2017 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 2018 and Spring 2019.)

ResponseNumberPercent
Not concerned 177 31%
Somewhat concerned 153 27%
Concerned 103 18%
Very concerned 133 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) 256
44%
Asked financial aid office to reevaluate my application 87
15%
Plan to buy fewer books than required, buy cheaper used books, borrow/read books on reserve, rent books 300
52%
Will take more courses per term to complete on-time or early 134
23%
Will take fewer courses so I can work for pay 31
5%
Will accept AP or similar credit instead of taking the course 248
43%
Will take or have taken a community college course because community college courses are cheaper 108
19%
Will take or have taken an online course because online courses are cheaper 40
7%
Worked for pay to save for college 169
29%
Plan to work for pay at least my first year 126
22%
Requested a triple (3-person room) to save money 215
37%
Will live at home to reduce expenses 27
5%
Applied for outside scholarships/grands 230
40%
Don't expect cost to be a significant problem 163
28%
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 U.S. students from families making less than $80,000 a year, with financial need?

Response Number Percent
Yes 145 26%
No 414 74%

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

ResponseNumberPercent
Yes 148 27%
No 411 74%

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 7%
Disagree 62 11%
Somewhat disagree 106 19%
Somewhat agree 172 31%
Agree 130 23%
Strongly agree 49 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 91 16%
No 468 84%

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

Selected
Housing 14
15%
Food 50
55%
Books 54
59%
Health care 19
21%
Other (Please explain below)
[Contact OPA for more information]
11
12%

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. 24 81 449
4% 15% 81%
I couldn't afford to eat balanced meals. 32 79 438
6% 14% 80%

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 490 88%
Yes, almost every month 21 4%
Yes, some months, but not every month 24 4%
Yes, only 1 or 2 months 22 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 475 85%
Yes 82 15%

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 480 86%
Yes 77 14%

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]

Indicate which of the following technological tools you currently OWN. (Please answer NO if you are borrowing or renting a device):

 Yes, I own this deviceNo, I do not own this device
A laptop or a convertible computer (PC, MacBook, Linux, Surface, etc.) 308 13
96% 4%
A Chromebook 21 252
8% 92%
A Smart phone 304 13
96% 4%
A tablet or pad (with mobile operating system) 79 203
28% 72%
A Desktop computer 35 239
13% 87%

Family & Culture

When did you come to the United States to live?

ResponseNumberPercent
I was born in the U.S. 399 72%
1997 or earlier 0 0%
1998 6 1%
1999 19 3%
2000 5 1%
2001 6 1%
2002 0 0%
2003 1 0%
2004 2 0%
2005 5 1%
2006 4 1%
2007 3 1%
2008 0 0%
2009 3 1%
2010 7 1%
2011 3 1%
2012 3 1%
2013 14 3%
2014 13 2%
2015 2 0%
2016 or later 60 11%

When did you learn to speak English?

ResponseNumberPercent
English is my native language 350 63%
Before I was 6 years old 132 24%
When I was 6-10 years old 50 9%
When I was 11-15 years old 19 3%
After turning 16 years old 6 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 1 198 354 2 0
36% 64% 0% 0%
Parent/Guardian 2 188 355 4 0
34% 65% 1% 0%

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

ResponseNumberPercent
Zero 102 18%
One 23 4%
Two 70 13%
Three 29 5%
Four 333 60%

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

ResponseNumberPercent
Wealthy 42 8%
Upper-middle or professional-middle 214 39%
Middle-class 171 31%
Working-class 73 13%
Low-income or poor 53 10%

Are you a financially independent student?

ResponseNumberPercent
Yes 26 5%
No 528 95%

To the best of your knowledge, which category includes the total annual combined income of your parent(s) before taxes in 2016?

ResponseNumberPercent
Less than $10,000 16 3%
$10,000 to $19,999 24 5%
$20,000 to $34,999 33 7%
$35,000 to $49,999 35 7%
$50,000 to $64,999 33 7%
$65,000 to $79,999 33 7%
$80,000 to $99,999 39 8%
$100,000 to $124,999 47 10%
$125,000 to $149,999 29 6%
$150,000 to $199,999 59 12%
$200,000 to $499,000 97 20%
$500,000 or more 41 8%

To the best of your knowledge, which category includes your household's total annual combined income before taxes in 2016?

