After four years on The Bluff...

By Nastacia Voisin Staff Writer voisin14@up.edu

Every other year, freshmen take a survey describing themselves and evaluating their expectations of what life at UP will be like. As seniors, the same students take a survey about their actual experience.

The 2012 study had a 52 percent response rate, with 410 students surveyed.

According to Karen Nelson, director of institutional research, the goal of the survey is to detect institutional weaknesses and assess strengths.

The results were presented to the Office of Student Affairs for evaluation. Nelson said it is possible program changes will be made to encourage leadership and community involvement.

Behavior

Seniors spent more time partying and social networking than they did their freshmen year. However, senior students also spent less time exercising, serving the community and participating in religious services than they did freshman year. Volunteering activity alone plummets from 47 to 18 percent by senior year.

Senior Erin Burns agrees that she spends more time socializing now than as a freshman.

"I also definitely spend more time studying," said Burns.

Religious Affiliation

Fifty percent of freshmen viewed themselves as Catholic upon entering UP. The percentage dropped to 44 percent as seniors. As freshmen, 18 percent of the class of 2012 said they were not religious, which rose to 23 percent by senior year.

Senior Michael Wagner found that the religion became less of a priority.

"I came to UP with a religious affiliation," Wagner said. "But I'm just not as able to keep committed to it now."

Emotional Health

Forty -nine percent of students said they felt 'frequently' or 'occasionally' depressed freshman year, which increased to 67 percent senior year.

Senior Kekai Ariola said attitudes change by senior year.

"Freshman year, you just expect things to be a continuation of high school," he said. "By senior year, you're starting to have to wonder what you're going to do in the world."

The profile of a frequently depressed student is a female in the College of Arts and Sciences who is from out-of-state.

Expectations vs. Experience

Seniors tended to have unrealized expectations of campus and program involvement, with fewer studying abroad, participating in student government or volunteering in the community than they projected as freshmen.

Senior Vanessa Tamashiro agreed with these trends.

"I really didn't do much of anything -most of my time was taken up by studies," she said.

Classroom Engagement

As freshmen, students were more likely to rate their classes as boring. As seniors, interest in classes had increased by 15 percent.

Senior Fiona Thornhil said she is more interested in her classes this year.

"All my classes are about things that I've been interested in. They're things that I've been working towards my whole time here," she said.