THE FRESHMEN SURVEY 2008 (FTS, FORMERLY CIRP)

UNDERSTANDING THE 2008 CLASS OFMVNU ENTERING FRESHMEN

DATA SUMMARY AND COMPARISON OF

MVNU ENTERING FRESHMEN BY GENDER ANDBY OTHER RELIGIOUS, 4-YEAR, PRIVATE COLLEGES

AND

COMPARISON OF 2008 VERSUS 2007

ENTERING FRESHMEN

Margie Bennett, Director of Institutional ResearchFebruary 5, 2009

DEMOGRAPHICS ENTERING FIRST-TIME (F-F) FRESHMEN

GENDER: 35% Men & 65% Women

AGE

RACE/ETHNICITY

DISTANCE FROM HOME

RESIDENTIAL STATUS WHILE ATTENDING COLLEGE

CURRENT RELIGIOUS PREFERENCE

HOW FRESHMEN CHARACTERIZED THEIR POLITICAL VIEWS

REPORTED HIGH SCHOOL SENIOR GRADE AVERAGES

HIGH SCHOOL PREPARATION FOR COLLEGE

POSTSECONDARY CREDIT PRIOR TO ENROLLMENT AT CURRENT COLLEGE

REPORTED DISABILITIES

PARENTS’ FORMAL EDUCATION2008 ENTERING FIRST-TIME FRESHMEN

OTHER RELIGIOUS

MVNU COLLEGES FATHERS' FORMAL EDUCATION Men Women Total Men Women Total Grammar school or less 3 0 1 5 5 5 Some high school 6 4 5 8 9 8 High school graduate 17 33 27 31 31 31 Postsecondary school other than college 2 2 2 4 5 4 Some college 17 18 18 17 17 17 College degree 29 24 26 24 22 23 Some graduate school 2 2 2 1 2 2 Graduate degree 23 17 19 11 11 11 MOTHERS' FORMAL EDUCATION Men Women Total Men Women Total Grammar school or less 2 1 2 4 5 5 Some high school 1 1 1 5 5 5 High school graduate 27 33 31 27 25 26 Postsecondary school other than college 1 5 4 4 4 4 Some college 26 20 22 20 22 21 College degree 33 29 31 28 27 27 Some graduate school 2 1 1 2 2 2 Graduate degree 9 9 9 11 11 11

PARENTS’ MARITAL STATUS

• A higher percentage of MVNU than other religious college freshmen reported both parents alive and living with each other (78% vs. 62%).

• Correspondingly, a lower percentage of MVNU than other religious college freshmen reported that both parents were alive and divorced or living apart (19% vs. 33%).

• Similar percentages of parents were deceased (3% MVNU vs. 5% other religious colleges).

ESTIMATED PRIOR YEAR TOTAL FAMILY INCOME

ADDITIONAL COLLEGE APPLICATIONS OTHER THAN TO CURRENT COLLEGE

To how many colleges other than this Resp MVNU Other Religious Col. one did you apply for admission this year? 362 Men Women Total Men Women Total None 36 33 33 15 17 16 One 19 18 18 11 13 12 Two 23 23 23 15 18 16 Three 8 17 14 22 19 20 Four 7 4 5 17 13 15 Five 4 3 3 10 8 9 Six 3 2 3 4 5 5 Seven to ten 0 1 1 5 5 5 Eleven or more 1 0 0 2 2 2

ACCEPTANCE RATE

ACTIVITIES/FEELINGS DURING PAST YEAR

Similar Percentages of MVNU (within 5%) as Other Religious College Freshmen and as MVNU Freshmen in 2007, Unless Otherwise Indicated, Reported These Activities/Feelings.

• Felt depressed (7%)• Worked on local, state, or national political campaign (8%)• Voted in student election (18%)• Discussed politics (29%)• Felt overwhelmed by all they had to do (31%)• Were guests in a teacher’s home (29%)• Were bored in class (26% vs. 37% MVNU in 2007 and 38% other religious colleges

in 2008)• Tutored other students (47%)• Performed community service as part of a class (59%)• Studied with other students (85%)• Performed volunteer work (91% vs. 83% Other Religious Colleges in 2008)

ACTIVITIES DURING PAST YEAR

Higher Percentages of MVNU than Other Religious College Entering Freshmen

• Played a musical instrument (54% vs. 46%)• Discussed religion (54% vs. 40%)• Attended a religious service (98% vs. 86%)

Lower Percentages of MVNU than Other Religious College Freshmen

• Drank beer (6% vs. 29%; male percentages were 7% vs. 38%)• Drank wine or liquor (10% vs. 36%)

ACTIVITIES DURING PAST YEAR Gender Differences in Percentages

Higher percentages of MVNU men than women• Came late to class (54% vs. 44%; difference much smaller than in

2007)

