A tutorial for incoming freshman and transfer applicants

1. Spring/Fall 2010 A tutorial for incoming freshman and transfer applicants

2. Introduction • What is The Common Application? • The Common Application is a not-for-profit organization that serves students and • member institutions by providing an admission application online that students may submit • to any of the 391 members. • Why use it? • Once completed online, copies of the Application for Undergraduate Admission can be sent • to any number of participating colleges. The same is true of the School Report, Midyear • Report, Final Report and Teacher Evaluation forms. This allows you to spend less time on • the busywork of applying for admission, and more time on what’s really important: college • research, visits, essay writing, and senior year coursework. • Chapman University became a member of The Common Application in 2008. • We have been able to provide applicants with the ability to upload required documents to • their applications via The Common Application. • We had a record breaking amount of undergraduate applications our first year using The • Common App (over 7,000). Thank you for expressing interest in Chapman University! We look forward to reviewing your application and hope to make the 2010 year the best yet. Please use this tutorial to assist you in filling out your application. Best of luck to you!

3. Before you begin: • Please allow yourself ample time to fill out The Common Application. • Recommendation: If possible, have one or both parents sit with you while filling out the “Family” • section of the application. This has helped previous applicants and may save you time in filling out your • application. • You will be allowed to save your progress and continue filling out the application at a later time, if need be, but it is important to realize that the entire process will be a lengthy one. • Be sure to read ALL instructions given. • There is a lot of important information given throughout the online application so it is highly • recommended that you read everything- trust us, it will save you time in the long run! • Be as thorough as possible! • It may seem tedious in filling out the information, but it will save you more time in the end if you have • provided the most amount of accurate information as possible. The more information you give us, the • better!

4. Setting up your computer for The Common Application • *What browser should I use? • Make sure you are using one of the following recommended free browsers: • Windows: Explorer 6 and above or Firefox 2 and above • Macintosh: Safari 3 or Firefox 2 and above • Linux: Firefox 2 and above • Chrome, Opera, Netscape, and AOL browsers are NOT supported under any operating system. • For the online application to function properly, you should also: • Disable all Pop-Up Blockers • Ensure that your browser has JavaScript activated and Cookies enabled. *How Can I prevent my SPAM filter from blocking Common App emails? All email you receive from technical support will be sent from application_help@commonapp.net. Please be sure to add this email address to your address book and/or safe list to prevent the messages from being blocked as “SPAM”. This is particularly important for AOL users. Technical Questions: Common application has provided applicants with a Support Center for any technical issues you may be experiencing. You will be able to access this Support Center on their website.

5. Admission Deadlines Please submit your application online. If you are experiencing technical problems and cannot submit your application online, please call the admissions office and we will try to assist you in any way. We do allow applications by mail on a case by case basis. Note: Please either submit the application, supplement, and payment (or waiver) online, or submit them all by mail. Do not mix and match your application, supplement and payment between paper submission and online submission.

6. Outline

7. Step 1: Getting the Application To obtain the Common Application, please go to http://www.commonapp.org/ Or If you are currently on the Chapman University Website, please click on the “Admissions” tab Recommended: Visit our website first for important admission requirements

8. For instructions on the application process and continuing to the Common Application website, click on “Apply Now” To familiarize yourself with Chapman Admission information and facts, click on “Undergraduate Students” (international students should click on “International Students”).

9. Click on “Common Application Instructions” for our application checklist and other important information For a complete list of required documents, see our Application Checklist

10. When you are ready to leave the Chapman Website and apply with Common App, click on “Common Application website” Please review and print this checklist before going to the Common Application website

11. Step 2: Register

12. Applicants must first register before applying to Common App to receive a Username & Password For answers to Common Questions, click here

13. Note: Required fields are marked with a gold bullet point and bold print text Be sure to provide a valid email address!

14. Note: Store your new Username and Password in a safe place! You will use this information anytime you need to access The Common Application. If you lose this information or forget your password, you will have to contact Common App’s Support Center.

15. Once Registration is complete you are now ready to apply! • You MUST fill out the “My Colleges” section in order to start the application!!

16. To enter the school, click search Type the name of the school here Chapman University Or Search by state

17. Search Results Check the box first to continue to the next step… • To apply to the school • To save a search • To see a map of school’s location • To compare at least two different schools

18. Colleges applying to : Note: You must fill out and submit the Chapman Supplemental Application before you can submit the main Common Application portion! To Skip to the Chapman Supplemental Application, click on “Supplements”

19. Step 3. Apply- Chapman Supplemental Click Continue to start the Chapman Supplemental Application

20. 5 Categories in the Chapman Supplemental Application:

21. Applicant Information Note: Required fields are marked with a gold bullet point and bold print text Optional, unless applying for financial aid If “yes”, you must answer “when” International students only Required for transfer students

22. If you mark “other”, you must specify If you mark “Yes”, you must answer “where/when/who” Must use this format for date

23. Intended Major • The Application will be processed using the first major listed- please indicate a 2nd and 3rd option Students must click here to download the department application if indicated by * next to the major Once you fill out and save your department application to your computer, upload it here (Departmental App Only- No essays!) Film Applicants: upload your departmental essays here (please save all essays/resume as one word document. You will only be able to upload one document!)

24. Education Information: Optional Only If you choose to respond, please save your document to your computer, then upload here. Please label your word document “Education Information” for our convenience.

