Cirp Freshman Survey Results

EXECUTIVE SUMMARY

CIRP FRESHMAN SURVEY RESULTS

FALL 2012

Each fall since 1992, the University of Idaho has administered the UCLA-HERI Cooperative Institutional Research Program (CIRP) Freshman Survey, in order to better understand our incoming class of students. The survey yields information on student demographics, study patterns and social activities in the senior year of high school, academic self-assessment, career goals, ways of financing college education, and objectives of college study. In addition, we are able to evaluate how University of Idaho students compare to students nationwide and from previous classes of University of Idaho students.The survey was administered in the English 101 and 102 courses required for University of Idaho freshmen; 1,160 firsttime, full-timestudents responded, yielding a ninety percent (90%) response rate.

More respondents reported they had an average grade in high school of A-, A or A+ than those in 2011 (47%, up 2%), with forty-seven percent (47%, no change) reporting a grade point average of B-, B or B+. Consistent with previous years, women reported higher GPAs than men; nineteen percent (19%) more women than men reporting they received a GPA of A-, A or A+ during high school. SAT Reading, Math and Writing scores were lower for University of Idaho students than for their peers at public universities, and lower than in 2011. U of Idaho ACT Composite scores were lower than those of public universities, though there was no change from the 2011 among UI respondents.

Seventy percent (70%, down 2%) of respondents estimate their parents make less than $100,000 per year (11% lower than their peers at public institutions), with the median in the range of $60,000 to $74,999, consistent with last year. Over one-half of students reported their fathers (53%, up 2%) and mothers (53%, up 2%) had a college degree or graduate education; both are less than their peers at public universities (who reported 59% for their fathers and 60% for their mothers).

Sixteen percent (16%) report they will use more than $10,000 of “family resources” compared with thirty-four percent (34%) of their peers at public universities. Seventy-two percent (72%, up 4%, compared to 52% of peers) expect to help pay for college with their “own resources.” Eighty percent (80%, up 5%) of University of Idaho students are receiving aid which need not be repaid (grants, scholarships, military funding, etc.), with thirteen percent (13%) receiving more than $10,000 compared to twenty-three percent (23%) of their peers. Fifty-two percent (52%, down 2%) received “aid which must be repaid” (the same amount as their peers).

CIRP FRESHMAN SURVEY RESULTS

FALL 2012

INTRODUCTION

Each fall since 1992, the University of Idaho has administered the UCLA-HERI Cooperative Institutional Research Program (CIRP) Freshman Survey, in order to better understand our incoming class of students. The survey generates information on student demographics, study patterns and social activities in the senior year of high school, academic self-assessment, career goals, ways of financing college education, and objectives of college study. In addition, we are able to evaluate how University of Idaho students compare to students nationwide and from previous classes of University of Idaho first-year student. These data are used to plan and improve academic programs and student services.

The survey was administered in the English 101 and 102 courses required for University of Idaho freshmen. 1,160first-time, full-time students responded, yielding a ninety percent (90%) response rate. Response rates are dependenton the cooperation of faculty and instructors in the Englishwriting courses, and the University of Idaho is grateful for their time and commitment to this project.

STUDENT DEMOGRAPHICS

Up slightly from previous years, ninety-two percent (92%) of first-time full-time freshmen graduated from public high schools, charter schools or magnet schools (4% more than other public universities);sevenpercent (7%) from private schools, and one percent (1%) were home-schooled. Ninety-five percent (95%,up 1% from last year) reported that they had graduated from high school in 2012 (compared to 99% of their peers at all public universities). Ninety-sixpercent (96%, up 1% from 2011) reported they are 19 years of age or younger. First-year women have consistently reported being slightly younger than men, with sixty-one percent (61%,down 3% from 2011) of women reporting they were 18 or younger on December 31, 2012 compared with fifty-four percent (54%,up 1%) of men.Ninety-six percent (96%) of respondents reported having no military status, while three percent (3%) were enrolled in ROTC, cadets, or midshipman at a service academy, and one percent (1%) were in Active Duty, Reserves, or the National Guard, or have been discharged from the service.

