Participant Baseline Surveys

OMB Support Statement Study of Enhanced College Advising in Upward Bound

Appendix B. Baseline Student Survey

Survey of Upward Bound Students’ College Plans

We are asking you to complete a short survey now about your plans for college and about activities related to college planning and will ask you to complete a survey again in your senior year.

The survey should take about 15 minutes to complete.

Your answers could help improve the college advising provided in Upward Bound programs across the country.

Your Upward Bound program is participating in an important study about whether and how students prepare for college. The U.S. Department of Education is sponsoring this study and has hired Abt Associates and Survey Research Management to conduct this survey.

You do not have to complete this survey. Your participation is voluntary and you may choose not to answer a question or to stop the survey at any point. You can participate in Upward Bound even if you do not complete the survey.

Protecting your privacy is very important to us. Your name will not be included in any reports or data produced by the study. We will not share information from this survey that identifies you to anyone outside the study team, except as required by law.

We know your time is valuable and thank you for your participation in this survey!

SC1. Are you willing to take this survey?

• Yes

• No [SKIP TO SC4]

SC2. Thank you for your time.

Paperwork Burden Statement: According to the Paperwork Reduction Act of 1995, no persons are required to respond to a collection of information unless such collection displays a valid OMB control number. The valid OMB control number for this information collection is xxxx-xxxx. Public reporting burden for this collection is estimated to average 15 minutes per response, including the time to review instructions, search existing data resources, gather the data needed, and complete and review the information collection. The obligation to respond to this collection is voluntary. If you have any comments concerning the accuracy of the time estimate(s) or suggestions for improving this form, please write to the U.S. Department of Education, 400 Maryland Ave., SW, Washington, DC 20202-4536 or email [email protected] and reference the OMB Control Number XXXX-XXXX. If you have comments or concerns regarding the status of your individual submission of this form, write directly to the U.S. Department of Education, Institute of Education Sciences, 555 New Jersey Avenue, NW, Washington, DC 20208. Note: Please do not return the completed instrument, form, application or survey to this address.

Introduction

Throughout this survey when you see the term ‘college’ please think about any school that offers degrees or certificates to students who have completed high school, such as a community or technical college, a state university, a private liberal arts college, or a training institute.

College Plans

First, please answer some questions about your preparation and expectations for life after high school.

1. If there were no barriers, how far in school would you want to go?

• Less than high school completion

• Complete a high school diploma, GED or alternative high school credential

• Complete a certificate or diploma from a school that provides occupational training

• Complete an Associate's degree

• Complete a Bachelor's degree

• Complete a Master’s degree

• Complete a Ph.D., M.D., law degree, or other high level professional degree

• I don’t know

Source: High School Longitudinal Study (HSLS) Follow-up

2. As things stand now, how far in school do you think you will actually get?

• Less than high school completion [SKIP TO Q4]

• Complete a high school diploma, GED or alternative high school credential [SKIP TO Q4]

• Complete a certificate or diploma from a school that provides occupational training [SKIP TO Q4]

• Complete an Associate's degree [SKIP TO Q4]

• Complete a Bachelor's degree

• Complete a Master’s degree

• Complete a Ph.D., M.D., law degree, or other high level professional degree

• I don’t know

Source: HSLS for question, HSLS Follow-up for answer choices

3. Whatever your plans, do you think you have the ability to complete a Bachelor's degree?

• Definitely

• Probably

• Probably not

• Definitely not

Source: HSLS

4. Since you started high school, how many times, if any, have you (if you do not remember the exact number of times, please take your best guess):

	Number of times
Attended college fairs	___
Spoken with college representatives	___
Visited in-state college campuses	___
Visited out-of-state college campuses	___
Sat in on or observed a college course during a college visit	___
Taken practice ACT/SAT exams	___
Took a course to prepare for a college admission exam such as SAT or ACT	___
Used college guidebooks (on-line or print) to obtain information about colleges	___
Obtained information about colleges from their websites	___

Source: HSLS Follow-up, adapted

5. Have you already taken the following tests?

	Yes	No	I don’t know
PSAT or PLAN			
SAT or ACT			
ACCUPLACER or COMPASS			

Source: HSLS Follow-up, adapted

Expectations about Applying to College

While you may not have thought too much about college yet, please answer the following questions about your plans for applying to and selecting a college.

