<p>So, what did you all think of the move-in yesterday? How is your room?</p>
<p>I thought the move-in went pretty well, but the elevators were a nightmare and it would be much better if they had larger bins to move your stuff in with. I had to use 3 shopping carts to get all my stuff up to my room - with the elevator situation, it took forever!</p>
<p>The rooms are nice, but small. It would definitely be more comfortable for 2 instead of 3. We're pretty well packed in with not much available space. I do really like the bathroom and the shower, but we had a water pressure issue this morning and the toilets wouldn't even flush!</p>
<p>Overall a good experience. I'm having fun meeting new people and I love the view from my room. The A/C works really well, which is nice too.</p>
<p>Son moved into North Morlan. Went smoothly, well organized, and the rooms are actually fairly spacious for two. The orientation has been great: well-run, friendly, welcoming, good food.
DS is extremely pleased and excited. Making friends left and right. Fitting in wonderfully with other Dodge kids…and a great roomie, too.
All good. Happy!</p>
<p>P.S. At orientation, I was able to meet Shakespearefan and her DD, as well as SJR Calderone, DH & DS. What a great group!
It’s been a delightful two days. The convocation was quite nice. Everything has been beyond expectations. <em>Perfect</em>
Son made the right choice.</p>
<p>Regarding the water pressure issue I heard from the Head resident officer at Glass that it was a maintenance problem throughout the dorms for just that morning and it was fixed.</p>
<p>The move in went great for our son! They allowed us to park the cars very close to the dorms. They had rented many shopping carts (similar to those at a Target store) to make it easier to take everything up to the dorm rooms. It was very busy in the morning at Glass with all the shopping carts trying to get by each other in the halls. But by the middle of the afternoon everyone one seemed settled in. The rented refrigerator and microwaves were in the room when we got there. The student orientation & residence hall staffs were incredible (numbering over a 100) directing & helping everyone. They supplied cold drinks to everyone including lunch and dinner for free. We took apart the bunk beds and lofted the beds for all 3 students in my son’s room. The staff will do it for you but they would not be able to get to it until later in the day. Although most students just use laptops, I connected my son’s desk top computer as well through the Ethernet ports in the room (he does film editing and creates music on the computer). All computers got internet access immediately. The highlight for some parents was meeting Beau Bridges; his son is attending Chapman and staying at Glass.</p>
<p>My son is in heaven meeting so many new friends and so many beautiful female college freshmen!!! There are so many opportunities at Chapman it is incredible. To mention a few of the new things that I found out (besides the incredible Dodge College that leaves my son beaming every time he meets the students & professors there) Chapman offers easy accessible undergraduate research projects that you can work on with a professor, regular excursions to southern California businesses to help with networking throughout your 4 years there (they even printout business cars for students), Course of Excellence where you dine with top executives, faculty lead travel all around the world during winter and summer breaks for free, a library which is open to 2am everyday and 24 hours a day during finals with reference librarians available 7 days a week, free yoga & Zumba in the Student Union, lap swimming in the competition pool, use of the main basketball gym for playing basketball, all while being educated in Chapman’s very beautiful, architectural pleasing and safe community.</p>
<p>It was clear to me that Chapman welcomes all religions; you cannot even find a cross in the All Faiths Chapel on campus or mention of any religion in programs that I attended during orientation. They use the term God only. People I met on campus did not discuss politics by party in any of the conversation I had which was also important to many other families of students. If you say you are a Democrat or a Republican you have already offended half the people around you. Why cut out half of the people you can network and be friends with. We have made this clear to our son before attending Chapman. This will serve him well in the future when he enters the work force and with Chapman internships. </p>
<p>Their tutorial/writing center which is free for all students is for everyone (even those with an A- in a class and want to achieve an A). The center has students whom will proof read and help with the writing of any paper your student is writing for any class. The tutors all received an A in the subject there are tutoring and the center will find you a tutor for any class offered at Chapman.</p>
<p>Those whom are admitted to Chapman should consider themselves lucky. From the workshops I attended during orientation the number of applicants are increasing 5 to 10 percent per year but they said they have been at their max admittance number and their freshman class will not increase in size. Approximately 1,200 new students (includes freshman and transfer students) start attending Chapman this year and they received around 12,000 to 14,000 applications.</p>
<p>This was a two day orientation program for the parents and the students have a 6 day orientation program all stating on Tuesday leading up to classes that start on the following Monday. The many parents I met during orientation were quite smart with all having college degrees themselves. After the first day the students did not seem to need their parents around anymore. This showed to me that Chapman’s orientation program (along with the selectivity of their admissions process) makes Chapman freshman feel at home extremely quickly with their new community of friends. It’s going to be a great 4 years for my son.</p>
<p>Sounds like everyone had a good experience! Beau’s son, Zeke, is the cousin of one of my friends from home, so I’ve met him. He’s a pretty chill, down to earth kid. </p>
