Since we are all sheltering in place these days, it is going to put a stop to elective visits to the Mainland for any purpose, not the least of which is college visits.

Even if one were able to get there, most colleges are shut down for a while, so virtual college visits are going to be the best we can all do for the foreseeable future.

I have visited over 40 schools on the Mainland, so I will attempt to be your “eyes” for now and spotlight some of them more often. With all of that in mind, let me introduce you to Chapman University this week.

Chapman is a private university that sits at the edge of a quaint suburb in the middle of Orange County, California. The city of Orange is located approximately 35 miles from downtown L.A. and 60 miles from San Diego. But the “Happiest Place on Earth,” Disneyland, is only four miles away! Believe it or not, lots of students choose Chapman because of that proximity, and get their year-round passes early to take advantage!

Almost all freshmen, and about half of all students, live on campus. The population is 60 percent female, 40 percent male, and 30 percent are from out of state.

There is an active Greek life, with about 30 percent of students joining fraternities or sororities. There is not designated housing for them, so they are purely social and philanthropic.

While Chapman is considered a medium sized school with about 7,500 students, it has an amazingly broad offering of academic programs. There are 11 different colleges on campus: Business and Economics, Education, Film and Media Arts, Health and Behavioral Sciences, Arts and Social Sciences, Law, Engineering, Performing Arts, Science and Technology, Pharmacy, and Communication.

Even though Business and Marketing is the major that has the largest percentage of students, with 32 percent, one of the most famous schools on campus is The Dodge College of Media Arts. Dodge has been noted as one of the top ten film schools in the world and is ranked #6 by The Hollywood Reporter.

The student/teacher ratio is 13:1, which gives students amazing access to their teachers.

So, what do students at Chapman do for fun when they are not studying or going to Disneyland? There is a wide range of student activities available.

The Panthers field ten Division III men’s teams, including football, and 11 women’s teams as well. There are also club and intramural sports available.

There are a wide variety of on-campus activities, many of which revolve around the performing arts like dance, drama and band. There are also many different types of support programs available to students needing academic, mental health or career counseling. Students can also participate in Study Abroad.

While touring the campus, I was struck by a few things. First was that it had a real “campus” feel to it, even though it is right next to the city. The football stadium and athletic facilities are close to the dorms, and it is a quick walk down the street to the shops and restaurants in town.

The majority of the dorms were on the crowded side; there were three students to a room in the rooms we saw, but there is one dorm where there are two students to a room. The back of the campus sort of folds into a residential neighborhood where many students are able to find rentals for off-campus housing.

Among the facilities available, there is a beautiful theater, Olympic size swimming pool and tennis courts. With Southern California weather offering almost year-round outdoor activities, Chapman is well-located to enjoy most all of them.

Admissions to Chapman can be considered selective. According to Chapman University’s Fact Book 2018-2019:

For the Class of 2022 (enrolling fall 2018), Chapman received 14,198 applications, accepted 7,605 (53.6 percent) and enrolled 1,660. For the freshmen who enrolled, the average score was 640 for reading and writing and 638 for math, while the average composite score was 27.9. The average high school GPA was 3.75.

Tuition, room and board for the 2019-20 school year is right around $70,000. The school cites that close to 80 percent of students receive some sort of financial aid, with the average aid package at $28,000.

Merit scholarships can be as high as $32,000, with Talent and Engineering scholarships available as well as housing grants.

Because it is a Division III school, there are no athletic scholarships awarded.

Remember to complete your FAFSA early to get the best opportunity for scholarships and grants.

I think this quote sums up the school nicely, from a current student I know: “Chapman is where I found my home away from home. With amazing faculty and facilities, it is everything a college experience should be and more.”

Please take a look at the list of schools I have visited on my website, TheCollegeAuntie.com, and if there is a particular school you would like to see highlighted in this series, please let me know.

Maryanne Hogan is an Independent College Admissions Consultant working with students on Maui. Visit her website, thecollegeauntie.com, for more information or to make an appointment.