#studentblogs

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How I did it: Got into Law School

Summer Khatib ‘20 Philosophy and Sociology Double Major

When I started college, I already had plans to go to law school. I chose to double major in Philosophy and Sociology at Chapman because those disciplines pushed me to develop the analytical and critical thinking skills I’ll need as a lawyer. That foundation helped me prepare for the LSAT and get into law school at USC. 

Here are my tips to help you become a strong law school applicant.

1. Do an internship. While in school, I had a long-time internship at a law firm where I gained crucial first-hand experience. I started out doing clerical work there but eventually became a legal research assistant and got to observe lawyers in court. I also did a summer internship with the Santa Clara County Clerk, which is when I found my passion for working in the nonprofit sector. That’s what I hope to focus on as a lawyer.

2. Utilize your community. I joined Kappa Alpha Pi, the co-ed pre-law fraternity at Chapman, and it was both inspiring and helpful to be around people that were pursuing similar goals. Members encouraged me to apply early because scholarships typically go out to early decision applicants. We also spent a lot of time together studying for the LSAT.

3. Start studying—early. I began studying for the LSAT several months in advance, but if I could go back, I would start even earlier. There are so many components and sections to the test that are best to break down and approach in small doses.

4. Show who you are in your application. The LSAT is obviously a big factor in how schools make decisions, but I also dedicated a lot of time and effort to the letter and essay portions of my application. I asked my friends and peers for feedback to make sure the writing captured who I am, and those elements helped my application stand out. 

5. Work with an advisor. I can’t emphasize enough how much my pre-law advisor helped me throughout this process. She not only helped me navigate the application and study for the LSAT, but also gave me a mock interview when I was selected as a candidate at USC. That practice interview gave me the confidence I needed to do well with the panel.

For students looking to attend law school, Chapman offers a Pre-Law track. You can find additional guidance and resources for pre-law students on our Pre-Law webpage.

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5 Tips for Getting an Internship

Ashley Wood ’20, Computer Science Major 

Internships can help you begin your career, and there are lots of great opportunities. To find the right one, you should talk to people and explore all your options.

In the summer after my junior year, I did an internship with Rhapsody International, which provides music streaming services. While there, I built a music player that shows users what they can do with the company’s software development kit (SDK). I knew how to highlight different SDK processes and capabilities from my Data Communications class at Chapman, so it was cool to put that skillset to use in a real-world scenario.

Here are my tips for getting an internship while in college:

1. Reach out. Feel free to ask people if they’ve heard of any openings or if they’ve gone through an internship themselves. You might be surprised what you can gain from a quick conversation. Also, Chapman will give you personalized support and career guidance for your specific major and degree.

2. Use Handshake to polish your resume. Through Handshake, Chapman’s career portal, you can get feedback to make your resume (even) better. They pointed out things I wouldn’t have caught myself and gave me suggestions on what to include and what to cut. My resume was more professional afterward.

3. Ask your professors. A lot of Chapman faculty have held high-level jobs, so they can tell you how to make yourself stand out. Erik Linstead and Rene German were both forthcoming about what computer science jobs are like, what I should do to appear more professional and what to expect going in. It gave me a head start.

4. Stay persistent. Don’t be shocked if you get turned down, because it will happen. Remember, it’s not personal, and might even mean that it wasn’t a good fit to begin with. Use each application as an opportunity to fine tune your resume and cover letter. 

5. Apply to a range of companies. Everyone wants to get internships at the big name places like Disney and Pixar, but there are companies you’ve never heard of doing interesting things. Do some research on the companies you apply to and keep an open mind about where you want to go. The more options you have to look at, the better chance you’ll have of landing something cool. 

About 80% of Chapman students complete at least 1 internship while here; about half complete 2 or more. Visit our Career and Professional Development website for more information about career support services.

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Major Opportunities: Livi Dom ’20, Television Writing and Production Major with a Minor in Documentary Film

At Chapman, we talk a lot about how you can personalize your education. What does that look like? Major Opportunities will show you how it’s done.

“Chapman has given me the chance to see what goes into every step of content creation and show development.”

I wanted to learn about the overall process of creating a show rather than just focusing on one area. That way, I’d have multiple paths to pursue in the TV industry. From writing and editing all the way to directing and producing, the Television Writing and Production Major has given me the chance to see what goes into every step of content creation and show development. Here are some ways I’ve used my time at Chapman to diversify my skills and become a passionate jack-of-all-trades.

Pursuing my passion for production. If you want to be on film sets, there are plenty of opportunities to help out on the multitude of student productions here. I’ve written, directed, edited and otherwise contributed to tons of exciting projects, meeting like-minded and dedicated future film professionals along the way. I’ve also turned my love for being on film sets into a student career, working as a Soundstage Assistant for Dodge College. I work every day with industry standard lighting and grip equipment, and the experience has been endlessly helpful. 

