Chapman Fall 2011

[notroberttowne]

All right, so here's the thing. If you're not from New York City of Southern California, you're going to be shocked at the cost of rent.

If you want to live alone, $1000 is probably about what to expect for rent for a month. Sharing a 2 or 3 bedroom place you can get down to $600 per person or so.

If you want to live near campus, a lot of people go with La Veta Grand, but it's a loud and sort of ridiculous complex. I live on Maple, and there are a few small, quiet complexes here, but easy walk to classes. In Orange, there are some other places that are cheaper, but you'll be driving.

Santa Ana is cheaper still, but is one of the most densely populated places in the country and is sort of unpleasant.

Fullerton is a little bit of a haul, but is cheaper and has a lot of students from Cal State Fullerton. If you want quiet, though, probably go near campus.

Some people live in Irvine or Tustin, too, but not many.

And after the first two years, a lot of people move into LA, which costs about the same. The commute is a bit of a *****, though, so I'm not sure I'd start there.

 

[UCFfilmgirl]

I was just called by Alex Rose, and I am now officially accepted into Chapman's Producing Program!!! I am absolutely ecstatic and so honored Are there any other producers who have been accepted so far? If so, please let me know, I would love to get to know you, or even any discipline at all! I cannot wait to start making my life-long connections now, this is what I have been waiting so long for.

A question I have is about fellowships-- whether you are a current/alumni of Chapman or an applicant, does anyone know typically how much those admitted receive for a fellowship? Is this information in the official acceptance letter I will receive? I am just slightly confused about how I go about finding out whether or not/how much money I would receive for a fellowship.

Thanks so much! Best of luck to all who are still waiting.

 

[Mike_V]

Currently I live in the Garden Grove area which is next to The Block (outlet mall). the pricing is around 1008-1050 afaik so try that out too.
I was in this place called City Plaza Apartments and it's pretty nice. the only stipulation is that a 1 bedroom can only get 1 parking spot, so you'll have to be living alone or if you decide to room w someone else, you'll have to either carpool or take turns parking on the street.

 

[solojones]

On the subject of taking classes outside your emphasis.... yes it is possible. And in the summer there's a class where anyone can fill any role on a short film (although you don't get a budget and shoot digital). Frankly as a conservatory it's still not really possible to fill key creative positions outside your emphasis on the major projects (cycles or thesis). But you are welcome to take the classes, as someone else said. Personally as a director I've taken a lot of classes in writing and television.

Places to live... Maybe I'm just weird but I never, ever wanted to live down near old towne. It's filled with college kids and is loud and there's nowhere to park. Personally I live in Orange but up in the foothills. I split a 2bed/2.5 bath townhome style condo with another student for $775/mo each. Personally it's worth it. We live in a safe, quiet suburban neighborhood with a big pool, hot tub, and our own in-home washer/drier. So there are areas even for weird people like me who'd much rather have peace and quiet to write than people around to party with. Nerd.

 

[Gordino]

Congrats UCFfilmgirl!

I got an e-mail from Mrs. Diosomito yesterday saying that they still haven't made many decisions yet so looks like you're ahead of the pack! She said she's going to ask Alex Rose to see what sort of time line they're looking at for sending out more decisions. Since you've gotten word I hope that means the rest will be close behind.

 

[wyy123]

Congrats UCFfilmgirl,

I'm currently a first year in the producing program and I think I might be able to answer some of the producing questions you have, if any.

Concerning fellowships, the max is 10K a year, but it can vary for different students. For my fellowship, I just talked to Alex and simply asked if I could get one (probably a little less blunt than that), but that's really all it takes.

Let me know if you have any more questions and congratulations again.

 

[rob0683]

Congrats UCF Film Girl! I flew out and met with Barbara Doyle this week and briefly met with Alex Rose. I hope to hear some good news soon!

 

[FilmSchoolDad]

Originally posted by wyy123:
Congrats UCFfilmgirl,

I'm currently a first year in the producing program and I think I might be able to answer some of the producing questions you have, if any.

Concerning fellowships, the max is 10K a year, but it can vary for different students. For my fellowship, I just talked to Alex and simply asked if I could get one (probably a little less blunt than that), but that's really all it takes.

Let me know if you have any more questions and congratulations again.

Hi wyy123,
Could you (or any other current MFA student) tell me more about how much financial aid a graduate student would be entitled to receive from Chapman to not only pay for tuition, but also, other living expenses (e.g., housing, food, transportation, etc.). Assuming the FAFSA form has already been submitted for the 2011-12 school year in the beginning of February, and it shows that the student does not have any assets or income from working, what is the most that that student could expect from financial aid? Does anyone know more about any of that?

