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Institutional Research
Report of the Results of the BGSU First Year Student Questionnaire, 1998

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 1998 administration of the BGSU First Year Student Questionnaire (BFYSQ) to new main campus freshmen. 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 expectations, values, and self-ratings. 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 eight pages of 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 mailed to all new first year students registered for BGSU's Orientation and Registration Program. A total of 2,397 questionnaires were returned. This represents a 73% response rate from among the 3,296 students attending Orientation and Registration in July. BFYSQ results were analyzed by noting the percentages of participants who provided various responses to each questionnaire item. Results were 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?

 

1990

  

1997

  

1998
None

26%

  

30%

  

31%
1

24%

  

25%

  

25%
2

24%

  

23%

  

22%
Three or More   

26%

  

22%

  

22%

How many other colleges besides BGSU admitted you this year? 

 

1990

  

1997

  

1998
None NA  

35%

  

39%
One NA  

27%

  

31%
Two NA  

22%

  

17%
Three or More    NA  

16%

  

13%

Among colleges to attend, was BGSU your . . . 

 

1990

  

1997

  

1998
First Choice

82%

  

82%

  

84%
Second Choice

15%

  

16%

  

14%
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")

  1990   1997   1998
To Prepare for a Professional Career NA   93%   93%
To Get a Better Job 80%   82%   83%
To Learn More about Things That Interest me   66%   70%   74%
To Be Able to Make More Money 69%   67%   69%
To Gain a General Education 55%   60%   64%

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

  1990   1997   1998
BGSU graduates get good jobs 37%   61%   63%
My BGSU visit was pleasant and friendly NA   49%   55%
BGSU's academic reputation 54%   49%   53%
BGSU offers unique educational programs         16%   47%   52%

DEMOGRAPHIC INFORMATION

How many miles from BGSU is your permanent home?

  1990   1997   1998
10 miles or Less   2%     3%     3%
11 to 50 miles 22%   26%   23%
51 to 100 miles 18%   18%   18%
101 to 500 miles 56%   51%   54%
Over 500 miles           2%     2%     2%

What is your best estimate of your parents' income?

  1990   1997   1998
Less than $30,000  18%   11%   10%
$30,000-$49,999 35%   24%   20%
$50,000-$74,999 32%   34%   36%
$75,000-$99,999   7%   18%   19%
$100,000 or More     7%   13%   15%

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)

  1990   1997   1998
Parents 68%   NA   74%
Ford Direct Subsidized Loan 11%   NA   28%
Other College Grant/Scholarship   6%   NA   24%
Other College Loan    2%   NA   24%
Savings From Summer Work 12%   NA   21%
Other Savings   8%   NA   15%
Other Loan   3%   NA   13%
Pell Grant   2%   NA     9%
College Work Study    1%   NA     6%
Other Source   1%   NA     6%
Perkins Loan   1%   NA     6%
Other Private Grant                          2%   NA     6%
Part-Time Job On Campus   1%   NA     4%
Part-Time Job Off Campus   0%   NA     3%
Ohio Instructional Grant   2%   NA     3%

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

  1990   1997   1998
Not at All NA   28%   28%
Somewhat NA   56%   58%
Very               NA   16%   14%

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

  1990   1997   1998
None  NA   27%   28%
1 to 9 NA   19%   20%
10 to 19 NA   42%   42%
20 to 39 NA   11%   10%
40 or More         NA     1%     0%

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

  Father Mother 
High school graduate 28% 42%
Some college 20% 23%
College degree 31% 19%
Graduate degree           11% 5%

Mother and father high school or less:
At least one parent a college graduate:
Both parents college graduates: 		  16%
47%
13%

Your Father's Occupation (10% or More Than 10% of Respondents):

  1990   1997   1998
Business 30%   30%   28%
Other 23%   16%   17%
Skilled Trades 10%   10%   11%

Your Mother's Occupation(10% or More Than 10% of Respondents):

  1990   1997   1998
Other 23%   20%   23%
Business 21%   23%   21%
Teacher 15%   16%   13%

Your Probable Occupation (10% or More Than 10% of Respondents):

  1990   1997   1998
Teacher or administrator      18%   20%   18%
Undecided 11%   17%   17%
Business 14%   12%   12%
Other 10%   10%   11%

What is the highest degree you plan to obtain anywhere?

