
22% 21% 19% 16% 12% 11%
Being able to balance academic and social activities 27 45 114 159 170 150
4% 7% 17% 24% 26% 23%
Being able to make the kind of friends I want 41 58 80 141 161 182
6% 9% 12% 21% 24% 28%
Being away from family and friends; being 'homesick' 151 145 122 106 61 77
23% 22% 18% 16% 9% 12%
Being able to maintain good health 68 98 117 145 118 117
10% 15% 18% 22% 18% 18%
Being able to cope with expectations of parents and family 124 116 114 134 80 95
19% 18% 17% 20% 12% 14%
Being overwhelmed with all the things I'm expected to do my first semester 60 62 96 159 126 159
9% 9% 15% 24% 19% 24%
Regretting my decision to attend UC Berkeley 284 127 86 81 39 48
43% 19% 13% 12% 6% 7%

Based on your experience and observation, rate the general climate for students at UC Berkeley along the following dimensions:

Campus climate is...

ResponseNumberPercent
(6) Friendly 185 28%
(5) 269 41%
(4) 146 22%
(3) 46 7%
(2) 11 2%
(1) Hostile 2 0%
ResponseNumberPercent
(6) Caring 138 21%
(5) 195 30%
(4) 193 29%
(3) 85 13%
(2) 33 5%
(1) Impersonal 14 2%
ResponseNumberPercent
(6) Intellectual 354 54%
(5) 201 31%
(4) 75 11%
(3) 23 4%
(2) 3 1%
(1) Not intellectual 2 0%
ResponseNumberPercent
(6) Appreciative of diversity 270 41%
(5) 215 33%
(4) 126 19%
(3) 31 5%
(2) 13 2%
(1) Unappreciative of diversity 5 1%
ResponseNumberPercent
(6) Safe 86 13%
(5) 167 25%
(4) 207 32%
(3) 129 20%
(2) 58 9%
(1) Dangerous 10 2%
ResponseNumberPercent
(6) Too hard academically 86 13%
(5) 235 36%
(4) 265 40%
(3) 59 9%
(2) 6 1%
(1) Too easy academically 5 1%
ResponseNumberPercent
(6) Affordable 43 7%
(5) 120 18%
(4) 214 33%
(3) 159 24%
(2) 83 13%
(1) Not affordable 36 6%

As you start your first semester at UC Berkeley, 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)

- Being successful academically (e.g., understanding material, GPA, getting into the major I want)

ResponseNumberPercent
1 324 49%
2 177 27%
3 74 11%
4 50 8%
5 32 5%

- Financing my education at UC Berkeley (e.g., money for expenses, being able to work, finding affordable housing)

ResponseNumberPercent
1 96 15%
2 52 8%
3 72 11%
4 87 13%
5 347 53%

- Making good choices, finding direction for my life (e.g., what I want to do after college, making the right career choice)

ResponseNumberPercent
1 72 11%
2 103 16%
3 136 21%
4 223 34%
5 123 19%

- Balancing things, finding time for everything (e.g., balancing academic and social life, not being overwhelmed)

ResponseNumberPercent
1 107 16%
2 184 28%
3 198 30%
4 125 19%
5 43 7%

- Making friends, having a personal life (e.g., not being lonely, having a good relationship)

ResponseNumberPercent
1 56 9%
2 141 22%
3 185 28%
4 169 26%
5 106 16%

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

 Very poorPoorFairGoodVery goodExcellent
Understanding of the complexities of global issues 8 54 212 202 130 54
1% 8% 32% 31% 20% 8%
Ability to apply disciplinary knowledge in a global context 9 56 195 221 123 54
1% 9% 30% 34% 19% 8%
Comfort working with people from other cultures 4 10 81 183 240 138
1% 2% 12% 28% 37% 21%

To what extent do you agree or disagree with the following statement?
Opportunities to develop my leadership skills while at UC Berkeley are important to me.

ResponseNumberPercent
Strongly disagree 19 3%
Disagree 7 1%
Disagree somewhat 21 3%
Agree somewhat 150 23%
Agree 289 44%
Strongly agree 174 26%

Items of Special Interest (Advising and Course Selection)

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.

- Career and Professional advising

ResponseNumberPercent
1 116 18%
2 113 18%
3 125 20%
4 95 15%
5 85 13%
6 65 10%
7 41 6%

- Choosing classes

ResponseNumberPercent
1 170 27%
2 149 23%
3 97 15%
4 77 12%
5 66 10%
6 45 7%
7 37 6%

- Enrichment opportunities (e.g., Study abroad, research)

ResponseNumberPercent
1 78 12%
2 87 14%
3 121 19%
4 89 14%
5 91 14%
6 102 16%
7 71 11%

- Financial aid and scholarships

ResponseNumberPercent
1 65 10%
2 68 11%
3 67 11%
4 74 12%
5 92 14%
6 109 17%
7 164 26%

- Understanding Campus Resources

ResponseNumberPercent
1 31 5%
2 52 8%
3 60 9%
4 93 15%
5 120 19%
6 158 25%
7 125 20%

- Selecting a major

ResponseNumberPercent
1 94 15%
2 96 15%
3 49 8%
4 74 12%
5 82 13%
6 95 15%
7 149 23%

- Academic Support

ResponseNumberPercent
1 96 15%
2 76 12%
3 117 18%
4 132 21%
5 98 15%
6 68 11%
7 51 8%

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

Selected
- CalSO leader (student CalSO staff) 113
17%
- College advisor in your home College (e.g., Letters & Science, College of Engineering) 305
46%
- Major advisor 286
43%
- Co-curricular Advisors/Student Services Support Staff (e.g., advising staff working in offices such as the Educational Opportunity Program, the Berkeley International Office, the Transfer Center) 58
9%
- Faculty member 62
9%
- Another student 287
43%
- Parent, Guardian, or family member 318
48%
- Online (e.g., departmental website, forum, catalog review) 319
48%
- Friend(s) 312
47%
- No one 25
4%
Other
[Contact OPA for more information]
3
0%

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

ResponseNumberPercent
CalSO leader 15 2%
College advisor in your home College (e.g., Letters & Science, College of Engineering) 117 18%
Major advisor 110 17%
Co-curricular Advisors/Student Services Support Staff (e.g., advising staff working in offices such as the Educational Opportunity Program, the Berkeley International Office, the Transfer Center) 18 3%
Faculty member 13 2%
Another student 88 14%
Parent, Guardian, or family member 59 9%
Online (e.g., departmental website, forum, catalog review) 129 20%
Friend(s) 51 8%
No one 39 6%
Other (please specify)
[Contact OPA for more information]
2 0%

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

ResponseNumberPercent
Very dissatisfied 25 4%
Dissatisfied 50 8%
Somewhat dissatisfied 75 12%
Somewhat satisfied 174 27%
Satisfied 244 38%
Very satisfied 71 11%

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

ResponseNumberPercent
Yes 98 15%
No 543 85%

Please provide a brief explanation of what happened (when you received advice from two different offices or staff members at UC Berkeley that was contradictory or in conflict)

[Contact OPA for more information]

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

- First:

ResponseNumberPercent
Academic Advisor 46 7%
Co-curricular Advisor/Student Services Support Staff 1 0%
Course(s) fulfilled a general or breadth requirement (e.g., Reading and Composition, American Cultures, Foreign Languages, etc.) 81 13%
Course(s) fulfilled a major requirement 216 34%
I found the subject generally interesting 186 29%
I thought/had heard a course was not as rigorous or demanding 5 1%
Parental desires 8 1%
Prepares me for my major 47 7%
Recommendation of another new UC Berkeley student 4 1%
Recommendation of continuing UC Berkeley student 30 5%
Reputation of professor 5 1%
The course fit my schedule 6 1%

Second:

ResponseNumberPercent
Academic Advisor 50 8%
Co-curricular Advisor/Student Services Support Staff 3 1%
Course(s) fulfilled a general or breadth requirement (e.g., Reading and Composition, American Cultures, Foreign Languages, etc.) 193 30%
Course(s) fulfilled a major requirement 123 19%
I found the subject generally interesting 79 13%
I thought/had heard a course was not as rigorous or demanding 5 1%
Parental desires 4 1%
Prepares me for my major 55 9%
Recommendation of another new UC Berkeley student 12 2%
Recommendation of continuing UC Berkeley student 43 7%
Reputation of professor 26 4%
The course fit my schedule 41 7%

