1. A tutorial for incoming freshman and transfer applicants
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 s?
All you receive from technical support will be sent from Please be sure to add this 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 Step 1: Getting the Application Step 2: Register
Step 3: APPLY (Chapman Supplemental App)
Step 4: APPLY (Common Application)
Step 5: Payment

7. Step 1: Getting the Application
To obtain the Common Application, please go to 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. For answers to Common Questions, click here
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 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. Type the name of the school here
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:
Applicant Information
Intended Major
Education Information
Family Information
Essays

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. Film Applicants: upload your departmental essays here
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 When you are ready to submit, hit “Submit”
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. If you’d like to view your supplemental, click here.
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. You‘re not finished yet!!!
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. COPA 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
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. Error fields should be highlighted in gold for an easier find
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
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 to

36. Please fill in ALL information requested!
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 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
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
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. If tests have been taken multiple times, click “add test”
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. Application and Supplement should now say “Submitted (date)”
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. **Cannot pay application fee until your application has been submitted
Step 5: Payment
Application Fee: $60
Pay online by credit card or e-check.
Do not mail our office cash, we do not accept cash.
If you send us a check, please pay full $60 amount.
You may choose to request an application fee waiver instead
Once you have paid online you should receive a confirmation from Common App.
Please hold on to that in case there are any questions regarding your 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? How do I know you’ve received my application?
When we upload your application and have processed it in our office, you should receive a letter in the mail shortly after confirming this.
Please be advised that it CAN take 4-6 weeks before you hear from us. We have a lot of applications to process and it may take a little while for you to hear back from us.
What if I want to make sure my application made it before the deadline?
If your application, supplement, and payment all say “Submitted” on the common application website, you are all set! Do not send a hard copy of your application, as that will slow us down!
As long as your submission dates show before the deadline date, you are not considered late.
What additional documents do I need to send to your office?
When you receive a letter in the mail that we’ve processed your application, you will see a list of documents that we are requesting from you.
You will also be receiving a username and password to be able to check your application status online through WebAdvisor.
There is also an application checklist on our website that you may look at. (
WebAdvisor still says my document is missing, but I sent it a week ago!
Remember, it takes roughly 4-6 weeks to process your documents in our busy season. If you’ve sent a document, please allow us that amount of time before calling our office.
Please do not re-send any documents until after 4-6 weeks and you’ve spoken to a representative in our office over the phone.
Remember to label anything you are mailing to our office with your full name and any other identifying information. We have a lot of “Jessica Smith’s” in our system. (Birthday, social security, address, etc.).

50. I still have not received a username and password.
If you have not received anything in the mail after about 4-6 weeks, please call our office and we will send you to our computer help desk where they will issue you your information.
My status on WebAdvisor changed. What does that mean?
When your application has been completed, you should see something that says “application complete. Pending evaluation.” This means that we have received everything from you that we need and we are now reviewing your file.
When it changes to “Pending Decision”, this means your file has now been sent to our counselors for a decision. Keep in mind that you may see this status for a while, as it does take a long time for our counselors to go through the decision making process.
Note: there are times when we may decide we need more information from you. If this happens, you will be notified via the mail.
How do I know if a decision has been made?
On WebAdvisor, when your status changes from “Pending decision” to either “Admission Approved” or “Decision Complete”, that means a decision has been made and you will be receiving notification in the mail shortly after!
Please know that we CANNOT give admission decisions over the phone. You MUST receive that information in the mail.
If you have not received a decision in the mail and your status has been changed for a few weeks, please call our office so we can verify your address.

51. Best of luck!