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This Chapman supplement offers some of the most serious supplemental questions we have ever seen — and some of the silliest. As a religiously-affiliated school, Chapman takes its values seriously, so be prepared to examine your own… right before coming up with your own personal hashtag. To help you keep your ranging responses #onbrand, we made you a guide.
The Requirements: 3 essays of 200 words or less; 1 list of short answers; 3 additional short answers
Supplemental Essay Type(s): Why, Community, Short Answer
This is the first half of a deconstructed why essay, so do your research and divide it into two tidy piles: academics and everything else. This prompt gives you a chance to geek out about your intended major among Chapman’s diverse offerings. Do you and calculus have some unfinished business? Or are you planning to get a jump on your Hollywood career with a major in creative production? Whether your goals are intellectual, professional, or somewhere in between, your reasoning should be grounded in what Chapman has to offer.
200 words isn’t a lot of space, but that doesn’t mean you can’t offer a detailed response. Get ambitious and aim to answer these two key questions: What do you absolutely love about your intended major? Why is Chapman the ideal place for you to study it? As a prospective English major who aims to become the next awesome #Girlboss, how would access to Chapman’s business programs complement your way with words? Think about what excites you about the department at Chapman: professors, classes, guest speakers, alumni. Dig deep to show how Chapman will help you achieve your goals.
If you’re undecided, fear not! Chapman has a separate question for you and an excellent tool to help you narrow down your options based on your interests, so that all you have to do is read up on the departments that pique your curiosity. The overall goal of this essay is the same as the one you’d write if you already had a declared major: it’s a chance to give admissions a deeper understanding of who you are and what makes you tick. It’s also a chance to demonstrate your fit, so do your research before you answer! Do you want to take some literature courses to deepen your understanding of poetry and the history of Renaissance England? Do you see yourself taking advantage of more advanced Spanish classes to help you with a possible career as an immigration lawyer? Various interests aren’t a negative thing! They show that you’re intellectually curious and can see yourself excelling in a couple of fields. One key part to this essay is connecting the dots between the areas that interest you and what you could gain from them–and how testing the waters can make you a more well-rounded person.
Here’s the second half of this why essay duo and we’re sure you’ve seen it before: why here? Now’s the time to turn to your second pile of research and paint a picture of what your life would be like as a Chapman student. In other words, show off your fit! Maybe you grew up in a small town with a tiny high school, and you’ve been dreaming of attending a huge university. Beyond what you would gain, you should also think about what you would contribute. What kind of energy would you bring to such a large school? Maybe your religion has always been an important part of your life and you’ve been looking for a community that fosters spirituality and interfaith communication. Whatever your angle, make sure to tell admissions something new! Don’t re-trace old academic territory that you already covered in your first essay, and be sure to go beyond the basic facts and figures listed on the school website.
Diversity and inclusion are about metaphorically holding the door open for someone else to enter, making room for another seat at the table (spoiler alert: there’s plenty of room), amplifying the voice of someone who may not have otherwise been heard. Reflect on your activities and community and share how you would help instill this sense of community and belonging amongst all of your peers at Chapman. Perhaps you worked hard to ensure your own community was represented before coming to college, or made space for another perspective in your school or hometown. No matter what your past experiences are, this prompt also calls for our most recommended piece of advice: research! Connect your own methods of promoting diversity within communities ith specific examples of events or classes found on Chapman’s website. The more you can relate to their offerings and culture, the more admissions will see that you’ve done your homework and that you’re committed to making Chapman an inclusive campus.
Another community question that calls for more research! Read up on Chapman’s mission statements and learn about what they hope their students will accomplish while on campus. Do a few words or ideas stand out to you? Feel free to quote them in their own words and explore what they mean to you. Once again, it’s important to show that you’ve looked into Chapman’s offerings extensively and that you know what being a Panther is all about, but at the same time you want to go beyond simply parroting back their mission statements. Explain how this university would not only benefit from having you get involved, but how you would engage with what is available to you in your community, and how you would grow from being a part of it.
After forcing you to address so many serious topics earlier in the supplement, Chapman also wants you to have some fun. These quirky short answer questions present a prime opportunity to let your sense of humor shine through, and the random assortment of topics ensure you can reveal many facets of your personality.. If we went through each question individually we’d probably end up writing a zillion times as many words as you’re allowed for these short answer questions. Fortunately, there’s really just one trick for quickie prompts like these: go with your gut. Chances are your first instincts will lead you to the most unique and genuine answers. Since you don’t have to produce much to answer each question, brainstorming is key. Set aside maybe 30 minutes to jot down as many ideas as you can think of for each question. Allow yourself to approach each question from a few different angles: funny, earnest, clever, surprising. The point is not to waste any time agonizing over what you think admissions wants to hear. Trust yourself.
This is your shot at showing admissions where you come from and what it means to you. The prompt only asks for one place, so think about your favorite spots. Is there a deli you go to with your grandma every Sunday for breakfast? Is there an old-fashioned movie theatre that you and your friends go to every month to watch the latest indie films? Maybe you’re a member of a local art museum or there’s a park where you like to birdwatch with your dad. Wherever you end up, take a moment: what do you see? What do you hear? What do you smell? Bring the reader into your place of choice with you. Once you’re “there together,” explain the significance of this place and share why it’s so special to you.
This is a fun one. Another way to think about this is: if you had a podcast, what would it be about? Do you love Renn Faires? Can you argue the merits of DC over Marvel comics? Do you know everything there is to know about growing tomatoes? We all have our moments of “nerding-out,” and this is your chance to proudly wave your flag. Don’t worry about this being too academic–unless you just can’t get enough of that battle of Waterloo, in which case, go for it! This is your time to shine in a way that your resume and application don’t let you. Give admissions a peek into your passions; get off the page and let them know that you are a three-dimensional person who contains multitudes!
One last fun prompt to round out the set: this is a subtle spin on a Community essay, in that it’s asking you what sort of interests and ideas you’re bringing to campus — hopefully, ones that will enrich both the campus culture and the lives of your peers. Consider the facets of your personal identity and ask yourself: If I had a podcast or a talk show, what would it be about? Or what could I teach my new friends about over breakfast in the dining hall? More than likely, you’ll come up with an aspect of your identity that you want to share with the world. Do you already teach a craft at your high school or community center? What would your friends say is your “superpower”? Once you have this solid concept in your mind, it’s time to name it something that’s a total representation of who you are as a whole person. What name would draw the interest of your fellow classmates and convince them to take the class, while at the same still presenting your best and truest self? This is the time to dig deep into what makes you unique, so you can showcase to admissions both your creativity and your passion for learning.
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