Many members of the University's 1996 first-year class were concerned about college tuition and volunteer work during their final year of high school, according to the results of the Entering Freshman Survey.
The University has participated in the nationwide survey for the past several years, which is conducted by the University of California at Los Angeles. This year, 45 percent or 2,369 students of the University's first-year class responded to the survey during summer orientation.
A majority of University students, 58.5 percent, said they were at least somewhat concerned with how they would finance college.
LSA first-year student Phil Zald was not shocked by the finding.
"For us to go to college now is a lot more expensive than it was for our parents," Zald said. "If you want to go to a big school, you'll be in debt unless your parents can help you out. Kids from middle-class families just get crappy loans."
Many students, 56.4 percent, are also hoping to use summer wages to pay for some schooling, the survey found. Students said they will use savings to pay for expenses, and 36.7 percent of those surveyed plan to get a part-time job.
LSA first-year student Katie Darner said she needed to work in the summer to help reduce her college costs.
"I work two jobs in the summer," Damer said. "It's definitely always a concern."
The University was more successful than other public universities in admitting community-service-minded students. More than 85 percent of respondents had participated in volunteer work in the past year, while 76.8 percent of students at other public universities did community service.
Darner said volunteering was a helpful experience. "It made me thankful for what I have," Darner said. "It gave me a new perspective on things."
In alcohol statistics, more University incoming first-year students reported having drunk hard liquor and wine, 59.8 percent, than beer, 53 percent.
However, Mary Lou Antieau, assistant to the vice-president for student affairs, said students only had to drink once in the previous year to answer yes.
Also, Antieau said many students drink very lightly to celebrate graduation. "How many students had a glass of champagne after graduation?" Antieau said.
These alcohol statistics fall in line with other public universities that participated in the study. These institutions reported that slightly more students, 56.1 percent of respondents, reported drinking beer while 58 percent had drank liquor or wine.
LSA first-year student Nikki Gunter was slightly surprised by the findings.
"I would expect the beer to be higher than the liquor. It just seems more common," Gunter said.
Fitness also was important to this first-year class, with only 2.6 percent reporting that they did not exercise. More than half the class, 51.8 percent, said they spend greater than six hours per week exercising and playing sports.
In addition to keeping fit, only 8.6 percent reported smoking cigarettes.
One of the more surprising statistics, according to Cherry Danielson, the graduate student research assistant who compiled the University data, was that 67 percent of the class reported they had spent no time playing video games last year.
"This says these students don't have a lot of time," Danielson said.
Danielson was impressed overall with the responses overall.
"The University really attracts quality students," Danielson said. "We were just a step ahead of other public institutions."
JEANNIE SERVAAS/Daily
Engineering first-year student Jessica Seck looks up at her residence hall, Alice Lloyd, yesterday.