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  • Students participating in a large group icebreaker, Playfair!
Incoming Undergraduates & Families
First Generation Summer Bridge Program

»First Generation Summer Bridge Program 2025

Application now open!

We are pleased to present the Summer Bridge Program, a pre-semester orientation tailored to support your transition to university life while fostering connections within the first-generation community.

Participants can look forward to the following components:

  • Engaging workshops led by campus support services
  • Valuable insights and advice from current first-generation students
  • Collaborative community-building activities
  • An array of enjoyable experiences!

This event is thoughtfully designed for incoming first-generation college students at Chapman University. It is facilitated by a team of dedicated staff and students who share firsthand experience as first-generation college graduates. At Chapman, we define a first-generation college student as someone whose parent(s) or legal guardian(s) have not attained a four-year college or university degree.

Headshot of Jason
Jason Wu Chen ‘27
Creative Production major
"The Summer Bridge program allowed me to ease into college without the stress and worries of falling behind everyone else. I was able to familiarize myself with different departments and use resources like the Financial Aid Office’s Financial Wellness Program that offered me 1 on 1 financial wellness coaching.”
 
Cintya Felix ‘25
Double-major in Political Science and Spanish
"Being the first to go to college in your family is challenging, but the Summer Bridge program gave me the tools and confidence to begin my journey at Chapman. It introduced me to my first friends, an on-campus job, and more. I look back at my time here and thank this program for being the highlight of my college experience.”
 

Program Details 

  • Dates: Friday, August 15 to Sunday, August 17, 2025 
    • We are particularly excited to highlight that Saturday, August 16, will be Family Day, welcoming families to join the festivities.
  • Location: Chapman’s beautiful campus in Orange, California

This program is available for all undergraduate first-generation students entering Chapman in Fall 2025 and Spring 2026. You can apply here. We look forward to welcoming you!

 

Summer Bridge Questions