Freshman Survey 2016

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his year we conducted our second annual freshman class survey.

We’d like to thank the 83% of Malvern freshmen who took the time to complete the survey during orientation. On average, it took freshmen 5-7 minutes to complete the survey.

Each time we offer this survey, we hope to improve it with new questions and continual improvements to the survey design. Next year, we plan on having students taking the survey with the screens facing the wall so others can not see their answers. This will allow for more candid responses without students peering over shoulders for parents.

Even though two years doesn’t give us data enough to establish trends, it still is interesting to see the similarities and differences between the class of 2020 and 2019. Although there is much more to this class than the answers to 46 questions, we hope that these 24 graphs give a good snapshot of the Malvern Prep Class of 2020.

Tommy Pero ‘17, Tyler Pizzico ‘17 Editors-in-Chief

The vast majority of you use social media regularly, and this is a great thing. However, it can also be a problem if used irresponsibly.

Two years ago, a student was impersonated on Twitter, and the fake derogatory comments the account was producing temporarily ruined his reputation. It is important to know there are two different versions of yourself that people see: you in real life and you on social media. Make sure you give people a valid representation of the good person you are when you’re on Twitter or Instagram or Snapchat. Remember that nothing is truly private – screenshots get shared, and negative news spreads fast. You would do yourself an injustice if someone – say a college rep, future coach, or future employer – developed a bad perception of you as a person before they even meet you.

Around 20% of the freshman class stated that they have used alcohol at least once. Those who haven’t consumed alcohol are in good shape, and those who may have experimented at least can be honest. It is important to know your limits and look out for your friends who may make a mistake by abusing alcohol.

Counselors and Peer Educators are always available and willing to support you with help if necessary.

Just over half of the class has not had a concert experience. Probably Spotify users. The other 45% are living it up at festival pier. We do hope that if the Wiggles was an option, 100% of you would have said yes.

Sports was number one by a long shot. However, a lot of our incoming freshmen seem to keep up well with other news, too, which is awesome.

The BFC covers everything from campus news to sports to world affairs.

Many said they like to follow US politics or global issues. Come write for us, we’d like more coverage of politics and global issues.

Chase Bennett, Ethan Rowley Art Director, Managing Editor - Print

The apple with a bite in it seems to dominate this one. Even though the majority of you have access to smartphones, the Bring Your Own Device (BYOD) policy this year helps put everyone on a relatively equal playing field in terms of technological accessibility.

The favorite sport for the class to watch seems to primarily be football.

One of the best things about Malvern is friar nation because it gives everyone a chance to come support their friends in the various activities they participate in. That can be from the jazz band concert to the spring show to the lacrosse championship game. On a national level, sports games and SportsCenter are always on the flatscreens in Stewart.

43% of the class said that they would vote for Donald Trump which is very interesting.

His celebrity status and comedic personality might have played a big role in your decisions, but hopefully you can say you also agree on his policies. In second place was “I would choose not to vote.” What is that, Italian? That’s a really long name. Joking aside, Hillary Clinton was the second place answer that was actually a person at 10%.

Did you know that our very own Mrs. Nancy Gustitis, who works in the campus store, worked with Trump for over a decade? See our story at mpfriarslantern.com. (Former Malvern college counselor Ms. Lauren Randle worked on the Clinton campaign).

We feel that it’s awesome that students are getting their news from social media. With the times changing, news outlets have to stretch beyond tradition and reach people where they are, which is why the BFC staff is working hard on our social media presence. We just want you to make sure you are following reputable sources. Don’t go into history class after reading a TMZ article and say, “Kanye is going to be president.” Follow feeds that give balanced perspectives, because social media usually caters to your own biases. It is useless to only get one side of the story.

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A lot of you said you would have gone to Downingtown East or Great Valley, but St. Joe’s Prep was the number one answer. Did our beating them in football help you make up your mind?

