2016 SONS Freshmen - Part 2: Background & Personal Characteristics

Concern about cost & Food Security

Family and Culture

Living Conditions

Challenge and Well Being

Concern about Cost & Food Security

How concerned are you about paying for your undergraduate education NEXT YEAR? (Next year is defined as Fall 2017 and Spring 2018.)

ResponseNumberPercent
Not concerned 672 31%
Somewhat concerned 668 31%
Concerned 389 18%
Very concerned 419 20%

Which of the following have you done in the past year or do you plan to do this year to meet anticipated college expenses?

Selected
Applied for financial aid (including work-study) 929
43%
Asked financial aid office to reevaluate my application 221
10%
Plan to buy fewer books than required, buy cheaper used books, borrow/read books on reserve, rent books 1302
60%
Will take more courses per term to complete on-time or early 517
24%
Will take fewer courses so I can work for pay 83
4%
Will accept AP or similar credit instead of taking the course 1028
47%
Will take or have taken a community college course because community college courses are cheaper 337
16%
Will take or have taken an online course because online courses are cheaper 138
6%
Worked for pay to save for college 565
26%
Plan to work for pay at least my first year 478
22%
Requested a triple (3-person room) to save money 804
37%
Will live at home to reduce expenses 73
3%
Don't expect cost to be a significant problem 695
32%
Applied for outside scholarships/grants 1127
52%
Other (please specify)
[Contact OPA for more information]
55
3%

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?

ResponseNumberPercent
Yes 725 34%
No 1413 66%

Have you heard about the UC Berkeley Middle Class Access Plan (MCAP), a new financial aid program available to families in the $80,000 - $150,000 annual income range?

ResponseNumberPercent
Yes 645 30%
No 1489 70%

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.

ResponseNumberPercent
Strongly disagree 163 8%
Disagree 166 8%
Somewhat disagree 332 16%
Somewhat agree 683 32%
Agree 593 28%
Strongly agree 198 9%

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.)?

ResponseNumberPercent
Yes 243 11%
No 1895 89%

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

Selected
Housing 34
14%
Food 147
61%
Books 162
67%
Health care 66
27%
Other (Please explain)
[Contact OPA for more information]
16
7%

For the following statements, please indicate whether the statement was often true, sometimes true, or never true for you in the 12 months before coming to UC Berkeley.

 Often trueSometimes trueNever true
The food that I bought just didn't last, and I didn't have money to get more. 54 263 1802
3% 12% 85%
I couldn't afford to eat balanced meals. 68 272 1769
3% 13% 84%

In the 12 months before coming to UC Berkeley, did you ever cut the size of your meals or skip meals because there wasn't enough money for food?

ResponseNumberPercent
No 1895 89%
Yes, almost every month 67 3%
Yes, some months, but not every month 86 4%
Yes, only 1 or 2 months 75 4%

In the 12 months before coming to UC Berkeley, did you ever eat less than you felt you should because there wasn't enough money for food?

ResponseNumberPercent
No 1860 88%
Yes 260 12%

In the 12 months before coming to UC Berkeley, were you ever hungry but didn't eat because there wasn't enough money for food?

ResponseNumberPercent
No 1912 90%
Yes 203 10%

Is there anything else that you would like to tell us about the impact of the cost to attend on your educational experience at UC Berkeley?

[Contact OPA for more information]

Family & Culture

When did you come to the United States to live?

ResponseNumberPercent
I was born in the U.S. 1526 73%
1996 or earlier 7 0%
1997 11 1%
1998 54 3%
1999 34 2%
2000 59 3%
2001 41 2%
2002 31 2%
2003 15 1%
2004 17 1%
2005 17 1%
2006 13 1%
2007 13 1%
2008 11 1%
2009 6 0%
2010 17 1%
2011 2 0%
2012 22 1%
2013 18 1%
2014 6 0%
2015 or later 185 9%

When did you learn to speak English?

ResponseNumberPercent
English is my native language 1345 64%
Before I was 6 years old 529 25%
When I was 6-10 years old 186 9%
When I was 11-15 years old 45 2%
After turning 16 years old 11 1%

To the best of your knowledge, where were your parents born?

 In the U.S.Outside the U.S.Do not knowN/A
Parent/Guardian 1 668 1441 2 0
32% 68% 0% 0%
Parent/Guardian 2 622 1462 8 0
30% 70% 0% 0%

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

ResponseNumberPercent
Zero 359 17%
One 104 5%
Two 211 10%
Three 53 3%
Four 1390 66%

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

ResponseNumberPercent
Wealthy 88 4%
Upper-middle or professional-middle 858 41%
Middle-class 727 34%
Working-class 226 11%
Low-income or poor 216 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.

