<p>Take a look at Redlands too… Great school!</p>
<p>Chapman is getting harder and harder to get into… the word is out I’m afraid. Will probably be a reach, but I think definitely still apply if your D likes it. My S is applying, but to the theater program, audition based.</p>
<p>I forgot to mention the Dodge Film School. This particular school has elevated Chapman’s visibility. Admission to Dodge is tough.</p>
<p>Thanks, Orange County is near LA, right (sorry, East Coaster here!)?</p>
<p>We looked into Redlands as one point, but decided that Southern Calif. is probably not right for D. She really sees herself in the woodsy Pacific Northwest. Thanks for the suggestions :)</p>
<p>Yep, Orange County is the next county south of L.A. Not a place for someone longing for the misty Pacific Northwest :)</p>
<p>Chapman is only about 40 minutes (without traffic) from some of the most exciting parts of LA. I know quite a few Chapman students and they frequently go to LA when they want to get out of the campus bubble. The city around Chapman, Orange, is quite nice and sort of “anti-Orange County” (Orange County has the reputation as being an area with little character outside of some of the ethnic enclaves). </p>
<p>Some of Chapman’s strongest programs include its undergrad business school, film school (probably the third best in CA), VPA, preprofessional health sciences like athletic training, communications, and English/creative writing. It has a pretty good reputation in Orange County, although it’s overshadowed by UC Irvine. Most students I’ve known that go there really like it. Partially because of the cost, and because it’s relatively unknown outside of the film school, most students come from within a two and a half hour radius.</p>
<p>Also Chapman is not a small school. It has around 5,500 undergrads. Apart from the UCs and Cal Poly SLO, Chapman competes with Pepperdine (very religious school on the bluffs of Malibu), Loyola Marymount, and University of San Diego. All of those are B+/A- student schools, although a low GPA high SAT B- student probably stands a chance at the latter three private schools.</p>
<p>For the poster from Nevada, just wanted to mention that U of Hawaii participates in WUE tuition exchange. That’s always a fun alternative.</p>
<p>Thanks Whenhen for the info about Chapman. We are now planning to tour Chapman on our way home from visiting University of San Diego. Time would only allow us to choose one school and think Chapman will be a better fit over Whittier. This is an amazing task, helping your child find the right school, at the right price. The following year I have another son graduating high school, seeking a totally different type of school. He wants a school with a marching band, which probably means a larger school. That might include Hawaii…so thanks coralbrook for the suggestion.</p>
<p>Seattle U is within reach with a 3.0 to 3.3 GPA. My son’s friend applied last year with a GPA in that range and was admitted. He finished his first quarter and loves the school.</p>