Joking aside, like we mentioned in our “reasons for attending Malvern” graphic we find it interesting that St. Joe’s, another Catholic school, was the top choice yet only a small fraction of you said Catholicism was a deciding factor. Take a step back and reevaluate the many benefits of a Catholic education and how it would differ from a public school education. For the guys that come from a public school, think about how Malvern is different than your previous schools. For us, we can say it makes a huge difference.

There is a great diversity among the guys that answered. Math took number one in both favorite and least favorite which is incredibly interesting. Did people say math because that’s what everyone says when asked that question? We don’t want to make presumptions but some of that convention may have crept in. At Malvern, you will truly discover subjects you are passionate about so if you’re ever asked that question again, you’ll have a completely confident response.

English took second in least favorite. Those guys who hate English, come write for the BFC! You can improve your writing while impacting the school community.

Just under half of the class chose academics as their number one reason for coming to Malvern. A lot of students also recognize the strong social and athletic presence at the school which is awesome. Malvern really develops the whole person: academically, athletically, socially, and spiritually. It was surprising to see was that only 1% chose Malvern for Catholicism. The top school that students would have attended if not Malvern was St. Joseph’s Prep, another Catholic school. Faith may have played a bigger role in your decision than you thought.

Last year, 94% of students identified as Catholic or Christian. 5% stated they did not identify with a religion and there were no students that identified with Judaism, Islam, Buddhism, or Hinduism. This year we have much more diversity. Malvern may teach religion from the perspective of the Catholic Church, but it is accepting of all faiths. Our core values of truth, unity, and love break religious barriers and help to develop students of all faiths into the best men they can be.

Malvern is continuing to grow in diversity. In the current senior class, over 95% of students are caucasian.

That number has gone down by almost 10% in just 4 years. In 2013, Malvern announced a goal of 20% diversity by 2020.

This year, the school's website announces an enhanced statement on Diversity and Inclusion.

We hope to continue to spark conversation around this topic.

Bus and car riders take up about 80% of the class. Some take advantage of carpooling and older siblings giving them a lift while the remainder relies on the old fashioned locomotive.

Make sure if you’re getting dropped off by car, you don’t go into the bus line. Mr. Dougherty isn’t amused after the fifth time you do it.

Most of you are planning on playing at least one sport your Freshman year. Sailing, rugby, and weightlifting didn’t even have teams 5 years ago and now there is significant interest in all of them. Coach John Harmatuk is going to have his hands full with 48 basketball freshmen trying out for basketball...

May students have experienced the urge to peek on someone else’s test when they don’t know the answer, or copy last night’s homework when you were too tired to do it. Take it from us that cheating is not worth it. Even though Malvern is an incredibly forgiving school, there are serious consequences for academic dishonesty. One grade isn’t worth a strike on your permanent record for college.

As many times as someone says cheating and collaboration are the same thing, they’re not.

Seriously. Teachers DO encourage helping your peers out, but they DO NOT support giving out answers.

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Nearly half of the class of 2020 are coming from Malvern’s middle school.

It is really important for the “lifers” to get to know the new students coming in and vice versa.

Of course you can stay close with the students from your own school, but branch out and make new friends as soon as possible.

It is very nice to see that only a few freshmen have experimented with marijuana. With laws concerning the drug changing, it is likely to be more and more available. It is important for Malvern students to ignore the trend and keep a strong character. For those who have tried it, it’s not the end of the world – but you should review the six pages in our student handbook dedicated to drug and alcohol policies. In high school, you will be exposed to it more and more. Try to avoid those situations so you aren’t tempted, and help your brothers to do the same.

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STUDENT SECTION

f you’re new on campus this year, you’ll find out pretty quickly that the student section is the place to be at all Malvern sporting events.

