» Panther Spring Start Program

The Panther Spring Start Program is only available to high school students who initially applied to the fall semester.

Chapman doesn't always have enough space in our first-year fall class for all qualified students who apply. Because of this, some fall first-year applicants who we know will be a great fit for Chapman will be offered admission to our Panther Spring Start Program.

If you are admitted as a Panther Spring Start student, you: 

• Will be offered admission to our spring class.
• Can also join the waitlist for our fall class; your admission would move to the fall should space open up for you. You can find the waitlist reply form in your Application Status Page.

Fall opportunities

Panther Spring Start students have several options for how to best use their time in the fall before the spring semester. You can:

• Take community-college classes to begin earning credit that will transfer to Chapman.
• Work or take an internship before devoting themselves to a full-time course schedule.
• Volunteer with an organized program.
• Travel and see the country or world before starting college.

About 80% of Panther Spring Start students take community-college classes. If you do so, it is important that you let the Office of Admission know if you are taking courses for credit that you are looking to transfer to Chapman. We will email you a form to complete in the summer for you to submit your fall plans.

We will share any course information you provide with the Academic Advising Center. This will help the Center’s advisors when they work with you to create your spring course schedule for Chapman.

Starting in the spring

All first-year spring start students:

• Are guaranteed on-campus housing: Spring start students will be placed with other first-year students in our dorms, and every attempt is made to house them in their school/college’s Living-Learning Community. (You can learn more about living on campus here.)
• Can attend Chapman’s spring-specific Orientation: Spring Orientation will take place during the week before the spring semester begins. For more information or questions, please contact orientation@chapman.edu.
• Receive spring-specific academic and program advising: Our academic advising office will help you select your spring classes and transfer in any credit you earned over the fall.

Spring start timeline

• Panther Spring Start students have a Priority Enrollment Deposit deadline of May 1. Deposits received after that date will be accepted on a space-available basis.
• In early November the application for on-campus housing opens. You should submit your housing application and Housing Reservation Payment by December 1.
• In late November, the Academic Advising Center will begin working with you on planning for course registration, which takes place in December-January. 
• The spring semester will begin in late January or early February. You can view the Academic Calendar for exact dates. Orientation will take place during the week before the semester begins. 

International students should also request immigration documentation in November. Please email our immigration team (intladmit@chapman.edu) to request the necessary documentation.

For a complete timeline for the spring semester, visit our First Year Spring Checklist page.

Staying connected

From admission to your first day of class, we hope you will start making connections at Chapman. These can include:

• Attending admitted student events held throughout the spring. If you would like to visit campus over the summer, you can do so via our prospective student events.
• Reaching out to current students with any questions or to discuss student opportunities: