2016 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 disagreeDisagreeDisagree somewhatAgree somewhatAgreeStrongly agree
UC Berkeley has a strong commitment to undergraduate education 1 5 13 74 137 132
0% 1% 4% 20% 38% 37%
Attending a university with world-class researchers is important to me 5 2 13 71 115 155
1% 1% 4% 20% 32% 43%
The emphasis on research at UC Berkeley detracts from the quality of teaching on this campus 29 51 70 82 66 59
8% 14% 20% 23% 19% 17%

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 12 7 34 79 111 119
3% 2% 9% 22% 31% 33%
The prestige of this campus when you apply for a job 5 2 25 66 126 137
1% 1% 7% 18% 35% 38%
Having access to a world-class library collection 2 16 55 76 107 104
1% 4% 15% 21% 30% 29%
Being able to attend plays, concerts, lectures, and other cultural events 6 31 58 97 82 88
2% 9% 16% 27% 23% 24%

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 189
52%
As a quiet place to study 196
54%
For help in learning to do academic research 195
54%
To find scholarly articles 194
54%
For help in organizing my research 199
55%
As a place to work on group projects 190
53%
For printing, copying and scanning 174
48%
To find books 207
57%
Other (please specify)
[Contact OPA for more information]
4
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
1 139 43%
2 73 23%
3 41 13%
4 37 12%
5 19 6%
6 7 2%
7 7 2%

- Individual help by appointment

ResponseNumberPercent
1 73 22%
2 87 27%
3 71 22%
4 41 13%
5 42 13%
6 9 3%
7 3 1%

- Take an hour-long class in library research methods

ResponseNumberPercent
1 22 7%
2 23 7%
3 33 10%
4 50 16%
5 47 15%
6 131 41%
7 13 4%

- Use a virtual chat widget

ResponseNumberPercent
1 19 6%
2 38 12%
3 39 12%
4 61 19%
5 89 28%
6 70 22%
7 5 2%

- Email

ResponseNumberPercent
1 58 18%
2 58 18%
3 65 20%
4 66 20%
5 47 14%
6 25 8%
7 7 2%

- Phone

ResponseNumberPercent
1 20 6%
2 39 12%
3 73 23%
4 58 18%
5 66 21%
6 57 18%
7 7 2%

- Other [Contact OPA for more information]

ResponseNumberPercent
1 6 8%
2 3 4%
3 1 1%
4 5 7%
5 8 11%
6 12 17%
7 37 51%

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 1 0%
Rarely 16 5%
Occasionally 61 17%
Somewhat often 86 24%
Often 99 28%
Very often 90 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 5 1%
Not very important 29 8%
Somewhat important 54 15%
Important 58 16%
Very important 91 26%
Essential 118 33%
Not applicable 0 0%

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 87 147 117
25% 42% 33%
From UC Berkeley advisors 73 142 136
21% 41% 39%
From friends 80 159 111
23% 45% 32%
From fellow UC Berkeley students 72 123 153
21% 35% 44%
From former teachers, instructors, or counselors 63 193 97
18% 55% 28%

What do you plan to do about a major?

ResponseNumberPercent
I have declared a major 171 49%
I will declare a major as soon as possible 171 49%
I plan to take my time and explore options 10 3%

Student Life and 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
20 90 247
6% 25% 69%
Acquire a well-rounded general education 6 73 276
2% 21% 78%
Explore and discover my personal identity 25 83 249
7% 23% 70%
Achieve a high GPA 21 99 236
6% 28% 66%
Form (a) romantic relationship(s) 156 111 88
44% 31% 25%
Establish meaningful friendships 12 98 247
3% 28% 69%
Be in a position to make a lot of money after finishing my education 50 136 171
14% 38% 48%
Explore new ideas 2 71 283
1% 20% 80%
Enjoy my college years before assuming adult responsibilities 61 121 175
17% 34% 49%
Develop an in-depth understanding of a specific field of study 7 60 290
2% 17% 81%
Integrate spirituality into my life 157 81 119
44% 23% 33%
Establish social networks that will help further my career 12 97 248
3% 27% 70%