More respondents reported they had an average grade in high school of A-, A or A+ than those in 2011 (47%, up 2%), with forty-seven percent (47%, no change) reporting a grade point average of B-, B or B+. Consistent with previous years, women reported higher GPAs than men; nineteen percent (19%) more women than men reporting they received a GPA of A-, A or A+ during high school. SAT Reading, Math and Writing scores were lowerfor University of Idaho students than for their peers at public universities, and lower than in 2011. U of IdahoACT Composite scores were lower than those of public universities, though there was no change from 2011 among UI respondents.

When asked about their race/ethnicity group with the opportunity to report two or more races/ethnicities, seventy-nine percent (79%, no change) report they are White/Caucasian, and seventy-one percent (71%, up 1%) reported their permanent home is more than 100 miles away from the Moscow campus. Eighteen percent (18%, down 1%) report they are first generation in college. (Note: This is below the nearly 34% frequently reported as “first-generation” students at U of Idaho. The difference is primarily due to the CIRP defining “first-generation” as students whose parents have no postsecondary education while the UI admissions form asks whether either parent has obtained a bachelor’s degree. This is the correct question to determine eligibility for TRIO programs, but obviously results in a higher proportion of students classified as “first-generation” than are reported on this particular survey.)

Living oncampus is an institutional requirement, and as such ninety-one percent (91%, up 1%) planned to live in on-campus housing during their fall term at the University of Idaho, with overone-third (37%, up 4%) reporting they will live in a fraternity or sorority house compared to just under two percent (2%) of their peers at public universities. Nearly all respondents report they are U.S. citizens (98%) while ninety-four percent (94%, no change from 2011) reported English as their native language.

Seventy percent (70%, down 2%) of respondents estimate their parents make less than $100,000 per year (11% lower than their peers at public institutions), with the median in the range of $60,000 to $74,999, consistent with last year. Over one-half of students reported their fathers (53%, up 2%) and mothers (53%,up 2%) had a college degree or graduate education; both arelessthan their peers at public universities (who reported 59% for their fathers and 60% for their mothers).Sixty-sixpercent (66%, up 1%) of freshmen reported their parents are “both alive and living with each other” compared to seventy-one percent (71%) of their peers at public universities.

While twenty-six percent (26%, down 1%) percent of respondents reported their fathers have no religious preference andtwenty percent (20%, down 2%) reported their mothers have none, thirty-fivepercent (35%, down 2%) of freshmen reported they themselves have no religious preference, compared with only twenty-seven percent (27%) of their peers. In contrast, sixty-two percent (62%, up 1%) reported they frequently or occasionally attended religious services during the previous year; and, women report having a religious preference more often than men do.Likewise, fifteen percent (15%, down 6%) consider themselves “Born-Again Christian” and seven percent (7%, down 4%) consider themselves “Evangelical.” This is considerably lower than the last time this question was asked in 2010. Their peers report declines as well (down 2% and 10% respectively).

In a question restored to the survey this year from 2010, freshmen were asked how many years they studied specific subjects during high school. Ninety-six percent (96%, compared to 98% of their peers from public universities) studied English for at least four years; seventy-three percent (73% compared to 90%) studied mathematics for at least four years; seventy-eight percent (78%) studied a foreign language for two or more years (82% for peers); forty-nine percent (49%) studied physical science for two or more years (63% for peers); fifty-nine percent (59%, compared to 49% of peers) studied biological sciences for one year or less; fifty percent (50%, compared to 47%) studied history/American government for at least four years; fifty percent (50%, compared to 41%) studied computer science for one or more years; and, seventy-two percent (72%, compared to 86%) studied arts and/or music for at least one year. A new item this year asked students to mark the courses they have completed including Algebra II (95%), Pre-Calculus/Trigonometry (60%), Probability & Statistics (20%), Calculus (17%), AP Probability & Statistics (10%), and AP Calculus (13%). More of their peers from other public universities reported having taken these courses than did U of Idaho respondents.

An additional item restored from the 2010 survey asked students if they had any disabilities or medical conditions. University of Idaho students report higher incidence in almost all areas than do their peers at other public universities. Three percent (3%, compared to 2% of peers) report having a learning disability; five percent (5%, compared to 4%) have attention deficit hyperactivity disorder; one percent (1%, compared to less than .51%) have autism spectrum/Asperger’s syndrome; three percent (3%, slightly above peers’ 2.6%) have a physical disability (speech, sight, mobility, hearing, etc.); and five percent (5%, compared to 4%) have a psychological disorder (depression, etc.). The only area in which their peers responded with a higher rate than U of Idaho students was chronic illness (1%, compared to 2%), which includes such things as cancer, diabetes, autoimmune disorders, etc.