Lower percentages of MVNU men than women • Asked a teacher for advice after class (16% vs. 26%, which was the

opposite in 2007, at which time more men than women asked for advice: 28% vs. 19%)

• Used the Internet for homework or research (59% vs. 69%)

WEEKLY HOURS ON STUDY/HOMEWORKDURING SENIOR YEAR OF HIGH SCHOOL

WEEKLY HOURS ON READING FOR PLEASUREDURING SENIOR YEAR OF HIGH SCHOOL

WEEKLY HOURS OF ONLINE SOCIAL NETWORKINGDURING SENIOR YEAR OF HIGH SCHOOL

WEEKLY HOURS PLAYING VIDEO/COMPUTER GAMESDURING SENIOR YEAR OF HIGH SCHOOL

SELF-RATINGS IN COMPARISON WITH THE AVERAGE PERSON THEIR AGE

SIMILARITIES AND DIFFERENCES

(1) MVNU BY GENDER

(2) MVNU VS. OTHER RELIGIOUS COLLEGES

SELF-RATINGS IN COMPARISON WITH THE AVERAGE PERSON THEIR AGE

ADDITIONAL SELF-RATINGS IN COMPARISON WITH THE AVERAGE PERSON THEIR AGE

SIMILARITIES AND DIFFERENCES

(1) MVNU BY GENDER

(2) MVNU VS. OTHER RELIGIOUS COLLEGES

ACADEMIC DEGREE PLANS FOR CURRENT COLLEGE

FUTURE ACADEMIC DEGREE PLANS AT ANY COLLEGE

FUTURE ACADEMIC DEGREE PLANS AT ANY COLLEGE

MVNU ENTERING FRESHMEN ESTIMATE OF INVOLVEMENT IN FUTURE ACTIVITIESNOTE: Stars indicated similar percentages of MVNU 2007 Freshmen.

10% estimate that they will • Participate in student government • Have a roommate of a different race/ethnicity

20% estimate that they will• Participate in a study abroad program • Play a varsity/intercollegiate athletics • Get tutoring help in specific courses

30% estimate that they will• Work on a professor’s research project

MVNU ENTERING FRESHMEN ESTIMATE OF INVOLVEMENT IN FUTURE ACTIVITIESNOTE: Stars indicated similar percentages of MVNU 2007 Freshmen.

40% estimate that they will• Participate in volunteer or community service work • Participate in student clubs/groups • Communicate regularly with their professors • Discuss course content with students outside of class

60% estimate that they will• Make at least a “B” average • Get a job to help pay for college expenses (less than 2%

anticipate having to work full-time while attending college) • Socialize with someone of another racial/ethnic group

70% estimate that they will• Be satisfied with their college (vs. 62% in 2007)

MVNU FRESHMEN’S LIFE OBJECTIVES

Objectives Considered to be Essential or Very Important Men Women TotalRaising a family 90 88 89 Helping others who are in difficulty 78 84 82 Being very well off f inancially 57 51 53 Influencing social values 44 55 51 Becoming an authority in my field 51 48 49 Developing a meaningful philosophy of life 46 48 47 Improving my understanding of other countries/cultures 36 51 45 Obtaining recognition for contributions to my field 37 36 36 Becoming a community leader 38 32 34

Percentages of MVNU 2008 Freshman Men and Women Evaluating Life Objectives

MVNU VS. OTHER RELIGIOUS COLLEGE FRESHMEN’S LIFE OBJECTIVES

MVNU VS. OTHER RELIGIOUS COLLEGE FRESHMAN WOMEN’S LIFE OBJECTIVES

MVNU VS. OTHER RELIGIOUS COLLEGE FRESHMAN MEN’S LIFE OBJECTIVES

MVNU FRESHMEN’S SOCIAL, POLITICAL, AND PROFESSIONAL OBJECTIVES

Objectives Considered to be Essential or Very Important Men Women Total Becoming accomplished performing arts 16 15 15 Making a theoretical contribution to science 9 7 7 Writing original works 9 13 12 Creating artistic works 6 14 11 Becoming successful in a business of my own 34 13 20 Becoming involved in cleaning up the environment 15 17 16 Influencing the political structure 16 12 13 Participating in a community action program 20 36 31 Helping to promote racial understanding 23 30 28 Keeping up to date with political affairs 30 26 28 Adopting "green" practices to protect environment 23 30 28

MVNU VS. OTHER RELIGIOUS COLLEGE FRESHMEN’S SOCIAL, POLITICAL, AND PROFESSIONAL OBJECTIVES

HALF (OR MORE) OF ALL MVNU FRESHMAN MEN AND WOMEN AGREED WITH THESE

SOCIAL/POLITICAL OPINIONSMVNU First-time Freshmen agree "strongly" or "somewhat:" Men Women Total

