Class of 2019 Survey

Mount St.
Mary's University
Class of 2019 Survey
Welcome to The Mount St. Mary's University Class of 2019 Survey!
The Mount is committed to providing our students with an outstanding
educational experience. Our goal is to help our students become the best
people they can be and to prepare them to be highly effective leaders and
contributors to society. We want you to leave The Mount and lead very happy
and extraordinary lives.
We firmly believe that the SAT and ACT exams, and even a GPA score, do
not effectively value the potential of anyone. At The Mount, we look beyond
these simple numbers and seek to understand what motivates each student, as
well as understand what factors may be holding each student back from
performing at his or her best.
This year, we are going to start the Veritas Symposium by providing you with
a very valuable tool that will help you discover more about yourself. This
survey has been developed by a leadership team here at The Mount, and it is
based on some of the leading thinking in the area of personal motivation and
key factors that determine motivation, success, and happiness. We will ask
you some questions about yourself that we would like you to answer as
honestly as possible. There are no wrong answers.
In a few weeks, we will provide you with some insights into what your
responses show about the person you are and could become. We believe
everyone here has potential to become someone way beyond what you may
think possible right now. We will provide some thoughts on the types of
activities, courses, and experiences you should seek at The Mount, as well as
some areas you should think about working on in order to be happy and
successful. Self-discovery is one of the most important aspects of a college
education, as Aristotle said: "knowing yourself is the beginning of all
wisdom."
Finally, we would like your views on several potential new programs and
courses that we are considering developing. Your feedback would be greatly
appreciated.
To get started, please enter your 6-digit student ID number below. (This is the
last 6 digits of the number below the barcode on the back of your Mount ID
card).

The Mount is considering developing courses, programs, minors, and majors in a
number of new areas. We would like to gauge your interest in these subject areas
that will help us tailor our offering to areas of strong interest of our student body:
Emergency Management. The program could be offered through the Business

School in conjunction with FEMA. In addition to other courses at the Business
School, students will learn about how to handle crises and high pressure situations
and there will be considerable real world experience as well as programs in
FEMA's crisis simulator. Internships around the country.
So interested - I would pay a small premium to do the course!
Very interested
Slightly interested
Neutral
Slightly disinterested
Not at all interested
PP&E or Philosophy, Politics, and Economics. PP&E is the blue-ribbon

degree course at Oxford University that has been taken by many world leaders
including most of the recent prime ministers of Great Britain. PP&E programs
have been developed at Penn, Yale, Notre Dame, and Wesleyan. The Mount is
considering offering this interdisciplinary program based on the Oxford model
for students wanting a career in law, politics, public management, or the global
economy.
Very interested
Slightly interested
Neutral
Cyber Security. Maryland is the main state involved in all aspects of cyber
security. At The Mount, the programs would not focus as much on the pure
engineering (such as designing firewalls or anti-virus software) but on data
analytics, IT security, and compliance.
Very interested
Slightly interested
Neutral
Data Analytics. This is a large discipline that underpins much of the growth
and development in many career areas including biotech (bioinformatics); law
enforcement; online and mobile marketing; social media; accounting;
transformational consulting; organizational redesign; direct marketing; and
logistics and supply chain management. Partners may include companies such as
IBM and Raytheon who may provide software, adjunct professors, and
internships.
Very interested
Slightly interested
Neutral
Consumer Digital Marketing (CDM). The entire marketing and advertising

industry has shifted dramatically in the last fifteen years so that traditional media
(newspapers, yellow pages, radio, TV) are no longer as effective at reaching
consumers, and new online and mobile channels have taken over. CDM is
designed to teach about online and mobile marketing techniques, lead generation,
ad creation, short form video, marketing targeting, marketing economics, and
other skills required for a career in this growing field.
Very interested
Slightly interested
Neutral
Civil Engineering. The largest shortage of professional graduates by 2050 is

projected to be in Civil Engineering. There is an enormous backlog of civil
projects that need to be completed in the US over the next fifty years due to the
growth in the country and the aging infrastructure. The Mount is considering
partnering with a leading Civil Engineering firm to build the program, such as
Bechtel or AECOM.
Very interested
Slightly interested
Neutral
Environmental Engineering. This is a sub-discipline of civil engineering

where the focus is projects that impact the environment. Think water
conservation; clean energy; land reclamation; water treatment; recycling
etc. Along with Civil Engineering, environmental engineers are amongst the most
highly compensated graduates.
Very interested
Slightly interested
Neutral
Designing Your Mount Experience. Modeled after a very popular 2 credit

course at Stanford, this program will help students better diagnose the courses
and subjects they wish to pursue at the University, based on their personal
preferences and development needs.
Very interested
Slightly interested
Neutral
Entrepreneurship. Historically, The Mount has produced some outstanding