Exploring new interests (and countries). When I studied abroad in Prague, I got the opportunity to take a Documentary Photography course with renowned photographer Bjorn Steinz. I pursued a passion for nature photography, and when I returned to Chapman I got to exhibit my pieces in the Leatherby Libraries! In Prague, I also did an internship with Anglo-American University’s student magazine, which motivated me to minor in documentary film at Chapman. Adding this onto my degree means I get to work in narrative and documentary fields, strengthening my knowledge of the industry. 

Diving into the industry at Disney. This summer, I interned with the photography department of Walt Disney Television. I pushed myself out of my comfort zone and shadowed producers, photo coordinators and retouchers, learning as much as I could about professional photo production. The hours were long, but I got to work on some incredible photoshoots: the Season 16 shoot for Grey’s Anatomy, the final season shoot for Modern Family, a shoot for the TCA Summer Press Tour and then one at the amazing D23 Expo. I couldn’t be more grateful for my time with the Disney team! 

You can learn more about our B.F.A. in television writing and production on our webpage.

[chapmanadmission]

Making the Most of Panther for a Day

Sarah Gindy ‘22, Screenwriting Major

When I attended Panther for a Day, I was deciding between Chapman and another school. My experience highlighted a real sense of community on campus and convinced me that Chapman had everything I was looking for in a school. Here are my tips so you can have an awesome Panther for a Day experience. 

Ask (lots of) questions. I got a feel for what Chapman is like from asking tour guides, students and professors questions, so don’t be shy. Everyone on campus wants to help you make an informed decision about where you’ll go to college, and you might be surprised by how much you can learn about Chapman from a few quick conversations.

Sit in on a class. My idea of what college would be like changed after I sat in on a Screenwriting class. I expected to see a big lecture hall with tons of students, but the class was small, and the professor knew everyone and was invested in what they were working on.

Take a step back and soak it in. I took some time for myself to just sit in Attallah Piazza (outside Starbucks) and soak in the vibes of the campus. Students knew each other by name, and people were excited to see each other, so the community seemed very tight-knit. People had told me about that element of Chapman, but it was cool to see it for myself. 

Go on a guided tour with your family. Since the Panther for a Day experience is for students, it was helpful to see the campus with my family on an Admitted Student Tour. My parents thought of questions I wouldn’t have asked myself, and seeing campus both on my own and with them gave me a well-rounded impression of what Chapman would be like.

You can register for Panther for a Day and other opportunities for admitted students on our webpage.

[chapmanadmission]

4 Tips for First-Gen Students

Alejandro De Anda ’20, Screen Acting Major with Minor in Entrepreneurship

I wanted to go to a school where I would find a community I can rely on to give me advice and guidance. I’ve made great connections and friends at Chapman, and I always see someone I know when I walk across campus. Here are my tips to help first-generation students make school feel like home:

1. Make connections at the beginning. If you can, attend Chapman’s Summer Bridge Program. It’s held the week before the fall semester, and I got to meet other first-gen students and learn about resources for incoming students. I stayed in contact with people from the program, and we do our best to help each other. It was awesome to get that community right away.

2. Ask “dumb” questions. Some of the best advice I got was straightforward. People in Summer Bridge told me about going to professors’ office hours and keeping an eye on your school email. No one will get mad at you for asking a “dumb” question about stuff like that. If you don’t ask, you might miss out on something that can really help.

3. Put yourself out there. I know it’s intimidating to put yourself in new social situations, but in study groups and clubs, lots of people are meeting each other for the first time. Becoming part of study groups has helped me develop solid habits and succeed in my general education courses. Chapman’s other clubs and organizations also helped me expand my community at school.

4. Reach out to the Promising Futures staff. Current first-gen students work for Promising Futures and can answer questions and give advice. They’ll help you with anything related to college, from questions about signing up for classes to where to get coffee. (There’s a Starbucks next to Attallah Piazza.)

Visit our webpage to learn more about resources for new and current first-gen students. You can also email us with any questions about first-gen resources at [email protected]. 

[chapmanadmission]

Rachel Ross ’21, Computer Science Major with Minor in Music Technology

At Chapman, we talk a lot about how you can personalize your education. What does that look like? Major Opportunities will show you how it’s done.

“I’ve used my time at Chapman to start making the world a safer place—online, at least.”

In high school, I realized I wanted to focus on science and math, but I didn’t want to choose between the two. Computer science has been perfect because it combines the subjects. I’m also motivated to help people, which is why I’ve focused on protecting them from cyber criminals. Here’s how I’ve used my time at Chapman to start making the world a safer place—online, at least.