25. Family Information Please fill in as much information as possible.

26. Essays Optional BEFORE submitting, please save your work! When you are ready to submit, hit “Submit”

27. When you hit “Submit” and have not completed the entire supplemental application, you will get an Error Page with a list of your errors: The specific errors will be highlighted in yellow on the application for a quicker find. Make sure to correct each error before saving and submitting again.

28. When your Chapman Supplemental Application has been submitted successfully, you will see the Supplement line change from “Not Submitted” to “Submitted (date)” If you’d like to view your supplemental, click here. Note: You cannot change any information on the supplemental after submission.

29. WAIT! You‘re not finished yet!!! You have now submitted the Chapman Supplemental App, but must now go back and complete the main portion of the Common Application in order for your application to be complete.

30. Dodge College of Film and Media Arts • Film • Creative Producing • Digital Arts • Film Production • Film Studies • Public Relations and Advertising • Screenwriting • Television and Broadcast Journalism COPA • COPA stands for College Of Performing Arts • Majors included in the COPA are: • Dance • Theatre • Music • Music-Composition • Music Education-Instrumental • Music Education-Vocal • Music Performance-Conducting • Music Performance-Instrumental • Music Performance-Keyboard Collaborative Arts • Music Performance-Vocal • Art • Art History • Graphic Design • Studio Art Your application must be complete in order for it to be processed in the admissions office!

31. Step 4: Apply- The Common Application We recommend reading the instructions before filling out the application. When you are ready to start your application, click on “Future Plans” to begin

32. (You should have already done this) If yes, you will be asked to upload the athletic supplement Will you be applying as an “undecided” major? If Yes, then check “NO” Click link to look up occupation

33. Please use GENERAL words to look for your occupation (i.e. type “education” for a list of specific occupations related to this field) If you cannot find the occupation you are looking for, please type in your occupation manually in the “Other” line. To Continue on to the next section, hit “Save & Next”

34. If Error(s) Occur… Error message will appear with a box indicating the specific errors Error fields should be highlighted in gold for an easier find You will not be able to submit either application if there are any errors Remember to correct errors and hit “Save and Continue”

35. Technical Problems? Click on the “Help” link to be taken to the support site. Tech Support is available 24 hours a day, 7 days a week from Sept-March. *90-95% of applicants find answers on the support site and don’t go on to submit a ticket! • *You can reach tech support from the main www.commonapp.org • page by clicking “Contact Us” and then “Applicant Help” • *For students that are unable to contact common app through the Common App Online interface, the tech-support desk can also be reached by sending an email to applicant_help@commonapp.org

36. Use specified format for dates Please fill in ALL information requested! Use specified format for phone number Be sure your address and dates are as accurate as possible, as this is important for our office to be able to send important information regarding admission! Please email fileprep@chapman.edu if you need to make any changes to your address after submission of your application.

37. International students only

38. Please fill in as much information as possible on the Family section! NOTE: • If parent does not work, you must choose “unemployed” option (use look-up link to choose this) • If parent did not go to college and/or graduate school, you must mark “not found” for school and “none” for degree received. If applicable, please fill in all information!

39. To look up your school’s CEEB code, hit the “look-up” link. If your school is not listed, please choose “not found” and manually enter the name of your school along with the information requested. High School or college (transfer student) you are currently attending or last attended. Different formats, please use the one specified Note: The counselor listed here will be the one Common App invites to fill out a school form. Please provide valid counselor information. Remember: It is required to list ALL schools you’ve attended on your college application. If you do not list a school that you’ve attended or are currently attending on your app, your file will be held up.

40. This section is located in the “Writing” portion of the common app. You will be able to upload your document there, if applicable. Again, list ALL schools you’ve attended (even if you only took one class). If you do not list all schools attended or currently attending on your app, your file will be held up. If you cannot find your school, please choose “not found” (CEEB) and manually enter your school’s information

41. Chapman requires either the ACT or the SAT1 (you may take both if desired). International students must also take the TOEFL. • Fill in all that apply If tests have been taken multiple times, click “add test” When your scores are available, please request a copy from College Board to be sent to Chapman. Scores must be official for your file to be complete. You MUST have them sent by College Board or from your school (must be official). International students only

42. Please fill in all that apply.

43. Short answer only. You only have 150 words maximum Please label your word document “Additional Information” You may either upload a separate word document, OR write a response in this box. You cannot do both.

44. You may print your application for your records, but please DO NOT mail us your printed application. When you submit your app electronically, we will notify you via mail that we have received and processed it. Do not send your paper app as a “back up”. Use specified format for date Type your full name You’re almost done!!!

45. When you hit SUBMIT, if you do not receive any errors that need correction, you will have submitted the application successfully and you should now see this: Application and Supplement should now say “Submitted (date)” Now you must go to the PAYMENT portion of the Common Application.

46. Step 5: Payment • **Cannot pay application fee until your application has been submitted When payment goes through, you should see this:

47. To be filled out by the counselor and instructor you’ve invited through Common App. HS students use Secondary School Report and Transfers use College Official’s Report (both use Instructor evaluation) Please instruct your counselor/teacher when filling out the school form(s) to use correct spelling and usage of your name and provide any other information that identifies you. This will help our department in connecting these forms to your file. (i.e.. birthday, social security number, address, etc.)

48. Guess what… You’re DONE!

49. Now what?