2018 SONS FPF - Part 2: Background

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 2019 and Spring 2020.)

ResponseNumberPercent
Not concerned 104 24%
Somewhat concerned 143 33%
Concerned 80 19%
Very concerned 104 24%

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) 233
52%
Asked financial aid office to reevaluate my application 58
13%
Plan to buy fewer books than required (buy/rent used books, borrow/read books on reserve) 252
56%
Will take more courses per term to complete on-time or early 91
20%
Will take fewer courses so I can work for pay 15
3%
Will accept AP or similar credit instead of taking the course 172
39%
Will take or have taken a community college course because community college courses are cheaper 102
23%
Will take or have taken an online course because online courses are cheaper 34
8%
Worked for pay to save for college 139
31%
Plan to work for pay at least my first year 140
31%
Requested a triple (3-person room) to save money 170
38%
Will live at home to reduce expenses 22
5%
Applied for outside scholarships/grants 230
52%
Don't expect cost to be a significant problem 93
21%
Other (please specify)
[Contact OPA for more information]
6
1%

Have you heard about the Blue and Gold Opportunity Plan, which ensures that scholarships and grants will cover fees for California resident students from families making less than $80,000 a year, with financial need?

Response Number Percent
Yes 169 40%
No 258 60%

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

ResponseNumberPercent
Yes 121 29%
No 302 71%

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 40 9%
Disagree 54 13%
Somewhat disagree 78 18%
Somewhat agree 117 27%
Agree 110 26%
Strongly agree 28 7%

If you were offered subsidized loans through the Financial Aid office, did you accept them?

ResponseNumberPercent
Yes, I accepted subsidized loans that I was offered 143 56%
No, I did not accept subsidized loans that I was offered 113 44%
I do not know if I have accepted a subsidized loan 41 -
Not Applicable; I was not offered subsidized loans 130 -

Please share with us why you did not accept the subsidized loans.

[Contact OPA for more information]

If you worked for pay this past summer, how many hours per week did you usually work?

ResponseNumberPercent
I did not work any hours this summer 234 55%
1-5 hours 25 6%
6-10 hours 35 8%
11-15 hours 34 8%
16-25 hours 39 9%
26-35 hours 26 6%
More than 35 30 7%

About how many hours per week are you expecting to work (paid employment) this semester?

ResponseNumberPercent
I do not plan to work this semester 225 70%
1-5 hours 35 5%
6-10 hours 73 12%
11-15 hours 59 8%
16-25 hours 15 3%
26-35 hours 9 1%
More than 35 8 2%

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 80 19%
No 340 81%

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

Selected
Housing 15
19%
Food 49
61%
Books 48
60%
Health care 19
24%
Other (Please explain below)
[Contact OPA for more information]
3
4%

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. 21 84 317
5% 20% 75%
I couldn't afford to eat balanced meals. 22 78 319
5% 19% 76%

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 351 83%
Yes, almost every month 26 6%
Yes, some months, but not every month 32 8%
Yes, only 1 or 2 months 16 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 353 83%
Yes 71 17%

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 368 87%
Yes 56 13%

Is there anything else that you would like to tell us about the impact of the cost of attendance 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. 303 72%
1999 3 1%
2000 17 4%
2001 7 2%
2002 5 1%
2003 5 1%
2004 3 1%
2005 5 1%
2006 4 1%
2007 2 1%
2008 6 1%
2009 2 1%
2010 2 1%
2011 2 1%
2012 3 1%
2013 6 1%
2014 9 2%
2015 4 1%
2016 3 1%
2017 or earlier 32 8%

When did you learn to speak English?

ResponseNumberPercent
English is my native language 232 55%
Before I was 6 years old 130 31%
When I was 6-10 years old 45 11%
When I was 11-15 years old 13 3%
After turning 16 years old 3 1%

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

In the U.S.Outside the U.S.Do not know
Parent/Guardian 1 135 287 2
32% 68% 1%
Parent/Guardian 2 125 286 2
30% 69% 1%

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

ResponseNumberPercent
Zero 73 17%
One 12 3%
Two 48 11%
Three 14 3%
Four 276 65%

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

ResponseNumberPercent
Wealthy 28 7%
Upper-middle or professional-middle 111 26%
Middle-class 131 31%
Working-class 73 17%
Low-income or poor 83 20%

Are you a financially independent student?

