<p>Does anybody have specific ideas on what type of student or personality might be a better fit at either? I know University of Redlands has a brand new Performing and Visual Arts Center that is possibly a notch above Chapman. I've also heard Redlands is a much more down to earth and caring community as a whole.</p>
<p>Middlebrooks, you have a PM!</p>
<p>PM me too, please, if you don’t mind!</p>
<p>We have visited Chapman a few times, have not visited Redlands yet, but I wish we would have when we had the chance. I ordered the video tour from Collegiate Choice but it just arrived yesterday and we haven’t viewed it yet.</p>
<p>We visited both and my son was accepted with merit aid from both. My son is very easygoing, funny, quiet, a little shy, not a partier, passionate about athletics, a good student but not so passionate about academics, undecided about his major.</p>
<p>We went to Chapman’s open house on a Saturday. It was very well organized and included a tour of the campus. The campus is beautiful with many new buildings, very well-maintained. The library has a fascinating exhibit on the Holocaust. We also got a tour of some of the dorm rooms - much more extensive than at any other campus we visited. I think it helped my son visualize what it would be like to live on campus. Having said all that, I would recommend going on a day other than the open house. My sense was that the open house was much more geared to the parents than the students. My son didn’t get a lot out of the information sessions, and Chapman’s constant reference to rankings got quite tiresome (and was meaningless to my son). There are 2 girls from my son’s high school who will matriculate there this fall. I don’t know the girls so can’t comment on the personality fit.</p>
<p>My son felt much more comfortable at Redlands. We toured it the day before the Chapman open house and were the only people assigned to our tour guide, a smart articulate young woman from Rhode Island. My son also did an overnight visit last month. The admissions office there is top-notch, the best I’ve experienced in 2 years of college searches (S1 and S2). The Redlands campus is very attractive, there’s a good selection of dorms, and the students we encountered seemed happy and energetic (and a couple were downright goofy, but in a good way). My son liked the liberal arts curriculum there, and as far as we can tell the academics are very good. He can walk on to the team in his sport, which was a factor in his decision. He’ll be attending Redlands in the fall. I think it’s a good fit for him.</p>
<p>Dear vbmom.
I am certain your son will enjoy his new home. Mine will walk for masters later this month, has one more receital left for graduation. If I can ever help out in any way feel free to pm. </p>
<p>LA</p>