COLLEGE STUDENT CHARACTERISTICS INVENTORY
The College Student Characteristics Inventory (CSCI) is a tool designed to tell us something about
who you are, why you're here, and what you expect from the University.
The information obtained through the CSCI is treated confidentially. All responses are pooled
and used collectively as a means of determining how we can serve students better.
Getting Started
1. Do not list your name on this scan sheet.
2. IDENTIFICATION NUMBER Box: Please enter your UWSP Student ID # (8 digits).
3. SPECIAL CODES Box (A & B only): Using the list of majors below, mark the two digit code that
most closely associates with your declared major.
Example: For undecided, mark “11” by darkening “1” in Column A and “1” in Column B.
11 Undecided
25 Elementary Education
12 Art
26 English
39 Interdisciplinary- American
Studies
52 Psychology
54 Resource Management
53 Public Administration
13 Arts Management
27 Exceptional Education
40 Interdisciplinary- Biochemistry
14 Athletic Training
28 Family & Consumer Ed
41 Interior Architecture
55 Social Science
15 Biology
29 Fisheries & Wat Resources
42 International Studies
56 Sociology
16 Business Administration
30 Forestry
43 Managerial Accounting
57 Soil & Waste Resources
17 Chemistry
31 French
44 Mathematics
58 Spanish
18 Clinical Lab Science
32 General Studies
45 Music
59 Theatre Arts and Dance
19 Communication
33 Geography
46 Natural Science
60 Water Resources
20 Communicative Disorders
34 German
47 Paper Science
21 Computer Info Systems
35 Health Promotion
48 Philosophy
61 Web & Digital Media
Development
22 Dietetics
36 Health Science
49 Physical Education
62 Wildlife
23 Early Childhood Ed
37 History
50 Physics
24 Economics
38 Individually Planned
51 Political Science
Instructions
•
Mark all responses on the answer sheet. Please do not mark in this booklet as we will be using it multiple
times to conserve paper.
•
Use a #2 pencil. Make marks heavy and dark.
•
If you change an answer, be sure to erase the original response thoroughly and completely so your
answer sheet can be properly processed.
•
Enter only one response per question or statement.
Please read each question carefully and be as
accurate as possible in your responses. Select
only one response per question or statement.
Thank you for participating!
-----------------------------------------------------------------------1. Prior to orientation, have you ever visited the
UWSP campus?
A. Yes
B. No (If no, skip to Question 9.)
Qu. 2-8: Please indicate for which of the reasons
listed below you have previously visited the UWSP
campus.
Darken "A" for yes or "B" for no
2.
3.
4.
5.
6.
7.
8.
Summer workshops, institutes or conferences
Visited the Admissions Office
Campus Preview Day (ViewPoint)
Attended athletic events
Visited a friend who was attending UWSP
Attended plays or musical events
Took a class
9. How
A.
B.
C.
D.
E.
large was your HS graduating class?
Less than 50
50 to 110
101 to 250
251 to 500
More than 500
10. Where have you lived most of your life?
A.
In a city of 250,000 or more
B.
In a city of 50,000 to 250,000
C.
In a city or 2,500 to 50,000
D.
In a town of 2,500 or less
E.
On a farm or rural setting
Qu. 11-22: For what reason(s) did you decide to
attend college?
Darken:
"A" for the one biggest reason you are in college;
"B" for all other items that factor into your decision to
be in college; or
"C" to indicate that this was not a reason.
11.
12.
13.
14.
15.
16.
17.
18.
19.
20.
21.
22.
Wanted a general education
To prepare for career/vocation
To increase earning power
To please parents
To have fun
Thought I would like college work
To understand people better
To do what my friends are doing
For prestige
To discover meaning in my life
Was unsure of what else I would do
To make a difference in the world
23. Where will you be living this year?
A.
Residence Hall
B.
Off campus at parents' residence
C.
Off Campus on my own
24. What is your father's educational level?
A.
High school diploma or less
B.
