2001 CIRP Survey of New Students

Local Results




The following tables are based on responses of incoming students on the 2001 CIRP Survey.  The survey was completed by 239 incoming students.  The data was analyzed  locally which will differ slightly from the analysis from the Higher Education Research Institute.

Although this information is valuable and provides a glimpse into some characteristics of the incoming class, please keep in mind that not all students completed the survey.  These data, therefore, are not intended to represent or profile the entire incoming class.  If you have questions about any of the information contained in this report, please contact Mary Ann Weaver at (765) 983-1589 or weavema@earlham.edu.

Links to tables
Gender Parents' Highest Education Level
Ethnicity Student Estimate of Parents' Income
English as Native Language Financial Worry
High School Graduation Year Students' Probable Major Field of Study
"Did your high school require community service for graduation?" Highest Degree Planned to Obtain
Number of Miles from Home Self Rating of Traits
Political Views Activities Engaged in by Student in Past Year
Average Grade in High School Hours Spent in Certain Activities in Past Year
SAT/ACT Scores "In deciding to go to college, how important to you was each of the following reasons."
Earlham as first choice? Reasons Influencing Students' Decision to attend Earlham
Applied at how many other colleges? Ratings of Likelihood of Certain Events in College

Housing Plans for Fall Semester

Ratings of Importance of life Objectives
Student and Parent Religious Affiliation Views on Social Issues
Parent Status  

 

Gender
 

Gender
%
Male
41
Female
59

 

Race/Ethnicity
 

Ethnicity
%
White/Caucasian
78
African American/Black
5
American Indian
0
Asian American/Asian
4
Mexican American/Chicano
1
Puerto Rican
1
Other Latino
1
Other
8

 

English as Native Language
 

Response
%
Yes
91
No
9

 

High School Graduation
 

Date
%
2000
81
Before 2000
16
Other
3

 

"Did your high school require community service for graduation?"
 

Response
%
Yes
34
No
66

   
 
 

Number of Miles from Home


Miles
%
5 or less
3 
6 to 10
1 
11 to 50
5  
51 to 100
8  
101 to 500
39
More than 500
42 

 

Political Views
 

Political Views
%
Far left
15
Liberal
57
Middle of the road
18
Conservative
5
Far right
1

   

Average Grade in High School
 

Grade
%
‘A’ Average
43
‘B’ Average
53
‘C’ Average
4

 

SAT/ACT Scores (rounded)
 

Test
Average Score
SAT Verbal
623
SAT Math
591
ACT
25

 

"Is this college your…?"
 

Choice
%
First choice
67
Second choice
22
Third choice
8
Less than third choice
3

    The percentage of Earlham College freshmen who consider their present school as their top pick (67%) is less than last year (78%)

"To how many colleges other than this one did you apply for admission this year?"

 

Number
%
None
17
1-3 
34
4-6 
34
7 or more 
15

   

Housing Plans for Fall Semester
 

Living Situation
%
With Parents or Relatives
1
Other private home, apartment or room
0
College Dormitory
97
Fraternity or sorority house
0
Other campus student housing
1
Other
1

 

Student and Parent Religious Affiliation
 

Religion
Student (%)
Father (%)
Mother (%)
Baptist
2
3
6
Buddhist
3
3
3
Episcopal
3
3
4
Islamic
3
3
3
Jewish
3
4
5
Lutheran
3
4
3
Methodist
4
6
7
Presbyterian
2
3
3
Quaker
12
9
12
Roman Catholic
4
9
9
Seventh Day Adventist
1
0
1
United Church of Christ
1
3
3
Other Christian
9
13
10
Other Religion
12
8
11
None
38
29
20

 
 
 

Parent Status
 

Status
%
Both alive and living with each other
68
Both alive, divorced or living apart
30
One or both deceased
2

 

Parents’ Highest Education Level
 

Education
Father (%)
Mother (%)
Grammar school or less
1
0
Some high school
4
4
High school graduate
12
8
Post-Secondary School 

other than college

2
4
Some college
13
12
College degree
20
23
Some graduate school
6
7
Graduate degree
42
42

