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SECTION V. STUDENT INTERVIEWS
by MATT MILLER and JEN KALISH
Matt's Corner:
Questionnaire for Students
Science Student Focus Group
How to read the Table of Information:
The tables are a visual representation of the raw data that was collected from the student interviews. Along the top row are the ethnic and gender groups that participated in the survey. The next row down is how many students were in the ethnic/gender group. The first column has numbers in it and these numbers correspond to the question number on the questionnaire. From row three down are the answers each student gave. On table one for 10th grade you see the ethnic/gender group Laos, Asian, and Filipino in the second column. This group consists of three students. The next row is question one. In that column you see 2-college, 1 fashion design, this means that of those tree students, two students answered they were going to college after high school and one student was going to fashion design school.
Going to College Questionnaire:
1. What have you thought about doing after High School?
2. Have you considered college?
A) If yes, why?
B) If yes, which one(s)?
3. If you haven’t considered college, why not?
4. Have you heard of the Synergy Program?
A) If you have, can you describe what it has to offer?
5. Have you heard of the AVID Program?
A) If you have, can you describe what it has to offer?
6. Do you know what a college “scholarship” is?
A) If you do, how did you find out?
B) If you plan to get a scholarship, what steps have you taken to apply for one?
C) If you are applying for one, when is the turn in deadline?
D) What assistance, if any, have you received?
7. If you are interested in college, check any of the following programs, activities, or classes you have participated in to help you prepare.
Synergy, AVID, Tutoring, GATE, AP classes, Upward Bound, CAL SOAP, Talent Search, Gear Up, Others?
8. If you are in a program or activity, how has that program or activity helped you?
A) What do you do there?
9. What do you consider the most informative and useful aspects of the programs/activities?
Student Questionnaire Data Summary for 10th (1)
Student Questionnaire Data Summary for 10th (2)
Student Questionnaire Data Summary for 11th (1)
Student Questionnaire Data Summary for 11th (2)
Student Questionnaire Data Summary for 11th (3)
Information summarized by Jen Kalish:
Our “Going to College Questionnaire” concurs with many of our parent interviews. We found that many students do have aspirations of continuing their education on to college. We found that out of twenty-two sophomores, that twelve wanted to go to college, five had career aspirations not involving a college education, and five had no idea of future goals. All of our sophomore population agreed that college would offer them more opportunities and possibly a better lifestyle. The sophomores who did not want to continue their education after highschool listed the military as the majority aspiration. For the programs being researched Synergy was the most popular. Seventeen had heard of this program, while only five had not. The seventeen sophomores familiar with the Synergy program were aware that it provides tutoring services and often mentioned the fun aspects of the program, including Drivers Education and skateboarding. The Avid program was not as popular as the Synergy program among the sophomores interviewed. Only ten were familiar with the program, while twelve were not. Those who had heard of the program stated that it helped prepare for college. All of our sophomore population knew what a college scholarship was, except for two students. The twenty students familiar with college scholarships used resources involving teachers, friends, and counselors. And only one stated a parent. Six of these students have taken no steps to attain a college scholarship, and all other students “tried to do well in school” to gain a scholarship. Every student had participated in at least one program researched. There were nine programs researched. All twenty two-sophomore students felt that these programs had helped them improve grades and would offer them or had offered them more knowledge on college options.
Junior Study:
by Peter Jana and Jen Kalish
In contrast to the 10th graders, all 24 of the 11th grade
AP respondents expressed an interest in going to college. They all believe that
college would increase their job opportunities. However, there was one
African-American female who claimed that she “had” to go to college. It is
unclear whether this was because her parents are compelling her or for other
reasons. The majority of the students are familiar with the AVID and Synergy
programs, but not as much as might be expected for an 11th grade A.P.
class. Out of 24 students, 17 know about/participated in Synergy and 16 know
about/participated in AVID. Only one student listed Upward Bound and none listed
Gear-Up (which also funds Synergy). Two students do not know about scholarships.
The students did not provide much information regarding particular improvements,
but did list “gain and discuss information about college” and “realize
potential” as benefits of the programs. It is predictable that an 11th
grade A.P. class would be better informed than a regular 10th grade
class, but it is surprising that they are not better informed about the full
gamut of programs available to them – such as Upward Bound. Also, it is
imperative that 10th graders participate in these programs as soon as
possible. If they start in the 11th or 12th grade it might
be too late (or retard) their post graduation educational plans.
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