<p>Son just got accepted to film production - he's rather happy to be included in prospective class of 2013. However, I would like to hear from others, hopefully current students or others in the know about the social scene at the school. Is it really like a commuter school in that the students leave campus on the weekends? Also, how large is the Greek population on campus? Do they basically dictate the social aspects, or are there viable alternatives to them?</p>
<p>I read that a lot of movies are filmed at Chapman. Tom Hanks sent his son there, but Tom Hanks upset a lot of the actors when he came out in support of the producers over the actors in the contract negotiations. Theoretically, he had a choice when he put his son there.</p>
<p>I read that 40% of the students live on campus. That’s a really low number.</p>
<p>I’ve talked with lots of kids about the social scene. It seems there are a group that leave on the weekends but the kids that are there still have lots to do.</p>
<p>That number may be because of the large number of commuter students in the Orange area.</p>
<p>Housing is pretty nice on campus at Chapman.</p>
<p>
I figured my S would live on campus for many years, but in sophomore year he moved off-campus with 3 others, into a rented house a few miles from campus. This was largely to save money on food by cooking his own meals, as do the others. </p>
<p>Although he doesn’t reside on the campus, he is not a commuter student to our home, as we live 3,000 miles from California. His social life revolves entirely around Chapman and its related campus organizations. </p>
<p>I agree with littlegreenmom that the dorms are very nicely done. I found them modern and clean. He enjoyed freshman year in one of the newer high-rise buildings in a triple.</p>
<p>I think a lot of OC residents commute. I have a friend who may go there, but she got an agreement from her family that she could stay in the dorm. Probably students from outside OC live in dorms.</p>
<p>A while back, a criminal justice survey was done in OC and Chapman is part of the safest area. There is no noteworthy crime there. </p>
<p>Probably the most unnerving thing I’ve heard about Orange is that they were keeping TB patients in a hotel off Collins or Katella and they were eating in the local food places. When it hit the news, a lot of people were upset. That’s about five miles away and it was quite some time back, perhaps 10 or 15 years ago. There was also an incident about 5 years ago where some guy kidnapped his girlfriend from a bar off Tustin and killed her. </p>
<p>About 1/4 mile away in the circle there are political rallies from 5 to 7 every Wednesday. They were started by Code Pink, but then the Republicans brought their own rally people and both sides have rallies at the same time.</p>
<p>There are a lot of restaurants, stores and shopping malls nearby. A bicycle is handy. The area if flat and good for riding.</p>
<p>I doubt there would be any hazing on campus.</p>