Chapman University Top Questions

Save alot of money and find a job soon

Pick a place where you can start a new chapter in your life, free from the restrictions of your past. Learn to make adult decisions, and be ready to face the consequences, whether they're good or bad. Do not be afraid to try new things and meet new people, for they are what shape the rest of your life. Money is a big deal, so don't slack off when you're applying for scholarships and remember to keep your grades up!

The best advice to transitioning from high school to the university is having an open mind with the variety of majors. My heart has always been set on English because I am passionate about it and the places it can take me. Since the elementary level I have excelled in that subject. Entering Chapman I was in a way close minded. I knew I was going to be an English major but my high school self should have been more prepared to consider other fields and careers. I have a variety of passions and I am realizing that a leadership studies minor will fulfill them. It would have been more convenient if I laid everything out from the start. Also being a first generation college student it would have been helpful if I researched everything about financial aid and scholarships. I did not have a guiding hand to help me through this so that resulted in a few set backs. Chapman is very helpful to students seeking information regarding things like financial aid and I would tell myself not to be fearful of taking advantage of that and asking questions.

Knowing what I know about college today, I think I would have better prepared myself by learning how to write more eloquently so that essays and research papers wouldn't be as much of a hassle as they are today. Being that I was also in a boardhing school, I feel that experience helped me to prepare me for what I am experiencing today. I feel well prepared.

Enjoy it. Don't take everything so seriously. Make sure you do things that you want to benefit your future, but live life.

First and foremost I would advice my high school slef to apply my self a lot more when it came to applying for scholarships. College would have been a much better expierence if you live on campus at least one year. Second I would advice myself to start being a little bit more organized. There is a lot going on in college and being well organized would definitely help out with that. Lastly I would advice my highschool self to learn how to step out of his comfort zone. College is all about discovering you who really are and your strengths and weakness in regards to what you want to do with your life so by stepping out of the comfrot zone one can easily discover that.

Jimena, You have been accepted to a private university, the university of your dreams! While you know you will do excellent there, remember how expensive school is. You live in a poor community and have parents working low wage, back breaking, blue collar jobs-make it easy for them. Take your ACT's and SAT's as many times as possible. If you get a high enough score, you will get more financial aid. Take that pressure off from them. They have given you more than enough support, now it is time for you to become independent and make them proud. The next thing you should know is to go out and experience as much as you can. You are going to a school where the students are privileged. While you look forward to a two week family vacation to Mexico, they take trips to Europe on a regular basis. Don't fall behind, do what YOU want to do. And always remember where you come from. Don't start wishing you were as rich as the students here. Your background has made you the person you are today. Appreciate the little things and don't forget to have fun.

If I were to give myself advice about transitioning to college, I would stress these essentials: college is within your control and aim to strike a balance. First of all, it is so important to remember that you have control over your college experience. I witnessed some of my classmates allow college to happen to them, and they felt overwhelmed or dissatisfied because of it. Maybe you feel out of place in your group of friends. You can fix this! Join a new club, introduce yourself to that girl in your math class, or sit with someone new in the dining hall. If your classes are uninspiring, try a new subject or even change your major. It’s all within your realm of control! It is also essential to strike a balance between social life and academics. I owe the success of my first semester to having a healthy, supportive group of friends who allow me to achieve at my highest academic potential and remind me that my life doesn’t revolve around the library. The best students know how to step back from the text books and have a little fun, and my friends help me to do this.

As a high school senior, I felt that it was the perfect year to relax and enjoy the remainder of my tenure at high school. With that mindset, I had decided to slack off and not really do much work that had been assigned to me. I didn't pay attention during any of the class lectures, nor was I awake most of the time. I always depended on the teacher to make sure that I was up to pace in class. I never relyed on myself to complete any tasks or assignments. When test days came, I would occasionally sneak glances at my neighbor's paper, even though I knew it was frowned upon. Now that I am out of high school and in college, I realize that all that vegetation, procrastination, and cheating didn't educate me in any way. However, I did learn what not to do in college. In college, the professors could care less if you don't do anything, just as long as they are being paid. So in short, my advice to myself would be to become proactive. A good future is only given to the person that tries harder than anyone else.

First things first, take a deep breath. Hindsight is 20/20 and as cheesy as it sounds, if you follow your heart, everything will turn out okay.Second, enjoy today and live in the present. You will never get another senior year, so go to every dance, rally, fundraiser, and football game. Treasure the time with your friends and teammates. Take lots of pictures, have lots of sleepovers, go to the movies on Fridays – relish your childhood.Third, don’t be afraid of change. College seems daunting but it’s a chance to become a better version of yourself. It'll be hard, you may get homesick, and it will be uncomfortable at times, but it’s the things that scare us that make for some of the best experiences and greatest lessons learned. You will change your major, your mind, your life’s goals, but never change who you are for someone else.Finally, open your mind. Say hello to, and meet as many people as you can. Get a job in another campus department. Try for that internship and just fake it ‘till you make it! Listen to another perspective. Question convention. Think critically. And never stop learning.