The student section can look kinda scary at first, but if you follow these rules, fitting in will be a breeze. ΟΟ Go to the games. There a great place to connect with your class and the rest of the school. ΟΟ Be aware of the dogpiles that will happen after every touchdown. ΟΟ Be aware of and follow the themes. Nothing bothers other members of the section more than the guy that didn’t wear white or a jersey (or whatever the theme is). ΟΟ There is a strict hierarchy when it comes to where we stand on the bleachers: Freshmen in the back, juniors and sophomores in the middle, seniors in the front. ΟΟ Remember for chants, we chant 3 times. Not 2. Not 4. 5 is out of the question. ΟΟ Be prepared to catch the energy orb and throw it back when we throw it up to you guys. ΟΟ Don’t try to be a hero. I’ve learned from experience that trying to start a chant as an underclassman is impossible. Let the seniors run the show. ΟΟ Get weird. ΟΟ Games against Haverford are a must-attend every year. ΟΟ Scream and shout as loud as you can during the game, especially when we’re chanting at the opposing student section. ΟΟ Encourage your friends to go to the games with you; the more friars we have up there the better.

-H. Malone

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From our perspective, it looks like many of you were spot on with your predictions of homework for freshman year. One to two hours probably is the average for each night, and a majority of you seem like you’re well prepared for that workload. To the students who said none, we’re sorry – there’s a little more work involved than that. To our brothers who spent four-plus hours in grade school, we’re even more sorry. That won’t happen until you get Mr. Roper in junior year. To the guys who will get Mr. Roper junior year, we can’t give you an accurate number. Legend says somewhere from 20-22 hours each night.

This year, the highest percentage of people identify as being part of the upper middle class. According to Pew Research in 2014, 51% of adults lived in middle-income households, 29% in lower-income households and 20% in upper-income households. We were curious to see how you described your family's socioeconomic class, without labeling any financial numbers to the categories. The average household income of a Malvern family is estimated to be $311,125, according to an optional, self-reported survey of current parents done by The Fidelum Group in 2015.

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STEWART HALL

f you’re a newcomer to the Class of 2020 and didn’t go to the middle school or are a new face on campus and aren’t exactly sure how to act in Stewart Hall, aka the cafeteria, aka the caf, this is for you. ΟΟ Leave your backpack right in the area where you walk in (or outside if the weather is nice). If everyone brought their bags around with them during lunch, the place would be a mess.

However, during break or community time, when there are less people around, feel free to carry it with you. ΟΟ Seniors probably aren’t reading this but it is worth saying that you have to wait in the line to buy food if you aren’t a senior. ΟΟ During lunch, don’t leave the table you ate at looking like somebody emptied a trash can onto it. You will appreciate that one when you have caf-duty. ΟΟ It might be tempting, but nobody likes that guy who steals chairs at break when the owner of the chair is getting food. Just do us all a favor – walk 40 feet and get a chair from the stacks outside Mr. Gray’s office. ΟΟ Water is free at the fountain drink dispenser. I recommend you use this solely for the ice cubes because they are extremely underrated. ΟΟ Stewart Hall is open all day and before school for breakfast, but you can only buy food before school, during break, and during lunch. ΟΟ If the weather is nice, seniors go to the patio outside. Do not go there until you’re a senior. ΟΟ Try to stay in uniform while in the caf because Mr. Dougherty has been known to hand out break duties when he sees a sweatshirt. ΟΟ The water fountains next to the bathrooms are not magic. They just work on a motion sensor. ΟΟ Stack your chair after third lunch… or else.

-J. Magargee

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A fifth of the freshman class love the collaborative feel of groups while a third would rather shrink that down to just a partner. The remainder do their best work alone. (“I have my headphones in, don’t talk to me right now.”) At Malvern, you are going to learn in all three environments so you’ll learn to be efficient in each - even if you still end up disliking it.

Three quarters of the class of 2020 are world travelers, while the remaining 25% like home sweet home - or have not yet had the opportunity to travel outside the US. Those of you who haven’t, don’t worry.

Your junior service trip provides a great opportunity. If you don’t feel like waiting for junior year, you can always contact Ms. Lohse to get involved with the global exchange program.

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This year the freshman class racked up just under 1000 books read, which is a substantial 17% decrease from last year’s bookworms.

At the time of the survey – less than a week before the start of school – 77% of freshmen reported they had completed their summer reading.

