Each year William Paterson University conducts a freshman survey to help the university community get to know its new students. Questions from various campus offices are encouraged and welcomed. This year’s report reflects a special request from the Admissions Office staff.

During the spring and into the early summer, 964 students, most of our full-time entering freshman class, completed the Freshman Survey at the time of their Basic Skills Test. Please note that at the time this survey was designed and administered WPUNJ was still a college and the questions asked reflected that status.

"The students I know that attend WPC have many great things to say about the school. I hope my experiences are just as great at WPC." "I feel that WPC is doing a great job with the sponsored student program. I am very honored to be chosen as a sponsored student, and I am excited to begin my future here at WPC. Hallie Cohen, the field hockey and softball coach, did a lot for me and I owe her my thanks." "WPC was my first choice of all the colleges I applied to. Naturally it gave me great satisfaction to know that I will be able to attend this school in the upcoming fall."

As these student quotes illustrate, our freshmen are excited about attending William Paterson and look forward to the fall. Ninety-three percent of respondents reported that, among the colleges they applied to, WP was either their first or second choice, with 66 percent saying it was their first choice. This is up from last year’s freshman class where only 58 percent reported that William Paterson was their first choice. As well, 90 percent reported they expect to graduate from here and only 10 percent, as compared to last year’s 17 percent, said they expect to transfer to another college. 

"I noticed the relaxed atmosphere at WPC at the Open House and the students seemed to be very friendly and extremely involved in their field of study. I noticed in particular the people (students) with communication majors (my major) were involved in and loved what they did." "I am lucky to be able to live at home and still commute to WPC. This gives me the opportunity to earn a degree without being in debt." "I really like the campus and the school and I feel comfortable about attending WPC."

Students were asked to select from a list of words or phrases those they thought were the most widely held as images of WPC. Two-thirds chose friendly, closely followed by 65 percent who circled comfortable. The friendliness of the institution and the comfort level felt while being on campus were also reflected in the written responses students gave when asked if there was anything else they wanted us to know about how they felt about attending WP. A somewhat related image, cited by 45 percent of the respondents, was William Paterson as a place where you get personal attention. A good-sized percent, 58, associated WPC with being inexpensive. Another 51 percent selected career-oriented and half associated diverse and fun with our image. Not surprisingly, many of these characteristics are also pointed to as factors that affected students’ decisions to attend college in general and William Paterson in particular.

As we continue to build on our new university status, there are several other characteristics we may wish to emphasize in our marketing. As President Speert points out, WPUNJ is the most computer-equipped campus after NJIT, Princeton and Stevens Institute of Technology. Yet only nine percent of the respondents associated high-tech with William Paterson. As well, only 11 percent associated us with selective, while 31 and 40 percents respectively, saw William Paterson as challenging or intellectual. Finally, even though our baseball team is a two time NJCAA Division III World Champion, only 23 percent associated us with athletics.

Also of note, 25 percent saw us as a commuter school; ten percent associated us with partying and only five percent saw us as a back-up school. 

"I am happy that I have been accepted to WPC because of its faculty and student atmosphere, choice of majors, and the ability to live at home." "Being a mom, it can become very difficult finding a college that is convenient. WPC is convenient in price and travel time." "Being in the Sponsored Student Program I feel that everyone is trying their best to make my experience at WPC a good one. They are helping me select courses and will tutor me in those I have difficulty in. This definitely was one of the deciding factors for me." "I’m actually very happy that I’m attending WPC and so are my parents for two reasons: 1) They’re both alumni and 2) All the other schools I applied to had a below average department in my major (WPC is above average) and it’s not $24,000 a year." "I have heard many good things about the art department here and am excited about attending school here in the fall."

Students were asked to compare WP with other colleges and universities they had seriously considered attending on 21 characteristics believed to affect institutional choice. As well, they were asked to select the three characteristics that had the greatest influence on their decision to attend William Paterson.