ResponseNumberPercent
Less than $10,000 2 9%
$10,000 to $19,999 0 0%
$20,000 to $34,999 2 9%
$35,000 to $49,999 2 9%
$50,000 to $64,999 4 17%
$65,000 to $79,999 1 4%
$80,000 to $99,999 1 4%
$100,000 to $124,999 4 17%
$125,000 to $149,999 0 0%
$150,000 to $199,999 3 13%
$200,000 to $499,000 3 13%
$500,000 or more 1 4%

What is your religious/spiritual preference?

ResponseNumberPercent
Spiritual but not associated with a major religion 47 9%
Not particularly spiritual 73 14%
No preference 62 12%
Agnostic 59 11%
Atheist 52 10%
Baptist 5 1%
Buddhist 20 4%
Christian Church (Disciples) 30 6%
Eastern Orthodox 1 0%
Episcopalian 2 0%
Hindu 25 5%
Jewish 15 3%
Lutheran 4 1%
Methodist 4 1%
Mormon 0 0%
Muslim 15 3%
Presbyterian 16 3%
Quaker 0 0%
Roman Catholic 71 13%
Seventh Day Adventist 2 0%
Sikh 6 1%
Taoist 0 0%
Unitarian/Universalist 2 0%
United Church of Christ/Congregational 1 0%
Other Christian 21 4%
Other Religion 5 1%

With which gender do you identify?

ResponseNumberPercent
Male 221 40%
Female 317 58%
Trans Male/Trans Man 3 1%
Trans Female/Trans Woman 0 0%
Genderqueer/Gender Non-Conforming 6 1%
Different identity 2 0%

Do you consider yourself to be:

ResponseNumberPercent
Heterosexual or straight 474 86%
Gay or lesbian 19 4%
Bisexual 29 5%
Questioning/Unsure 19 4%
Not listed above, please specify
[Contact OPA for more information]
8 2%

How would you characterize your political orientation?

ResponseNumberPercent
Very liberal 46 9%
Liberal 204 38%
Slightly liberal 99 18%
Moderate or middle of the road 124 23%
Slightly conservative 26 5%
Conservative 21 4%
Very conservative 4 1%
Other, please elaborate
[Contact OPA for more information]
19 4%

Living Conditions

Where are you living this term?

ResponseNumberPercent
Clark Kerr Campus 44 8%
Foothill 67 12%
Bowles 1 0%
Stern 26 5%
Unit 1 76 14%
Unit 2 (excluding Wada Apartments) 119 22%
Unit 3 (including Beverly Cleary Hall) 189 34%
Channing-Bowditch Apartments 0 0%
Martinez Commons 0 0%
University Village Albany (family housing) 0 0%
Wada Apartments 3 1%
New Sequoia or Garden Village Apartments 0 0%
Mills College 0 0%
Living with family 5 1%
Sorority or fraternity 0 0%
Co-op housing 0 0%
International House 0 0%
Living off-campus in a house or apartment 10 2%
I have not (yet) found stable housing 4 1%
Other
[Contact OPA for more information]
6 1%

How far from campus are you living this term?

ResponseNumberPercent
On campus or less than 1 mile 448 82%
1 mile to 2 miles 71 13%
3 miles to 10 miles 12 2%
11 miles to 20 miles 7 1%
21 miles or more 6 1%

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

ResponseNumberPercent
Yes - Not sure which plan 9 2%
Yes - Standard Plan (included in housing, 10 meals/wk.) 314 57%
Yes - Premium Plan (included in housing + $350/yr, 14 meals/wk.) 148 27%
Yes - Ultimate Access Plan (included in housing + $750/yr, 19+ meals/wk.) 59 11%
Yes - Non-Resident BLUE (5 meals/wk.) 2 0%
Yes - Non-Resident GOLD (7 meals/wk.) 2 0%
Yes - Non-Resident PLATINUM (10-12 meals/wk.) 0 0%
No 14 3%

With whom are you living this term?

