Chapman University
Responses from the Student Interview
From a student who identifies as Major: Screenwriting
Minor: None
Student Self Identifies as: Caucasian Heterosexual Female
Summary
I’m not in any yet, but I am planning on rushing [a sorority].
Background
Gender Identity: Female
Race/Ethnicity: Caucasian
Sexual Orientation: Heterosexual
High School Experience: Public high school in Waco, TX with a graduating class of about 700 students. There was a culture of going to college.
First-Generation College Student: No
Major: Screenwriting
Minor: None
Extracurricular Activities: I’m not in any yet, but I am planning on rushing [a sorority].
Academic Experience
Can you describe your weekly coursework for your major?
This year I wrote about one short script a week, which was about 5-10 pages. I had a 5-10 page essay every two weeks about film analysis. For my Spanish class, we had quizzes and homework packets every week.
Is there anything you feel that Chapman does especially well or poorly academically?
I think the Dodge Film School does a good job of having very specific majors, which is what I was looking for in a university. They do a good job getting you involved in [film] sets really early. You get right down to business, you don’t do a lot of pre-learning, you learn while you’re simultaneously working on something.
How would you describe the learning environment? Do you think it’s particularly competitive or collaborative?
I think it’s particularly collaborative. In my Screenwriting classes specifically, you have small classes of about 12. You write a script, read it out loud to the class, and everyone helps you with constructive criticism and you give it as well. In a lot of other classes, we do collaborative projects as well.
How accessible are your professors?
They’re pretty accessible in the smaller classes. The largest class I’ve had was about 70 . [The average class size at Chapman is 23 students.]
How was transitioning as a first-generation college student? Were there any resources in place that helped you adapt?
I went to a pretty competitive high school academically, so coming here wasn’t a super hard transition. For anyone coming here, there are plenty of resources. There is weekly tutoring and the professors are really accessible.
What has your school done to prepare you for the real world
In the film school, they start you off learning exactly what you’re going to do in the real world. You don’t have to get all of your general requirements right away, you take them as you go.
Why did you choose your major? Are you happy with your choice?
I’ve always been super interested in writing and film. For a long time, I thought I’d want to do a directing program, but then I found out Chapman has a screenwriting major. I’ve been really enjoying it.
Reasons to Attend
1) Finding people who’re similar to you. It’s a lot easier here and there’s not a stigma to put on a face.
2) People here are really experienced. The professors in the film school are working in the industry and can get you opportunities. They have lots of experience to share with you.
3) There are so many opportunities for events and clubs that will help you on your journey throughout college life. There’s a lot of opportunity for growth.
Reasons Not to Attend
1) If you’re looking for a big school, that’s not what you’ll get here.
If you’re looking for a big party scene, it’s maybe not here.
Around Campus
Where have you lived on and around campus?
Freshman: Pralle-Sodaro Hall with two roommates.
How was transitioning from the Waco, TX to Orange, CA in terms of location?
It was definitely a cultural transition coming to California. Orange has a very small-town feel, especially around campus. It’s pretty similar to downtown Waco. Also, people here are from all over the U.S. and I have a friend from India.
Can you describe the level of safety you’ve experienced on and around campus?
I think the campus is pretty much on lockdown. There’s a high school nearby and they are sometimes on campus, but our dorms are extremely safe.
Social Opportunities
What kind of weekend activities or nightlife do you like to participate in?
I usually go out to house parties, but you can also go to Los Angeles and the activities there. A lot of people will also go to downtown Disney, which is 15-minutes away. Chapman is surrounded by neighborhoods, which are a mix of students and families. There are usually house parties every night of the weekend but they get shut down pretty quickly because it’s a family neighborhood.
What is the impact of Greek life on nightlife at Chapman?
Being a freshman, the nightlife is pretty much based around going to fraternity parties. [About 25% of men join fraternities and 48% of women are in sororities.]
What’s an alternative to going to a party or a bar that you like for a night out?
If we don’t have anything to do, I’ll probably go to the beach and hang out.
How happy are you with the weekend options at Chapman? Is there anything you would change about them if you could?
I’d probably want to go to a school that has a fraternity row where parties are allowed to go on for however long they want, rather than having parties in neighborhoods where they get shut down quickly. I’m also not a huge partier, so I like that it’s not an entirely crazy party scene.
Campus Culture
How did you meet your closest friends?
I met a few of them during our orientation week. We were put into groups by majors and I’ve been with them since the very first week. I also met close friends that lived on my hall. We also worked on sets together. Over the weekend there are usually junior and senior projects that you can work on, and I’ve met a lot of great people through there.
How would you describe the overall social scene at Chapman?
Since it is a pretty small school, most people either have had classes or at least known the majority of people in your college. Our film school is pretty small, so everyone knows everyone. It tends to get a little like high school where there’s gossip about each other’s business. Everyone is very accepting, warm, and unique.
To what extent do people of different races and sexual orientations mix socially?
In terms of sexual orientation, it’s very mixed. In terms of races, Chapman is, unfortunately, majority White, so honestly, there aren’t a ton of minorities. [The undergraduate population is about 51% White, 15% Hispanic, 1.7% Black, 13% Asian, and 4% international.]
How would you describe the student body at Chapman?
It’s a pretty mixed bag. There are a lot of wealthy people that go here who you can tell are very wealthy, but there’s also a ton of people who are really genuine and unique. [Socioeconomically, about 33% of students are from the top 5%.]
To what extent do people in Greek life and not in Greek life mix socially?
It’s pretty mixed. A lot of it is determined by your major. For our film school, everyone pretty much mixes and some people even live with girls either in different sororities or are unaffiliated.
How do you like the size of Chapman in terms of undergraduate enrollment? How has it impacted your experience? [There are about 7,300 students at Chapman.]
I thought it was going to feel a lot smaller than it does coming from a huge high school. I like being able to see people on a regular basis.
Careers
Have you learned any computer languages or software that will be helpful to you professionally?
I learned how to use Final Draft, which is a screenwriting program.