Ten percent (10%, up 1%) of University of Idaho freshmen had previously taken courses for credit from the University of Idaho, while only six percent (6%) of their peers had taken courses for credit from their own institutions. Thirteen percent (13%, no change) of University of Idaho students had taken courses from other institutions since leaving high school, as had elevenpercent (11%) of their peers.

Seventy-two percent (72%, no change) of students reported that the University of Idaho was their first choice for college this year, compared with sixty-three percent (63%) of peers reporting the same regarding the public university they are attending. Ninety-four percent (94%, up 1%) reported they were accepted by their first choice college, compared with only seventy-eight percent (78%) of their peers at public universities. Thirty-onepercent (31%, up 1%, and compared to 15% of peers) did not apply for admission to any colleges other than the University of Idaho.

In a new question this year, eleven percent (11%) of U of Idaho students reported they consider themselves to be Pre-Med compared with twenty-one percent (21%) of their peers, and five percent (5%) reported they are Pre-Law compared with six percent (6%) of their peers.

RESPONSE COMPARISONS

Skills and Abilities

Each year, freshmen are asked to rate themselves on a list of skills and abilities "compared with the average person your age". The chart below shows the differences in the ratings between University of Idaho students and their peers at other public institutions. University of Idaho students have consistently reported their abilities as lower than their peers in all areas except “physical health.”

Activities

Each year students are asked to report on their activities during the previous year, typically their senior year in high school. The top five activities in which students reported participating “frequently” or “occasionally” this year were: “used the Internet for research or homework” (98%, down 1%);“was bored in class” (93%, no change); “performed volunteer work” (88%, up 4%); “asked a teacher for advice after class” (87%, up 2%); and, “studied with other students” (87%, no change).Additional areas with a high response rate were “felt overwhelmed by all I had to do” (86%, no change), and “socialized with someone of another racial/ethnic group” (93%, down 3%).

The table below illustrates the areas with differences five percent (5%) or more in responses from University of Idaho students and students from other public universities who participated in the activity “frequently” or “occasionally.”

Other activities of interest included: “demonstrated for/against a cause” with twenty-three percent (23%, down 4%) of University of Idaho students reporting “frequently” or “occasionally” compared to twenty-six percent (26%) of peers; “felt overwhelmed by all I had to do” (UI 86% down 1%, peers 87%); “felt depressed” (UI 49% no change, peers 45%); “came late to class” (UI 51% down 1%, peers 54%); “discussed politics” ( UI 82% down 1%, peers 84%); “worked on a local, state, or national political campaign” ( UI 9% down 2%, peers 9%); “skipped school/class” (UI 33% down <1%, peers 29%); “helped raise money for a cause or campaign” (UI 53% down 2%, peers 57%); and, “fell asleep in class” (UI 43% down <1%, peers 47%).

Financing College Education

Students from all public institutions are concerned about their ability to finance their college education. Sixty-eight percent (68%,down 2% from 2011) of University of Idaho students are concerned,slightly lower this year than the last several years, and the same as their peers. Eight out of ten students report that there is “some” or a “very good” chance that they will have to get a job to help pay for college expenses, with one-third (33%, down 1%) reporting the chances are good they will work full-time while attending college. Of students who report they expect to work during their first semester,five percent (5%, down 3%) expect to be working 25 or more hours per week, with nearly nine out of ten working between one and seventeen hours per week.

Twenty-six percent (26%) of University of Idaho students will use no “family resources” to support their education, while nineteen percent (19%) of their peers will not use any. This disparity is not surprising given the slightly higher income estimatesfor the parents of students from their peer institutions. Sixteen percent (16%) report they will use more than $10,000 of “family resources” compared with thirty-four percent (34%) of their peers at public universities. Seventy-two percent (72%, up 4%, compared to 67% of peers) expect to help pay for college with their “own resources.” Eighty percent (80%, up 5%) of University of Idaho students are receiving aid which need not be repaid (grants, scholarships, military funding, etc.), with thirteen percent (13%) receiving more than $10,000 compared to twenty-three percent (23%) of their peers.Fifty-twopercent (52%, down 2%) received “aid which must be repaid” (the same amount as their peers). Five percent (5%, down 1%, compared to 7% of peers) will use money from “other” sources.

