<p>Is it true that Chapman isn't a great school to go to? The kids are stuck up and form cliques like high school children and the only reason people go there is because of the location?</p>
<p>I'm thinking of going to Chapman as a graphic design major and I want to be around people who are inspiring and not airheaded. Please help me out here. I don't want to go there the first day and have my stomach sink because I made the wrong decision.</p>
<p>wow wow wow okay lol I have never ever heard that... I sure hope there aren't cliques... it sucks cause I know absolutely nothing about the student life, I'm going to go visit it tonight with my Dad, and I'll let you know if I notice anything cliquish... I don't think most people go because of location lol it's not LA, it's in the middle of Orange County, I live in southern Orange County which is more of a location than were Orange is... I think most kids go for specific schools i.e. the Film School etc. But I know exactly how you feel... I'm going cause of the film school, and I really hope the first day doesn't suck either. Not to worry though I'm not cliquish at all, hopefully we'll have classes together or something :]</p>
<p>but then again reverberates... are you from out of state? or maybe a different part of California? cause many would argue that a lot of southern california is very superficial, you just learn to stay away from the extreme superficiality and you just learn to not care and not let it bother you</p>
<p>It is cool that you are visiting Chapman and you should tell me everything about it when you do get back.</p>
<p>I'm further south from Orange. About 30 minutes away. Um, but yeah, hopefully all that I have read is wrong and maybe, just maybe, I'll attend Chapman and we could be friends.</p>
<p>And I know what you mean about ignoring ignorant people. I mean, if I do go there and school turns out to be that way, I'll just have to press on ... with at least one friend, I hope -_- </p>
<p>:]</p>
<p>Haha I live about 30 minutes south of Orange as well. So I visited the campus, and considering that it's spring break right now, the campus itself was pretty dead, but really pretty. We took a drive to look at housing, luckily all the housing is together so all the students are in one place and not too spread out, I saw a lot of bikes and a lot of kids here and there (mind you it was pretty cold out and only about 6 so i think most kids hadn't left their dorms yet or were on vacation)</p>
<p>One of my good friends is going to Chapman next year and she is probably the friendliest, sweetest, most charming person I've ever known in my life. Everyone that gets to know her absolutely loves her. If all of your classmates are like her, you have nothing to worry about :)</p>
<p>I go here and have been welcomed by everyone.
I am not from anywhere near California. </p>
<p>PeaceOut has it on the nose. A lot of really nice, “good” kids here.
There are kids here who come from money.
They come from fortunate families to be certain.
50k+ a year is nothing to sneeze at. </p>
<p>But I have not met anyone, ANYONE here who is a snob. And any clique formed here is by no means exclusive. Some people hang out together but if you are unafraid to ask no one will ever refuse your company. Hard to believe but its that kind of school.
People are artificial everywhere.
But for a school of this size 4000 kids, where EVERYBODY knows EVERYBODY and everybody’s business, superficiality and snobbishness get weeded out and distanced from extremely quickly…like by the end of student orientation, the first week.</p>
<p>Its also a school you can’t afford such a reputation because of its size. It follows you like luggage. That kind of antisocial personality trait in a school that absolutely prides itself on community spirit in pursuit of academic excellence is not something that will be tolerated for very long by a student’s peers. Students do police students here. </p>
<p>I didn’t come here because of the location. I too am an “art” major: Art History/Screenwriting. I live 10 minutes outside of NYC. I could have gone to a fantastic school with a close proximity to excellent off campus resources there. NYU, amongst others, were an option for me. </p>
<p>Chapman has a miniscule campus. Not two square NY blocks in total, including the dorms. It’s also a long way from LA depending on the time of day. There is not much nightlife or culturally to do anywhere near here, so I am not certain if those are the things you looking for or talking about but if so Chapman is NOT the place for those types of things.</p>
<p>If you want access to world-class facilities with professors who have real world experience and terminal degrees in ANY major course of study you decide to pursue, then this is the place for you. If you want an individualized education with a team of professionals who will encourage, mentor and foster your academic excellence then this is your spot. If you want internships with global corporations or laboratories or major ad and film companies or in international galleries than this is a good home for you.</p>
<p>If you want a huge social life, go elsewhere. This is not a party school. It is a BIG Greek school though, like an obscene amount of people here belong to a fraternity or sorority. Even still, because of a city ordinance, if more than 4 females are gathered in an off campus house it is considered a brothel and therefore illegal. If more than 4 people in general are gathered at an off campus house it is considered an illegal party subject to noise complaints (250.00 fine) after 11PM. Everyone gets cited for underage drinking.</p>
<p>Maybe someone on here has had a different experience than mine.
I can’t say. I feel at home here.
