2018 SONS Transfers - Part 3: Random Module

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

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 disagree	Disagree	Disagree somewhat	Agree somewhat	Agree	Strongly agree
UC Berkeley has a strong commitment to undergraduate education	1	8	19	77	173	133
	0%	2%	5%	19%	42%	32%
Attending a university with world-class researchers is important to me	3	11	24	72	142	157
	1%	3%	6%	18%	35%	38%
The emphasis on research at UC Berkeley detracts from the quality of teaching on this campus	27	56	69	75	105	76
	7%	14%	17%	18%	26%	19%

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

	Not important at all	Not very important	Somewhat important	Important	Very important	Essential
The prestige of this campus/faculty when you apply to grad school	9	11	59	98	117	117
	2%	3%	14%	24%	29%	29%
The prestige of this campus when you apply for a job	2	5	43	92	121	147
	1%	1%	11%	22%	30%	36%
Having access to a world-class library collection	5	20	69	99	98	119
	1%	5%	17%	24%	24%	29%
Being able to attend plays, concerts, lectures, and other cultural events	10	27	65	105	97	105
	2%	7%	16%	29%	24%	26%

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	222
	50%
As a quiet place to study	227
	51%
For help in learning to do academic research	209
	47%
To find scholarly articles	210
	48%
For help in organizing my research	227
	51%
As a place to work on group projects	215
	49%
For printing, copying and scanning	211
	48%
To find books	215
	49%
Other (please specify) [Contact OPA for more information]	3
	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

Response	Number	Percent
1	123	33%
2	85	23%
3	44	12%
4	52	14%
5	40	11%
6	16	4%
7	11	3%

- Individual help by appointment

Response	Number	Percent
1	88	24%
2	91	25%
3	67	18%
4	48	13%
5	49	13%
6	26	7%
7	2	1%

- Take an hour-long class in library research methods

Response	Number	Percent
1	37	10%
2	26	7%
3	50	14%
4	42	12%
5	61	17%
6	140	38%
7	10	3%

- Use a virtual chat widget

Response	Number	Percent
1	29	8%
2	50	14%
3	53	15%
4	77	21%
5	89	24%
6	56	15%
7	12	3%

- Email

Response	Number	Percent
1	69	19%
2	58	16%
3	82	22%
4	68	18%
5	52	14%
6	32	9%
7	10	3%

- Phone

Response	Number	Percent
1	31	9%
2	52	14%
3	67	18%
4	66	18%
5	66	18%
6	75	21%
7	8	2%

- Other [Contact OPA for more information]

Response	Number	Percent
1	7	7%
2	7	7%
3	5	5%
4	9	9%
5	6	6%
6	17	16%
7	55	52%

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)?

Response	Number	Percent
Never	5	1%
Rarely	29	7%
Occasionally	80	20%
Somewhat often	79	19%
Often	124	30%
Very often	94	23%

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

Response	Number	Percent
Not important	8	2%
Not very important	23	6%
Somewhat important	61	15%
Important	71	17%
Very important	110	27%
Essential	135	33%

Regarding choice of a major, what advice have you received?

	Decide on a major as soon as possible	Take your time; explore options	No advice given
From your family	104	173	130
	26%	43%	32%
From UC Berkeley advisors	91	183	133
	22%	45%	33%
From friends	83	189	135
	20%	46%	33%
From fellow UC Berkeley students	105	147	155
	26%	36%	38%
From former teachers, instructors, or counselors	71	220	115
	18%	54%	28%

What do you plan to do about a major?

Response	Number	Percent
I have declared a major	212	52%
I will declare a major as soon as possible	183	45%
I plan to take my time and explore options	15	4%

Student Life & Development

Indicate how important each of the following college goals is to you.

