|
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 2001 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, GPA¡¯s, 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 summer before
they matriculate.
The BFYSQ was distributed to all new first year students registered for BGSU¡¯s Orientation and Registration Program. A total
of 2,972 questionnaires were returned. This represents a 83% response rate from among the 3,575 new freshmen who participated
in summer 2001 Orientation and Registration Program. 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?
| |
1991
|
|
2000
|
|
2001 |
| None |
28% |
|
29% |
|
29% |
| 1 |
20% |
|
25% |
|
24% |
| 2 |
23% |
|
25% |
|
25% |
| Three or More |
29% |
|
21% |
|
22% |
How many other colleges besides BGSU admitted you this year?
|
|
1991
|
|
2000
|
|
2001 |
| None |
NA |
|
34% |
|
35% |
| One |
NA |
|
29% |
|
29% |
| Two |
NA |
|
22% |
|
21% |
| Three or More |
NA |
|
16% |
|
15% |
Among colleges to attend, was BGSU your . . .
|
|
1991
|
|
2000 |
|
2001 |
| First Choice |
81%
|
|
84% |
|
82% |
| Second Choice |
16%
|
|
15% |
|
16% |
| Less Than Second Choice |
3%
|
|
2% |
|
2% |
How important were each of the following in your decision to attend college in general? (Percent "Very Important")
| |
1991 |
|
2000 |
|
2001 |
| To Prepare for a Professional Career |
NA |
|
88% |
|
88% |
| To Get a Better Job |
82% |
|
73% |
|
71% |
| To Be Able to Make More Money |
72% |
|
63% |
|
63% |
| To Learn More about Things That Interest me |
68% |
|
62% |
|
61% |
| To Gain a General Education |
55% |
|
51% |
|
51% |
| To Make Me a More Cultured Person |
34% |
|
29% |
|
29% |
| To Improve My Reading and Study Skills |
29% |
|
28% |
|
26% |
| My Parents Wanted Me to Go |
30% |
|
24% |
|
25% |
| To Learn More About Other People |
NA |
|
25% |
|
24% |
| I Wanted to Get Away from Home |
21% |
|
21% |
|
22% |
| A Mentor/Role Model Encouraged Me to Go |
NA |
|
11% |
|
10% |
How important were each of the following in your decision to attend BGSU? (Percent "Very Important")
| |
1991 |
|
2000 |
|
2001 |
| BGSU graduates get good jobs |
NA |
|
50% |
|
50% |
| My BGSU visit was pleasant and friendly |
NA |
|
42% |
|
41% |
| BGSU offers unique educational programs |
NA |
|
40% |
|
38% |
| BGSU¡¯s academic reputation |
NA |
|
39% |
|
38% |
DEMOGRAPHIC INFORMATION
How many miles from BGSU is your permanent home?
| |
1991 |
|
2000 |
|
2001 |
| 10 miles or Less |
2% |
|
4% |
|
5% |
| 11 to 50 miles |
19% |
|
23% |
|
24% |
| 51 to 100 miles |
19% |
|
18% |
|
18% |
| 101 to 500 miles |
58% |
|
53% |
|
52% |
| Over 500 miles |
2% |
|
3% |
|
2% |
What is your best estimate of your parents' income?
| |
1991 |
|
2000 |
|
2001 |
| Less than $30,000 |
18% |
|
8% |
|
8% |
| $30,000-$49,999 |
33% |
|
18% |
|
19% |
| $50,000-$74,999 |
31% |
|
33% |
|
30% |
| $75,000-$99,999 |
10% |
|
21% |
|
21% |
| $100,000 or More |
8% |
|
20% |
|
22% |
Compared with 1991, the percentage of students whose estimated parental income was $75,000 or more doubled from 18% in 1991
to 43% in 2001. The percentage of students whose estimated parental income was $49,000 or below decreased from 51% in 1991
to 27% in 2001.