ResponseNumberPercent
Yes 78 4%
No 2033 96%

To the best of your knowledge, which category includes the total annual combined income of your parent(s) before taxes in 2015?

ResponseNumberPercent
Less than $10,000 64 3%
$10,000 to $19,999 96 5%
$20,000 to $34,999 136 7%
$35,000 to $49,999 113 6%
$50,000 to $64,999 109 6%
$65,000 to $79,999 95 5%
$80,000 to $99,999 132 7%
$100,000 to $124,999 222 12%
$125,000 to $149,999 185 10%
$150,000 to $199,999 266 14%
$200,000 to $499,000 405 21%
$500,000 or more 79 4%

To the best of your knowledge, which category includes your household's total annual combined income before taxes in 2015?

ResponseNumberPercent
Less than $10,000 13 19%
$10,000 to $19,999 4 6%
$20,000 to $34,999 8 11%
$35,000 to $49,999 4 6%
$50,000 to $64,999 7 10%
$65,000 to $79,999 1 1%
$80,000 to $99,999 4 6%
$100,000 to $124,999 7 10%
$125,000 to $149,999 4 6%
$150,000 to $199,999 2 3%
$200,000 to $499,999 13 19%
$500,000 or more 3 4%

What is your religious/spiritual preference?

ResponseNumberPercent
Spiritual but not associated with a major religion 204 10%
Not particularly spiritual 286 14%
No preference 256 13%
Agnostic 235 11%
Atheist 276 13%
Baptist 32 2%
Buddhist 34 2%
Christian Church (Disciples) 103 5%
Eastern Orthodox 11 1%
Episcopalian 7 0%
Hindu 100 5%
Jewish 54 3%
Lutheran 9 0%
Methodist 10 1%
Mormon 10 1%
Muslim 35 2%
Presbyterian 53 3%
Roman Catholic 195 10%
Seventh Day Adventist 4 0%
Sikh 14 1%
Taoist 2 0%
Unitarian/Universalist 2 0%
United Church of Christ/Congregational 5 0%
Other Christian 93 5%
Other Religion 25 1%

With which gender do you identify?

ResponseNumberPercent
Male 974 46%
Female 1091 52%
Trans Male/Trans Man 5 0%
Trans Female/Trans Woman 2 0%
Genderqueer/Gender Non-Conforming 26 1%
Different identity 2 0%

Do you consider yourself to be:

ResponseNumberPercent
Heterosexual or straight 1816 87%
Gay or lesbian 65 3%
Bisexual 107 5%
Questioning/Unsure 61 3%
Not listed above, please specify
[Contact OPA for more information]
32 2%

How would you characterize your political orientation?

ResponseNumberPercent
Very liberal 207 10%
Liberal 767 37%
Slightly liberal 430 21%
Moderate or middle of the road 403 20%
Slightly conservative 120 6%
Conservative 70 3%
Very conservative 15 1%
Other, please elaborate
[Contact OPA for more information]
55 3%

Living Conditions

Where are you living this term?

ResponseNumberPercent
Clark Kerr Campus 259 12%
Foothill 306 15%
Bowles 29 1%
Stern 82 4%
Unit 1 486 23%
Unit 2 (excluding Wada Apartments) 431 21%
Unit 3 (including Beverly Cleary Hall) 434 21%
Channing-Bowditch Apartments 2 0%
Martinez Commons 5 0%
University Village Albany (family housing) 1 0%
Wada Apartments 2 0%
New Sequoia or Garden Village Apartments 0 0%
Mills College or Holy Names University 0 0%
Living with family 19 1%
Sorority or fraternity 0 0%
Co-op Housing 1 0%
Living off-campus in a house or apartment 37 2%
I have not (yet) found housing 2 0%
Other
[Contact OPA for more information]
4 0%

How far from campus are you living this term?

ResponseNumberPercent
On campus or less than 1 mile 1764 85%
1 mile to 2 miles 259 12%
3 miles to 10 miles 38 2%
11 miles to 20 miles 13 1%
21 miles or more 13 1%

Do you have a UC Berkeley Meal Plan for this semester?

ResponseNumberPercent
Yes - Not sure which plan 41 2%
Yes - Standard Plan (included in housing, 10-12 meals/wk.) 1446 69%
Yes - Premium Plan (included in housing + $350/yr, 12-16 meals/wk.) 414 20%
Yes - Ultimate Plan (included in housing + $750/yr, 19+ meals/wk.) 113 5%
Yes - Non-Resident BLUE (5-6 meals/wk.) 5 0%
Yes - Non-Resident GOLD (7-8 meals/wk.) 2 0%
Yes - Non-Resident PLATINUM (9-11 meals/wk.) 4 0%
No 76 4%

With whom are you living this term?