<p>I’ve met lots of new people over the last couple of days. I was a little homesick the first day, but that changed really fast after I started meeting all these people and making friends. I think it’s going to be a great 4 years!</p>
<p>Well, shoot! I missed Beau Bridges, who was in my favorite recently canceled TV show, Brothers and Sisters. I probably would have just annoyed him by asking questions about his co-star Sally Field: Is she nice? Does she work out? Can she really fly if she wears that hat?</p>
<p>The kids are also going to school with Justin Beiber’s nextdoor neighbor and Ryan Gosling’s nextdoor neighbor, so there will be lots of discussion of celebrity habits, I suppose. Too funny!</p>
<p>I though move-in day was extremely well organized, and all the events Chapman put on for families were well run and carefully thought out. They are skilled at handling large crowds. I am also impressed with the new performing arts center going up and I like that our kids will be able to take advantage of that.</p>
<p>D’s dorm situation is great. She does have 2 roommates and two suite mates, (all of them nice!) but they are in a sweet suite spot at the top of Pralle with a wing all to themselves and an incredible view for both scenery and people-watching. She also experienced the water pressure issue and I sure hope they’ve resolve that one.</p>
<p>Nice to meet some CCers while on campus. Sorry I was unable to connect with angryporcupine and momsings. I hope you guys had smooth return trips, and that your hearts are as light as your empty cars!</p>
<p>Yup. Attending Chapman is like being in Hollywood. A couple years ago when DS was moving into the dorm, we met Howie Mandel in the hallway. His daughter is also attending Chapman. I remember everyone got really excited about that, too! It’s pretty crazy! :)</p>
<p>We also had a great experience. Son’s room is on the ground floor at Pralle, so move-in was easy – no need for elevators to the top floors. His roommates are nice guys, and all three of them are early risers, which is helpful. </p>
<p>Son went to a team party last night, organized by seniors on the team, which was a good way to meet the other guys right away.</p>
<p>I loved all the ceremonial touches, from the convocation to the candle ceremony the last night. </p>
<p>It was fun to put faces to names/CC IDs at last! </p>
<p>We’ve already reserved our hotel room for Parents’ Weekend in Oct.</p>
<p>Shakespearefan… I am so disappointed we were unable to connect! We must have been seated in different areas at the majors lunch as I was looking for your magenta / purple shirt. We attended the convocation but arrived a bit late, sat towards the top of the bleachers. I would have liked to have met you and your daughter, as well as other CCers… maybe next time (holiday break perhaps?)</p>
<p>I thought the move in went well… son is in Glass with 2 other creative roommates - film production and theater. He’s already made so many friends!</p>
<p>Say more about the candle ceremony. D and I played hookie and went to Laguna Beach. Chapman did a good job of making the events meaningful, I thought. Did all those people have candles?</p>
<p>Candle ceremony – Mrmorial Hall was packed for the history session on the last night, following dinner. We learned about all the traditions of the school, I.e. the meaning of the window symbol seen everywhere on campus, the Four Pillars, etc. Grandson of CC Chapman gave an engaging talk. Then we were told to file out silently --a couple thousand students and parents, and everyone complied! Each person handed a candle upon exiting. We walked to the Four Pillars fountain, lit so beautifully in the dark. A group of alumni from 1962 and prior had lighted candles. New students were to light their own candles from those the alumni held, and then in turn light the candles held by their families. Little papers with the words to the hymn were passed out, and we sang it as a group. It was lovely. Then the students were brought to the football field for a fun music/activities event, parents said goodbye.</p>
<p>In Pralle (4th floor), we’re still experiencing the water pressure issue every morning. Can’t take a shower and flush the toilet. It’s becoming a real problem. I wonder why they don’t seem to be doing anything about it.</p>
<p>Yeah, they’re aware of the problem and have been working on a solution for a week. Supposedly, they’re shutting off the water in Pralle tomorrow from 4 a.m. to 6 a.m. to try and fix it. Apparently it’s not just our room - it’s everything above the 1st floor. Fingers crossed they get it fixed tomorrow.</p>
<p>Just thought I’d chime in! Move-in went without a hitch–easy and smooth. All seems well with S. S is private, so I am doing my best to honor that and let him be.
I was bummed not to meet everyone as I had a bizarre onset of vertigo late Tuesday/early Wednesday and was relegated to the hotel bed. I missed all of the great orientation stuff–DH went to some things and enjoyed it.
Friday night I did meet a CCer from a different forum, who was gracious enough to visit me at the hotel since I was still under the weather.</p>
<p>I am happy to hear everyone’s kids are doing great. It is a wonderful, wonderful school–we are fortunate!</p>
<p>Wednesday, August 22, 2012 - 9:00 a.m.
Harold Hutton Sports Center Gymnasium
Lastinger Athletic Complex</p>
<p>This time-honored event is an Orientation highlight, officially launching the academic year. Proceedings include faculty marching in full regalia and greetings from the President, Chancellor, Dean of Students, and President of the Student Government Association. Special presentations include the annual Aims of Education address given by an esteemed faculty member and bestowal of the Schweitzer Award of Excellence, an honor recognizing outstanding efforts that benefit humanity.</p>
<p>So … looks like I’m moving to NoMo. I was having problems with vertigo on the 4th floor and I wanted to room with a good friend and that was where they had a room for 2 available. Any tips on NoMo Gladiatorbird? Do you know where the laundry room is?</p>
<p>You may well like NoMo–DS appreciates the single roomie and that his door opens directly an airy, tree-shaded balcony instead of an interior hallway. I believe he said the laundry room is on the second floor.</p>