‐2009 College Student Characteristics Inventory‐
Educational Intentions of Students
How many years do you plan to attend college or what degree level do you hope to achieve?
1 or 2 years
2%
Doctorate/
Professional 10.9%
3 or 4 years
15%
Bachelor's 56%
Master's 16%
* 83% of all incoming students intend to complete at least a bachelor's
degree.
* 27% of new students plan to complete a graduate degree.
Do you intend to complete a degree at UWSP?
No
2.5%
2 5%
Maybe/unsure
19.9%
Yes
77.6%
* Over 3/4 of all new students plan to complete a degree at UWSP.
* Students with declared majors have greater intentions to complete a
UWSP degree than undeclared students, 82% compared to 64% of
undeclared majors.
* Approximately 1/3 of undeclared students are uncertain about whether
they will complete a degree at UWSP, which is twice that of students who
have declared majors.
University of Wisconsin‐Stevens Point
Policy Analysis and Planning, Office of the Chancellor
‐2009 College Student Characteristics Inventory‐
Career Plans and Choice
Which of the following comes closest to describing your career plans?
No idea
5.2%
Know exactly 15.4%
Not too certain
22.4%
Pretty sure
57.0%
* 73% of new students are pretty certain of their career plans and the
remaining 27% are not too certain or have no idea.
* This distribution has remained steady over the past 10 years.
How important is it to you to have chosen a future profession before entering college?
Very important
23%
Fairly important
51%
Not important
26%
* The level of importance placed on selection of a profession is a
reflection of a students' choice of a major.
* Undeclared students place lower importance on the choice of a
profession than do students with declared majors.
University of Wisconsin‐Stevens Point
Policy Analysis and Planning, Office of the Chancellor
‐2009 College Student Characteristics Inventory‐
Choice of Major
For what reason would or did you choose your major?
Good job market prospects
5%
Someone persuaded me
1%
Prospect to earn a lot of money
3%
Area in which I have ability
17%
Represents my interests
74%
* Interests and abilities are the primary reasons that students select a major.
* Undeclared students report slightly higher rates of influence for good job
prospects and the prospect to earn a lot of money.
University of Wisconsin‐Stevens Point
Policy Analysis and Planning, Office of the Chancellor
‐2009 College Student Characteristics Inventory‐
Study Habits and Plans
As a HS senior, how many hours a week did you study outside of school hours?
7‐10 hours
6%
> 10 hours
3%
None
19%
1‐3 hours
48%
4‐6 hours
24%
* 19% of new students reported not studying outside of school hours during
their senior year of high school. This is the highest reported percentage
recorded in data going back to 1986.
How many hours per week do you expect to spend studying?
0‐3 hours
4%
> 30 hours
2%
21‐30 hours
11%
10‐20 hours
46%
4‐9 hours
37%
* Although 97% of new students spent less than 10 hours per week studying in
high school, only 41% say they will spend less than 10 hours per week
studying in college. This is the largest percentage since reporting began in
1981.
* 94% expect to maintain an A or B average in college.
University of Wisconsin‐Stevens Point
Policy Analysis and Planning, Office of the Chancellor
‐2009 College Student Characteristics Inventory‐
Work Plans
Are you planning to work for pay during the coming academic year?
Yes, off campus
14%
Yes, on campus
29%
No
14%
Unsure
21%
Combo of on and off campus
22%
* 65% of new students plan to work on or off campus or in some combination
of on- and off-campus work.
If yes, how many total hours per week will you work?
21‐30 hours >30 hours
2%
7%
1‐5 hours
10%
0%
11‐20 hours
41%
6‐10 hours
40%
* Of those planning to work, 90% plan to spend less than 20 hours working.
* Students who work off-campus plan to spend more time working than
students who work solely on campus or in some combination of on- and offcampus jobs.
* 19% of students who work off campus will spend 20 or more hours per
week working compared to less than 5% of students who work on campus.
University of Wisconsin‐Stevens Point
Policy Analysis and Planning, Office of the Chancellor
‐2009 College Student Characteristics Inventory‐
Academic Preparation: Experience with Academic Tasks
Writing a lab report
23%
Utilizing online environments for academic work
42%
30%
35%
41%
Extensive experience
29%
Taking notes during a lecture
43%
38%
19%
Some experience
Writing a research paper with citations
36%
Taking notes from a textbook on your own
44%
41%
Participating in a class discussion based on your interpretation of a reading
20%
44%
44%
16%
41%
No experience 15%
Writing an essay exam
49%
37%
14%
Reading a textbook to prepare for class
35%
52%
14%
Giving a presentation for class
42%
Working with a group on a joint project for a grade
45%
51%
0%
25%
13%
41%
50%
75%
9%
100%
* Students report the least experience writing a lab report, utilizing
online environments for academic work, taking notes during a lecture,
and writing research papers with citations.
* Students report the most experience working with a group on a joint
project for a grade and writing an essay exam.
University of Wisconsin‐Stevens Point
Policy Analysis and Planning, Office of the Chancellor