  1990   1997   1998
Bachelor's 31%   NA     8%
Master's 47%   NA   70%
Doctorate 12%   NA   11%
Professional          7%   NA   10%

What is the highest degree you plan to obtain at BGSU?

  1990   1997   1998
Bachelor's 73%   78%   75%
Master's 19%   19%   22%
Doctorate             2%     2%     1%

The vast majority of respondents reported that English is their native language and that both of their parents are alive and living together.

EXPECTATIONS AND VALUES INFORMATION

What is your estimate of the chance that you will . . . (Percent "Very Good")

  1990   1997   1998
get a Bachelor's Degree 81%   82%   82%
find a job in my major after graduation    71%   73%   74%
be satisfied with BGSU 52%   66%   65%
get a job to help pay for college 46%   59%   57%
make at least a B average 44%   52%   54%

 

What is your estimate of the chance that you will . . . (Percent "None")

  1990   1997   1998
drop out of college permanently NA   90%   90%
drop out of college temporarily NA   74%   74%
get married while in college NA   46%   45%
fail one or more courses NA   44%   46%
work full-time while attending NA   41%   41%

How do you rate yourself on each of the following? (Percent "Above Average" or "Highest 10%")  

  1990   1997   1998
Honesty NA   NA   94%
Understanding of Others 69%   NA   94%
Drive to Achieve 70%   NA   91%
Cooperativeness 77%   NA   90%
Leadership Ability 49%   NA   90%
Academic Ability 70%   NA   86%
Physical Health 54%   NA   86%
Emotional Health 54%   NA   84%
Competitiveness 52%   NA   82%
Physical Appearance NA   NA   82%
Social Self-Confidence 36%   NA   80%
Creativity NA   NA   78%
Mathematical Ability 38%   NA   77%
Stubbornness NA   NA   75%
Popularity 37%   NA   72%
Writing Ability 45%   NA   71%
Intellectual Self-Confidence          48%   NA   68%
Public Speaking Ability 28%   NA   65%
Artistic Ability 25%   NA   63%

How important are each of the following to you? (Percent "Essential" or "Very Important")

  1990   1997   1998
raising a family 73%   80%   80%
being very well off financially 64%   78%   77%
helping others in difficulty 61%   74%   73%
becoming an authority in my field 63%   64%   64%
obtaining recognition from my colleagues for my contributions NA   54%   53%
influencing social values 41%   52%   53%
developing a meaningful philosophy of life 37%   48%   51%

How important are each of the following to you? (Percent "Not Important")

  1990   1997   1998
becoming accomplished in the arts NA   61%   58%
writing original works (poems, novels, etc.)  NA   58%   54%
creating artistic works NA   58%   54%
making a contribution to science NA   46%   44%
influencing the political structure NA   36%   37%
becoming a community leader NA   25%   25%
becoming successful in a business of my own NA   24%   23%

SUMMARY AND CONCLUSIONS

This report continues a more than twenty 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 Institutional Research.

The results of the current study are similar to those of prior "freshman survey" administrations. BGSU students continue to be pragmatic and vocationally oriented. Freshmen apply and are admitted to few other institutions. BGSU is their overwhelming first choice. Their reasons for attending college are primarily vocational and secondarily educational. The perceived career and graduate school success of our graduates coupled with academic reputation and unique educational programs are the principal reasons students choose BGSU. A pleasant and friendly campus visit was also seen as an important reason. Freshmen are mostly in-state and middle class. Their most frequent academic goal is a Bachelor's Degree in education, business, "undecided," or "other."  Parents are clearly the greatest source of financial support for college. The respondents are very positive about their chances of earning a Bachelor's Degree, finding a job in their major after graduation, and being satisfied with BGSU. Nearly none estimate that they will drop out of college temporarily or permanently. They rate themselves highly on nearly all attributes listed; this contrasts with 1990 results. Raising a family and being very well off financially are among their most important goals.

The Office of Institutional Research welcomes feedback concerning this and other studies and how they can continue to be improved. 
  
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