New students cite academics as reason for attending

The survey conducted by the Higher Education Research Institute and Cooperative Institutional Research Program showed for the first time that the class of 2002 chose Cabrini for its good academic reputation rather than its small size. The survey also showed that other aspects of the college were appealing to incoming students.

by Kristen Williams assistant copy editor

History was made when the class of 2002 looked at more than just the size of Cabrini when choosing to attend the college.

In a recent survey conducted by the Higher Education Research Institute and Cooperative Institutional Research Program, 56 percent of the students selected Cabrini's "good· academic reputation" as the reason they chose to attend the college.

Only 52 percent of the students, the lowest percent recorded in Cabrini's history, selected the school for its small size.

Other reasons for choosing the college included the fact that most graduates were placed in good jobs upon graduation.

The school offered financial aid as well, which was the top choice of last year's incoming class.

"The idea that people aren't coming to Cabrini due to its teeny size is a trend worth watching," Dr. Robert Bonfiglio, vice president of student development, said. "Cabrini being picked due to a good academic reputation is very good."

Bonfiglio went on to say that he felt that because more students were choosing Cabrini for its reputation, the value of a Cabrini degree would increase.

Keeping with characteristics of the institution itself, a record-low 30 percent of the class of 2002 chose Cabrini because it was close to home, and only 63 percent of these student's houses are within 50 miles of the college.

The percentage was the lowest number recorded in the past five years. Bonfiglio addressed this change in number as due to the fact that the college is actively trying to enroll students from farther away.

"The institution is continuing to draw students from further away to make the weekend

Religion, intent, and desire were also taken into consideration when compiling the survey.

Sixty-six percent of the new students who entered Cabrini in 1998 were Roman Catholic, a record low and the fourth class to drop below 70 per- cent in this category.

Women still dominate the campus, with the class of 2002 being 69 percent female.

Along with women dominating the campus, so do Caucasians. The Cabrini community is 92.4 percent Caucasian.

-Dr. Robert Bonfiglio, vice president for student development life here richer," Bonfiglio said. "With more facilities, nicer residence halls, and the means to have more activities for students, we are trying to find people who will stay here on the weekend."

During the survey, first-year students were asked about more than just Cabrini itself.

When asked about the dropping percent of Roman Catholics that attend the Catholic-at- filiated college, Bonfiglio said, "We are trying to become a more diverse campus, and that may, in fact, be reflected by that number.

"We are trying to draw more people from minority groups, and by adding the sports complex and the sports science major, we are hoping to recruit more men."

"However, in America as a whole, there are many more women in college than men, so although we hope to make a shift in this category, we may not be able to change it in a huge way," Bonfiglio said. The reasons why students have chosen to attend college were also recorded.

Seventy-four percent of the students questioned said they had come to college to "make more money," and 68 percent of first-year students said they had come to college to "gain a general education," again the highest number recorded in the past five years.

Cabrini as the first-choice college for first-year students rose for the third straight year, and was recorded at 75 percent.

Along with this, the number of students who expected to be satisfied with the college rose above 50 percent for the first time in three years. This year, it was recorded at 53 percent.

"Students who choose Cabrini because it has a good academic reputation would be more inclined to be satisfied with the school than those who choose it because it was small, close to home, or because of the financial aid they received," Bonfiglio said.

As Cabrini continues to grow, these numbers will continue to change, and Bonfiglio feels that they are "definitely numbers worth watching."