6. Do you plan to apply to college next year? (Please check one.)

• Yes

• No [SKIP TO Q8]

• I don’t know

Source: Author developed

7. How many colleges do you plan to apply to? (Please enter a number greater than zero.)

____ Number [SKIP TO Q9]

Source: Author developed

8. Which of the following are reasons why you do NOT plan to continue your education next year? [CHECK ALL THAT APPLY]

• I don't like school

• My grades aren't high enough

• My college admission test scores weren't high enough

• I won't need more education for the career I want

• I can't afford to go on to school

• I haven't taken the right courses

• No one in my family has ever gone on to school after high school

• I plan to join the military

• I'd rather work and make money than go to school

• I don't feel that going on to school is important

• My counselor or teachers recommend you work rather than continue your education

• I need to help support my family

• Other, please explain: _________________________

Source: Education Longitudinal Study (ELS) Follow-up, adapted

9. Has your Upward Bound program recommended a number of colleges to which you should apply next year?

• Yes

• No [SKIP TO Q11]

• I don’t know [SKIP TO Q11]

Source: Author developed

10. How many colleges did they recommend? [ENTER A NUMBER GREATER THAN ZERO.]

____ Number

Source: Author developed

11. How important to you [will/would] each of the following characteristics be when choosing a school or college to attend after high school?

	Very Important	Somewhat Important	Not at all Important
Academic quality or reputation			
Cost of attendance			
A good record of placing graduates in jobs			
A good record of placing graduates in graduate or professional schools			
Opportunity to play sports			
Recommended by family or friends			
Is a Historically Black College or University (HBCU), an institution with a large number of minority students or a Tribally Controlled College or University			
Being able to stay where my Upward Bound is located			
Visited the campus before			
Close to home			
Far away from home			
Offers a particular program of study/major			
Good social life			
Good sports teams or school spirit			
A family member went there			

Source: HSLS Follow-up, adapted

12. Which of the following is the most important characteristic to you in choosing a school or college to attend after high school?

• Populate list with all answers selected as “Very Important” in Q12

• Academic quality or reputation

• Cost of attendance

• A good record of placing graduates in jobs

• A good record of placing graduates in graduate or professional schools

• Opportunity to play sports

• Recommended by family or friends

• Minority Serving Institution

• Where my Upward Bound activities are located

• Visited the campus before

• Close to home

• Far away from home

• Offers a particular program of study/major

• Good social life

• Good sports teams or school spirit

• A family member went there

Source: HSLS Follow-up, adapted

13. As of right now, what do you think is most likely to be your college major or area of study? (If you are unable to find your most likely major, please check the appropriate box below the list and fill-in your most likely major. If you are undecided, please indicate so by checking the “undecided” box.)

• Auto-fillable based on the universe of College Board majors

• Check box: I could not find my most likely major.

Please write out the major/area of study:________________

• Undecided

Source: College Board, adapted

14. How certain are you about your most likely college major or area of study?

• Very certain

• Fairly certain

• Not certain

Source: College Board

15. As of right now, which type of school would you like to attend?

• A school that provides occupational training (usually less than 2 years)

• A 2-year college

• A 4-year college

• I don’t know

Source: HSLS Follow-Up, adapted

16. As of right now, would you like to attend a public or private [school that provides occupational training/2-year college/4-year college], or are you undecided?

• Public school/college

• Private school/college

• Undecided

Source: HSLS Follow-Up, adapted

17. Where would you like to go to college or school after high school?

• Close to home

• In my home state

• In a state next to mine

• Further than states next to mine

• Outside the United States

• Undecided

Source: College Board SAT Survey, adapted

18. What size school or college are you thinking of attending after high school?

• Fewer than 1,000 students

• 1,000 to 4,999 students

• 5,000 to 9,999 students

• 10,000 to 19,999 students

• More than 20,000 students

• Undecided

Source: College Board SAT Survey, adapted

19. As of right now, what college are you most likely to attend? (If you are unable to find the college, please check the appropriate box below the list and fill-in the college name. If don’t think you will attend college or school after high school, please indicate so by checking the third option.)