ResponseNumberPercent
No one. I live alone 4 1%
I share an apartment or dorm room with at least one other UC Berkeley student 500 93%
I share an apartment with peers who are not UC Berkeley students 7 1%
I live with my spouse or domestic partner (with or without others) 0 0%
I live with at least one parent 8 2%
Other
[Contact OPA for more information]
20 4%

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) - 17 71 219 35 188
3% 13% 41% 7% 36%
Children or teenagers under the age of 18 (do NOT count yourself as 1) 410 30 29 15 7 29
79% 6% 6% 3% 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 9 2%
No 531 98%

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

ResponseNumberPercent
No 526 97%
Yes 14 3%

IF YES: How many?

ResponseNumberPercent
4 1 100%

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

ResponseNumberPercent
No 522 97%
Yes 17 3%

IF YES: How many?

ResponseNumberPercent
1 1 100%

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

ResponseNumberPercent
No 515 96%
Yes 24 5%

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) 221 118 126 44 21
42% 22% 24% 8% 4%
Family responsibilities 169 159 145 37 14
32% 30% 28% 7% 3%
Other responsibilities (e.g., athletics, clubs, internship) 90 96 205 103 31
17% 18% 39% 20% 6%
Weak English skills 359 67 57 34 12
68% 13% 11% 6% 2%
Weak writing skills 289 102 81 43 14
55% 19% 15% 8% 3%
Weak math skills 256 87 118 45 20
49% 17% 22% 9% 4%
Inadequate study skills (e.g., knowing how to start, knowing how to get help, organizing material) 164 139 144 62 20
31% 26% 27% 12% 4%
Poor study behaviors (e.g., wait until the last minute, too much social time, too much web surfing) 124 111 179 82 32
24% 21% 34% 16% 6%
Poor study environment (e.g., noisy roommate, poor Internet access, inadequate computer or software) 140 162 147 56 25
26% 31% 28% 11% 5%
Feeling depressed, stressed, or upset 109 119 180 84 37
21% 23% 34% 16% 7%
Physical illness or condition 215 173 112 20 9
41% 33% 21% 4% 2%
Military deployment 460 32 25 8 3
87% 6% 5% 2% 1%
Going hungry, not having enough food 370 91 47 14 7
70% 17% 9% 3% 1%
Inconsistent access to housing, or homelessness 454 38 23 8 4
86% 7% 4% 2% 1%
Inability to concentrate on my work 158 133 151 63 24
30% 25% 29% 12% 5%
Reluctance to ask for academic help when I need it 166 137 156 49 21
31% 26% 30% 9% 4%

In general, I consider myself...

ResponseNumberPercent
(1) Not a very happy person 4 1%
(2) 20 4%
(3) 43 8%
(4) 88 16%
(5) 157 29%
(6) 155 29%
(7) A very happy person 68 13%

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

ResponseNumberPercent
(1) Less happy 20 4%
(2) 33 6%
(3) 66 12%
(4) 114 21%
(5) 130 24%
(6) 106 20%
(7) More happy 64 12%

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

Selected
Friends nearby 394
70%
Friends who are not nearby (e.g., home or high school friends) 377
67%
Boyfriend or girlfriend, partner, spouse or significant other 124
22%
Teachers, coaches 66
12%
Parents, guardians 356
63%
Siblings 268
48%
Other family 119
21%
Clergy 10
2%
Counselors, therapists 52
9%
UCB student services support staff (counselor, advisor, etc.) 53
9%
No one (else) / myself only 22
4%
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 17 3%
Fairly dissatisfied 20 4%
A little dissatisfied 33 7%
A little satisfied 45 9%
Fairly satisfied 244 48%
Very satisfied 148 29%

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

ResponseNumberPercent
Very dissatisfied 18 3%
Fairly dissatisfied 15 3%
A little dissatisfied 28 5%
A little satisfied 66 12%
Fairly satisfied 239 45%
Very satisfied 165 31%

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 351 66%
No 180 34%

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