<p>I would love to hear current students, particularly those who are OOS, comment on what they think about student life at Chapman and how they feel they fit into the social scene. D has been accepted to Dodge, but has not yet visited the school -- so we only know what we read about it. (We plan to visit in April.) Admittedly, some of the sources we're seeing (websites where students comment on their schools) are somewhat outdated.</p>
<p>We read that Chapman is not known for its diversity, (although there are obviously students representing various minorities among the student population.) In reading comments students have about Chapman, we often encounter mention of a large segment of students being "stuck up" or "snooty." There is frequent mention of cliques and references to "Chapman High." Comments paint a picture of superficial students who spend more time at the gym than in class, then hop into their pricey cars and vacate the campus on the weekends. I'd expect a few students like that, but is this the majority at Chapman? I've also read something about an intrusive religious vibe.</p>
<p>It would seem that Dodge pulls from a wider demographic than the campus in general, so there may be more open-mindedness and diversity there. Can any Dodge students comment?</p>
<p>As a frame of reference, D is something of a bookworm who enjoys a good classroom discussion. In her spare time, she performs Shakespeare with a group of teens. She is quirky, creative and self-assured. While D is not a minority herself, she attends a school system with kids of many races and varying levels of income. She describes herself as an agnostic. </p>
<p>So, I'm wondering how a typical semi-urban east coast liberal will fit into the SoCal scene. I look forward to all your insight!</p>
<p>I dont know where else your daughter has applied to but the Dodge film school is a film students dream! Its very hands on and from the moment I walked on campus, I felt like I was in an environment of people who thrive on creativity. I say I dont know where else your D has applied to because I’m not sure how it would compare to a USC.</p>
<p>I havent been accepted yet but hope to be in April. I, like your daughter love books and shakespeare but I’m also very social. If she has any questions or anything I can try to answer them. I can give you my cell phone if you want so she can text me, It would be nice having someone I somewhat know if we both end up going there next year. </p>
<p>Also I cant remember where you said you and your daughter are from but I am from Texas. So california will be a big change for me next year!</p>
<p>Thank you for reaching out, LC! I’m glad to hear you were so impressed with Dodge. We appreciate you sharing your thoughts. The hands-on aspect is particularly important to D. After spending much of her high school career jumping through all those mandatory academic hoops, she is eager to do some stuff she likes for a change! We are from VA, and D has applied to 9 film or film-related schools. So far, she’s been accepted at Dodge (film production) , LMU (though not for film), UT Austin (school of RTF), and UNC Wilmington. She has not yet heard back from USC, NYU, Vassar, Boston U and SUNY Purchase.</p>
<p>I will certainly PM you if D decides on Dodge (very likely). She too is looking forward to being in CA and plans to see it all. Chapman’s in such a prime location, not only in regard to climate and proximity to LA, but also beaches, mountains, islands and deserts! She is even giddy about the Disneyland thing and was thrilled to read that the nightly fireworks are visible from some of the dorm windows at Chapman. College is definitely the perfect chance to experience another area of the country.</p>
<p>Much luck with the remaining months of HS, and with your college selection process!</p>
<p>I do not go to chapman, but I do live in the area. From what I have seen, many of the students are local rich kids whom wanted to stay close to home, but go to a private school. It is, in my opinion, kinda like the USC of Orange County. There is a good amount of students living on campus, but a lot that do not. I can see the whole rich kid racing out in their expensive cars. Parking around the campus in itself is expensive, I have gotten my parents into two situations of parking tickets within a block of the campus. The Orange Circle right next to is does have some great attractions and is pretty fun, especially for quirky people. There is Bruxie’s, a new age waffle sandwich shop, Watson’s, a pharmacy/restaurant that I think has been there for 80+ years or something, and a bunch of antique shops that are pretty fun to walk around, many of them two stories. Then you have Huntington Beach near by(better than Newport IMO, especially for younger people). So there is a lot to do, and a lot of people to meet. Many are uppity, but most are pretty friendly, from the ones that I have met/seen.</p>