Learning to defend by learning to hack. In my Intro to Cyber Security class, our professor Rene German set up environments where we learned how to hack and, from there, build defenses against hacks. (We only use our powers for good, of course.) If you’re going to defend a system against hackers, you should learn that system’s weaknesses.

Protecting people from cyber threats. I got to be part of Chapman’s Grand Challenges Initiative, which puts students into small teams to tackle huge challenges. Our challenge is securing all internet-based communication at Chapman. Working toward that, we completed vulnerability scans of Chapman sites and applications and also conducted a Cyber Self-Defense Workshop for incoming students and parents. To provide more support, we launched the Cyber Smart Panthers website and created a series of public service videos, covering everything from spotting scams to protecting social media accounts. 

Cyber security experience in the real world. This year I got an internship doing incident response with Los Angeles’s Information Technology Agency. They send phishing tests to all city employees. It was cool to assist in that process. Part of my job involved researching cyber attacks happening in the world, which put everything I’m learning in a tangible context.  

Putting music and science together. With my music technology minor, I’m combining my passion for jazz and playing the flute with science and math. I’ve studied how certain frequencies affect audiences and how to best capture sounds during the recording process. My background set me up to easily grasp the physics side. It’s also helped me understand different recording programs, which I use to capture (and sometimes tweak) my own flute performances. I’m excited to see how far my recording skills and music will go.

Learn more about the B.S. in computer science program on our Fowler School of Engineering website.

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Jenny Gritton ’19, Environmental Science and Policy Major with Psychology and University Honors Minors

At Chapman, we talk a lot about how you can personalize your education. What does that look like? Major Opportunities will show you how it’s done.  

“I want the scientific background to figure out real-world problems.” 

As demand increases for environmental professionals, I think it’s important to know the theoretical science behind climate change as well as the psychology of communicating such issues—and then to transform that knowledge into solutions. I’m driven to make an impact through urban planning and sustainable design, and I’ve been able to leverage my experience in the environmental science and policy program to get a head start. Here are some ways I’ve done it.

Turning class work into real-world research. In a class on geographic information systems (GIS), I created a project examining bikeability in Orange County. My professor, Dr. Georgiana Bostean, was fascinated with the project, and asked if I’d be interested in collaborating with her on pushing my research further for eventual publication in a scientific journal. We’ve since included a sociodemographic component to give us insight on how sociological factors may affect cycling behavior. We’re hoping to have it published by the end of this year.

Sustainability on the other side of the world. The summer before my senior year, I interned full-time with the New Zealand Green Building Council. I’m super interested in sustainable infrastructure and was thrilled to get the chance to learn more about solutions utilized in a country more environmentally-conscious than ours. I evaluated a lot of floor plans and site descriptions to assess whether buildings qualified for a sustainability certification, and even became a Green Star Accredited Professional (the New Zealand equivalent to being LEED Green Associate certified).

My team in New Zealand

From Graduation to the Garden. After graduation I’m joining the Denver Botanic Gardens as a full-time garden assistant and plant records curation and mapping paid intern. The position qualifications required proficiency with AutoCAD design software, which I didn’t have, but because of my work at the NZ Green Building Council and my experience with the GIS software Dr. Bostean taught me, they decided I had the experience needed for the internship. I can’t wait to literally get my hands dirty!

Learn more about the program, and even more opportunities, on our B.S. in environmental science and policy webpage.

[chapmanadmission]

You’re Coming to Chapman: What’s Next?

It’s awesome that you’re coming to Chapman. We hope you’re excited and can’t wait to get started. Here are some next steps (and a bit of advice) to take after you’ve deposited. 

Hurry up and relax! There will be things for you to take care of before entering college, but after you commit to a school you should take a moment to enjoy your accomplishment. It’s kind of a big deal. Now might be a good time to watch a movie or crack open that book you put down to work on your application.

But also finish strong. The world’s leading neuroscientists have proven that senioritis is indeed a thing. Just remember that all admission decisions are dependent on your continued academic performance. You’ve gotten this far. Put sprinkles on the cupcake.

Check your PantherMail. You’ll be getting emails to your PantherMail account about important steps before starting at Chapman: housing, advising, health forms, registration, orientation, etc. Get in the habit of checking that inbox. You might also want to forward emails from that account to your personal email so you don’t miss anything. You can track requirements on our admitted student checklist page as well.

Start looking for opportunities. It’s not too early: You can definitely reach out to faculty with questions or to express interest about joining research projects. You could also reach out to student clubs about joining. Check out our clubs finder to see what’s out there.

Visit our first-year student checklist for more guidance on getting ready for your first year with us.