Sophomore Survey 2007 - Middlebury College College - Sophomore Survey 2007 Sophomore Survey 2007 As...

Middlebury College - Sophomore Survey 2007

Sophomore Survey 2007

As a first-semester sophomore, you may be between advisors and dealing with issues of fulfilling distribution requirements, selecting a major, and preparing for a future career. This survey is designed to find out more about this transitional year and how students navigate it. We strongly encourage you to assist us with this project. Be assured that your answers to this survey are confidential. ADVISING AND ASSISTANCE 1. Were you able to get advice/help when you needed it with regard to

last year this semester

never sometimes always didn't need help never sometimes always didn't need

help

a. academic matters?

b. college policies?

c. residential life issues?

d. personal questions?

2. How often did you meet with your first-year advisor last year?

never once twice three to five times six or more times

3. How helpful was your academic advisor during your first year?

not helpful somewhat helpful very helpful not applicable; I didn't ask

a. for academic questions?

b. for personal questions?

c. for career-related questions?

If you found other sources of advice particularly helpful during your first year, please explain.

http://aranea.wellesley.edu/SophomoreSurvey07/sophomoresurveyP1.cfm?Link=3884&CI=57294&vCode=98775849&CFID=10582&CFTOKEN=20307731 (1 of 3)10/26/2007 4:43:53 PM


4. How often have you made use of the following outside-of-class support at Middlebury College?

never occasionally often very often

a. First-Year Seminar Adviser

b. Faculty outside of class

c. Departmental tutors

d. Writing tutors

e. ACEs

f. Other CTLR Services

g. Computing Services

h. Library Services

i. Cultural Advisors

j. Counseling Services

k. Chaplains/Religious Life Services

l. Informal study groups

m. Commons Deans

5. What is your current need for advising in the following areas?

no need some need high need very high need

a. selecting courses

b. selecting/changing major

c. distribution requirements

d. major requirements

e. planning my course of study for the next five semesters

f. deciding about study abroad

g. resident life issues

h. personal questions

Please click "Submit" to submit your answers and to advance to the next section of this survey.




ACADEMICS - PART 1 6. How well does each of the following statements describe your strategy for selecting courses during your first year?

not at all somewhat very well

a. I worked to complete requirements outside my expected major.

b. I took courses that I expected to find interesting, leaving required courses for later.

c. I focused on prerequisites for my expected major or career.

7. How do you feel about the following academic areas?

to be avoided uninteresting interesting but won't major in considering as a major

a. Visual and Performing Arts

b. Foreign Languages

c. English and American Literatures

d. Philosophy or Religion

e. History

f. Cultural Studies

g. Economics

h. Political Science, Intl. Studies

i. Psychology

j. Other Social Sciences (e.g., Anthropology, Sociology)

k. Biological Sciences

l. Physical Sciences (e.g. …)

m. Mathematics and Computer Sci

n. Environmental Studies

o. Writing

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8. Which, if any, of the following problems have you experienced getting into a course that you really needed? Please check all that apply.

distribution requirement

prerequisite for a major elective

a. not offered

b.class cap reached

c. time conflict with other course

d. offered at an inconvenient time

e. time conflict with job

f. experienced no problems

9. How intellectually challenging did you find your academic work last year as compared to high school?

much less challenging less challenging about the same a little more challenging much more challenging

10. How intellectually challenging have you found your academic work this semester as compared to last year?

much less challenging less challenging about the same a little more challenging much more challenging

11. How would you describe your writing?

Extremely poor Poor Fairly Good Good Excellent

a. before you came to Middlebury

b. now

12. How do you assess your writing ability in the following areas?

Extremely poor Poor Fairly Good Good Excellent

a. grammar, punctuation, and style

b. constructing good arguments

c. organizing a paper

d. doing library research

e. knowing when and how to cite sources

f. producing professional-looking documents using a word processor



g. getting started early and/or finishing by the deadline

13. How often have you been assigned the following in courses at Middlebury College?

never occasionally often very often

a. book reviews

b. library research papers

c. position papers

d. papers based on original research (e.g., life histories, quantitative or qualitative research)

e. analyses of texts

f. lab reports

g. papers in which course concepts are used to analyze personal experiences

h. papers over 15 pages

14. Since entering Middlebury, how well have you

not at all somewhat quite well very well

a. come to know individual faculty members?

b. understood what your professors expect of you?

c. developed effective study skills?

15. How often did you/do you

last year this semester

not at all occasionally often very often not at all occasionally often very often

a. feel excited by a class?

b. feel bored in class?

c. feel intimidated by a professor?

d. contribute to a class discussion?

e. feel uncomfortable participating in a class discussion?

f. contribute to an online course conference?



g. feel uncomfortable contributing to an online course conference?

h. discuss course contents outside of class?

i. study with other students?

j. complete assigned reading before class?

k. hand in work you were/are not pleased with?

l. revise a paper after faculty or peer review?

16. How many of your courses this semester involve

none one two three four or more

a. lecture, exclusively or almost exclusively?

b. extensive discussion?

c. student presentations?

d. group projects?

e. lab work?

f. faculty use of computers other than for word processing and class communication?

g. student use of computers other than for word processing and class communication?

h. community or service-learning component?




Sophomore Survey 2007 ACADEMICS - PART 2 17. Have you decided on a major or majors? If so, which one(s)?

Yes

( Second major, if applicable )

No, but I am considering just a few possibilities. Please describe.

No, I have not yet narrowed my options. 18. How certain are you of your choice of major(s)?

No decision yet Very uncertain Somewhat uncertain Somewhat certain Very certain

19a. Did you have a particular career field in mind before you came to Middlebury?