entrepreneurs and boasts a disproportionate number of entrepreneurs amongst
its alumni. This course will train students in all aspects of growing a small
business including accounting, marketing, finance, operations, logistics, sales, and

capital raising. The Mount may set up a fund to invest in the best student start up
idea, and partner with successful alumni as mentors and possible investors.
Very interested
Slightly interested
Neutral
Behavioral Science and Cognitive Bias. We all suffer from some sort of
bias. Some of it is a result of being simply human; some of it is learned as a
function on where and how we are raised; and some of it is due to having too
limited exposure to other perspectives that are different from our own. There are
over 200 known cognitive biases. Today's leaders are constantly challenged by
trying to overcome bias in their audience's listening and comprehension
abilities. This program is designed to not only teach about the various biases, but
to help students learn to overcome bias, or use it successfully and ethically in
communication. Skills learned are excellent grounding for careers in HR,
Advertising, Politics, Management, and Teaching amongst others.
Very interested
Slightly interested
Neutral
Salesmanship. The most frequent career for Mount graduates is in

sales. Nearly 12% of all our alumni are in sales. Today, selling is both an art and
a science. Students need to learn about the complexities of people interaction,
building trust, and managing relationships, in addition to being highly diagnostic
and agile at using technologies such as Salesforce. All careers require some
understanding of how to "sell." The program will involve internships and real
world experience.
Very interested
Slightly interested
Neutral
Writing Program: Whether you're considering a career in law, science,

marketing, creative writing, journalism, or business, the ability to express
complex ideas concisely sets you apart from the competition. Employers
constantly seek out people who write well and communicate
effectively. Technological innovations continue to transform the way people
connect with one another, but the skills required to successfully convey a message
remain the same. This program offers courses in digital media, writing for the
web, and professional writing along with workshops in fiction writing, poetry
writing, scriptwriting, and creative nonfiction. Students earn credit for working
on the staff of the newspaper, literary magazine, or radio station and benefit from
the rich variety of internships available in the DC and Baltimore area.
Very interested
Slightly interested
Neutral

Choose the one sentence that more closely relates to your beliefs.
Many times I feel that I have little influence over the things that happen to me.
It is impossible for me to believe that chance or luck plays an important role in my
life.
Becoming a success is a matter of hard work, luck has little or nothing to do with
it.
Getting a good job depends mainly on being in the right place at the right time.
By taking an active part in political and social affairs, the people can control world
events.
As far as the world affairs are concerned, most of us are victims of forces we can
neither understand nor control.
Do you believe that hard work can overcome fixed intelligence (e.g. some people
are just good at math)?
Strongly disagree
Slightly disagree
Slightly agree
Strongly agree
Do you believe that fixed intelligence exists?
Strongly disagree
Slightly disagree
Slightly agree
Strongly agree

Please indicate whether each of these life events have happened to you during the
previous year: (Yes or No)
select appropriate response
Yes
Death of a close family
member
Major personal injury or
illness
Major change in the
health or behavior of a
family member
No
Gaining a new family

member (i.e. birth,
adoption, older adult
moving in)
Major change in financial
state (i.e. a lot worse or
better than usual)
Death of a close friend
Beginning or ceasing
formal schooling
Changes in residence
(outside of The Mount)
Taking on major student
loans

Please rate how strongly you agree or disagree with the following statements.
Strongly
disagree
I usually
feel
prepared to
answer
questions in
class.
I know how
to seek help
if I do not
understand
a concept or
assignment.
Slightly
disagree
Neutral
Slightly
agree
Strongly
agree
I am
comfortable
discussing
my ideas in
class.
Spending
time
learning
new
material is
important.
I enjoy
talking with
others about
what I have
learned.
Asking for
help is an
important
way to
clarify
concepts I
am
studying.
Please rate how strongly you agree or disagree with the following statements:
Strongly
disagree
I enjoy the
satisfaction of
finishing
difficult
academic
activities.
I feel
accomplished
when I
surpass my
academic
goals.
Slightly
disagree
Neutral
Slightly
agree
Strongly
agree
I genuinely
enjoy learning
in the
classroom.
I feel pleasure
when I have a
deeper
understanding
of academic
concepts.
I want to give
back to others
at home.
In order to be
successful in
today's world
I need a
college degree.
How often was each of the following things true during the past week?
1 - never or
rarely
I felt
depressed.
I felt sad.
I felt that I
could not
shake off the
blues, even
with help from
2 - some or a
little of the
time
3 - occasionally 4 - most of the

or a moderate time or all of
amount of time
the time
my family and
friends.
I was bothered
by things that
usually don't
bother me.
I could not get
"going."
I thought my
life had been a
failure.
I felt that
everything I
did was an
effort.
I had trouble
keeping my
mind on what I
was doing.
I felt hopeful
about the
future.
I felt that
people disliked
me.