By our survey responses, the average freshman read five books for school and four books for enjoyment last year. However, we'd like to give a shout-out to the anonymous freshman who said he read 100 books for enjoyment and threw off the average. There are several Malvern English teachers who would like to meet you.

MRS. SUSAN GIORDANI

JUSTIN LEONARD '05

MR. JOHN BOHANNON

English Teacher

“The best advice I can give to any new student that comes to Malvern is to have fun and experience everything the school has to offer. Don’t just be content with one aspect of the school like sports or the fine arts. If you are an athlete, don’t be intimidated to try music or art classes, run for the student government or sign up for one of the many activities the school offers. Malvern Prep does not just prepare you for college, but it gives you the tools needed to be successful in life, so take advantage of every opportunity presented to you!”

English Teacher

“Try really really hard not to get behind. Stay on task. Be Proactive. Be preemptive.

Study ahead of time. Give yourself a little bit of time every day so that you don't fall behind. Try something new…

Reach outside of your comfort zone.”

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We can’t call it a trend yet, but Malvern’s freshmen are shorter this year than last year. A full inch shorter than the class average from last year, and two and half inches shorter than the national average, the class of 2020 may be a little vertically challenged right now. Of course height isn’t everything – but it is kind of concerning when a third of the class wants to play basketball…

DUFFY CENTER

he Duffy Center is the place to be for more artistic Malvern students. Even if you don’t think you are artistically inclined, here are some ground rules that are easy enough to follow.

When there is an assembly for the entire Upper School in the Duffy auditorium, the freshmen get to sit up in the balcony. The view from up there is beat only by the seniors sitting in the front, so enjoy it while it lasts.

Also during an assembly, make sure you leave your bag in Carney or somewhere else, because it’s easy to be standing there looking for your bag in the lobby and holding everyone else up.

In Mr. Liga’s choral room, there are about a dozen acoustic guitars. If you want to play them, just knock on the door and ask if you can use them. Most of the time you’ll be able to then rock out in the lobby.

Don’t climb over the furniture in the auditorium. It’s easy to get hurt (I’d know) and to scuff the furniture. So just don’t do it. Or put your feet up.

You can’t have any food or drink in the auditorium. You’ll just have to finish your snack in the lobby.

When someone is trying to get past you in the auditorium, please stand up and let him pass through. It’s easier for him and for you then if he jostles you and steps on your toes.

Don’t touch the art up on the walls in the lobby. People worked really hard on those pieces and you don’t want to be the guy who ruins artwork.

Duffy is like a second home for some of your brothers, and if you want, it could be yours too.

-J. McClatchy

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“Get involved in as many different things as you can.”

HALLWAYS

he hallways are where you will be spending your time waiting outside of class or walking through to your next one. Here are some tips to make the process go smoothly.

Don’t stand in the middle of the hallway. You’ll just be making things more awkward for you and the kid who’s sprinting to class who bumps into you.

Always, and I mean always say hello and shake hands with Father Flynn if you see him.

Don’t make the bottom floor of Carney smell any worse.

If a senior is trying to get past you, get out of the way.

Carney has the worst bathrooms on campus. We recommend Duffy.

If you don’t lock your locker, someone might use it as a trash can.

LEARNING COMMONS

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he Learning Commons is a great common area to learn and work with your fellow friars. It can be loud, but it’s a great place to collaborate with others and experience everything that’s going on with academics at Malvern. Here are a few tips. ΟΟ The “quiet room” is not quiet. Be careful when going, because it is currently the de facto senior lounge. ΟΟ Some time ago, legend says, there used to be a room for student learning and use called the “Maker Lab,” where the teachers currently have a lounge. But that is just a legend. That room is off-limits to students. ΟΟ You can write on the walls, just make sure it’s actually where the IdeaPaint is. ΟΟ You can check out rooms to use for clubs or other stuff.

Just talk to Mrs. Diane Dougherty. ΟΟ Be really nice and talk to everyone who works in the Learning Commons. ΟΟ Put Chromebooks back in the carts, and put chairs and tables back where you got them.

-T. Pero