Also, does anyone have any comments or opinions about housing in the area, such as Gateway Apartment Homes in Orange, or Towne Centre at Orange Apartments, The Terrace Apartments in Orange, Fairway Park Apartments, Windsor at Main Place Apartments, Renaissance at Uptown Orange Apartments, Palm Tree Gardens, Villa Pointe,, Orange Creek Apartments? Also, how about housing in Tustin or Irvine? I know many of these could be pricey, but does anyone have any good or bad comments about any of these? Also, does Chapman offer student loans that will cover these apartments, do they have a budget limit, or does a student have to 'negotiate' with financial aid if they want to rent in a nicer place?

 

[Mike_V]

I can't answer your first half about financial aid, but as for the apartment living, I would suggest rent.com or somesuch site.
I personally am at Orange Grove Apartment and I was previously at City Plaza Apartments. Both are pretty nice and the rent is not bad for where it is. (right next to the outlet)

 

[FilmSchoolDad]

Thanks, Mike_V. What is considered to be a "reasonable" rent for a nice place in the area for a one bedroom apartment or a two-bedroom apartment with a roommate? Does the rent include utilities? If not, what should that cost in addition to the rent? Does Chapman help new students to find roommates? If so, how? Thanks, again.

 

[Mike_V]

Chapman only offers a list of places you can rent at but they are not responsible for anything in particular.
The odd thing in orange county is that most apartments do not come with a microwave and a fridge so you'll have to get your own. It's wierd as hell, but i guess that's how it works in OC.
Rent usually includes water and trash but you pay for electricity. there are some "deposits" you might have to pay like gate clicker, pet deposit, etc. but nothing outrageous.
for me I'm in a 1bd apartment and it costs about a little over 1k a month. this is in general, but you can room w another student or 2 to lower the cost.

 

[super8isgreat]

FYI: I have a friend who was accepted into the prod design program about 3-4 weeks ago. She didn't have to do an interview or anything...just received the acceptance letter.

Just thought I'd pass that along. I haven't heard anything regarding my cinematography app. Fingers crossed!

 

[Mike_V]

alot of people who apply to chapman will most often not get an interview. When I got in as an editor, i never got an interview, just a letter saying that I am accepted to Chapman.

 

[KrisKelvin]

I was accepted to Chapman for screenwriting today via letter from Alexandra Rose. I did apply for the priority deadline, though, so that might explain why I seem to have heard before a lot of other people.

 

[super8isgreat]

Originally posted by KrisKelvin:
I was accepted to Chapman for screenwriting today via letter from Alexandra Rose. I did apply for the priority deadline, though, so that might explain why I seem to have heard before a lot of other people.

Congrats! I also applied for the priority deadline, but still no word. I'm curious...does anyone [who's currently enrolled] know how many people from each field are usually accepted?

 

[birdude]

Originally posted by KrisKelvin:
I was accepted to Chapman for screenwriting today via letter from Alexandra Rose. I did apply for the priority deadline, though, so that might explain why I seem to have heard before a lot of other people.

Congratulations, KrisKelvin!

And thanks, solojones and notroberttowne, for answering my question about dabbling in classes outside our emphasis. I'm still waiting to hear, for cinematography.

This may have already been answered, but do we find out if we got accepted through e-mail, letter or WebAdvisor?

 

[Hokie08]

Congrats on your acceptance, KrisKelvin! Has your status on WebAdvisor changed as well?

 

[wyy123]

FilmSchoolDad,

Besides the fellowship that you get from the school, which again varies but has a max of $10,000, federal loans are the source for most students to pay for tuition, living expenses, etc. It's basically the same for most grad schools. The one thing about Chapman is that we do get more money for our projects I've heard, especially for the thesis where we get $10,000.

I can't be sure of the exact number you can expect from financial aid, but it should cover everything completely (tuition, living, etc) if that's how you listed everything on the FAFSA.

Now as for housing, I live at Villa Pointe, it's a little older but it's fine. Most places are pretty well priced for California, under 700, with at least a few utilities. I think it really comes down to two things when making the decision: price and how close to school. Either you want one more than the other or you can find a decent place to live that takes care of both.

In terms of roommates, we started a facebook group last year and started figuring things out through that page.

 

[FilmSchoolDad]

THANK YOU WYY123! Especially for the advice about finding a roommate by joining a Chapman accepted students facebook page, and also for giving me more info about the fellowship grants and financial aid.

Were you one of the fortunate students to receive a fellowship? If so, is this something Alexandra Rose solely decides on? Did you just ask for it, and what did you say to her when you asked? Did you need to "sell" your financial needs in order to get the fellowship, or was it not that complicated?

 

[wyy123]

Once I was accepted, I e-mailed Alex first asking if there were any fellowships that may be available for me. I honestly can't remember if she called me back or I called her office first, but either way, she and I spoke on the phone the following week and I received a fellowship, but it wasn't just because I asked, there was some reasoning behind it, but that's all their decision of course.