Whatever your conception — or misconception — of the “typical Cal student,” a mountain of data is setting stereotypes to rest. Each spring, thousands of undergraduates from all UC campuses answer the UC Undergraduate Experience Survey (UCUES). Here are a few noteworthy findings on Berkeley undergraduates — 51 percent of whom participated last spring.
Roots and identity
First-generation college students make up about 30% of Cal freshmen.
Undergrads are twice as likely to say they prefer their parents to be more, not less, involved in their lives.
Why attend college? 83% say “to discover what kind of person I really want to be.”
English is a second language for nearly 2 in 5.
Women make up 54% of undergrads, continuing a majority that has been in place for about a decade.
79% plan to earn a graduate degree.
19% plan to pursue health-related professions, followed by business and finance 15%, and engineering and computer programming 11%. One out of 10 selected “I have no idea whatsoever.”
School and play
89% say they’re satisfied with the quality of faculty instruction at Berkeley.
First- and second-generation immigrants are more likely to major in science, technology, engineering, or mathematics than their peers.
Factors important to determining a major: intellectual curiosity 75%, prepare for a fulfilling career 48%, money 22%, parents’ wishes and easy requirements 7% each.
Undergrads study an average of 16 hours a week outside of class.
Just under half work an average of 12 hours per week.
83% participate in sports or exercise.
44% use the computer for 11 hours or more a week for instant messaging, games, and other non-academic activities.
Growing convictions
When asked to identify their religious preferences, 44% chose “none.” Research suggests that many young people re-attach themselves to a faith when they start a family.
63% consider themselves slightly to very liberal, 22% are in the middle, and 16% call themselves conservative.
Mirroring a national trend among college students, 48% spend three hours per week on tutoring, mentoring, or other forms of community service.