ResponseNumberPercent
Yes 30 7%
No 395 93%

To the best of your knowledge, which category includes the total annual combined income of your parent(s) before taxes in 2017?

ResponseNumberPercent
Less than $10,000 9 3%
$10,000 to $19,999 30 8%
$20,000 to $34,999 40 11%
$35,000 to $49,999 47 13%
$50,000 to $64,999 19 5%
$65,000 to $79,999 24 7%
$80,000 to $99,999 29 8%
$100,000 to $124,999 33 9%
$125,000 to $149,999 22 6%
$150,000 to $199,999 41 12%
$200,000 to $499,000 51 14%
$500,000 or more 13 4%

To the best of your knowledge, which category includes your household's total annual combined income before taxes in 2017?

ResponseNumberPercent
Less than $10,000 7 23%
$10,000 to $19,999 5 17%
$20,000 to $34,999 3 10%
$35,000 to $49,999 1 3%
$50,000 to $64,999 3 10%
$65,000 to $79,999 0 0%
$80,000 to $99,999 3 10%
$100,000 to $124,999 1 3%
$125,000 to $149,999 0 0%
$150,000 to $199,999 2 7%
$200,000 to $499,000 4 13%
$500,000 or more 1 3%

What is your religious/spiritual preference?

ResponseNumberPercent
Spiritual but not associated with a major religion 52 13%
Not particularly spiritual 46 12%
No preference 43 11%
Agnostic 42 11%
Atheist 44 10%
Baptist 8 2%
Buddhist 8 2%
Christian Church (Disciples) 22 6%
Eastern Orthodox 1 0%
Episcopalian 2 1%
Hindu 16 4%
Jewish 11 3%
Lutheran 5 1%
Methodist 3 1%
Mormon 1 0%
Muslim 7 2%
Presbyterian 12 3%
Quaker 0 0%
Roman Catholic 53 13%
Seventh Day Adventist 1 0%
Sikh 3 1%
Taoist 0 0%
Unitarian/Universalist 0 0%
United Church of Christ/Congregational 1 0%
Other Christian 15 4%
Other Religion 5 1%

With which gender do you identify?

ResponseNumberPercent
Male 134 32%
Female 279 67%
Trans Male/Trans Man 0 0%
Trans Female/Trans Woman 0 0%
Genderqueer/Gender Non-Conforming 4 1%
Different identity 0 0%

Do you consider yourself to be:

ResponseNumberPercent
Heterosexual or straight 339 82%
Gay or lesbian 14 3%
Bisexual 31 8%
Questioning/Unsure 17 4%
Not listed above, please specify
[Contact OPA for more information]
12 3%

How would you characterize your political orientation?

ResponseNumberPercent
Very liberal 44 11%
Liberal 161 39%
Slightly liberal 75 18%
Moderate or middle of the road 100 24%
Slightly conservative 13 3%
Conservative 7 2%
Very conservative 4 1%
Other, please elaborate
[Contact OPA for more information]
9 2%

Living Conditions

Where are you living this term?

ResponseNumberPercent
Clark Kerr Campus 43 10%
Foothill 34 8%
Bowles Hall 3 1%
Stern 15 4%
Unit 1 59 14%
Unit 2 (excluding Wada Apartments) 99 24%
Unit 3 (including Beverly Cleary Hall) 116 28%
Living with family 4 1%
Sorority or fraternity 1 0%
Co-op housing 1 0%
Living off-campus in a house or apartment 11 3%
Blackwell Hall 32 8%
I have not (yet) found stable housing 1 0%
Other
[Contact OPA for more information]
2 1%

How far from campus are you living this term?

ResponseNumberPercent
On campus or less than 1 mile 334 81%
1 mile to 2 miles 64 16%
3 miles to 10 miles 8 2%
11 miles to 20 miles 4 1%
21 miles or more 4 1%

With whom are you living this term?

ResponseNumberPercent
No one. I live alone 8 2%
I share an apartment or dorm room with at least one other UC Berkeley student 394 94%
I share an apartment with peers who are not UC Berkeley students 5 1%
I live with my spouse or domestic partner (with or without others) 1 0%
I live with at least one parent 7 2%
Other
[Contact OPA for more information]
6 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) - 20 69 196 18 112
- 5% 17% 47% 4% 27%
Children or teenagers under the age of 18 (do NOT count yourself as 1) 311 27 15 6 3 29
80% 7% 4% 2% 1% 7%

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 8 2%
No 408 98%

Do you have any biological or adopted children who live with you now?