• Auto-fillable based on the universe of schools in IPEDS

• Check box: I could not find my college.

Please write out the college name:________________

• I don’t think I will attend college or school after high school

Source: Author Developed based on HSLS Follow-Up question

College Advising Experiences

Next please answer some questions about any help you may get in your Upward Bound program to plan for college.

20. Have you talked one-on-one with an Upward Bound counselor or advisor about steps to apply to college?

• Yes

• No [SKIP TO Q22]

Source: Westat Student Survey, adapted

21. How many times have you talked one-on-one with an Upward Bound counselor or advisor about steps to apply to college? [ENTER A NUMBER GREATER THAN ZERO.]

____ times

Source: Author developed, based on Westat Student Survey

22. Have you participated in an Upward Bound group session that provides advice about steps to apply to college?

• Yes

• No [SKIP TO Q24]

Source: Westat Student Survey, adapted

23. How many Upward Bound group college advising sessions about steps to apply to college have you participated in? [ENTER A NUMBER GREATER THAN ZERO.]

___sessions

Source: Author developed, based on Westat Student Survey

24. How many times, if any, has your Upward Bound program discussed the following with you:

	0 times	1 time	2 times	3 times	4 or more times
How to choose colleges to apply to					
Your chances of being accepted at different types of colleges					
How colleges have different graduation rates, employment rates, and other student outcomes					
Admissions requirements (such as SAT/ACT scores, transcripts, and recommendations) for different types of colleges					
Timelines for applying to college					
The possibility of going to college outside of your local area					
Ways to prepare for the SAT/ACT					
How to complete the Common Application					
Your options for paying for college					
How much you will have to pay for college if you get financial aid					
How to complete the FAFSA (Free Application for Federal Student Aid) form					

Source: Author developed

Expectations about College Costs

The next question asks you to estimate the cost of one year’s tuition and required fees of college. Please include the cost of courses and required fees such as student activity fees and student health fees. Do not include optional expenses such as room and board.

25. What is your best estimate of the cost to you of one year’s tuition and required fees at the college that you are most likely to attend? (Please enter your best estimate in the space below. If you don’t know, please take your best guess.)

$_________

Source: HSLS

26. During the past year, have you researched the costs of attending one or more specific colleges either on your own, with a family member, with an Upward Bound advisor? [CHECK ALL THAT APPLY]

• On my own

• With a family member

• With an Upward Bound advisor

• I have not researched costs of attending one or more specific colleges

Source: Author developed

Background Information

These next questions ask you about your family and you.

Academic Experiences

27. What grade were you in when you took Algebra I? (If you have taken it more than once, answer for the most recent time you took it. If you are currently taking Algebra I, choose your current grade.)

• 8th grade or earlier

• 9th grade

• 10th grade

• 11th grade

• I have not taken Algebra I yet

Source: HSLS Follow-up

28. Have you taken any Advanced Placement (AP) OR International Baccalaureate (IB) courses? (Include any courses you are taking now.)

• Yes

• No [SKIP TO Q30]

• I don't know [SKIP TO Q30]

Source: HSLS Follow-up, adapted

29. Have you already taken either of the following tests?

	Yes	No	I don’t know
Any Advanced Placement (AP) test			
Any International Baccalaureate (IB) test			

Source: HSLS Follow-up, adapted

30. Indicate your cumulative grade point average (GPA) for all academic subjects as of the end of your sophomore year in high school (last year).