As in previous surveys that asked this question, two factors stand out as being the most influential in students’ decisions to attend this College -- reputation of their intended major and value for the price. Forty-two percent responded that the reputation of their intended major was one of the three most important factors in their decision to attend WPC; followed by 39 percent who found William Paterson especially attractive because of the value for the price. The third most important factor was the ability to live at home, 28 percent, closely followed by the ability to get home when one wanted to, 24 percent. Results from the 1995 survey of freshmen found the same three factors to be most influential with nearly the same percent of freshmen choosing them. In 1991, when a similar question was first asked of entering freshmen, the same three factors emerged as most influential, however, the order of the first two was reversed; more students chose cost as most influential followed by reputation of intended major, 49 and 41 percents respectively.

For each of the 21 factors, students were asked to compare WPC to other schools they seriously considered attending. They were asked if they considered William Paterson better than most, about the same, worse than most or if they were unable to make a comparison. For six of the seven most influential factors, more than half of the students rated WPC better than other colleges they considered. For 68 percent of the respondents, WP compared more favorably on value for the price than most of the other colleges they considered and for almost two-thirds, on the ease of getting home when they wanted to and for 48 percent on the ability to live at home. For 54 percent of the students our friendly atmosphere was notably better than most other colleges they seriously considered and, in fact, more than doubled from the 1995 survey percent of 25. As well, 50 percent said WP was better than most other colleges on or with respect to personal attention to students. On the single most influential factor, reputation of intended major, 47 percent of the students indicated William Paterson was better than most other colleges. However, on the fifth most influential factor, academic reputation of the college, only 18 percent of students gave an above average rating to WP. Students noticed the efforts of the grounds and maintenance employees; 44 percent said that the attractiveness of our campus was better than most of the other colleges they had considered. Click here for details.

While not a particularly influential factor in determining student’s attendance at WP, it is interesting to note that in both years, 1995 and 1997, the availability of public transportation to the institution was rated as better than most of the other colleges they had considered by 40 percent of the respondents in 1995 and 34 percent in 1997.

On the whole, very few students compared WPC unfavorably to the other colleges they were considering for any of the 21 factors. Even the "poorest" rating, for the availability of scholarships based on academic achievement, had only five percent saying that WPC was worse on this factor than most of the other colleges they were considering.

"I like WPC because of the friendly feeling I get simply by walking around the campus. What influenced me even more was talking to present students as well as alumni. Almost all of them like WPC and they all encouraged me to attend."

"I have heard a lot of good things about WPC from my history teacher, who is an alumni, and from friends who are attending WPC. When I came for a visit the tour leader, Nichole, was very friendly, nice and helped me out that day." "Through campus tours and talking to faculty members I’ve realized I’ve made the right choice in attending WPC. The school has a friendly atmosphere and diversity seems ideal. I look forward to beginning my freshman year in the fall and the whole WPC experience."

Respondents were given a list of 15 varied sources for information about William Paterson and asked how influential each source was to them in making their decision to attend here. They also were asked to identify the three most influential sources. The two sources that stand out as being most influential in helping students decide to attend William Paterson are: contact with WPC students, 40 percent, and opinion of their parents, guardian or spouse, 36 percent. The third most influential source was the WPC Open House, 22 percent; followed very closely by a visit to the campus other than the campus tour hosted by Admissions Office, 22 percent; the opinion of their guidance counselor, 22 percent, and contact with Admissions by phone or mail, 22 percent.

The Open House, opinions of parents, contact with WP students, the campus tour were highly rated as a strong positive influence by at least 50 percent of those using these resources. Forty-nine percent rated a visit other than Open House or a Campus Tour as highly influential and 47 percent who had contact with alumni found them a strong positive influence. Some resources and activities that were rated as strong influences however, were not necessarily well used. For example, 54 percent of those actually attending the Open House said it was a strong positive influence; yet 42 percent of all respondents said they did not use it as a resource. A similar pattern holds true for the Campus Tour. Contact with people associated with the university and seeing the campus seem to be important ways for us to have positive influences on freshmen. From an earlier survey that asked a similar question, we know that admissions officers have made good progress in getting more people up to the campus and meeting various people associated with the college such as students, faculty and alumni. This strategy should be continued. 