Third:

ResponseNumberPercent
Academic Advisor 42 7%
Co-curricular Advisor/Student Services Support Staff 5 1%
Course(s) fulfilled a general or breadth requirement (e.g., Reading and Composition, American Cultures, Foreign Languages, etc.) 96 15%
Course(s) fulfilled a major requirement 76 12%
I found the subject generally interesting 119 19%
I thought/had heard a course was not as rigorous or demanding 20 3%
Parental desires 6 1%
Prepares me for my major 95 15%
Recommendation of another new UC Berkeley student 16 3%
Recommendation of continuing UC Berkeley student 30 5%
Reputation of professor 26 4%
The course fit my schedule 101 16%

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

[Contact OPA for more information]

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 12 32 66 177 269 83
2% 5% 10% 28% 42% 13%
Availability of courses to fulfill prerequisite requirements 13 29 44 164 298 90
2% 5% 7% 26% 47% 14%
Ability to get into the lectures or seminars (i.e., primary courses) you wanted 28 56 98 150 242 64
4% 9% 15% 24% 38% 10%
Ability to get into the discussion sections or labs (i.e., secondary courses) you wanted 24 56 76 199 224 59
4% 9% 12% 31% 35% 9%
Variety of courses available 4 7 29 130 292 174
1% 1% 5% 20% 46% 27%
Access to small classes 33 72 119 205 157 51
5% 11% 19% 32% 25% 8%

Items of Special Interest (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.

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

ResponseNumberPercent
Yes 410 64%
No 193 30%
Don't know 38 6%

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

ResponseNumberPercent
Yes 159 25%
No 430 67%
Don't know 52 8%

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

ResponseNumberPercent
Yes 364 90%
No 22 5%
Don't know 20 5%

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

ResponseNumberPercent
Yes 125 79%
No 24 15%
Don't know 9 6%

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]

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]

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

ResponseNumberPercent
Yes 134 21%
No 509 79%

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

ResponseNumberPercent
Yes 120 19%
No 523 81%

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

ResponseNumberPercent
I had a preference for an R&C 1a course in a particular department, but it was already full 16 11%
I could not gain access into ANY of the R&C 1a courses offered across the various departments on campus 24 17%
I did not like the times of the remaining courses that had available seats 9 6%
I decided to wait until another semester for reasons not listed above 42 29%
I will be using exam credit (e.g., AP, A-level English, International Baccalaureate Higher Level English Language A1 or A2) instead 6 4%
I did not know my AP score 9 6%
I have not yet passed the Analytical Writing Paper Exam (AWPE) 5 4%
I don't know 13 9%
Other, please specify:
[Contact OPA for more information]
19 13%

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

ResponseNumberPercent
I have not yet satisfied the first half of the R&C requirement (R&C 1a) 154 39%
I had a preference for an R&C 1b course in a particular department, but it was already full 28 7%
I could not gain access into ANY of the R&C 1b courses offered across the various departments on campus 22 6%
I did not like the times of the remaining courses that had available seats 18 5%
I decided to wait until another semester for reasons not listed above 85 22%
I will be using exam credit (e.g., AP, A-level English, International Baccalaureate Higher Level English Language A1 or A2) instead 7 2%
I did not know my AP score 24 6%
I don't know 32 8%
Other, please specify:
[Contact OPA for more information]
25 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.  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]

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

ResponseNumberPercent
Yes 455 72%
No 177 28%

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 92 246 282
15% 40% 46%
From UC Berkeley advisors 202 124 288
33% 20% 47%
From friends 76 341 199
12% 55% 32%
From fellow UC Berkeley students 119 260 234
19% 42% 38%
From former teachers, instructors, or counselors 108 213 289
18% 35% 47%

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

ResponseNumberPercent
Not applicable 28
I am taking all the credit that I can and enrolling in advanced courses 256 47%
I am taking some credit but not all that I could 229 42%
I am taking the entry courses at UC Berkeley instead of the credit 56 10%

Other, please specify:
[Contact OPA for more information]

6 1%

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