ResponseNumberPercent
No one. I live alone 24 1%
I share an apartment or dorm room with at least one other UC Berkeley student 1989 96%
I share an apartment with peers who are not UC Berkeley students 13 1%
I live with my spouse or domestic partner (with or without others) 3 0%
I live with at least one parent 30 1%
Other
[Contact OPA for more information]
22 1%

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

 0 (Zero)12345 or more
College students or other adults (count yourself as 1) - 64 307 715 89 896
- 3% 15% 35% 4% 43%
Children or teenagers under the age of 18 (do NOT count yourself as 1) 1527 159 86 43 27 121
78% 8% 4% 2% 1% 6%

Since the beginning of this semester, have you ever been homeless? (Homeless means not having stable or reliable housing, e.g., living on the street, in vehicles, motels, camp grounds, single-occupancy facilities, or couch surfing in other people's homes for temporary sleeping arrangements)

ResponseNumberPercent
Yes 22 1%
No 2071 99%

Are you a parent or legal guardian?

ResponseNumberPercent
No 1817 87%
Yes 278 13%

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

ResponseNumberPercent
None 18 82%
1 1 5%
2 1 5%
3 1 5%
4 0 0%
5 or more 1 5%

How many of your dependents are under the age of 18?

ResponseNumberPercent
None 20 87%
1 0 0%
2 1 4%
3 0 0%
4 1 4%
5 or more 1 4%

Challenge & Well-Being

During your first year at UC 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
Job responsibilities (e.g., paid employment) 946 429 450 173 41
46% 21% 22% 9% 2%
Family responsibilities 731 654 481 127 47
36% 32% 24% 6% 2%
Other responsibilities (e.g., athletics, clubs, internship) 293 335 792 492 123
14% 17% 39% 24% 6%
Weak English skills 1525 277 142 62 29
75% 14% 7% 3% 1%
Weak writing skills 1154 440 295 105 42
57% 22% 15% 5% 2%
Weak math skills 1123 439 305 103 65
55% 22% 15% 5% 3%
Inadequate study skills (e.g., knowing how to start, knowing how to get help, organizing material) 673 556 565 182 68
33% 27% 28% 9% 3%
Poor study behaviors (e.g., wait until the last minute, too much social time, too much web surfing) 459 476 692 289 126
23% 23% 34% 14% 6%
Poor study environment (e.g., noisy roommate, poor Internet access, inadequate computer or software) 583 659 577 153 69
29% 32% 28% 8% 3%
Feeling depressed, stressed, or upset 462 520 639 310 113
23% 25% 31% 15% 6%
Physical illness or condition 870 765 309 66 23
43% 38% 15% 3% 1%
Military deployment 1840 123 56 11 11
90% 6% 3% 1% 1%
Going hungry, not having enough food 1573 274 151 28 12
77% 13% 7% 1% 1%
Inconsistent access to housing, or homelessness 1825 122 64 17 8
90% 6% 3% 1% 0%
Inability to concentrate on my work 646 576 561 188 68
32% 28% 28% 9% 3%
Reluctance to ask for academic help when I need it 625 641 529 181 63
31% 31% 26% 9% 3%

In general, I consider myself:

ResponseNumberPercent
(1) not a very happy person 31 2%
(2) 76 4%
(3) 156 8%
(4) 335 16%
(5) 624 30%
(6) 613 30%
(7) a very happy person 220 11%

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

ResponseNumberPercent
(1) less happy 80 4%
(2) 146 7%
(3) 264 13%
(4) 454 22%
(5) 530 26%
(6) 382 19%
(7) more happy 194 10%

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

Selected
Friends nearby 1497
71%
Friends who are not nearby (e.g., home or high school friends) 1481
70%
Boyfriend or girlfriend, partner, spouse or significant other 446
21%
Teachers, coaches 301
14%
Parents, guardians 1410
67%
Siblings 1078
51%
Other family 423
20%
Clergy 50
2%
Counselors, therapists 186
9%
UCB student services support staff (counselor, advisor, etc.) 187
9%
No one (else) / myself only 83
4%
Other (please specify)
[Contact OPA for more information]
38
2%

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

ResponseNumberPercent
Very dissatisfied 63 3%
Fairly dissatisfied 93 5%
A little dissatisfied 145 7%
A little satisfied 224 11%
Fairly satisfied 809 41%
Very satisfied 631 32%

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

ResponseNumberPercent
Very dissatisfied 63 3%
Fairly dissatisfied 89 4%
A little dissatisfied 122 6%
A little satisfied 276 14%
Fairly satisfied 820 40%
Very satisfied 670 33%

Do you know that all UC Berkeley students are eligible for up to 5 free counseling visits at Tang Center-University Health Services regardless of whether they have UC Berkeley SHIP (Student Health Insurance Plan)?

ResponseNumberPercent
Yes 1320 64%
No 734 36%

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