   

Student Estimate of Parents’ Income
 

Income
%
Less than $6,000
3
$6,000 to $9,999
2
$10,000 to $14,999
3
$15,000 to $19,999
4
$20,000 to $24,999
5
$25,000 to $29,999
7
$30,000 to $39,999
9
$40,000 to $49,999
10
$50,000 to $59,999
11
$60,000 to $74,999
13
$75,000 to $99,999
14
$100,000 to $149,999
8
$150,000 to $199,999
6
$200,000 or more
5

   

Financial Worry
 

Level of Concern
%
None (confident will have sufficient funds)
32
Some (will probably have enough)
57
Major (not sure will have enough to complete)
11

   

Students’ Probable Major Field of Study
 

Probable Major
%
English
7
Fine Arts
5
Language/Literature
5
Philosophy
4
Theology or Religion
2
Biology
5
Engineering
1
Health Professions
2
Math or Computer Science
1
Physical Science
1
Anthropology and Sociology
5
Business Administration
1
Economics
1
Education
3
History
2
Political Science
8
Psychology
5
Other Social Sciences
3.3
Other Fields
2
Undecided
12

   

Highest Degree Planned to Obtain (Overall)
 

Degree
(%)
No Response
4
None
1
Vocational Certificate
1
Associate’s (A.A. or Equivalent)
0
Bachelor’s degree (B.A., B.S., etc.)
19
Master’s degree (M.A., M.S., etc.)
32
Ph.D. or Ed.D.
32
M.D., D.O., D.D.S., or D.V.M.
5
LL.B. or J.D. (Law)
4
B.D. or M.DIV. (Divinity)
1
Other
2

 

"Rate yourself on each of the following traits as

compared with the average person your age."
 
 
 
Area
Highest 10%
Above Average
Average
Below Average
Lowest 10%
Mean*
Academic ability
17
59
20
3
1
2.20
Artistic ability
9
37
32
17
5
2.70
Competitiveness
11
23
34
25
7
2.92
Cooperativeness
20
56
22
1
1
2.05
Creativity
22
48
24
5
1
2.14
Drive to achieve
18
46
27
7
2
2.25
Emotional health
14
36
38
12
0
2.41
Leadership ability
20
41
30
8
1
2.27
Mathematical ability
7
23
41
26
3
2.94
Physical health
13
38
43
6
0
2.43
Popularity
7
29
50
12
2
2.72
Public speaking ability
13
30
34
19
4
2.72
Self-confidence (intellectual)
18
44
30
7
1
2.27
Self-confidence (social)
12
35
38
13
2
2.55
Self-understanding
22
44
28
6
0
2.19
Spirituality
15
35
28
15
7
2.65
Understanding of others
23
50
25
1
1
2.04
Writing ability
17
43
29
9
2
2.34
Computer Skills
5
18
51
23
3
3.01

*Lower means indicate a higher rating in comparison to peers.

   

Activities Engaged in by Students in the Past Year
 
Activity
Frequently (%)
Occasionally (%)
Not at All (%)
Mean*
Attended religious service
32
42
26
1.94
Was bored in class
34
56
10
1.76
Participated in demonstrations
12
41
47
2.37
Tutored another student
14
43
43
2.29
Studied with other students
30
56
14
1.83
Was a guest in a teacher’s home
10
34
56
2.48
Smoked cigarettes
10
20
70
2.61
Drank beer
7
46
47
2.41
Drank wine or liquor
9
58
33
2.25
Felt overwhelmed
32
58
10
1.77
Felt depressed
12
57
31
2.19
Performed volunteer work
31
57
12
1.80
Played a musical instrument
25
27
48
2.23
Asked a teacher for advice
32
53
15
1.82
Overslept
4
30
66
2.63
Discussed politics
46
44
10
1.68
Voted in a student election
23
49
28
2.04
Socialized with different ethnic groups
72
24
4
1.31
Came late to class
11
55
34
2.23
Attended a public concert
34
58
8
1.74
Visited an art gallery/museum
20
67
13
1.93
Discussed religion
40
52
8
1.67
Communicated via e-mail
77
18
5
1.31
Used the internet for research
64
31
5
1.41
Participated in internet chat rooms
12
28
60
2.50
Other internet use
54
36
10
1.55
Performed community service for class
17
31
52
2.36
Used a personal computer
78
16
6
1.26

* Lower means indicate a higher frequency of participation in given activity.
 
