Abstract
Background and Methodology
Enrollment Management-Related Information
Demographic Information
Expectations and Values Information
Summary and Conclusions

ABSTRACT

This report describes the results of the Summer 2003 administration of the BGSU First Year Student Questionnaire (BFYSQ) to new main campus first year students. The BFYSQ is designed to collect enrollment management-related data, demographic data not otherwise collected as a result of BGSU's admission and registration processes, and data on students' values and expectations. Its use supports both assessment and enrollment management activities. Results are used in this report to provide a descriptive profile of the freshman class (serving as a companion report to the Office of Undergraduate Admissions' Freshman Class Profile). BFYSQ data are also maintained in databases within the Office of Institutional Research and are studied as predictors of outcomes such as retention, GPAs, and graduation rates. This report includes a summary and conclusions as well as detailed tabular responses.

BACKGROUND AND METHODOLOGY

The need for assessment and enrollment management-related information about Bowling Green State University's first year students prompted the development of the BGSU First Year Student Questionnaire (BFYSQ) in 1997. The literature on college student learning, development, and persistence clearly shows that students' pre-college characteristics, aspirations, expectations, and values play a crucial role in outcomes such as retention, grades, graduation, and educational and personal gains. Since no single commercially-available questionnaire would provide the data specifically needed by BGSU in a timely and cost effective manner, the BFYSQ was developed by the Office of Institutional Research. The results of the BFYSQ are comparable to those of the ACE/UCLA "Freshman Survey" administered at BGSU between 1973 and 1979 and between 1990 and 1995, and the "BGSU Freshman Survey" administered between 1980 and 1989. The Office of Institutional Research plans to administer the BFYSQ to new freshmen each year before they matriculate. 

All admitted 2003 first time first year freshmen were asked to fill out BFYSQ online. A total of 1,163 questionnaires were received, which represented about 33% of the first time first year freshman class. This rate is much lower than last year's response rate (70%, paper survey). As a result, the questionnaire will return to a printed format for 2004.

To examine how representative the survey respondents were of the entire first year first time freshman class, the demographic characteristics of the 1163 survey respondents were compared to all entering 2003 first year first time freshmen. There is a high degree of race, college, and residential status similarity between the respondents and the population. Female respondents, however, are over represented (71% in survey vs. 58% in population). This limitation and the low response rate require that all results from this survey be interpreted with some caution.

BFYSQ results were analyzed by noting the percentages of participants who provided various responses to each questionnaire item. Percentages may not always sum to 100 due to rounding. Results were also compared with those of previous similar questionnaires. The following pages highlight these findings. 

ENROLLMENT MANAGEMENT-RELATED INFORMATION

How many other colleges besides BGSU did you apply to?

How many other colleges besides BGSU admitted you this year? 

Among colleges to attend, was BGSU your . . . 

2003 respondents seemed more likely than the freshmen in 1992 and 2002 to report that BGSU was their first choice to attend.

How important were each of the following in your decision to attend college in general? (Percent "Very Important")

Compared with the freshmen in 2002 and 1992, 2003 freshmen were less likely to claim that being able to make more money as well as to get a better job were the very important reasons for them to attend college in general. They were, however, more likely than the 2002 and 1992 freshmen to report that preparing for a professional career, learning more about interesting things and other people, gaining a general education and appreciation of ideas, making them a more cultured person, getting away from home, improving their reading and study skills, and a mentor/role model encouraged them to go were the very important reasons for them to attend college in general.

How important were each of the following in your decision to attend BGSU? (Percent "Very Important")

"BGSU graduates get good jobs", "BGSU offers unique education programs", "my BGSU visit was pleasant and friendly", "BGSU's academic reputation" are the very important reasons for students to choose BGSU. 2003 freshmen were more likely than the 2002 freshmen to consider each item on the table above as the very important reasons to attend BGSU.

DEMOGRAPHIC INFORMATION

How many miles from BGSU is your permanent home?

What is your best estimate of your parents' income?

The percentage of students whose estimated parental income was $75,000 or more increased from 17% in 1992 to 41% in 2002, but decreased to 31% between 2002 and 2003.

How much of your first year's educational expenses do you expect to cover from each of the sources listed below? (Percent $1,500 and Over)

How concerned are you about your ability to finance your college education?

How many hours per week during the school year do you plan to be employed?

Families were still the major finance source for majority of 2003 freshmen. However, only 61% of 2003 freshman expected their parents, relatives, and friends will pay $1,500 or more of their first year expense, compared with 74% of last year's freshmen. 2003 freshmen were more concerned about their ability to finance their college education than were freshmen in 2002 and in 1992. They were also more likely to work longer hours in order to support themselves.

For each of the following items, please indicate the number of years you participated while in 9th-12th grade (Percent "Two Years or More"):

For each of the following items, please indicate your level of involvement while in 9th-12th grade (Percent "Highly Involved"):

Fifty percent or more of the 2003 freshmen spent two or more years participating in most of the activities listed on the survey during their high school years, and they seemed more likely to be highly involved with all the activities other than athletics when compared them with 2002 freshmen.

What is the highest level of formal education obtained by your parents?

Your Father's Occupation:

Your Mother's Occupation:

Your Probable Occupation: