Application Tips | Chapman University
Source: https://www.chapman.edu/admission/undergraduate/how-to-apply/application-tips.aspx
Archived: 2026-04-23 17:10
Application Tips | Chapman University
Skip to main content
Skip over carousel to next section
Off
Undergraduate Admission
Application Tips
Admission
Undergraduate Admission
Graduate Admission
Non-degree Seeking Students
Contact the Office of Admission
Activating Your Chapman Account
Undergraduate
Undergraduate Admission
How to Apply
Financing
Academics
Student Life
College Counselors
Visit Opportunities
Contact Us
Request Information
How To Apply
First-Year Students
Transfer Students
Test Optional
Creative Supplement
Application Review Process
Application Tips
First-Generation Applicants
Applicants with Disabilities
FAQs
Missing Items
»
Tips for Completing Your Chapman University Application
Stay in Touch
Visit
Apply
These tips and questions have been updated for those applying to spring or fall 2026.
To help you put together a great application, we want you to know some of the questions
we ask below, as well as quick explanations of what we're looking for in your responses.
Note that you might have additional questions based on your major choice and/or whether
you're a first-year or transfer student. You'll have to start filling out your application
to see all of the questions we ask!
Common Application Questions tips
The Common Application sections listed below are required by all colleges/universities.
Testing Section
Chapman is
test-optional
. If you want to apply with your test scores, feel free to fill out the testing section
of the Common Application.
The testing section can be utilized for any exam scores you wish to self-report through
the Common Application. This includes scores such as SAT, ACT, AP, IB, and SAT Subject
Tests. You can list test scores received for exams that you have already taken and
list future test dates you plan to take.
After submitting your Common Application, your scores will not be visible on the PDF
— that’s okay! If you applied with tests, the admission committee will still receive
and review the scores you listed in the testing section.
If you're applying as a test-optional applicant, your scores will remain hidden from
our admission committee whether or not you filled out this section.
If you have questions,
reach out to your counselor
.
Activities section
This section gives you the opportunity to show the admission committee how you are
spending your time outside of the classroom. Our committee is interested in seeing
the breadth of your involvements as well as the depth of those involvements. Consider
these questions:
What are you involved in?
How long have you been involved in these areas?
What level of impact do you have in each of those areas?
We understand that every applicant’s involvement may look different, and we pay close
attention to context! For some general tips, you should:
N
ot use acronyms if possible.
Highlight relevant leadership roles and responsibilities.
Avoid spelling and grammar mistakes.
Personal Essay
The Personal Essay is only required for first-year applicants.
This is a space to share something central about yourself, whatever that may be!
Our committee is looking for students to share their passions, experiences, or stories
with us. Make sure to be as honest and open as you can - the more your voice is added
to your essay, the better our committee can get to know you. For some general tips:
Don’t be school specific - this essay is shared with all schools you apply to through
the Common Application, not just us!
Be sure to have a couple trusted people take a look once you’ve finished writing it.
Students can often miss small mistakes because they’ve been editing and rewriting
themselves.
Show, don’t tell - give us an inside look into your world.
Additional information
Community Disruption
This is an optional space to share information about how your education or experiences
may have been affected by COVID-19, a natural disaster or any other factor out of
your control.
You can share details about your life, physical or mental health, safety, family situation,
etc. It’s a free space to let our committee know about any circumstances you deem
relevant.
We care about our students and want to better understand their situations and find
the best ways to support them. For more guidance, we’d recommend reaching out to your
school counselor.
Do you wish to provide details of circumstances or qualifications not reflected in
the application?
Make sure not to overthink this part of the application! It is an optional piece,
but this section can be a useful tool if you have additional information or relevant
context that you want the admission committee to be aware of as we evaluate your file.
For some general tips if you decide to utilize this section:
Be concise and specific.
Don’t repeat information already stated in other parts of your application.