Please indicate your level of agreement with the following statements:
Strongly
disagree
I give my
best effort
Slightly
disagree
Neutral
Slightly
agree
Strongly
agree
no matter
what.
Sometimes
fate or God
can help.
I prefer to
take the
lead in
problem
solving.
I have a
strong sense
of purpose.
I think of
myself as a
strong
person.

Here are a number of personality traits that may or may not apply to you. Please
indicate the extent to which you agree or disagree with each statement. You should
rate the extent to which the pair of traits applies to you, even if one characteristic
applies more strongly than the other.
I see myself as:
Neither
Agree
Disagree Disagree Disagree agree
Agree
Agree
a
strongly moderately a little
nor
moderately strongly
little
disagree
Extraverted,
enthusiastic
Critical,
quarrelsome
Dependable,
selfdisciplined
Anxious,
easily upset
Open to new
experiences,
complex
Reserved,
quiet
Sympathetic,
warm
Disorganized,
careless
Calm,
emotionally
stable
Conventional,
uncreative

Strongly
disagree
I would
have a
hard time
sticking
with a
special,
healthy
diet.
If my
favorite
food were
in front of
me, I
would have
a difficult
time
waiting to
eat it.
Slightly
disagree
Neutral
Slightly
agree
Strongly
agree
When
faced with
a
physically
demanding
chore, I
always
tried to put
off doing it.
I have
given up
physical
pleasure or
comfort to
reach my
goals.
I do not
consider
how my
behavior
affects
other
people.
I hate
having to
take turns
with other
people.
I cannot be
trusted
with
money.
When I am
able to, I
try to save
away a
little
money in
case an
emergency
should
arise.
I cannot
motivate
myself to
accomplish
long-term
goals.
I have
always felt
like my
hard work
would pay
off in the
end.

Please indicate your level of agreement with each of the following statements:
Disagree
strongly
It doesn't
matter what I
believe as long
as I lead a
moral life.
I have never
felt a sense of
sacredness.
I gain spiritual
strength by
trusting in a
Higher Power.
Disagree
somewhat
Agree
somewhat
Agree strongly

Strongly
disagree
Before
criticizing
somebody, I
try to imagine
how I would
feel if I were in
his or her
place.
I find that I
am "in tune"
with other
people's
moods.
If I'm sure I'm
right about
something, I
don't waste
much time
listening to
other people's
arguments.
It upsets me to
see someone
being treated
disrespectfully.
I try to look at
everybody's
side of a
disagreement
before I make
a decision.
Slightly
disagree
Neutral
Slightly
agree
Strongly
agree

Not like me
at all
New ideas
and projects
sometimes
distract me
from
previous
ones.
Setbacks
don't
discourage
me.
I have been
obsessed
with a
certain idea
or project
for a short
time but
later lost
interest.
I am a hard
worker.
I often set a
goal but
later choose
to pursue a
different
one.
I have
difficulty
maintaining
my focus on
projects that
take more
than a few
months to
complete.
Not much
like me
Somewhat
like me
Mostly like
me
Very much
like me
I finish
whatever I
begin.
I am
diligent.

Did you read any books this summer?
Yes
No
How would you rate your parents' emotional support in your decision to attend
college?
Poor
Fair
Good
Very Good
Excellent
How would you rate your parents' financial support in your decision to attend
college?
Poor
Fair
Good
Very good
Excellent
Do you know how much your college education will cost?
Yes
No
Do you have open conversations with your parents about the cost of your
education?
Never
Rarely
Sometimes
Often
Always
Do you feel confident that your family has the necessary funds to pay for your
college education?
Disagree
Neither agree nor disagree
Agree
What is your best estimate of the total percent of people in the United States that
have graduated college with a degree?
0% - 20%
21% - 40%
41% - 60%
61% - 80%
81% - 100%
Do you have a learning disability?
Yes
No
If you could take any class at the Mount what would it be?
In 100 words or less, provide a specific example of something you did that required
hard work and dedication over an extended period of time.
In 100 words or less, please explain what will keep you motivated over the next four
years to finish your degree.

What do you love to do? Please list 3 specific activities you participate in that are
most important to you. These can be clubs, sports, volunteer, work, student
government, interests & hobbies, paid jobs, etc...(Example: varsity track and
field, robotics club, Habitat for Humanity).
Activity 1
How many years have you been involved in this activity?

Do you intend to pursue this activity at The Mount?
Yes
No
Not possible
Activity 1 highest achievement or greatest accomplishment (positions held, honors,
awards, competitions won, etc.)
Activity 2
Yes
No
Not possible
Activity 3
Yes
No
Not possible

Class of 2019 Survey

Uploaded by

Document Information

Original Title

Copyright

Available Formats

Share this document

Share or Embed Document

Sharing Options

Did you find this document useful?

Is this content inappropriate?

Copyright:

Available Formats

Class of 2019 Survey

Uploaded by

Copyright:

Available Formats

Mount St.