Yes No

19b. Are you still considering that career field?

Yes No

20. Have you discovered a possible new career field since entering Middlebury?

Yes No

20a. If you know the career field that you want to pursue after graduation (or if you have narrowed your choices to a few possibilities), what is it/are they?



21. To what extent do you agree with the following statements?

strongly disagree disagree agree strongly agree

a. My college major should be closely linked to my intended career to help me prepare for that career.

b. It is important to major in an area that I find intrinsically interesting, regardless of how "practical" it is.

c. The intellectual skills I gain at Middlebury (regardless of my major) will be applicable to any future career.

d. My parents are supportive of my academic plans.

e. My parents have clearly stated expectations about the career path I should follow.

22. Have you consulted any of the following people/sources in thinking about your major or your future career? Have they proved helpful? Check all that apply.

consulted helpful

a. First-Year Seminar Advisor

b. Department Chair(s)

c. Other Faculty

d. Dean of Advising

e. Career Services Office

f. Commons Dean(s)

g. Cultural Advisor

h. Pre-Med Advisor

i. Chaplain's Office

j. Res. Life Staff

k. Other Middlebury Students

l. Students at other colleges/univs

m. Family members

n. Midd Alums

o. Web or Career Planning books

23. Have you participated or do you plan to participate in a research project with a faculty member?



yes no

a. plan to participate

b. have participated

24. As of now, do you plan to

yes no not sure

a. study abroad?

b. do an internship?

c. work as a research assistant?

d. write a senior thesis?

e. apply to a graduate or professional school after Middlebury?

25. Are you aware of the following services at the Career Services Office? Have you used them? Have they proved helpful? Please check all that apply.

Aware Consulted Helpful

a. Career and interest assessments

b. Help finding an internship or summer job

c. MOJO online internship and job database

d. Stipends for unpaid summer internships

e. Externships during fall and spring breaks

f. Winter Term internships

g. Help in writing and polishing a resume and cover letter

h. Transcript Notation

i. Help in learning and practicing interviewing skills

j. Information on career choices

k. Information on graduate school programs

l. Graduate School Fair

m. CSO web site

n. CSO library

o. Targeted career skills workshops

p. Employer information sessions http://aranea.wellesley.edu/SophomoreSurvey07/sophomoresurveyP3.cfm (3 of 4)10/26/2007 4:44:47 PM


q. MiddNet Online alumni career networking database





STUDENT LIFE 26. How well did you get along with your assigned first-year roommate?

not at all well enough very well I didn't have a roommate my first year.

27. Since entering Middlebury

strongly disagree disagree agree strongly agree

a. I have developed close friendships.

b. I have managed my time successfully.

c. I have successfully balanced academics and extracurricular activities.

d. I have been able to get adequate sleep.

e. I have kept on top of my commitments without compromising my health.

f. I have successfully managed stress.

28. Have you found people here with whom you can

never rarely sometimes usually

a. discuss intellectual issues?

b. discuss personal issues?

c. hang out and have a good time?

29. How comfortable are you with the intellectual climate at Middlebury College?

very uncomfortable uncomfortable comfortable very comfortable

Please describe why you feel this way.

30. How comfortable are you with the social climate of Middlebury College?

very uncomfortable uncomfortable comfortable very comfortable

Please describe why you feel this way.

31. Please check all the activities below that you have participated in or plan to participate in while at Middlebury.

participated plan to participate

a. Music/theater group

b. Student government

c. Political group

d. Cultural organization



e. Student newspaper or magazine

f. Intercollegiate athletics

g. Intramural athletics

h. Peer tutoring (as a tutor)

i. ResLife Staff (as a member)

j. Volunteer service

k. Part-time academic-year job

l. Other

32. How would you describe your adjustment to Middlebury?

felt at home from the beginning quite easy stressful at first but generally easy stressful very stressful

33. Did you ever consider transferring to another college (if not at all, please go to question #34).

not at all yes, but not seriously yes, somewhat seriously yes, very seriously

If you have considered tranferring, which of the following have been factors for you? Please check all that apply.

a. wanting to be closer to home and friends

b. wanting to attend my first-choice school

c. I have been generally unhappy at Middlebury

d. another reason (please specify below)

34. If you could start over again, would you still attend Middlebury?

definitely no probably no probably yes definitely yes

If no, please explain your reasons.

35. Looking back over your first year, what advice would you give to entering students?




Sophomore Survey 2007 BACKGROUND 36. Approximately what percentage of students in your high school class went on to college?

up to 30% 30 - 50% 51 - 70% 71-90% over 90%

37. Your ethnic/cultural background. Please check all that apply.

a. Native American/Alaska Native

b. East Asian (e.g., Chinese, Japanese, Korean)

c. Southeast Asian (e.g., Cambodian, Vietnamese, Hmong, Lao)

d. South Asian (e.g., Indian, Pakistani, Nepalese, Sri Lankan)

e. Black/African American

f. Hispanic/Latina

g. Arab

h. White

i. International (not citizen, not permanent resident)

j. Other (please specify below)

38. How would you characterize your political views?

far left liberal middle of the road conservative far right Not applicable

39. What portion of your college expenses this year are covered by financial aid?

none some most all

40. Could Middlebury have done anything differently to facilitate your adjustment to college life? Please explain.



Please click "Submit" to submit your answers and to complete this survey.




THANK YOU Thank you for taking the time to fill out this survey.

Best wishes for a great sophomore year.

http://aranea.wellesley.edu/SophomoreSurvey07/sophomoresurveyTHANKYOU.cfm10/26/2007 4:46:02 PM

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