Chapman Admission policy on ChatGPT and AI tools
At Chapman University, we understand the appeal of ChatGPT and AI tools for writing
assistance, but we trust in your abilities to create thoughtful and genuine essays. If
you choose to utilize these resources,
we ask that it be used to support your essay and not write it for you
.
Chapman Questions tips
The questions below are unique to Chapman's admission process.
Toggle Section
Q: How have you learned about Chapman University?
We'd like to know more about how you've interacted with Chapman. This helps our counselors
figure out your familiarity with campus and where our staff and faculty might have
interacted with you before applying.
Q: What will your declared major be?
Telling us about your interests lets us know:
More about why you feel the major might be a good fit for you
Your familiarity with your potential program
An understanding of what you want to study and how it might relate to your career
pursuits after college.
If you’re applying as an undeclared student, that’s fine!
Research our programs first
, then tell us about the academic areas that might interest you.
Q: There are thousands of universities and colleges. Why are you interested in attending
Chapman? (200 words or fewer)
We're looking for specifics! What separates Chapman from the other institutions you're
considering? What special programs, activities and aspects of campus are most attractive
and compelling to you?
We're well aware that our campus is in a fantastic location and is aesthetically pleasing
(we hear about Disneyland and how beautiful our campus is frequently). Dig a little
deeper to show us you know why Chapman could be a great fit for you!
Fast Facts
Fast Facts are a way for us to get to know you. We want to see who you are as a student
and as a person! Feel free to be creative, but remember what we're asking. Just because
they're “fast” doesn't mean you shouldn't put some thought into your answers. We spend
a lot of time debating the merits of each Fast Fact and voting on our favorites. Seriously.
Here's a list of some of our past and current Fast Fact questions:
What is your dream job?
What is a family tradition that you want to continue
?
What song should we be listening to while reading your application?
Name one dish you would cook for our admission team.
What is your favorite subject?
What is the top thing on your bucket list?
Which well-known person or fictional character would you like to have as your roommate
?
If Chapman’s admission team came to visit your hometown, what site would you take
them to?
What can you give a 30-minute presentation on without any preparation?
What are the best words of advice you have received?
Letter of Recommendation tips
Please note that we only require applicants to submit one letter of recommendation,
but will review up to two.
Toggle Section
Choose a recommender who knows you outside of tests and homework
We get a good idea of your academic performance from your grades. Your recommender
should speak to you as a person and be able to share why you’re special. Try to find
someone who knows who you are, understands what you're interested in outside of academics
and can share your story.
If you are applying to a major that requires a
Creative Supplement
, we strongly encourage you to submit a second, additional letter from someone who
can specifically speak to your creative abilities.
Share new information
We already have your application and know which extracurriculars you’re involved in.
Finding a recommender who can touch on something that makes you unique beyond your
extracurriculars will show just how well rounded you are.
Give your recommender ample time
Springing a sudden deadline on a teacher willing to write you a letter of rec isn't
just rude to them — it'll result in a weaker letter for you. A solid letter of rec
takes more than just a day or two to write. Make sure you give your teachers enough
time by asking them at least a
month in advance
.
Let your recommender know which schools you're interested in
Let your recommender know which schools you're applying to, and explain a little bit
about them.
That way your recommender tailor their writing and
let the school know why you're a perfect fit
for them.
(Hint: At Chapman, we're looking for students who are well rounded, open to exploring
new fields and finding new passions. You don't have to be laser focused here.)
Remind your recommender who you are
Yes, your recommender should
already
know who you are.
But if there are any specific accomplishments of yours that you want them to highlight,
remind them.
If there are any major wins in your life that they were involved with, remind them.
If you wouldn't be where you are today without them, you guessed it: remind them.
As long as you don't go into excruciating, essay-length detail, it doesn't hurt to
jog their memory.
Tell your reminder how to submit your letter
Each school has its own process for submitting letters of rec. Letting your recommender
know what to do when they're done writing yours will help make sure they're crystal
clear on the submission process (and help them actually remember to go through with
it).
Think quality over quantity
Some schools require just one letter of rec but let you submit more if you want (and
we're one of them).