Some college, but not a 4-year degree
C.
Earned bachelor's degree
D.
Earned graduate degree (master's,
doctorate, or professional)
E.
N/A or Unsure
25. What is your mother's educational level?
A.
High school diploma or less
B.
Some college, but not a 4-year degree
C.
Earned bachelor's degree
D.
Earned graduate degree (master's,
doctorate, or professional)
E.
N/A or Unsure
Qu. 26-33: Of the people in your life, who helped
you decide to attend this University?
Darken:
"A" for the one person who influenced you most;
"B" for all other people who had some influence; or
"C" to indicate no influence.
26.
27.
28.
29.
30.
31.
32.
33.
Mother
Father
Sibling(s)
High school teacher
High school counselor
Relatives
Significant other/boyfriend/girlfriend
High school friends
Qu. 34-38: Of the people you connected with at
UWSP, who helped you decide to attend?
Darken:
"A" for the one person who influenced you most;
"B" for all other people who had some influence;
"C" to indicate no influence.
34.
35.
36.
37.
38.
UWSP Representatives
Friends attending UWSP
A UWSP professor/faculty member
UWSP Alumni
UWSP Student
Qu. 39-48: Of the materials and information you
obtained about UWSP, which ones helped you
decide to attend college here?
Darken:
"A" for the one most influential information source;
"B" for all other sources that had some influence;
"C" to indicate no influence or did not use.
39.
40.
41.
42.
43.
44.
45.
46.
47.
48.
College Guide Books or rankings (i.e., U.S. News)
Web-based rankings sites
Telephone call from UWSP student
Telephone call from Faculty
UWSP Admissions representative
Visits to UWSP campus
UWSP brochures
The UWSP Web site
Social networks like Facebook or MySpace
Advertising by UWSP
Qu. 49-74: What factors prompted you to select
UWSP?
Darken:
"A" for the one factor that influenced you most;
"B" for all other factors that had some influence; or
"C" to indicate no influence.
49.
50.
51.
52.
53.
54.
55.
56.
57.
58.
59.
60.
61.
62.
63.
64.
65.
66.
67.
68.
69.
70.
71.
72.
73.
74.
The campus is beautiful
It's close to home
Its academic program is better than other schools
UWSP students are friendly
The social life is good
Friendly faculty and staff
My parents like UWSP
For fitness/recreation programs & facilities
I was turned down by other schools
Residence hall life and programs (ARC to
Success, FIG, etc.)
Summer orientation program
Have a relative or friend attending UWSP
For the athletic program and/or facilities
The faculty is better than it is at other schools
Received scholarship
For programs in my field
UWSP on-campus housing
Financial Aid package that I received
It is academically easier than other schools
Better job after graduation
Library facilities are better than at other schools
UWSP's prestige
Semester Abroad program
Size of the school
It's less expensive
University Center's facilities
75. How would you compare UWSP to other
Wisconsin schools?
A.
One of the best
B.
Better than average
C.
About the same as other schools
D.
Not as good as other schools
76. How many years do you plan to attend college,
or what degree level do you hope to achieve?
A.
1 or 2 years
B.
3 or 4 years
C.
Bachelor's degree
D.
Master's degree
E.
Doctoral or professional degree (law,
vet. medicine, medicine, dentistry, etc.)
77. Do you intend to complete a degree at UWSP?
A.
Yes
B.
Maybe/unsure
C.
No
78. Which of the following comes closest to
describing your career plans?
A.
I know exactly what I am going to do
B.
I am pretty sure about what I will do
C.
I am not too certain about what I want to do
D.
I have no idea of what I want to do
79. For what reason would or did you choose your
major? (Choose the most important one)
A.
It represents my interests
B.
It is an area in which I have ability
C.
Job market prospects are good
D.
Someone persuaded me
E.
Prospect of earning a lot of money
80. What grade average do you expect to maintain
in college?
A.
B+ to A
B.
B
C.
C+ to B
D.
