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Dean Price's Tips for Success

Welcome to Chapman! We are so glad that you have chosen to be a part of our community of scholars. As you probably are aware, as a traditional, residential campus, we have many fewer new students start in the spring semester as compared to the fall. As a result, entering Chapman as a new student in the spring certainly has a distinctive feel compared to the fall. In August, we have approximately 2000 new undergraduate students; that means 25% of our undergraduate student body – one out of every four students in class – are new to Chapman. That’s a lot of people in the same new student boat at once! In the spring, that number is closer to 2%. While in the fall you would be one of six new students in a class of 24, it’s very likely you could be the only new student in your spring classes. So, during your first few days on campus it may seem as though the new students from fall have already found their rhythm in the Chapman experience; majors, classes, friends, involvement – it appears they have it all figured out. Of course, in the fall those students in your class were just as clueless as you feel now! However, those 2000 students who were new in the fall are now 2000 experienced students who can provide you with insights and suggestions on how to successfully navigate your first semester at Chapman.

Whether you are part of the new 25% in the fall or the new 2% in the spring, the formula for success doesn’t really change. To have a successful start at Chapman I encourage you just to focus on these three fundamental goals:

1) Clarify your desired academic/career path. This does not mean you need to have your major solidified right away; in fact, about 25% of Chapman freshmen either don’t have a major or say they are likely to change it. The key is to be actively exploring your academic and career objectives. Does your major still feel right after the first one or two semesters? If so, great; if not, you need to be proactive in exploring alternative academic paths.

2) Make satisfactory academic progress. Like all other Chapman students, you probably are accustomed to high academic success and are expecting the same of yourself here. However, the academic demands of Chapman classes likely will be very different from what you experienced in high school or even community college. Be prepared to stay disciplined and work hard.

3) Develop interpersonal connections with your peers. At Chapman, social connections cannot really be separated from academic ones. I say this because many of the peer relationships you develop will be with people with similar academic and career interests; it essentially is the beginning of your networking process. Just as important, studies show that students who develop strong interpersonal connections with their peers perform better academically and are more likely to persist to graduation.

Your goal as a new student in the spring should be to insert yourself into the existing campus rhythm. Chapman has many amazing opportunities in and out of the classroom, and the most successful students are those who don’t wait for their opportunities, but go out and get them. Seek out your orientation leader. Contact campus offices right away (including mine) whenever you have any questions. Perhaps most importantly, make connections with your peers. Introduce yourself to other students in your classes and let them know you are new – I think you will find them to be very welcoming and supportive. Also, start looking early for opportunities to get involved in campus life. While many of these our student clubs and organizations are already in full swing, it is still a great way to meet people and get connected.

Along the way, the key is to be patient and stay positive. Success in each of the three fundamentals above happens on a different timeline for each student. Some students feel great right away about their major but are having trouble making close friends; other students make friends right away, but struggle early in their adjustment to Chapman academics. It is important to just stay confident and keep plugging away, and things will come together for you.

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