But focusing on getting one really great recommendation is a fine strategy. That way
you can spend more time on the rest of your application.
That said, if you are applying to a major that requires a
Creative Supplement
, we strongly encourage you to submit a second, additional letter from someone who
can specifically speak to your creative abilities.
Don't ask a family member
This one goes without saying, but it's easy to forget: make sure you're not getting
your letter(s) of rec from a relative. We know your family's willing to vouch for
you, and they're almost certainly right. But we (and most other schools) need letters
of rec from outside your family.
How to Write Your College Admission Essay
The Personal Essay is required for first-year applicants. Writing your essay can be
daunting. Here are a few tips that could help you make it stand out.
Read Essay Tips
Got a question for us?
Feel free to
contact us
anytime at
admit@chapman.edu
or (714) 997-6711.
Want to talk to a student?
Use our
Ask a Student feature
to reach out to a student from the same major or with similar interests as you.
Want to talk to your admission counselor?
They would probably be your best bet if you have a question relating to your personal
situation (academic interests, family or financial situation, etc.). You can find
your counselor on our
Meet Your Counselor page
.
Application Review Process explained
Learn more about how we review (and what we look for) in our applications on our Application
Review Process page.
Visit Application Review Process
How To Apply
First-Year Students
Transfer Students
Test Optional
Creative Supplement
Application Review Process
Application Tips
Applicants with Disabilities
FAQs
Missing Items
Contact Admission
Email us:
Email General Admission
Email Transfer Admission
Email International Admission
Call us:
(714) 997-6711
Text us:
(714) 942-5474
Send your documents:
Chapman University
Attn: Office of Admission
One University Drive
Orange, CA 92866
Follow Us on Social Media
Follow us on social media for tips, news and updates about applying to Chapman University:
Admission Instagram
Admission YouTube
Admission Facebook
Chapman TikTok
Take a Self-Guided Tour
Virtually explore Chapman in this student-led tour through our Orange Campus. You'll
be able to visit classrooms, hang-out spots, our residence life area and much more!
Start the Tour
Back to top
Back to top
©
Skip to main content
Skip over carousel to next section
Off
Undergraduate Admission
Application Tips
Admission
Undergraduate Admission
Graduate Admission
Non-degree Seeking Students
Contact the Office of Admission
Activating Your Chapman Account
Undergraduate
Undergraduate Admission
How to Apply
Financing
Academics
Student Life
College Counselors
Visit Opportunities
Contact Us
Request Information
How To Apply
First-Year Students
Transfer Students
Test Optional
Creative Supplement
Application Review Process
Application Tips
First-Generation Applicants
Applicants with Disabilities
FAQs
Missing Items
»
Tips for Completing Your Chapman University Application
Stay in Touch
Visit
Apply
These tips and questions have been updated for those applying to spring or fall 2026.
To help you put together a great application, we want you to know some of the questions
we ask below, as well as quick explanations of what we're looking for in your responses.
Note that you might have additional questions based on your major choice and/or whether
you're a first-year or transfer student. You'll have to start filling out your application
to see all of the questions we ask!
Common Application Questions tips
The Common Application sections listed below are required by all colleges/universities.
Testing Section
Chapman is
test-optional
. If you want to apply with your test scores, feel free to fill out the testing section
of the Common Application.
The testing section can be utilized for any exam scores you wish to self-report through
the Common Application. This includes scores such as SAT, ACT, AP, IB, and SAT Subject
Tests. You can list test scores received for exams that you have already taken and
list future test dates you plan to take.
After submitting your Common Application, your scores will not be visible on the PDF
— that’s okay! If you applied with tests, the admission committee will still receive
and review the scores you listed in the testing section.
If you're applying as a test-optional applicant, your scores will remain hidden from
our admission committee whether or not you filled out this section.
If you have questions,
reach out to your counselor
.
Activities section
This section gives you the opportunity to show the admission committee how you are
spending your time outside of the classroom. Our committee is interested in seeing
the breadth of your involvements as well as the depth of those involvements. Consider
these questions:
What are you involved in?