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 43 40 39 50 74 109
12% 11% 11% 14% 21% 31%
Finding affordable housing while I'm a student at UC Berkeley 49 30 39 52 63 122
14% 9% 11% 15% 18% 34%
Getting into my first choice of major 123 39 42 35 41 71
35% 11% 12% 10% 12% 20%
Being able to maintain a high GPA 15 15 30 73 86 134
4% 4% 9% 21% 24% 38%
Getting the academic advising I need 36 25 48 86 80 78
10% 7% 14% 24% 23% 22%
Getting the career and professional advising I need 33 18 40 74 93 93
9% 5% 11% 21% 27% 27%
Getting the psychological counseling I might need 75 63 67 54 43 50
21% 18% 19% 15% 12% 14%
Getting along with my roommate(s) 114 50 50 52 49 37
32% 14% 14% 15% 14% 11%
Being able to balance academic and social activities 31 25 55 69 93 80
9% 7% 16% 20% 26% 23%
Being able to make the kind of friends I want 36 21 43 80 93 81
10% 6% 12% 23% 26% 23%
Being away from family and friends; being 'homesick' 94 48 53 69 41 48
27% 14% 15% 20% 12% 14%
Being able to maintain good health 40 37 43 62 72 95
12% 11% 12% 18% 21% 27%
Being able to cope with expectations of parents and family 88 41 45 75 52 51
25% 12% 13% 21% 15% 15%
Being overwhelmed with all the things I'm expected to do my first semester 34 18 44 77 79 101
10% 5% 13% 22% 22% 29%
Regretting my decision to attend UC Berkeley 171 51 35 45 29 21
49% 15% 10% 13% 8% 6%

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 92 26%
(5) 124 35%
(4) 82 23%
(3) 37 11%
(2) 15 4%
(1) Hostile 3 1%
ResponseNumberPercent
(6) Caring 71 20%
(5) 92 26%
(4) 93 26%
(3) 61 17%
(2) 27 8%
(1) Impersonal 10 3%
ResponseNumberPercent
(6) Intellectual 188 53%
(5) 97 28%
(4) 47 13%
(3) 14 4%
(2) 5 1%
(1) Not intellectual 2 1%
ResponseNumberPercent
(6) Appreciative of diversity 129 37%
(5) 125 36%
(4) 57 16%
(3) 26 7%
(2) 9 3%
(1) Unappreciative of diversity 6 2%
ResponseNumberPercent
(6) Safe 64 18%
(5) 93 27%
(4) 89 25%
(3) 54 15%
(2) 34 10%
(1) Dangerous 17 5%
ResponseNumberPercent
(6) Too hard academically 40 11%
(5) 114 32%
(4) 147 42%
(3) 44 13%
(2) 7 2%
(1) Too easy academically 0 0%
ResponseNumberPercent
(6) Affordable 22 6%
(5) 44 13%
(4) 78 22%
(3) 82 23%
(2) 79 22%
(1) Not affordable 48 14%

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
1 160 46%
2 87 25%
3 45 13%
4 24 7%
5 32 9%

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

ResponseNumberPercent
1 70 20%
2 60 17%
3 62 18%
4 54 16%
5 102 29%

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

ResponseNumberPercent
1 42 12%
2 60 17%
3 68 20%
4 102 29%
5 76 22%

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

ResponseNumberPercent
1 57 16%
2 84 24%
3 102 29%
4 76 22%
5 29 8%

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

ResponseNumberPercent
1 17 5%
2 51 15%
3 69 20%
4 93 27%
5 118 34%

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

 Very poorPoorFairGoodVery goodExcellent
Understanding of the complexities of global issues 5 19 89 118 77 42
1% 5% 25% 34% 22% 12%
Ability to apply disciplinary knowledge in a global context 3 17 88 130 66 46
1% 5% 25% 37% 19% 13%
Comfort working with people from other cultures 1 3 25 86 117 118
0% 1% 7% 25% 33% 34%

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 13 4%
Disagree 5 1%
Disagree somewhat 20 6%
Agree somewhat 74 21%
Agree 138 39%
Strongly agree 100 29%

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 61 17%
2 64 18%
3 65 18%
4 47 13%
5 51 14%
6 43 12%
7 30 8%

- Choosing classes

ResponseNumberPercent
1 99 27%
2 67 19%
3 60 17%
4 36 10%
5 35 10%
6 42 12%
7 22 6%

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

ResponseNumberPercent
1 34 9%
2 40 11%
3 58 16%
4 63 18%
5 66 18%
6 61 17%
7 39 11%

- Financial aid and scholarships

ResponseNumberPercent
1 48 13%
2 60 17%
3 45 13%
4 51 14%
5 52 14%
6 52 14%
7 52 14%

- Understanding Campus Resources

ResponseNumberPercent
1 21 6%
2 30 8%
3 42 12%
4 75 21%
5 81 22%
6 75 21%
7 37 10%