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)
| |
1991 |
|
2000 |
|
2001 |
| Parents |
69% |
|
73% |
|
74% |
| Other College Loan |
3% |
|
29% |
|
33% |
| Ford Direct Subsidized Loan |
NA |
|
27% |
|
28% |
| Other College Grant/Scholarship |
5% |
|
26% |
|
26% |
| Savings From Summer Work |
12% |
|
23% |
|
22% |
| Other Loan |
3% |
|
15% |
|
18% |
| Other Savings |
9% |
|
17% |
|
17% |
| College Work Study |
2% |
|
11% |
|
13% |
| Pell Grant |
3% |
|
10% |
|
11% |
| Other Source |
1% |
|
7% |
|
8% |
| Part-Time Job On Campus |
2% |
|
6% |
|
7% |
| Perkins Loan |
1% |
|
9% |
|
6% |
| Part-Time Job Off Campus |
1% |
|
4% |
|
4% |
| Ohio Instructional Grant |
NA |
|
3% |
|
3% |
| Other Private Grant |
NA |
|
3% |
|
2% |
How concerned are you about your ability to finance your college education?
| |
1991 |
|
2000 |
|
2001 |
| Not at All |
NA |
|
29% |
|
30% |
| Somewhat |
NA |
|
56% |
|
54% |
| Very |
NA |
|
15% |
|
16% |
How many hours per week during the school year do you plan to be employed?
| |
1991 |
|
2000 |
|
2001 |
| None |
NA |
|
29% |
|
28% |
| 1 to 9 |
NA |
|
20% |
|
21% |
| 10 to 19 |
NA |
|
40% |
|
39% |
| 20 to 39 |
NA |
|
11% |
|
12% |
| 40 or More |
NA |
|
0% |
|
0% |
The vast majority (99%) of respondents indicated that English is their native language and 74% of them reported that both
of their parents are alive and living together.
For each of the following items, please indicate your level of involvement while in 9th-12th grade (Percent "Highly Involved"):
| |
1991 |
|
2000 |
|
2001 |
|
Athletics
|
NA |
|
64%
|
|
66% |
|
Part-time job
|
NA |
|
54%
|
|
55% |
|
Community service
|
NA |
|
30%
|
|
30% |
|
Band or orchestra
|
NA |
|
27%
|
|
28% |
|
Religious organization
|
NA |
|
26%
|
|
27% |
|
Choir or vocal ensemble
|
NA |
|
22%
|
|
22% |
|
Theatre
|
NA |
|
22%
|
|
21% |
|
Academic honor society
|
NA |
|
18%
|
|
18% |
|
Student council
|
NA |
|
17%
|
|
18% |
|
Yearbook
|
NA |
|
16%
|
|
17% |
|
Class officer
|
NA |
|
15%
|
|
14% |
|
Newspaper
|
NA |
|
12%
|
|
11% |
|
Debate
|
NA |
|
4%
|
|
4% |
|
ROTC
|
NA |
|
1%
|
|
2% |
What is the highest level of formal education obtained by your parents?
| |
Father |
Mother |
| High school graduate |
30% |
32% |
| Some college |
17% |
17% |
| College degree |
29% |
29% |
| Graduate degree |
15% |
13% |
| |
|
1991 |
|
2000 |
|
2001 |
Mother and father high school or less:
At least one parent a college graduate:
Both parents college graduates:
|
|
NA
NA
NA
|
|
19%
59%
29%
|
|
18%
59%
29%
|
Your Father's Occupation (10% or More Than 10% of Respondents):
| |
1991 |
|
2000 |
|
2001 |
| Business |
30% |
|
33% |
|
23% |
| Other |
25% |
|
18% |
|
20% |
| Semi-skilled worker |
5% |
|
3% |
|
11% |
Your Mother's Occupation(10% or More Than 10% of Respondents):
| |
1991 |
|
2000 |
|
2001 |
| Other |
24% |
|
20% |
|
22% |
| Business |
22% |
|
25% |
|
13% |
| Actor, Artist, or Musician |
1% |
|
0% |
|
11% |
Your Probable Occupation (10% or More Than 10% of Respondents):
| |
1991 |
|
2000 |
|
2001 |
| Undecided |
11% |
|
19% |
|
18% |
| Business |
15% |
|
15% |
|
17% |
| Other |
10% |
|
11% |
|
13% |
| Therapist |
6% |
|
2% |
|
11% |
| Teacher or administrator |
20% |
|
23% |
|
10% |
2001 students were more likely to report that they would become therapists and less likely to report that they would become
teachers or administrators than were earlier groups of first year students.