How long have you been involved in these areas?
What level of impact do you have in each of those areas?
We understand that every applicant’s involvement may look different, and we pay close
attention to context! For some general tips, you should:
N
ot use acronyms if possible.
Highlight relevant leadership roles and responsibilities.
Avoid spelling and grammar mistakes.
Personal Essay
The Personal Essay is only required for first-year applicants.
This is a space to share something central about yourself, whatever that may be!
Our committee is looking for students to share their passions, experiences, or stories
with us. Make sure to be as honest and open as you can - the more your voice is added
to your essay, the better our committee can get to know you. For some general tips:
Don’t be school specific - this essay is shared with all schools you apply to through
the Common Application, not just us!
Be sure to have a couple trusted people take a look once you’ve finished writing it.
Students can often miss small mistakes because they’ve been editing and rewriting
themselves.
Show, don’t tell - give us an inside look into your world.
Additional information
Community Disruption
This is an optional space to share information about how your education or experiences
may have been affected by COVID-19, a natural disaster or any other factor out of
your control.
You can share details about your life, physical or mental health, safety, family situation,
etc. It’s a free space to let our committee know about any circumstances you deem
relevant.
We care about our students and want to better understand their situations and find
the best ways to support them. For more guidance, we’d recommend reaching out to your
school counselor.
Do you wish to provide details of circumstances or qualifications not reflected in
the application?
Make sure not to overthink this part of the application! It is an optional piece,
but this section can be a useful tool if you have additional information or relevant
context that you want the admission committee to be aware of as we evaluate your file.
For some general tips if you decide to utilize this section:
Be concise and specific.
Don’t repeat information already stated in other parts of your application.
Chapman Admission policy on ChatGPT and AI tools
At Chapman University, we understand the appeal of ChatGPT and AI tools for writing
assistance, but we trust in your abilities to create thoughtful and genuine essays. If
you choose to utilize these resources,
we ask that it be used to support your essay and not write it for you
.
Chapman Questions tips
The questions below are unique to Chapman's admission process.
Toggle Section
Q: How have you learned about Chapman University?
We'd like to know more about how you've interacted with Chapman. This helps our counselors
figure out your familiarity with campus and where our staff and faculty might have
interacted with you before applying.
Q: What will your declared major be?
Telling us about your interests lets us know:
More about why you feel the major might be a good fit for you
Your familiarity with your potential program
An understanding of what you want to study and how it might relate to your career
pursuits after college.
If you’re applying as an undeclared student, that’s fine!
Research our programs first
, then tell us about the academic areas that might interest you.
Q: There are thousands of universities and colleges. Why are you interested in attending
Chapman? (200 words or fewer)
We're looking for specifics! What separates Chapman from the other institutions you're
considering? What special programs, activities and aspects of campus are most attractive
and compelling to you?
We're well aware that our campus is in a fantastic location and is aesthetically pleasing
(we hear about Disneyland and how beautiful our campus is frequently). Dig a little
deeper to show us you know why Chapman could be a great fit for you!
Fast Facts
Fast Facts are a way for us to get to know you. We want to see who you are as a student
and as a person! Feel free to be creative, but remember what we're asking. Just because
they're “fast” doesn't mean you shouldn't put some thought into your answers. We spend
a lot of time debating the merits of each Fast Fact and voting on our favorites. Seriously.
Here's a list of some of our past and current Fast Fact questions:
What is your dream job?
What is a family tradition that you want to continue
?
What song should we be listening to while reading your application?
Name one dish you would cook for our admission team.
What is your favorite subject?
What is the top thing on your bucket list?
Which well-known person or fictional character would you like to have as your roommate
?
If Chapman’s admission team came to visit your hometown, what site would you take
them to?
What can you give a 30-minute presentation on without any preparation?
What are the best words of advice you have received?
Letter of Recommendation tips
Please note that we only require applicants to submit one letter of recommendation,
but will review up to two.