	Not important	Somewhat important	Very important
Be in a position to give back to my community after finishing my education	13	134	283
	3%	31%	66%
Acquire a well-rounded general education	13	101	314
	3%	24%	73%
Explore and discover my personal identity	29	103	296
	7%	24%	69%
Achieve a high GPA	14	146	266
	3%	34%	62%
Form (a) romantic relationship(s)	151	142	134
	35%	33%	31%
Establish meaningful friendships	11	125	291
	3%	29%	68%
Be in a position to make a lot of money after finishing my education	33	165	230
	8%	39%	54%
Explore new ideas	7	106	316
	2%	25%	74%
Enjoy my college years before assuming adult responsibilities	68	134	225
	16%	31%	53%
Develop an in-depth understanding of a specific field of study	4	110	315
	1%	26%	73%
Integrate spirituality into my life	138	126	163
	32%	30%	38%
Establish social networks that will help further my career	11	131	286
	3%	31%	67%

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

	(1) Not at all concerned	(2)	(3)	(4)	(5)	(6) Very concerned
Financing my education at UC Berkeley	49	35	52	81	84	123
	12%	8%	12%	19%	20%	29%
Finding affordable housing while I'm a student at UC Berkeley	77	24	42	71	73	135
	18%	6%	10%	17%	17%	32%
Getting into my first choice of major	167	32	34	58	38	92
	40%	8%	8%	14%	9%	22%
Being able to maintain a high GPA	19	14	43	79	103	161
	5%	3%	10%	19%	25%	38%
Getting the academic advising I need	48	41	61	94	89	91
	11%	10%	14%	22%	21%	22%
Getting the career and professional advising I need	41	34	60	100	82	102
	10%	8%	14%	24%	20%	24%
Getting the psychological counseling I might need	103	52	71	76	51	69
	24%	12%	17%	18%	12%	16%
Getting along with my roommate(s)	147	55	53	61	47	58
	35%	13%	13%	15%	11%	14%
Being able to balance academic and social activities	44	29	59	115	85	92
	10%	7%	14%	27%	20%	22%
Being able to make the kind of friends I want	53	31	60	92	86	100
	13%	7%	14%	22%	20%	24%
Being away from family and friends; being 'homesick'	130	59	48	66	55	65
	31%	14%	11%	16%	13%	15%
Being able to maintain good health	42	39	63	89	87	102
	10%	9%	15%	21%	21%	24%
Being able to cope with expectations of parents and family	97	54	59	77	63	73
	23%	13%	14%	18%	15%	17%
Being overwhelmed with all the things I'm expected to do my first semester	41	19	43	91	90	138
	10%	5%	10%	22%	21%	33%
Regretting my decision to attend UC Berkeley	174	57	57	62	37	36
	41%	14%	14%	15%	9%	9%

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

Campus climate is...

Response	Number	Percent
(6) Friendly	199	21%
(5)	358	37%
(4)	284	30%
(3)	83	9%
(2)	25	3%
(1) Hostile	11	1%

Response	Number	Percent
(6) Caring	168	18%
(5)	280	29%
(4)	280	29%
(3)	155	16%
(2)	50	5%
(1) Impersonal	25	3%

Response	Number	Percent
(6) Intellectual	488	51%
(5)	311	33%
(4)	117	12%
(3)	29	3%
(2)	6	1%
(1) Not intellectual	6	1%

Response	Number	Percent
(6) Appreciative of diversity	356	37%
(5)	308	32%
(4)	195	20%
(3)	68	7%
(2)	18	2%
(1) Unappreciative of diversity	12	1%

Response	Number	Percent
(6) Safe	105	11%
(5)	174	18%
(4)	270	28%
(3)	253	27%
(2)	110	12%
(1) Dangerous	39	4%

Response	Number	Percent
(6) Too hard academically	144	15%
(5)	372	39%
(4)	354	37%
(3)	82	9%
(2)	4	0%
(1) Too easy academically	5	1%

Response	Number	Percent
(6) Competitive	397	41%
(5)	353	37%
(4)	160	17%
(3)	39	4%
(2)	8	1%
(1) Not Competitive	3	0%

Response	Number	Percent
(6) Affordable	65	7%
(5)	151	16%
(4)	271	28%
(3)	240	25%
(2)	155	16%
(1) Not affordable	75	8%

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)

Response	Number	Percent
1	430	45%
2	246	26%
3	154	16%
4	73	8%
5	46	5%

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

Response	Number	Percent
1	140	15%
2	105	11%
3	98	10%
4	121	13%
5	485	51%

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

Response	Number	Percent
1	103	11%
2	160	17%
3	202	21%
4	315	33%
5	168	18%

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

Response	Number	Percent
1	155	16%
2	250	26%
3	268	28%
4	205	22%
5	71	8%

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

Response	Number	Percent
1	111	12%
2	199	21%
3	241	25%
4	232	24%
5	166	18%

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

	Very poor	Poor	Fair	Good	Very good	Excellent
Understanding of the complexities of global issues	14	65	243	355	197	86
	2%	7%	25%	37%	21%	9%
Ability to apply disciplinary knowledge in a global context	14	57	232	360	207	90
	2%	6%	24%	38%	22%	9%
Comfort working with people from other cultures	4	13	95	300	305	243
	0%	1%	10%	31%	32%	25%

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.

Response	Number	Percent
Strongly disagree	30	3%
Disagree	11	1%
Disagree somewhat	32	3%
Agree somewhat	200	21%
Agree	442	46%
Strongly agree	245	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

Response	Number	Percent
1	188	19%
2	177	18%
3	161	16%
4	166	17%
5	142	14%
6	95	10%
7	55	6%

- Choosing classes

Response	Number	Percent
1	218	22%
2	208	21%
3	179	18%
4	131	13%
5	120	12%
6	78	8%
7	50	5%

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

Response	Number	Percent
1	115	12%
2	156	16%
3	159	16%
4	168	17%
5	151	15%
6	127	13%
7	108	11%

- Financial aid and scholarships

Response	Number	Percent
1	131	13%
2	116	12%
3	118	12%
4	105	11%
5	123	13%
6	163	17%
7	226	23%

- Understanding Campus Resources

Response	Number	Percent
1	46	5%
2	56	6%
3	83	9%
4	125	13%
5	174	18%
6	242	25%
7	256	26%

- Selecting a major

Response	Number	Percent
1	137	14%
2	128	13%
3	118	12%
4	126	13%
5	104	11%
6	141	14%
7	229	23%

- Academic Support

Response	Number	Percent
1	151	15%
2	144	15%
3	167	17%
4	161	16%
5	168	17%
6	135	14%
7	56	6%

Did you use any of the following resources/people when selecting courses for your first semester? Please select all that apply.

	Selected
Golden Bear Advising online content	145
	30%
Golden Bear Advising interactive activities (e.g. completing assignments/quizzes, uploading class schedule, direct messaging with advisors, chatroom conversations)	128
	26%
Other online resources (e.g., department website, Facebook, online Berkeley Academic Guide)	166
	34%
College advisor in your home College (e.g., Letters & Science, College of Engineering)	101
	21%
Major advisor	254
	52%
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)	31
	6%
Faculty member	54
	11%
Another student	149
	30%
Parent, Guardian, or family member	85
	17%
Friend(s)	155
	32%
No resource/person	28
	6%
Other (please specify) [Contact OPA for more information]	7
	1%

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

Response	Number	Percent
Golden Bear Advising online content	22	5%
Golden Bear Advising interactive activities	18	4%
Other online resources	52	12%
College advisor in your home College	33	7%
Major advisor	149	34%
Co-curricular Advisors/Student Services Support Staff	7	2%
Faculty member	5	1%
Another student	47	11%
Parent, Guardian, or family member	25	6%
Friend(s)	40	9%
No resource/person	40	9%
Other [Contact OPA for more information]	7	2%

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

Response	Number	Percent
Very dissatisfied	22	5%
Dissatisfied	16	4%
Somewhat dissatisfied	40	9%
Somewhat satisfied	135	30%
Satisfied	174	39%
Very satisfied	61	14%

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

Response	Number	Percent
Yes	53	12%
No	396	88%

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:

