This document is a college student questionnaire that collects information about students' backgrounds, interests, and career plans. It asks students for personal details like date of birth and intended major. It also asks about likelihood of choosing various majors, science course history, enjoyment of outdoor activities, views on careers in science, and plans for graduate school. The goal is to understand factors influencing career choices and determine any impacts of the college experience. All responses will remain confidential.

1. <Generic> College Student Questionnaire
In order to determine what impacts, if any, we are having, and to learn about the factors that are
associated with career choices, we would like you to answer the following questions. All
individual responses will be kept confidential.
1. What is your date of birth?
________ / ________ / ________
Month Day Year
2. What city were you born in? _________________________________
3. What gender are you?
Male.........
Female......
4. When will you graduate?
________ / ________
Month Year
5. How likely are you to choose each of the following undergraduate majors?
Have chosen or
will definitely
choose
Will probably
choose
Will probably
NOT choose
Will definitely
NOT choose
a. Biology    
b. Business    
c. Chemistry    
d. Computer Science    
e. Education    
f. Engineering    
g. Fine Arts    
h. Geosciences    
i. Liberal Arts    
j. Materials Science    
k. Mathematics    
l. Physics    
m. Other (please specify) .....
   

American Institutes for Research Page 1 DRAFT

2. ____________________
6. Please indicate how many of each of the following college classes you have taken or are
currently taking.
Classes only Labs only Combined class and lab
a. Biology ___ ___ ___
b. Chemistry ___ ___ ___
c. Computer Science ___ ___ ___
d. Engineering ___ ___ ___
e. Geosciences ___ ___ ___
f. Mathematics ___ ___ ___
g. Physics ___ ___ ___
7. How likely is it that you will take additional college classes in each of the following subjects?
Will definitely
take class(es)
Will probably
take class(es)
Will probably
NOT take
class(es)
Will definitely
NOT take
class(es)
a. Biology    
b. Chemistry    
c. Computer Science    
d. Engineering    
e. Geosciences    
f. Mathematics    
g. Physics    
8. Which of the following activities have you participated in at college?
Yes No
a. Worked in a college lab, for pay.................................................. 
b. Worked in a college lab, for the experience (unpaid).................. 
c. Went on a geology field trip, as part of a course......................... 
d. Went on a geology field trip, not as part of a course................... 
e. Did an independent science research project for course credit.... 
9. How much do you enjoy outside activities, such as camping, hiking, and bicycling?
I like these activities a lot.............................
American Institutes for Research Page 2 DRAFT

3. I like these activities.....................................
I neither like nor dislike these activities.......
I dislike these activities................................
I dislike these activities a lot........................
10. How frequently do you participate in outside activities, such as camping, hiking, and
bicycling?
Several times per week.................................
About once a week/Several times a month. .
About once a month.....................................
A few times a year........................................
About once a year.........................................
Once or twice in the last 5 years...................
Not at all in the last 5 years..........................
11. How much do you agree with each of the following statements?
Strongly
Agree Agree Disagree
Strongly
Disagree
Don’t
Know
a. People should be more concerned
about nature and the environment.     -
b. I enjoy observing nature.     -
c. I enjoy reading nature books and
magazines.     -
d. I enjoy watching television shows
about nature and scientific phenomena.     -
e. I enjoy traveling to different places.     -
f. I would rather work on a science
project in an outdoor setting than in a
    -
research laboratory.
g. I find the geosciences interesting.     
h. If I want to, I can become a scientist,
mathematician, or an engineer.     
i. This class has increased my interest in
becoming a Geoscientist.*     -
* note: this item would be used in the post-test only
American Institutes for Research Page 3 DRAFT