A+	(97-100)	C+	(77-79)
A	(93-96)	C	(73-76)
A–	(90-92)	C–	(70-72)
B+	(87-89)	D+	(67-69)
B	(83-86)	D	(65-66)
B–	(80-82)	F	(below 65)

Source: College Board SAT Survey, adapted

Student Characteristics

31. What is your gender?

• Male

• Female

Source: HSLS Parent Survey

32. Are you Hispanic or Latino/Latina?

• Yes

• No

Source: HSLS

33. What is your race? [CHECK ALL THAT APPLY.]

• White

• Black or African American

• Asian

• Native Hawaiian or other Pacific Islander

• American Indian or Alaska Native

Source: HSLS

34. What was the first language you learned to speak when you were a child?

• English

• Spanish

• Another language

• English and Spanish equally

• English and another language equally

Source: HSLS

Family Characteristics

35. Do you have any siblings?

• Yes

• No [SKIP TO Q37]

Source: Author developed

36. Have any of your siblings:

	Yes	No	I don’t know
Earned a high school diploma?			
Earned a GED?			
Applied to college?			
Enrolled in college?			
Completed education at a college?			

Source: HSLS Parent Survey, adapted

These next questions are about your parents or guardians. If you live in more than one household, answer about the parents or guardians you live with most of the time. Please choose one parent to begin.

37. What is this parent’s or guardian’s relationship to you?

• Biological mother

• Biological father

• Adoptive mother

• Adoptive father

• Stepmother

• Stepfather

• Other female guardian

• Other male guardian

Source: HSLS, adapted

38. What is the highest level of education [he/she] has completed?

• Less than high school

• High school diploma or GED

• Completed a certificate or diploma from a school that provides occupational training

• Completed some college but no degree

• Associate’s degree

• Bachelor’s degree

• Master’s degree

• Educational Specialist diploma

• Ph.D., M.D., law degree, or other high level professional degree

• I don’t know

Source: HSLS, adapted

39. Does [he/she] currently hold a job for pay?

• Yes

• No [SKIP TO Q42]

• I don’t know [SKIP TO Q42]

Source: HSLS

40. Is his/her current job full-time or part-time?

• Full-time

• Part-time

• I don’t know

Source: Author developed

41. Do you have another parent or guardian in the same household as you?

• Yes

• No [SKIP TO Q46]

Source: HSLS

42. What is this parent’s or guardian’s relationship to you?

• Biological mother

• Biological father

• Adoptive mother

• Adoptive father

• Stepmother

• Stepfather

• Other female guardian

• Other male guardian

Source: HSLS, adapted

43. What is the highest level of education [he/she] has completed?

• Less than high school

• High school diploma or GED

• Completed a certificate or diploma from a school that provides occupational training

• Completed some college but no degree

• Associate’s degree

• Bachelor’s degree

• Master’s degree

• Educational Specialist diploma

• Ph.D., M.D., law degree, or other high level professional degree

• I don’t know

Source: HSLS, adapted

44. Does [he/she] currently hold a job for pay?

• Yes

• No [SKIP TO Q46]

• I don’t know [SKIP TO Q46]

Source: HSLS

45. Is his/her current job full-time or part-time?

• Full-time

• Part-time

• I don’t know

Source: Author developed

Contact Information

This last set of questions asks you for information that will make it possible for us to locate you more easily in the future for the follow-up survey in 2016.

This information will be kept in secure and protected data files separate from the responses you've already provided. This information will be destroyed within 30 days of follow-up survey completion.

46. Please provide up-to-date contact information for yourself for the following items:

1. Home phone

2. Cell phone

3. Primary Email

4. Alternate Email

5. Street Address

6. Zip Code

7. City

8. State

Source: HSLS

47. Please provide the name, address, and telephone number of a relative or close friend who does not live with you, but will always know how to get in touch with you. We will only contact this person if we cannot reach you for the follow-up survey.

This information will be kept in secure and protected data files separate from your name and the responses you've already provided. A study generated unique identification number will link this information to your contact information. This information will be destroyed within 30 days of follow-up survey completion.

1. First Name

2. Last Name

3. Relationship

4. Home Phone

5. Cell phone

6. Primary Email

7. Alternate Email

8. Street Address

9. Zip Code

10. City

11. State

Source: HSLS

Concluding Remarks

Thank you for completing the survey! If you have any additional questions please do not hesitate to contact a member of study team at: [email protected] or toll-free at 1-800- 489-0480.

Abt Associates Inc. Appendix B. Baseline Student Survey  ▌ pg B-22