CIRP 1998

A Profile of Emory Freshmen -Fall 1998

Prepared by Susan H. Frost and Daniel Teodorescu

More than 1,000 Emory first-time freshmen responded last fall to the national UCLA Cooperative Institutional Research Program (CIRP) survey of freshmen. Based on responses to the survey, the table below compares Emory freshmen to those at similar universities. The areas of comparison we chose to highlight in this issue are student background characteristics, college choice, and career plans. The highly selective university group included Columbia, Duke, Georgetown, Stanford, Vanderbilt and Washington.

Some of the more interesting comparisons reveal:

Sixty six percent of Emory freshmen traveled more than 500 miles to attend this university. This number is significantly higher than that of other private highly selective universities (45 percent).

Significant differences exist when parental income and parents' education are considered. Compared to 19 percent of freshmen at similar universities, 30 percent of Emory freshmen report their estimated parental income to be more than $200,000. Also, both mothers and fathers of Emory freshmen are more likely to have graduate degrees than the parents of counterparts at peer institutions; fewer Emory freshmen have mothers who are homemakers (13 versus 17 percent), and; more Emory freshman report having no concern about financing their education.

Emory was the first choice for 62 percent of its freshmen, compared to the 70 percent of students at other private highly selective institutions who identify their university as their first choice. Sixteen percent of the respondents applied only to Emory, and 42 percent applied to six or more schools; both percentages are higher than those corresponding to similar institutions. The most important reasons listed by Emory first-year students for selecting this university include its good academic reputation (86 percent); the perception that graduates get good jobs (71 percent) and go to top graduate schools (65); the size of the university (49 percent); its rankings in national magazines (38 percent); and its good social reputation (35 percent). Notably, rankings in national magazines are more important for Emory freshmen than for their counterparts at similar universities.

As far as career plans are concerned, Emory freshmen are more likely to choose careers in medicine, business, and law than their counterparts. The largest gap between the two groups is in the field of medicine: compared to 16 percent of freshmen at highly selective private universities, 26 percent of Emory freshmen intend to become physicians

Emory

Highly Selective

Emory

1998 Responses

Private Universities

1997 Responses

(% freshmen)

(% freshmen)

(% freshmen)

Student Background

Lives more than 500 miles away

from Emory

66

45

61

Parental income over $200,000

30

19

30

No concern about financing education

48

39

49

Father has graduate degree

58

51

58

Mother has graduate degree

39

33

37

Mother is homemaker

13

17

17

College Choice

This school was student's first choice

62

70

59

Applied only to this institution

16

14

15

Applied to six or more schools

42

39

42

Reasons noted as very important

in selecting this university

Good academic reputation

86

86

87

Graduates get good jobs

71

74

70

Graduates go to top grad schools

65

63

63

Size of the college

49

37

49

Rankings in national magazines

38

31

39

Good social reputation

35

30

28

Career Plans

Intends to become a physician

26

16

27

Intends to become a business executive

14

11

13

Intends to become a lawyer

10

6

9

Total First-Time Freshmen Enrolled= 1340

Total Respondents= 1137

	Emory	Highly Selective	Emory
	1998 Responses	Private Universities	1997 Responses
	(% freshmen)	(% freshmen)	(% freshmen)
*Student Background*
Lives more than 500 miles away
from Emory	66	45	61

Parental income over $200,000	30	19	30

No concern about financing education	48	39	49

Father has graduate degree	58	51	58

Mother has graduate degree	39	33	37

Mother is homemaker	13	17	17

*College Choice*
This school was student's first choice	62	70	59

Applied only to this institution	16	14	15

Applied to six or more schools	42	39	42

Reasons noted as very important
in selecting this university

Good academic reputation	86	86	87
Graduates get good jobs	71	74	70
Graduates go to top grad schools	65	63	63
Size of the college	49	37	49
Rankings in national magazines	38	31	39
Good social reputation	35	30	28

*Career Plans*
Intends to become a physician	26	16	27
Intends to become a business executive	14	11	13
Intends to become a lawyer	10	6	9

Total First-Time Freshmen Enrolled= 1340
Total Respondents= 1137