C
E.
C- or lower
81. How important is it to you to have chosen a
future profession before entering college?
A.
Very important
B.
Fairly important
C.
Not important
82. How many hours per week do you expect to
spend studying?
A.
More than 30
B.
21 to 30
C.
10 to 20
D.
Less than 10
83. Are you planning to work for pay during the
coming academic year?
A. No (skip to Qu. 85)
B. Yes, on campus
C. Yes, off campus
D. Some combo of on and off-campus work
E. Unsure
84. If yes, how many total hours per week will you
work?
A. 1-5
B. 6-10
C. 11-20
D. 20-30
E. More than 30
Qu. 85-93: What is your level of experience with
each of the following academic tasks?
Darken
85.
86.
87.
88.
89.
90.
91.
92.
"A" for extensive experience
"B" for some experience;
"C" for little experience; or
"D" for no experience
Reading a textbook to prepare for class
Taking notes from a text book on your own
Taking notes during a lecture
Writing an essay exam
Writing a research paper with citations
Writing a lab report
Working with a group on a joint project for a grade
Participating in a class discussion based on your
interpretation of a reading
93. Utilizing online environments for academic work
94. As a high school senior, how many hours a
week did you study outside of school hours?
A.
1 to 3
B.
4 to 6
C.
7 to 10
D.
More than 10
E.
None
Qu. 95-125: How important to you are the following
while you are in college?
Darken:
"A" for the one most important item;
"B" for all other very important items;
"C" for all other fairly important items; or
“D” to indicate not important.
95. Really learning something
96. Making good grades
97. Exploring attitudes, opinions and beliefs with
faculty
98. Completing a college degree
99. Having the opportunity for serious intellectual
discussions with other students
100. Getting help from upper division students
101. Participating in a Semester or Study Abroad
program
102. Developing skills in technology
103. Learning how to prevent illness
104. Being physically active
105. Taking good care of my body
106. Maintaining personal safety
107. Attending seminars on male/female relationships
108. Being in a campus leadership position
109. Joining a fraternity or sorority
110. Having an active role in the performing arts
(music, art, theatre)
111. Having an active role in organizations
112. Attending plays and concerts
113. Attending athletic events
114. Participating in community service or volunteer
activities
115. Having an active role in social events
116. Having an active role in politics
117. Having an active role in social change
118. Having an active role in national and/or
international affairs
119. Having religious affiliation
120. Going home on weekends
121. Being socially accepted
122. Having a good personal reputation
123. Dating
124. Having many friends
125. Finding a future wife/husband/partner
126. Attending college parties
Qu. 127-135: How important is it to you that UWSP
provides the following services for students?
Darken:
"A" for the one most important service;
"B" for all other very important services;
"C" for all other fairly important services; or
"D" to indicate not important.
127. Reading skills assistance
128. Study skills assistance
129. Math skills assistance
130. Writing skills assistance
131. Personal counseling services
132. Medical/health services
133. Academic advising
134. Career counseling
135. Career placement service for graduates
136. Financial advising and assistance
137. How many hours per week do you spend
playing video games?
A.
None
B.
Less than 3 hours
C.
4-7 hours
D.
8-15 hours
E.
More than 15 hours
138. How many hours per week do you spend on
social networking sites (e.g., Facebook,
MySpace, etc.)?
A.
None
B.
Less than 3 hours
C.
4-7 hours
D.
8-15 hours
E.
More than 15 hours
Qu. 139-146: In general, where do you get most of
your news/information about current events?
Darken
"A" for the one most important source
"B" for all other important information sources; or
"C" to indicate not important.
139. TV
140. Internet news sites (CNN, MSN, Fox, etc.)
141. Internet blogs or opinion sites
142. Newspapers
143. Printed magazines
144. Social websites
145. Face-to-face interaction (friends, family, etc.)
146. Text messaging
147. Indicate your sex:
A.
Male
B.
Female
Thank you for taking this survey.
Welcome to UWSP!