<p>You should fit right in-- the complainers seem to be a vocal minority. Most Chapman students are very driven and passionate (especially those in the sizable fine arts community-- music students, theater and dance students, and film students can get pretty intense, but are also fascinating folk), but they’re also laid-back and friendly. There aren’t many Easterners, but that’s more because of applicant provincialism-- the school is still making its bones in national circles. Both the people I’ve met on campus and those I’ve met through other means (like this group on Facebook: <a href=“https://www.facebook.com/groups/203789823023129/?bookmark_t=group[/url]”>https://www.facebook.com/groups/203789823023129/?bookmark_t=group</a> ) are very welcoming; the clinching decision for me was that people were very relaxed and open and willing to help a prospective out, as opposed to schools like Skidmore or NYU, where everyone was pretty brusque. There’s definitely a lot of money on campus-- the parking garages are full of Beamers and Benzes-- but Chapman is also extremely generous with aid and so you’ll see a lot of students from fairly diverse financial backgrounds.</p>
<p>As for the “religious intrusiveness”, that sounds out of character to me. Chapman is technically affiliated with the Disciples of Christ, but I’ve never been aware that it’s even nominally religious. They did attempt to purchase the Crystal Cathedral earlier this year to repurpose it for a new med school/dorm complex, but were outbid by the Catholic Church.</p>
<p>From my experience, it sounds like Chapman is a great place for your daughter, and you shouldn’t be put off until you’ve visited, especially given that it’s the best film school on the West Coast. Best of luck!</p>
<p>Thank you, Strange! This Facebook page is The! Best! Thing! You kids are soooo 21st century! No wonder you’re all going to film school. Can’t stop laughing about Jonah Hill being a hot dog! (I want that costume, and it looks like it would fit me!) I will have D post her stuff on there this weekend. She’ll have to take time out from her busy eyeball-gouging schedule (sorry, paper cut girl) in King Lear – a role she gets a disturbing amount of enjoyment from. (I may have to ask that tiny Russian serial killer expert about her…)</p>
<p>This is definitely a reassuring thing, SB. Many of these kids have a quirkiness factor that is right in line with D’s personality.</p>
<p>Haha, glad it helps out, shakespeare! I’m the theater major with the fedora if you’ve been watching the videos, but it does appear that over half of the group (that have made formal introductions, that is) is going to Dodge. :)</p>
<p>I could tell, because of the theater, and you again mentioned your sis goes to Chapman. Lookin’ good! </p>
<p>D is waiting to get officially accepted into that group so she can post stuff. She can put her video essay on there too. Those Dodge videos are all so creative and different! Don’t you love that underwater one? What kind of stuff did you have to do for your theater audition?</p>
<p>It was pretty straightforward-- two monologues and a personal interview. Then again, my experience could have been somewhat different as it was an extremely small session-- two other students and I had taken the SAT that morning, so we were set aside to a special session in the afternoon. As there were only three of us, we didn’t end up doing a group session, although I’m not sure if the regularly scheduled class was supposed to either, to be honest.</p>
<p>StrangeBro… thanks so much for sharing the FB page link! S joined the group and posted his video essay over the weekend. What a great way for current / future students to introduce themselves to one another (oh, how I wish this technology would have existed when I started college, so long ago) 
Thanks again!!</p>
<p>Angry Porcupine: Is your son Ian? That boy is going to be a hell of a filmmaker. Loved the app video. :)</p>
<p>Strangebro… yes, that’s his video. Awesome! Thanks for the kind words! There were quite a few creative videos posted on the FB page. Great job to all!</p>
<p>are chapman students allowed to have bonfires on Huntington Beach? what else do people do for fun on the weekends?</p>
<p>Bumping this for poster miichellyy</p>
<p>Bumping this for some singers and actors</p>