 

Hours Spent in Certain Activities in the Past Year
 
Activity
Percentage of Students Reporting Each Range of Hours
None
<1 hr
1-2
3-5
6-10
11-15
16-20
>20
Mean
Studying/Homework
2
5
13
23
27
16
9
5
1.70
Socializing with friends
1
1
5
17
29
17
17
13
1.74
Talking with teachers outside of class
4
32
35
19
7
2
0
1
1.21
Exercising/sports
5
10
18
23
20
9
7
8
1.96
Partying
25
17
16
20
13
5
2
2
1.78
Working (for pay)
43
3
7
6
12
12
10
7
2.61
Volunteer work
20
24
26
15
9
3
1
2
1.56
Student clubs
18
13
28
18
11
8
2
2
1.71
Watching TV
14
22
21
25
10
4
3
1
1.61
Child care
21
18
31
17
7
0
2
2
1.52
Reading
10
18
28
25
12
4
2
1
1.48
Video games
44
24
15
5
5
4
2
1
1.59
Prayer/meditation
40
26
19
9
3
1
1
1
1.27

 

"In deciding to go to college, how important to you

was each of the following reasons?"
 
 
 
Reason
Very Important (%)
Somewhat Important (%)
Not Important (%)
Mean*
My parents wanted me to go
23
41
36
2.14
I could not find a job
4
6
90
2.91
Wanted to get away from home
20
49
31
2.11
To be able to get a better job
41
30
22
1.79
To gain a general education and appreciation of ideas
83
15
2
1.17
To improve my reading and study skills
44
43
13
1.69
There was nothing better to do
6
9
85
2.82
To make me a more cultured person
65
29
6
1.40
To be able to make more money
33
36
31
1.97
To learn more about things that interest me
91
7
2
1.08
To prepare myself for graduate or professional school
54
33
13
1.58
A mentor/role model encouraged me to go
8
33
58
2.48
To get training for a specific career
38
31
31
1.91

*Lower means indicate greater importance.

   
 

Reasons influencing students’ decision to attend Earlham College
 
        Reason
Very Important (%)
Somewhat Important (%)
Not Important (%)
    Mean*
My relatives wanted me to come here
5
25
69
2.66
My teacher advised me
5
28
65
2.62
This college has a good academic reputation
60
36
2
1.41
This college has a good reputation for social activities
36
40
23
1.86
I was offered financial assistance
45
28
25
1.79
This college offers special education programs
30
35
33
2.03
This college has low tuition
4
15
79
2.78
High school counselor advised me
3
10
85
2.70
Private college counselor advised me
4
22
72
2.85
I wanted to live near home
3
14
81
2.81
Not offered aid by first choice
5
10
83
2.81
This college’s graduates gain admission to top graduate/professional schools
31
33
35
2.03
This college’s graduates get good jobs
35
34
30
1.96
I was attracted by the religious affiliation/orientation of the college
12
33
49
2.33
Wanted to go to a school about this size
55
33
10
1.54
Not accepted anywhere else
3
6
89
2.89
Rankings in national magazines
5
30
63
2.59
I was admitted through and Early Action or Early Decision program
8
40
50
2.43
Information from a website
12
11
74
2.65

*Lower means indicate greater importance.