ResponseNumberPercent
No 406 98%
Yes 9 2%

IF YES: How many?

ResponseNumberPercent
1 1 50%
2 2 50%

Do you have any biological or adopted children who live elsewhere?

ResponseNumberPercent
No 405 98%
Yes 9 2%

IF YES: How many?

ResponseNumberPercent
1 1 50%
5 or more 1 50%

Do you have primary responsibility for caring for someone else such as a parent, grandparent or sibling?

ResponseNumberPercent
No 398 96%
Yes 17 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) 155 65 109 57 21
38% 16% 27% 14% 5%
Family responsibilities 113 108 126 46 13
28% 27% 31% 11% 3%
Other responsibilities (e.g., athletics, clubs, internship) 64 68 164 89 23
16% 17% 40% 22% 6%
Weak English skills 279 59 34 22 10
69% 15% 8% 5% 3%
Weak writing skills 204 94 58 36 14
50% 23% 14% 9% 3%
Weak math skills 162 97 85 40 25
40% 24% 21% 10% 6%
Inadequate study skills (e.g., knowing how to start, knowing how to get help, organizing material) 117 116 107 50 19
29% 28% 26% 12% 5%
Poor study behaviors (e.g., wait until the last minute, too much social time, too much web surfing) 85 94 135 72 24
21% 23% 33% 18% 6%
Poor study environment (e.g., noisy roommate, poor Internet access, inadequate computer or software) 104 120 110 50 26
25% 29% 27% 12% 6%
Feeling depressed, stressed, or upset 69 88 137 73 41
17% 22% 34% 18% 10%
Physical illness or condition 162 146 73 18 10
40% 36% 18% 4% 2%
Military deployment 351 32 19 5 3
86% 8% 5% 1% 1%
Going hungry, not having enough food 287 70 35 12 5
70% 17% 9% 3% 1%
Inconsistent access to housing, or homelessness 348 30 16 8 6
85% 7% 4% 2% 2%
Inability to concentrate on my work 110 101 116 59 24
27% 25% 28% 14% 6%
Reluctance to ask for academic help when I need it 122 130 101 38 19
30% 32% 25% 9% 5%

In general, I consider myself...

ResponseNumberPercent
(1) Not a very happy person 9 2%
(2) 17 4%
(3) 39 9%
(4) 72 17%
(5) 111 27%
(6) 114 28%
(7) A very happy person 52 13%

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

ResponseNumberPercent
(1) Less happy 14 3%
(2) 29 7%
(3) 56 14%
(4) 86 21%
(5) 114 28%
(6) 74 18%
(7) More happy 40 10%

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

Selected
Friends nearby 284
65%
Friends who are not nearby (e.g., home or high school friends) 289
66%
Boyfriend or girlfriend, partner, spouse or significant other 107
24%
Teachers, coaches 67
15%
Parents, guardians 292
67%
Siblings 196
45%
Other family 82
19%
Clergy 6
1%
Counselors, therapists 48
11%
UCB student services support staff (counselor, advisor, etc.) 34
8%
No one (else) / myself only 12
3%
Other (please specify)
[Contact OPA for more information]
5
1%

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

ResponseNumberPercent
Very dissatisfied 4 1%
Fairly dissatisfied 17 4%
A little dissatisfied 34 9%
A little satisfied 48 12%
Fairly satisfied 182 46%
Very satisfied 112 28%

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

ResponseNumberPercent
Very dissatisfied 7 2%
Fairly dissatisfied 10 2%
A little dissatisfied 29 7%
A little satisfied 67 16%
Fairly satisfied 174 43%
Very satisfied 122 30%

Do you know that the Counseling and Psychological Services (CAPS) at the Tang Center offers short term counseling, that there is no charge to get started, and that all registered UC Berkeley students can access services regardless of whether they have UC Berkeley SHIP (Student Health Insurance Plan)?

ResponseNumberPercent
Yes 319 78%
No 91 22%

back to top Part 3: Random Module