- Selecting a major

ResponseNumberPercent
1 49 14%
2 31 9%
3 21 6%
4 23 6%
5 24 7%
6 51 14%
7 162 45%

- Academic Support

ResponseNumberPercent
1 60 17%
2 64 18%
3 63 18%
4 68 19%
5 53 15%
6 31 9%
7 21 6%

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

Selected
CalSO leader (student CalSO staff) 41
11%
College advisor in your home College (e.g., Letters & Science, College of Engineering) 80
21%
Major advisor 246
65%
- 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) 24
6%
Faculty member 35
9%
Another student 88
23%
Parent, Guardian, or family member 62
16%
Online (e.g., departmental website, forum, catalog review) 138
36%
Friend(s) 97
26%
No one 30
8%
Other
[Contact OPA for more information]
8
2%

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

ResponseNumberPercent
CalSO leader 6 2%
College advisor in your home College (e.g., Letters & Science, College of Engineering) 31 9%
Major advisor 169 46%
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) 7 2%
Faculty member 7 2%
Another student 22 6%
Parent, Guardian, or family member 12 3%
Online (e.g., departmental website, forum, catalog review) 57 16%
Friend(s) 11 3%
No one 40 11%
Other
[Contact OPA for more information]
2 1%

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 15 4%
Dissatisfied 20 6%
Somewhat dissatisfied 41 11%
Somewhat satisfied 112 31%
Satisfied 127 35%
Very satisfied 50 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?

ResponseNumberPercent
Yes 48 13%
No 315 87%

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 62 17%
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.) 9 3%
Course(s) fulfilled a major requirement 156 44%
I found the subject generally interesting 65 18%
Parental desires 2 1%
Prepares me for my major 28 8%
Recommendation of another new UC Berkeley student 2 1%
Recommendation of continuing UC Berkeley student 9 3%
Reputation of professor 8 2%
The course fit my schedule 10 3%

Second:

ResponseNumberPercent
Academic Advisor 44 12%
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.) 52 15%
Course(s) fulfilled a major requirement 56 16%
I found the subject generally interesting 64 18%
I thought/had heard a course was not as rigorous or demanding 8 2%
Parental desires 3 1%
Prepares me for my major 49 14%
Recommendation of another new UC Berkeley student 6 2%
Recommendation of continuing UC Berkeley student 23 7%
Reputation of professor 9 3%
The course fit my schedule 39 11%

Third:

ResponseNumberPercent
Academic Advisor 40 11%
Co-curricular Advisor/Student Services Support Staff 4 1%
Course(s) fulfilled a general or breadth requirement (e.g., Reading and Composition, American Cultures, Foreign Languages, etc.) 21 6%
Course(s) fulfilled a major requirement 38 11%
I found the subject generally interesting 71 20%
I thought/had heard a course was not as rigorous or demanding 11 3%
Parental desires 4 1%
Prepares me for my major 52 15%
Recommendation of another new UC Berkeley student 10 3%
Recommendation of continuing UC Berkeley student 8 2%
Reputation of professor 19 5%
The course fit my schedule 76 22%

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 8 16 28 97 138 65
2% 5% 8% 28% 39% 19%
Availability of courses to fulfill prerequisite requirements 7 9 36 92 137 72
2% 3% 10% 26% 39% 20%
Ability to get into the lectures or seminars (i.e., primary courses) you wanted 12 22 43 68 141 70
3% 6% 12% 19% 40% 20%
Ability to get into the discussion sections or labs (i.e., secondary courses) you wanted 15 19 39 87 130 67
4% 5% 11% 24% 36% 19%
Variety of courses available 8 17 30 92 135 75
2% 5% 8% 26% 38% 21%
Access to small classes 22 34 63 92 98 47
6% 10% 18% 26% 28% 13%

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

 Strongly disagreeDisagreeSomewhat disagreeSomewhat agreeAgreeStrongly 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 UC Berkeley. 35 105 55 72 57 37
10% 29% 15% 20% 16% 10%
I have had trouble finding out what UC Berkeley degree requirements I have already satisfied through my past coursework. 43 109 61 76 35 36
12% 30% 17% 21% 10% 10%
I have had trouble finding out how many transferable units have been accepted and will count toward my UC Berkeley degree. 51 102 50 70 38 48
14% 28% 14% 20% 11% 13%

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

ResponseNumberPercent
Yes 182 51%
No 129 36%
I am not sure 49 14%

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

ResponseNumberPercent
1 45 25%
2 44 25%
3 16 9%
4 5 3%
5 or more 10 6%
I am not sure 58 33%

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