Each year during Summer Orientation, Sonoma State University gives its incoming freshmen a survey from UCLA called the Cooperative Institutional Research Program to find out about their background and concerns.
Last summer the University received results from 1,075 first-time freshmen. Below are some interesting facts about the 2004 incoming class.
* Three in four of our freshmen come from homes where both parents are living together
* 82% come from public schools and 18% from private schools
* 86% used a personal computer and 83% used the
internet for research or homework in the past year
* 86% studied 10 hours or fewer in a typical week
* 54% socialized with friends 11 hours or more in a typical week
* 9% have a disability
* SSU was the first choice college for 66% and the second choice for 25%
* Reasons cited as "very important" in attending SSU include a visit to the campus (53%), wanted to go to a school this size (50%), the college has a good
academic reputation (37%) and our graduates get good jobs (26%)
* 82% plan to live in the residence halls
* Objectives considered to be "essential" or "very important" include being very well off financially
(72%), helping others who are in difficulty (61%), and becoming an authority in their field (51%)
* 9% have major concerns about being able to finance their college education
* Their political views are far left (4%), liberal (36%), middle-of-the-road (39%), conservative (19%) or far right (1%)
Data was analyzed by Dr. L. Rose Bruce, Associate Vice President for Institutional Research, at SSU.
