Brianna Vizueth, Admission Counselor
“Starting your college application can feel a bit overwhelming. But don't worry; taking small steps each day will help make it easier.
If you're unsure what to do first, just start by creating your Common Application. From there, you can take it one step at a time.
And remember, your Admission Counselor is here to help if you have any questions!”
Ryan Kiser 27', Broadcast Journalism and Documentary major & Political Science minor
"Finding the perfect writing topic for my personal statement was something I went back and forth on because it felt like there was so much pressure to choose the right topic.
I knew I had to focus on writing about something meaningful to me and run with it!
A tip I’d like to share is to do a brain dump of everything that matters to you and then slowly formulate an essay."
Maricruz Santander, Admission Counselor
“I hope you all can see the activities section of the application as a fun opportunity to showcase how you spend your time outside of the classroom.
There’s a trend of first-gen students not listing the various involvements that are actually shared in their letters of recommendation. Please include if you are part of clubs, organizations, volunteering, or playing sports.
We also consider non-traditional extracurricular activities such as caring for siblings at home or working part-time. List it all! Remember, if there's anywhere to shine, it will be in your college applications!”
Carlos Leyva, Senior Admission Counselor
“I understand that asking a teacher for a letter of recommendation can be intimidating. However, my advice is to set aside your fear and ask anyway.
If you ask them well in advance and provide a cheat sheet that includes information such as the major you want to pursue, your hobbies, and extracurricular activities, it can be very helpful. I found this approach beneficial when I went through the process.
Remember, your teachers want to see you succeed and will help if they can.”
Christian Aguilar, Associate Director of Diversity Initiatives
“Researching each university you apply to will set you up for success! Do they offer the major you're interested in? What about clubs or organizations you want to join or research opportunities you want to pursue? Elaborating on how your interests align with the university will make you stand out!
At Chapman, we have detailed web pages about ways to get involved, and even a podcast specifically for prospective students! Make sure you use all your resources to submit a strong college application.”
Learn more about applying as a first-generation student
You can learn more about applying to Chapman as a first-generation student here.
This includes more details about first-generation resources, financing your education, studying about and more!
