How to Write Your Chapman Short Answer Essay Questions 2020-2021

Out of the thousands of universities and colleges, Chapman might be the most beautiful.

But that's only one of many reasons to consider making this your home for the next four years.

You've already done the hard part: three years of hard work, studying, taking the hardest classes you can manage, participating in extracurriculars, and taking standardized tests — all while navigating the strange new world introduced by COVID-19. 

Now, you just need to think of a compelling, original way to tell your story. Two heads are definitely better than one, so feel free to check out my rates and services, and contact me if you'd like to set up an appointment. 

In the meantime, here's how I would approach the first Chapman supplemental essay:

Out of the thousands of universities and colleges, why are you interested in attending Chapman?

Why College? questions are hard. The admissions team will have already posted their top reasons to attend Chapman: 

• Old in History, Modern in Style (great technology)
• Collaboration, Creativity, and Hands-on Learning (dynamic learning)
• World-Class Faculty Who Know You by Name (and do impactful research)
• Size Matters (Small population —> quick innovation)
• A Location of Opportunity (Orange County, California — just south of LA — good for fun and internships; "Silicon Beach")
• Community Feel with International Reach (study abroad opportunities to create global citizens)
• Student Life That Gets You Involved (lots of clubs and groups)
• Scholarship and Financial Aid are Waiting for You
• Research from Day One (undergraduate research opportunities)
• The Chapman Family: A Powerful Network (alumni networks are valuable)

Not to sound jaded, but you'll notice most of these points could be made about any​ top school. 

So how do you write a Why College? essay that makes you stand out? 

The first thing I would do is think about what is special about you, not the college. What is your greatest accomplishment? What is one of your core values? Now connect that to an opportunity at Chapman. 

So if it were me, here's how I would brainstorm if I were my 17-year-old self: 

Things that are special/unique/impressive about me:

• I've spent two summers detasseling corn, which gives me a completely different experience/perspective to bring to Orange County.
• I've spent four years studying Latin and one year studying Greek. I don't know if I want to major in classics, but it's been a huge part of my life.
• I'm late for almost every class — because I'm always staying late having interesting discussions with my teacher from the previous class. 
• For my senior project, I am writing a full-length play; I have already written and directed one full-length play for my school's drama club.
• I loved AP Stats.

With this in mind, I'll do a little Googling to learn just a bit more about how Chapman can benefit me, and then I'll write my first draft: 

Phillips Exeter is infamous for its heavy workload and academic rigor. I’ll admit—though I love History of Mathematics, it hurts when my alarm blares at 7am for Saturday classes. 

But at least Exeter isn’t haunted. 

At Everest Academy—a boarding school much like Exeter—a handsome teenage ghost has been prowling the campus, casting curses, breaking hearts, and committing plagiarism, all in the aim of avenging his murder…

On prom night. 

Welcome to my imagination, where everyday observations morph into one-acts, pep rally skits, and even a full-length play produced by DRAMAT. 

“Why do you spend so much time playwriting?” classmates sometimes ask. “I thought you liked math.”

I’ll never have to answer this question at Chapman. 

Chapman is a serious research university and home of the renowned Dodge College of Film and Media Arts. Its location near Hollywood and strong alumni network connect students with mentors and internships in the world's most competitive industry. 

Even beyond Dodge, Chapman treats the arts with scholarly rigor. As someone on the AP Stats diet (I often miss lunch because I’m chatting with my teacher), I was delighted to learn about Professor Brett Danaher, who uses data analytics to drive entertainment industry success. I’d love to do research with him—or pop into office hours with questions about turning my art into a science.

Life, like drama, teems with plot twists. Perhaps my interests will change. Perhaps the whole world will. But with close faculty relationships and the quick adaptability only possible in a small-school environment, I want Chapman to be the star of my next act.

​

I love this first draft, because even though I'm repeating a lot of easily-Googleable information, I'm doing it in a way that's uniquely me. This is a fun, memorable essay that showcases some of my creativity while demonstrating that I've done my research about Chapman and am applying there for a good reason. 

In my next post, I will cover the next prompts, "Knowing what it means to be a Chapman Panther, how do you see yourself engaging with and growing in our community that continues to strive for diversity, equity and inclusion?" and "Our campus is committed to listening to and learning from our students. With your knowledge of Chapman, what ways would you implement a more welcoming and diverse campus culture through physical spaces, programming, classes, etc.?"

​Don't hesitate to contact me if you want more help on your application!