What is the highest degree you plan to obtain anywhere?
| |
1991 |
|
2000 |
|
2001 |
| Bachelor's |
34% |
|
13% |
|
14% |
| Master's |
44% |
|
62% |
|
64% |
| Doctorate |
12% |
|
12% |
|
10% |
| Professional |
7% |
|
12% |
|
12% |
What is the highest degree you plan to obtain at BGSU?
| |
1991 |
|
2000 |
|
2001 |
| Bachelor's |
72% |
|
75% |
|
78% |
| Master's |
20% |
|
22% |
|
19% |
| Doctorate |
3% |
|
2% |
|
1% |
Although increased number of students would like to obtain a Master's degree anywhere between early 1990's and early 2000's,
their most frequent academic goal at BGSU is a Bachelor's degree.
Do you feel that you will need any special tutoring or remedial work in any of the following subjects?
| |
1991 |
|
2000 |
|
2001 |
| English |
10% |
|
6% |
|
6% |
| Reading |
5% |
|
2% |
|
2% |
| Mathematics |
27% |
|
21% |
|
24% |
| Social Studies |
2% |
|
1% |
|
2% |
| Science |
12% |
|
6% |
|
7% |
| Foreign Language |
10% |
|
7% |
|
8% |
Like the years before, mathematics is the only subject where a sizeable percentage of freshmen are concerned about their academic
preparation for college work.
EXPECTATIONS AND VALUES INFORMATION
What is your estimate of the chance that you will . . . (Percent "Very Good")
| |
1991
|
|
2000 |
|
2001 |
| get a Bachelor's Degree |
79% |
|
77% |
|
78% |
| find a job in my major after graduation |
72% |
|
71% |
|
72% |
| be satisfied with BGSU |
52% |
|
60% |
|
60% |
| get a job to help pay for college |
48% |
|
51% |
|
54% |
| make at least a B average |
44% |
|
48% |
|
46% |
What is your estimate of the chance that you will . . . (Percent "None")
| |
1991
|
|
2000 |
|
2001 |
| drop out of college permanently |
NA |
|
89% |
|
91% |
| drop out of college temporarily |
NA |
|
78% |
|
79% |
| get married while in college |
NA |
|
52% |
|
54% |
| fail one or more courses |
NA |
|
47% |
|
46% |
| work full-time while attending |
NA |
|
40% |
|
39% |
| transfer to another college before graduation |
NA |
|
39% |
|
38% |
How important are each of the following to you? (Percent "Essential" or "Very Important")
| |
1991 |
|
2000 |
|
2001 |
| being very well off financially |
71% |
|
83% |
|
84% |
| raising a family |
72% |
|
78% |
|
78% |
| helping others in difficulty |
60% |
|
69% |
|
69% |
| becoming an authority in my field |
69% |
|
64% |
|
64% |
| obtaining recognition from my colleagues for my contributions |
55% |
|
53% |
|
56% |
| influencing social values |
41% |
|
48% |
|
49% |
| Becoming successful in a business of my own |
35% |
|
48% |
|
48% |
How important are each of the following to you? (Percent "Not Important")
| |
1991 |
|
2000 |
|
2001 |
| writing original works (poems, novels, etc.) |
NA |
|
54% |
|
56% |
| becoming accomplished in the arts |
NA |
|
56% |
|
55% |
| creating artistic works |
NA |
|
54% |
|
52% |
| making a contribution to science |
NA |
|
45% |
|
46% |
| influencing the political structure |
NA |
|
36% |
|
36% |
SUMMARY AND CONCLUSIONS
This report continues a nearly thirty year history of "freshman survey" results at BGSU. It serves as one component of a comprehensive
program of assessment and enrollment management research activities carried out by the Office of Instit | 