So I thought I would clarify any misconceptions about the student life here.</p>
<p>My brother is a sophomore at Chapman and I have visited him three times.
The campus is great, the students are great, everything is wonderful.</p>
<p>wow thats really helpful greg! thanx! </p>
<p>its weird how there arent many posts on chapmans threads. i have followed nyu for so long and there are pages and pages of threads!</p>
<p>With cliques, it’s more about the kind of people you attract. Obviously, if you are worried about snobby, superficial people, you will start hanging out with people with the same values as yourself. I have only met a few people I probably wouldn’t choose to hang out with, but guess what? They are not in my group of friends anyway. The student population is large enough that you are bound to find someplace where you fit in.</p>
<p>The only clique-ish situation I have noticed is the Greek Life / non Greek Life students. People in frats/sororities generally hang out with other people in frats/sororities, and vice versa. However, there’s still not much exclusivity. People will never refuse to hang out with you because you’re not in Greek Life. Generally, the Greek parties are open to most everyone, which is sometimes not the case at other colleges.</p>
<p>Chapman is no more clique-ish than any other private school. When I was there if you wanted to party you could party, but it was not predominate at the school. If your an art or graphic major I would look at Cal-state Long Beach or Otis/Cal Arts before Chappy. We have a nice small department, but not quite the money and facilities that say Long Beach has. However it was a great school, and a degree from here is supposed to be like a degree from USC in 10 years, or so I have read:)</p>
<p>the answer is yes. If you are going to a school where tuition with out even rooming is 40k and it is in a highly conservative area like Orange you are going to run into snob issues. There is a good portion who is not “snobby” but for the most part it is very superficial. I mean I have seen some obnoxious clothing and cars I have never seen in my life and a bunch of students are running around in it like they own the world. IDK maybe I have got it wrong, but feel free to disagree with my opinion. I have been there for a year and I am currently transferring. Feel free if you want more questions why</p>
<p>Chapman is a private school, just like other private schools. Chapman has excellent merit-aid and grants for those who qualify. If you don’t qualify and can’t afford it, your option would be the public school route. If money is an issue, perhaps try the community college route. I have a sophomore student at Chapman and very pleased with the school, and expecting to graduate on time. No matter the school, you’ll find different people with different backgrounds, and learn to adapt. Make friends with those you’re comfortable with. That’s one way to help you learn to adapt in the real world and in a future workplace or job.</p>
<p>Financial Aid at Chapman U data from 1-2 years ago:</p>
<p>Students Receiving Aid at Chapman 84%
Receiving Federal Grants 17% , $6,782 on average
Receiving Chapman Grants 79% , $20,136 on average per year
Receiving Student Loans 57% , $6,705 on average </p>
<p>There are also many Chapman Scholarships given out: Presidential, Chancellors and Deans Scholarships worth $25,000/year, $20,000 and $15,000 respectively.</p>
<p>So many students receive around $28,000 (plus or minus $2,000) per year in aid. This means that students at Chapman U only have to come up with an additional $25,000 in loans and or cash to get to the $53,000 per year. This is comparable to what students pay at California State Universities or University of California Campuses.</p>
<p>So the school is not made-up of all very rich students since 84% of student are receiving finacial aid.</p>
<p>About the snobby and conservative comment: We went to the campus twice, and are ourselves extremely liberal Pacific Northwesterners. We felt more welcomed at Chapman than at the other schools we visited which ranged in variety in terms of private, public, conservative, liberal etc. A large population of the school does not come from Orange County. Just to be clear, I do not know much about Orange County so I am not making judgements.</p>
<p>Our family also felt very welcome. momsings, we are another extremely liberal Pacific Northwestern family (Salem, OR) so my son will also do his part to dilute the snobby conservative element that may or may not exist.</p>
<p>marioluigi–:)</p>
<p>Well, this is good news! I had heard Orange was a bastion of conservatism – and judging by the radio call in show I was cringing at whilst driving around in my rented Ford Mustang convertible, (I miss that car!) it probably is. But the town obviously does not reflect the student population. Maybe my sarcastic and opinionated east coast D will not get into the huge heap of trouble I had imagined. Let’s hope our students get to meet all sorts of interesting and engaged kids from all over the country. They get to vote in the election this time!</p>
<p>LOL…
I believe there is room for everyone at Chapman. OC’s rep is conservative, yes, but it’s still California! After spending my 20’s in Manhattan, I returned to find OC open and pretty diverse. Our son is no conservative and we raised him not far from Chapman–in a strange canyon full of bohemian misfits. And without TV! People take pigs for walks here. We have organic farmers and a hippie enclave of 20-somethings who juggle fire sticks while hula-hooping…
Again…it’s California! :)</p>
<p>That does it. I’m moving out there and buying a Mustang. And a trained pig.</p>