   

Ratings of Likelihood of Certain Events in College
 
Activity
Very Good Chance (%)
Some Chance (%)
Very Little Chance (%)
No Chance (%)
Mean*
Change major field
23
45
22
9
2.14
Change career choice
26
49
17
7
1.99
Graduate with honors
20
63
14
2
1.96
Be elected to a student office
8
37
42
11
2.50
Get a job to help pay for college expenses
48
30
16
5
1.74
Work full time while attending college
2
11
40
46
3.26
Join a social fraternity, sorority or club
2
3
15
80
3.69
Play varsity/intercollegiate athletics
25
22
25
26
2.46
Make at least a "B" average
63
33
3
1
1.36
Need extra time to complete your degree requirements
6
32
47
13
2.62
Get a bachelor’s degree (B.A., B.S., etc.)
77
17
4
1
1.25
Participate in protests or demonstrations
31
38
20
9
2.01
Drop out of this college temporarily (excluding transferring)
2
10
44
43
3.21
Drop out permanently (excluding transferring)
3
25
0
70
3.61
Transfer to another college before graduating
5
24
47
24
2.86
Be satisfied with your college
58
37
3
0
1.41
Participate in volunteer or community service work
50
34
14
2
1.63
Seek personal counseling
9
35
40
6
2.59

*Lower means indicate increased chance that event will occur.

   
 

Ratings of Importance of Life Objectives
 
Objective
Essential (%)
Very Important (%)
Somewhat Important (%)
Not Important (%)
Mean*
Becoming accomplished in performing arts
7
12
35
45
3.20
Becoming an authority in my field
17
33
36
12
2.43
Obtaining recognition for contributions to my special field
8
31
42
17
2.70
Influencing the political structure
14
22
38
25
2.76
Influencing social values
16
39
30
13
2.40
Raising a family
20
36
27
15
2.50
Having administrative responsibility for the work of others
4
10
35
50
3.33
Being very well off financially
15
16
42
25
2.79
Helping others who are in difficulty
36
36
25
2
1.91
Theoretically contributing to science
3
13
25
58
3.39
Writing original works 
10
17
28
42
3.07
Creating artistic work
11
21
28
38
2.95
Becoming successful in own business 
10
11
26
51
3.22
Becoming involved in environmental clean-up programs
15
27
37
18
2.59
Developing a meaningful life philosophy
32
35
22
9
2.06
Participating in a community action program
14
30
34
20
2.61
Helping to promote racial understanding
21
35
33
9
2.31
Keeping up to date with political affairs
20
33
32
13
2.41
Becoming a community leader
10
30
40
18
2.69
Integrating spirituality into my life
26
21
27
25
2.50

*Lower means indicate greater importance.

   

Views on Social Issues
 
Issue
Agree Strongly (%)
Agree Somewhat (%)
Disagree Somewhat (%)
Disagree Strongly (%)
Mean*
Too much concern for the rights of criminals
5
25
41
29
2.94
Abortion should be legal
54
25
9
10
1.72
The death penalty should be abolished
45
20
18
13
1.96
Casual sex is acceptable
19
36
25
15
2.45
Marijuana should be legalized
25
38
17
17
2.30
Laws should prohibit homosexual relationships
5
1
10
81
3.67
Employers should be allowed to require drug testing of employees or applicants
18
35
32
11
2.49
Government should do more to control handguns
63
21
8
5
1.58
Racial discrimination no longer a problem in US
1
6
31
59
3.47
An individual can do little to create changes in society
5
12
31
50
3.26
Wealthy people should pay more taxes
35
36
21
4
1.99
Colleges should prohibit racist/sexist speech on campus
23
33
28
12
2.55
Same sex couples should have the right to legal marital status
69
17
8
3
1.54
Affirmative action in college admissions should be abolished
9
16
51
17
2.65
Married women should stay at home 4 6 13 77 3.64

*Lower means indicate stronger agreement.

This report was prepared by Jamie Miller and Mary Ann Weaver - Fall, 2001

Return to Earlham Home Page
Return to Office of Institutional Research

Created by Mary Ann Weaver
weavema@earlham.edu
July 18, 2001