Through hard work, everybody can succeed in American society 85 76 79 There is too much concern in the courts for the rights of criminals 70 68 69 The federal government should do more to control the sale of handguns 52 71 65 (+W)

The federal government is not doing enough to control environmental pollution 56 69 64 (+W) Wealthy people should pay a larger share of taxes than they do now 59 66 64

Dissent is a critical component of the political process 66 61 63 Colleges have the right to ban extreme speakers from campus 63 62 62 It is important to have laws prohibiting homosexual relationships 65 60 62 Only volunteers should serve in the armed forces 54 62 60 A national health care plan is needed to cover everybody's medical costs 54 61 59 Undocumented immigrants should be denied access to public education 68 49 56 (+M)

Addressing global warming should be a federal priority 48 58 54 (+W)

SIMILAR PERCENTAGES OF MVNU AND OTHER RELIGIOUS COLLEGE FRESHMAN AGREED WITH

THESE SOCIAL/POLITICAL OPINIONS

Student agrees "strongly" or "somewhat:" MVNU

Other Religious College Diff.

Through hard work, everybody can succeed in American society 79 81 There is too much concern in the courts for the rights of criminals 69 63 The federal government should do more to control the sale of handguns 65 69 The federal government is not doing enough to control environmental pollution 64 73 Wealthy people should pay a larger share of taxes than they do now 64 60 Dissent is a critical component of the political process 63 55 Colleges have the right to ban extreme speakers from campus 62 47 (+MVNU) It is important to have laws prohibiting homosexual relationships 62 40 (+MVNU) Only volunteers should serve in the armed forces 60 60 A national health care plan is needed to cover everybody's medical costs 59 70 (+ORC) Undocumented immigrants should be denied access to public education 56 51 Addressing global warming should be a federal priority 54 67 (+ORC)

LESS THAN HALF OF ALL MVNU FRESHMAN MEN AND WOMEN AGREED WITH THESE

SOCIAL/POLITICAL OPINIONS

Student agrees "strongly" or "somewhat:" Men Women Total Affirmative action in college admissions should be abolished 40 34 36 Federal military spending should be increased 47 30 36 (+M)

Students from disadvantaged social backgrounds should be given preferential treatment in college admissions 30 29 29

The death penalty should be abolished 19 33 28 (+W) Realistically, an individual can do little to bring about changes in our society 25 20 22

Racial discrimination is no longer a major problem in America 29 18 22 (+M) Same-sex couples should have the right to legal marital status 18 19 19

The federal government should raise taxes to reduce the deficit 20 13 16 Abortion should be legal 15 13 14 Marijuana should be legalized 17 8 11

LESS THAN HALF OF ALL MVNU AND OTHER RELIGIOUS COLLEGE FRESHMAN AGREED WITH THESE SOCIAL/POLITICAL OPINIONS

Student agrees "strongly" or "somewhat:" MVNU

Other Religious Colleges

Affirmative action in college admissions should be abolished 36 40 Federal military spending should be increased 36 37 Students from disadvantaged social backgrounds should be given preferential treatment in college admissions 29 46 (+ORC) The death penalty should be abolished 28 29 Realistically, an individual can do little to bring about changes in our society 22 34 (+ORC) Racial discrimination is no longer a major problem in America 22 24 Same-sex couples should have the right to legal marital status 19 47 (+ORC) The federal government should raise taxes to reduce the deficit 16 22 Abortion should be legal 14 41 (+ORC) Marijuana should be legalized 11 34 (+ORC)

MVNU FRESHMEN’S FINANCIAL RESOURCESAvailable Family Resources to Cover First-year Educational Expenses

A higher percentage of MVNU 2008 freshman men than women had $10,000 or more (21%

vs. 15%).

Comparable percentages (within 2%) of MVNU and other religious college freshmen

selected each of the various categories of available dollars.

Available Personal “Own” Resources from Work, Work Study, Other Income

Over half of both MVNU and other religious college 2008 men and women and had less than

$1,000 of personal resources for educational expenses.

Only approximately 5% of MVNU and other religious college 2008 freshmen had at least

$6,000 in personal resources.

MVNU FRESHMEN’S FINANCIAL RESOURCES

Aid Which Does Not Need to be Repaid (Grants, Scholarships, Military Funding, etc.)

Comparable percentages of MVNU as other religious college 2008 freshmen selected

“None” for this response (11% vs. 16%).

A lower percentage of MVNU than other religious college 2008 freshmen had $10,000 or

more of this kind of aid (25% vs. 41%).

Aid Which Must be Repaid (Loans, etc.)

A lower percentages of MVNU as other religious college 2008 freshmen selected “None” for

this response (22% vs. 34%).

A higher percentage of MVNU than other religious college 2008 freshmen had $10,000 or

more in loans and this kind of aid (27% vs. 14%).