Reasons for Attending College

Consistent with previous years, the reason most frequently selectedas “very important” or “somewhat important” for attending the University of Idaho is “this college has a very good academic reputation” (91%,no change, but 5% below peers). Additional top reasons, similar to previous years, include “the cost of attending this college” (89%, up 5%, 9% above peers); “this college’s graduates get good jobs” (83%, up 3%, 5% lower than peers); “this college has a good reputation for its social activities” (81%, up 1%,3% lower than peers); and “I was offered financial assistance” (81%, up 5%, 15% abovepeers).

Those items with the least impact on the decision to attend the University of Idaho, and reported as “very important” by the fewest number of respondents, included “private college counselor advised me” (2%, no change), “the ability to take online courses” (1%, down 2%), and “I was attracted by the religious affiliation/orientation of the college” (1%, down 1%).

It is interesting to note that percentages increased in all areas where someone advised students to attend the University of Idaho. Remaining reasons that students felt were “very important” or “somewhat” important in their decision to attend the University of Idaho were:

• “A visit to campus” (76%, up 4%);
• “I wanted to go to a school about the size of this college” (76%, up 4%);
• “This college’s graduates gain admission to top graduate/professional schools” (59%, down 3%);
• “My parents wanted me to come here” (50%, up 2%);
• “Information from a website” (45%, up 1%);
• “I wanted to live near home” (43%, no change);
• “Rankings in national magazines” (41%, up 5%);
• “My high school counselor advised me” (34%, up 2%);
• “My teacher advised me” (33%, up 2%);
• “My relatives wanted me to come here” (32%, up 2%);
• “Could not afford first choice” (29%, up 1%);
• “I was admitted through an Early Action or Early Decision program” (28%, up 9%);
• “Not offered aid by first choice (23%, up 2%);
• “The athletic department recruited me” (11%, no change); and,
• “The percentage of students who graduate from this college” (64%, new this year).

Seventy percent (70%, up 1%) of University of Idaho respondents “agree strongly” or “agree somewhat” that “the current economic situation significantly affected my college choice” while only sixty-four percent (64%) of their peers agree strongly or somewhat.

Again this year students were asked how important certain elements were in their decisions to go to college in general. Those responses, in order of importance to UI students, were “to learn more about things that interest me” (99%, no change); “to be able to get a better job” (98%, no change); “to get training for a specific career” (98%, up 1%);“to be able to make more money” (96%, down 1%); “to gain a general education and appreciation of ideas” (97%, no change);“to make me a more cultured person” (85%, down 2%); and, “to prepare myself for graduate or professional school” (78%, down 6%).

Nearly three-quarters (73%) of University of Idaho respondents reported that the highest academic degree they intend to obtain “at any college” was either a bachelor’s or master’s degree, with an additional twenty-four percent (24%,down 2%) reporting they plan to obtain a Ph.D., Ed.D., J.D., medical, or divinity degree. Ninety-eight percent (98%, down 1%) of University of Idaho respondents reported they planned to obtain their degree at this college. However, when asked specifically “do you expect to complete your degree at University of Idaho”, only seventy-six percent (76%, up 4%) responded “yes”, while eleven percent (11%, down1%) do not plan to earn a degree or plan to transfer, and twelve percent (12%, down 4%) reported, “I don’t know.” Likewise, when asked what the chance are that you will “transfer to another college before graduating”, over a quarter of the students (28%) reported there was “some chance” or a “very good chance.” For thenine percent (9%, up 1%) whoreport they are planning to transfer, the primary reason is “personal” (32%, up2%), with an additional twenty-two percent (22%, down 5%) reporting that they are looking for a “stronger program in major/career interest.” Other reasons for transferring include “financial reasons” (19%, down 3%), “the UI doesn’t offer a major in my chosen field” (17%, up 3%), and “other college/university closer to home” (60%, up 4%). In a new item this year, fourteen percent (14%) of students reported the chances were “very good” or “some chance” that they will “take a leave of absence from” the university temporarily.Twenty-three percent (23%) report they expect to take three or fewer years to graduate and seventy-five percent (75%) report they expect to take four years to graduate from university.