4. 12. How likely are you to go to graduate school?
I will definitely attend ........
I will probably attend..........
I may attend.........................
I will definitely NOT attend. IF DEFINITELY NOT ATTEND, GO TO QUESTION 17
13. Please indicate how likely you are to choose each of the following majors for study in
graduate school.
Will definitely
choose
Will probably
choose
Will probably
NOT choose
Will definitely
NOT choose
a. Biology    
b. Chemistry    
c. Computer Science    
d. Engineering    
e. Geosciences    
f. Mathematics    
g. Physics    
14. How much do you agree with each of the following statements?
Strongly
Agree Agree Disagree
Strongly
Disagree
Don’t
Know
a. I have the academic skills to do well in
graduate school.     
b. I have the study skills to do well in
graduate school.     
c. To be successful in my career it is
important to have a graduate degree.     
d. I am worried about being able to pay
for graduate school.     
15. How much do you know about the graduate school application process?
I know a great deal..........................................................................
I have a general idea of the application process.............................
I know very little about applying to graduate school......................
I know almost nothing about applying to graduate school.............
16. How much do you know about each of the following?
I know a
great deal
I know a
moderate
I know a
few
I know very
little
I know
nothing
American Institutes for Research Page 4 DRAFT

5. amount things
a. Taking the GREs.     
b. Scholarships that are available to help
pay for graduate school.     
c. Other ways to help pay for graduate
school.     
d. Government programs to help pay for
graduate school.     
17. Which of the following best describes your feelings about working in study groups or teams?
I always prefer to work in study groups or teams……………..... 
I usually prefer to work in study groups or teams……………..... 
I sometimes prefer to work in study groups or teams…………... 
I rarely prefer to work in study groups or teams………………... 
I never prefer to work in study groups or teams…………….…... 
18. How much do you agree with each of the following statements?
Strongly
Agree Agree Disagree
Strongly
Disagree
a. I know what biologists do at work.    
b. I know what geologists and geoscientists do at work.    
c. I know what engineers do at work.    
d. I know what computer scientists do at work.    
e. Biologists are well paid.    
f. Geoscientists are well paid.    
g. Engineers are well paid.    
h. Computer scientists are well paid.    
19. How much do you agree with each of the following statements about your career plans?
Strongly
Agree Agree Disagree
Strongly
Disagree
Don’t
Know
a. I want a career that allows me to work
mostly in my home community after I
graduate.
    
b. I want a career that allows me to travel
to different locations for work after I
graduate.
    
American Institutes for Research Page 5 DRAFT

6. c. I want a career that requires me to
travel to different U.S. locations and
perhaps different countries for work.
    
20. How much do you agree with each of the following statements?
Strongly
Agree Agree Disagree
Strongly
Disagree
Don’t
Know
a. My family would be very supportive if
I decided to become a Geoscientist.     
b. My friends would be very supportive if
I decided to become a Geoscientist.     
21. How much do you agree with each of the following?
Strongly
Agree Agree Disagree
Strongly
Disagree
Don’t
Know
a. There is a real sense of community
among the geoscience majors.     
b. There is a real sense of community
among the biology majors.     
c. There is a real sense of community
among the engineering majors.     
d. Geoscience faculty members are easier
to talk with than other faculty members.     
e. Geoscience faculty members are more
willing to answer questions outside of
    
class than other faculty members.
f. Geoscience faculty members make
their subject more interesting than other
faculty members.
    
Thank you for completing this survey!
American Institutes for Research Page 6 DRAFT

7. Examples of some Content-specific items – should be adapted to specific learning
goals of workshop/course.
I. How much do you know about each of the following topics? <insert specific topics in learning
goals>
A great
deal A lot A little
Almost
nothing Nothing
a. <science topic 1>     
b. <science topic 2>     
c. <science topic 3>     
d. <science topic 4>     
e. <science topic 5>     
f. <science topic 6>     
g. <science topic 7>     
II. How interested are you in each of the following geoscience topics?
Very
interested Interested
Slightly
interested
Not
interested
Don’t
Know
a. <science topic 1>     
b. <science topic 2>     
c. <science topic 3>     
d. <science topic 4>     
e. <science topic 5>     
f. <science topic 6>     
g. <science topic 7>     
III. Do you plan to request an internship <pursue research opportunities> in an area covered by this
workshop (course)?
Yes  No  Not sure yet 
IF YES TO QUESTION III, In which area(s) do you plan to request an internship?
a. <science topic 1>...........................................................................
b. <science topic 2>...........................................................................
c. <science topic 3>...........................................................................
d. <science topic 4>...........................................................................
e. <science topic 5>...........................................................................
f. <science topic 6>............................................................................
g. <science topic 7>...........................................................................
American Institutes for Research Page 7 DRAFT

8. American Institutes for Research Page 8 DRAFT