Response	Number	Percent
I found the subject generally interesting	121	28%
Parental desires	4	1%
Recommendation of continuing UC Berkeley student	21	5%
Recommendation of another new UC Berkeley student	11	3%
Academic Advisor	68	16%
Co-curricular Advisor/Student Services Support Staff	1	0%
I thought/had heard a course was not as rigorous or demanding	1	0%
Reputation of professor	6	1%
Course(s) fulfilled a general or breadth requirement (e.g., Reading and Composition, American Cultures, Foreign Languages, etc.)	12	3%
Course(s) fulfilled a major requirement	155	36%
The course fit my schedule	13	3%
Prepares me for my major	23	5%

Second:

Response	Number	Percent
I found the subject generally interesting	56	13%
Parental desires	3	1%
Recommendation of continuing UC Berkeley student	29	7%
Recommendation of another new UC Berkeley student	10	2%
Academic Advisor	62	14%
Co-curricular Advisor/Student Services Support Staff	5	1%
I thought/had heard a course was not as rigorous or demanding	9	2%
Reputation of professor	22	5%
Course(s) fulfilled a general or breadth requirement (e.g., Reading and Composition, American Cultures, Foreign Languages, etc.)	57	13%
Course(s) fulfilled a major requirement	69	16%
The course fit my schedule	57	13%
Prepares me for my major	53	12%

Third:

Response	Number	Percent
I found the subject generally interesting	67	16%
Parental desires	1	0%
Recommendation of continuing UC Berkeley student	24	6%
Recommendation of another new UC Berkeley student	13	3%
Academic Advisor	26	6%
Co-curricular Advisor/Student Services Support Staff	3	1%
I thought/had heard a course was not as rigorous or demanding	13	3%
Reputation of professor	32	8%
Course(s) fulfilled a general or breadth requirement (e.g., Reading and Composition, American Cultures, Foreign Languages, etc.)	24	6%
Course(s) fulfilled a major requirement	51	12%
The course fit my schedule	100	23%
Prepares me for my major	74	17%

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 dissatisfied	Dissatisfied	Somewhat dissatisfied	Somewhat satisfied	Satisfied	Very satisfied
Availability of courses for general education or breadth requirements	8	13	31	130	187	67
	2%	3%	7%	30%	43%	15%
Availability of courses to fulfill prerequisite requirements	6	18	32	111	196	73
	1%	4%	7%	26%	45%	17%
Ability to get into the lectures or seminars (i.e., primary courses) you wanted	8	20	42	99	193	76
	2%	5%	10%	23%	44%	17%
Ability to get into the discussion sections or labs (i.e., secondary courses) you wanted	9	25	42	106	190	65
	1%	6%	10%	24%	44%	15%
Variety of courses available	11	18	37	113	182	75
	3%	4%	9%	26%	42%	17%
Access to small classes	23	36	61	112	142	61
	5%	8%	14%	26%	33%	14%

Please indicate how much you agree or disagree with the following statements:

	Strongly disagree	Disagree	Somewhat disagree	Somewhat agree	Agree	Strongly agree
I encountered difficulty in creating a course schedule for my first semester due to the lack of information about how my previous coursework articulates to UCB.	45	102	68	116	72	35
	10%	23%	16%	27%	16%	8%
I have had trouble finding out what UC Berkeley degree requirements I have already satisfied through my past coursework.	58	103	64	104	73	32
	13%	24%	15%	24%	17%	7%
I have had trouble finding out how many transferable units have been accepted and will count toward my UC Berkeley degree.	69	92	75	93	65	42
	16%	21%	17%	21%	15%	10%

Have you completed all of the prerequisite courses for your desired UC Berkeley major(s)?

Response	Number	Percent
Yes	220	50%
No	164	37%
I am not sure	55	13%

How many additional prerequisite courses for your desired major do you need to complete?

Response	Number	Percent
1	58	27%
2	47	22%
3	33	15%
4	8	4%
5 or more	16	7%
I am not sure	55	25%

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