Toggle Section
Choose a recommender who knows you outside of tests and homework
We get a good idea of your academic performance from your grades. Your recommender
should speak to you as a person and be able to share why you’re special. Try to find
someone who knows who you are, understands what you're interested in outside of academics
and can share your story.
If you are applying to a major that requires a
Creative Supplement
, we strongly encourage you to submit a second, additional letter from someone who
can specifically speak to your creative abilities.
Share new information
We already have your application and know which extracurriculars you’re involved in.
Finding a recommender who can touch on something that makes you unique beyond your
extracurriculars will show just how well rounded you are.
Give your recommender ample time
Springing a sudden deadline on a teacher willing to write you a letter of rec isn't
just rude to them — it'll result in a weaker letter for you. A solid letter of rec
takes more than just a day or two to write. Make sure you give your teachers enough
time by asking them at least a
month in advance
.
Let your recommender know which schools you're interested in
Let your recommender know which schools you're applying to, and explain a little bit
about them.
That way your recommender tailor their writing and
let the school know why you're a perfect fit
for them.
(Hint: At Chapman, we're looking for students who are well rounded, open to exploring
new fields and finding new passions. You don't have to be laser focused here.)
Remind your recommender who you are
Yes, your recommender should
already
know who you are.
But if there are any specific accomplishments of yours that you want them to highlight,
remind them.
If there are any major wins in your life that they were involved with, remind them.
If you wouldn't be where you are today without them, you guessed it: remind them.
As long as you don't go into excruciating, essay-length detail, it doesn't hurt to
jog their memory.
Tell your reminder how to submit your letter
Each school has its own process for submitting letters of rec. Letting your recommender
know what to do when they're done writing yours will help make sure they're crystal
clear on the submission process (and help them actually remember to go through with
it).
Think quality over quantity
Some schools require just one letter of rec but let you submit more if you want (and
we're one of them).
But focusing on getting one really great recommendation is a fine strategy. That way
you can spend more time on the rest of your application.
That said, if you are applying to a major that requires a
Creative Supplement
, we strongly encourage you to submit a second, additional letter from someone who
can specifically speak to your creative abilities.
Don't ask a family member
This one goes without saying, but it's easy to forget: make sure you're not getting
your letter(s) of rec from a relative. We know your family's willing to vouch for
you, and they're almost certainly right. But we (and most other schools) need letters
of rec from outside your family.
How to Write Your College Admission Essay
The Personal Essay is required for first-year applicants. Writing your essay can be
daunting. Here are a few tips that could help you make it stand out.
Read Essay Tips
Got a question for us?
Feel free to
contact us
anytime at
admit@chapman.edu
or (714) 997-6711.
Want to talk to a student?
Use our
Ask a Student feature
to reach out to a student from the same major or with similar interests as you.
Want to talk to your admission counselor?
They would probably be your best bet if you have a question relating to your personal
situation (academic interests, family or financial situation, etc.). You can find
your counselor on our
Meet Your Counselor page
.
Application Review Process explained
Learn more about how we review (and what we look for) in our applications on our Application
Review Process page.
Visit Application Review Process
How To Apply
First-Year Students
Transfer Students
Test Optional
Creative Supplement
Application Review Process
Application Tips
Applicants with Disabilities
FAQs
Missing Items
Contact Admission
Email us:
Email General Admission
Email Transfer Admission
Email International Admission
Call us:
(714) 997-6711
Text us:
(714) 942-5474
Send your documents:
Chapman University
Attn: Office of Admission
One University Drive
Orange, CA 92866
Follow Us on Social Media
Follow us on social media for tips, news and updates about applying to Chapman University:
Admission Instagram
Admission YouTube
Admission Facebook
Chapman TikTok
Take a Self-Guided Tour
Virtually explore Chapman in this student-led tour through our Orange Campus. You'll
be able to visit classrooms, hang-out spots, our residence life area and much more!
Start the Tour
Back to top
Back to top
©