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Chapman University Campus Visit​

chapman university campus 

chapman university campus 

🧭 EXPANDED CAMPUS VISIT GUIDE – CHAPMAN UNIVERSITY

🎓 1. Types of Campus Visit Experiences

Daily Campus Tours

  • Includes: A walking tour with student guides + admission info session

  • Time Slots: Typically offered in mornings and afternoons on weekdays and select Saturdays

  • Best for: First-time visitors or prospective applicants

🧑‍🎓 Panther for a Day (Shadow Experience)

  • Available to: Admitted or prospective students (mostly high school seniors)

  • Includes: Attending a real college class + lunch with a student ambassador

  • Tip: Request early—slots are limited! chapman university campus

🏫 Academic Program-Specific Tours

  • Dodge College of Film & Media Arts Tour

    • Top-ranked, hands-on film school

    • See editing bays, sound stages, and screening rooms

  • Fowler School of Engineering

    • Tour the Keck Center labs and makerspaces

  • Musco Center for the Arts

    • For students in music, theatre, or dance

💻 Virtual Info Sessions

  • Zoom-based, great for out-of-state or international families

  • Typically include a live Q&A. chapman university campus

🧠 2. Questions to Ask on Campus

Ask students, admissions staff, or professors:

🎓 Academics

  • What are the average class sizes?

  • How accessible are professors outside of class?

  • How easy is it to double major or add a minor?

🏠 Campus Life

  • What are the most popular clubs or student traditions?

  • What’s housing like after the first year? chapman university campus

  • Is Greek life active? What about intramurals?

💼 Career Development

  • What internship or co-op opportunities are available?

  • Are career fairs and alumni networking events held on campus?

chapman university campus 

🎥 If You’re Visiting Dodge College:

  • How early can students access equipment?

  • What’s the acceptance rate into specific programs like Directing or Screenwriting?

📚 3. Top Programs at Chapman

  • Film/TV/Media: Dodge College (Top 10 in the U.S.)

  • Law: Fowler School of Law. chapman university campus

  • STEM: Computer Science, Biochem, Data Analytics (via Schmid College)

  • Performing Arts: Dance, Music, Theatre

  • Business: Argyros School of Business (with strong internship network)

chapman university campus 

🛏️ 4. Residence Halls to Explore

  • Henley Hall – Freshmen housing (suite-style)

  • Sandhu Residence Center – Sophomores, with dining hall nearby

  • Davis/Morlan – Apartment-style options. chapman university campus

  • The K – Modern upperclassmen housing

Ask to see:

  • Communal lounges

  • Laundry/kitchen areas

  • Distance from academic buildings

✍️ 5. Admissions Tips (During Your Visit)

  • Sign in — every visit counts as demonstrated interest

  • Introduce yourself to your admissions counselor

  • Take photos and write down names (can help personalize your essay later)

  • If you’re interviewing, dress semi-professionally and bring thoughtful questions

📆 6. Special Events to Watch For

  • Discover Chapman Days – For admitted students in spring

  • Preview Days – Open house events with breakout sessions. chapman university campus

  • Transfer Visit Days

  • Summer Welcome Events – If you’re applying early or want to start exploring

📝 7. Sample One-Day Itinerary

Time Activity
9:00 AM Check in & Admission Info Session
10:00 AM Guided Campus Tour
11:30 AM Dodge College Info Session (if applicable)
12:30 PM Lunch at the Agora or Old Towne Orange
2:00 PM Meet a Professor or Attend a Class
3:00 PM Self-guided tour of residence halls or gym
4:00 PM Q&A with student ambassador

📷 8. Photo Spots You’ll Want

  • Attallah Piazza (main quad)

  • Memorial Hall (iconic Chapman backdrop)

  • Keck Center’s glass atrium

  • Panther Statue

  • Historic Old Towne Orange circle (nearby)

🎯 9. Maximize Your Visit: Insider Tips from Students & Alumni

🧍‍♂️ Go Beyond the Tour

  • Eat in the cafeteria (the Randall Dining Commons) — see what real student life feels like

  • Visit Argyros Forum (AF) — it’s the student union hub with lounges, food, clubs

  • Peek inside Leatherby Libraries — ask to see the quiet study floors or group study pods

👥 Talk to Students Alone

  • Guides may give you the PR version. So while on campus:

    • Approach someone at Starbucks or in the forum and ask:

      “Hey, I’m visiting—what’s something I wouldn’t learn on the tour?”
      “What’s your favorite part of Chapman? What’s one thing you’d change?”

🌆 10. Explore the Surroundings

🛍️ Old Towne Orange

Literally steps from campus:

  • Antiques, cafés, boutiques

  • Must-visits: A la Minute (liquid nitrogen ice cream), Orange Circle Antique Mall, Haven Craft Kitchen

🌴 Nearby Attractions

  • Disneyland – 15 mins

  • Newport Beach – 25 mins

  • Irvine Spectrum – 20 mins

  • L.A. (Hollywood, UCLA, etc.) – ~45–60 mins

🧾 11. Cost & Financial Aid Info to Ask While Visiting

If you’re concerned about tuition (Chapman is a private university), ask:

  • What merit-based scholarships are available? (Many don’t require a separate app)

  • Are need-based grants renewable?

  • What’s the average financial aid package?

  • How many students work on-campus jobs?

💡 Chapman offers Presidential Scholarships and Creative Supplement Awards for film, music, writing, etc.

📚 12. Academic & Research Opportunities

Ask about:

  • First-Year Foundations courses

  • Student-Faculty Research Programs (especially in science and business)

  • Study Abroad – over 90 programs in 40 countries

  • Internships in L.A., Orange County, and D.C.

🧑‍💻 13. Tech & Facilities Tour Ideas

  • Digital Media Arts Center – Film post-production rooms

  • Tech Shop – For Engineering & Product Design students

  • Rinker Health Sciences Campus – If you’re pre-med or pharmacy

📝 14. Sample Questions to Ask in a Departmental Visit

Major Ask These Questions
Business What companies recruit from Chapman? What’s the average starting salary?
Film When do students start working on sets? Are projects collaborative?
Science How competitive is it to join research labs? Are they open to undergrads?
Law (Fowler School) What’s the bar pass rate? Can undergrads sit in on law classes?

🛍️ 15. Chapman Gear & Bookstore

The Hilbert Museum of California Art is right next door to the bookstore.

  • Grab a Chapman hoodie, bumper sticker, or journal

  • Check out rotating student and local artist exhibits at the museum (free entry)

🧾 16. Day Trip Packing List (What to Bring)

✅ Phone & charger
✅ Water bottle
✅ Comfortable shoes
✅ Notepad or notes app
✅ Parking pass (if emailed ahead)
✅ Business cards (if meeting professors or counselors)

🔄 17. What to Do After Your Visit

  • Send a thank-you email to any professor, guide, or counselor you spoke with

  • Write your impressions while fresh — it’ll help for your “Why Chapman?” essay

  • Add “visited Chapman” to your Common App if applicable — demonstrated interest matters

🧾 Want a Checklist or Visit Prep Pack?

I can generate:

  • A personalized one-page visit planner

  • A PDF “What to Ask” cheat sheet

  • “Why Chapman?” essay prep guide

  • Sample thank-you email after your visit

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