As we saw earlier in this report, freshmen are excited and looking forward to attending William Paterson but they also have some concerns about beginning this next big step in their lives. To help pinpoint some possible areas of concern, freshmen were asked to review a list of seven areas and tell us in which of them they felt that they definitely needed, probably needed or probably did not need assistance.

Nearly all respondents, 93 percent, felt they probably or definitely would need some assistance in selecting courses; over half, 54 percent, said they definitely will need assistance in this area. Eight out of ten prospective freshmen felt that they probably or definitely will need some assistance in improving their study skills; 41 percent felt they will definitely need help in this area. The third major area of concern is clarifying career goals; over two-thirds anticipate they will definitely or probably need some help in doing this.

Students felt most comfortable in their ability to make friends; 72 percent said they probably would not need any assistance in this area. They also felt confident that they could deal with personal issues or problems; 64 percent said they probably would not need any assistance in this area.

In a related question, respondents were asked to indicate what one skill they would most like to improve during their stay here. Responses were coded into eight categories. About 27 percent of the respondents listed study/academic skills as the one skill area they would like to improve while at WP. Typical responses in this category were: "Improving my handling of time and improving my academic skills" and "I would like to improve my studying skills at WPC." Twenty-six percent listed writing skills as the area they would like to improve; followed by math skills, 16 percent and 10 percent for skills related to the major. The following quote is illustrative of this last category, "Since I am majoring in elementary education I would like to improve my understanding of becoming a teacher." Another nine percent listed communication skills as the area they most wanted to improve; followed by eight percent who listed personal development issues. As one student wrote, "One skill I would hope to improve during my stay here at WPC would be my social skills. I intend to become more comfortable when in a social situation." Finally, three percent would like to improve their computer skills and two percent listed reading skills. 

This year’s freshmen seem particularly pleased with their choice of and acceptance by William Paterson. Two thirds said William Paterson was their first choice among the colleges they applied to and only 10 percent said they might transfer. There seems to be a good fit between the institution and this year’s entering freshman class.

Freshmen associate images such as friendly, comfortable and inexpensive with the institution. As well, half said they think WP has an image of being career-oriented, diverse and fun. Forty-five percent also say that we are seen as a place you get personal attention. One image that is less widely held than we might like is high-tech. Admissions recruiters and public information officers need to highlight our newly wired dorms, our state-of-the-art language and computer laboratories as well as the many student internships associated with technology.

Another image we may wish to address is that of selectivity. Efforts such as the recently instituted merit scholarships for transfer students certainly helps send the right message. University discussions about modifying admission standards for transfer students and continued efforts at assessing our programs will no doubt also help.

Two factors that received somewhat less than satisfactory ratings need attention. First, only 18 percent said that William Paterson’s academic reputation was better than most of the other colleges they were considering. The current plan to develop and implement a long term marketing plan, as called for by the faculty Comprehensive Analysis panel, may be helpful here. Secondly, only 15 percent said that the intellectual challenge of courses was better than most other colleges they were considering. Once students actually start taking classes this feeling may change. Faculty initiatives such as the resolution on Student Learning Outcomes, the adoption of the Program Review Assessment Plan and discussions about grading patterns also help to insure that courses are intellectually challenging.

The two most influential factors for students in their decision to attend William Paterson continue to be reputation of major and value for the price. This suggests that the institutional strengths that should be highlighted by admissions’ recruiters are the low cost of attending William Paterson and the high quality of many of our programs. Admissions personnel can also point to our small class sizes, the number of opportunities students have to work with faculty on research projects and the large number of student clubs and campus activities as examples of the College’s friendly atmosphere and attention to them as individuals.

Finally, students gave us a good jumping off place for helping them when they responded to a question about skills they feel they may need to improve. Freshman Seminar may be an ideal place to encourage students to discuss such issues as time management, coping with stress and what services are available here on campus for them.

The assistance of Carol Parken, Basic Skills Office, in administering this survey is greatly appreciated. Also thanks to Janet Seiferth, Information Systems, for assistance in data entry.
 

The freshman survey can be found on the WEB at: http://ww2.wpunj.edu/Research/opre/opre.htm#reports