<p>Hi, I just joined College Confidential in a very concerned manner. Our daughter has expressed to us that her number 1 college pick is Pepperdine. My wife and I are so concerned because of it being so far away. We live in New Jersey so we're not familiar with the west coast at all. So, if anyone could please let me know if you know anything about the students at this school, its academia, experiences, etc. I'm sorry I would've posted this in the Pepperdine section but it is pretty dormant and I thought I could reach a broader audience here. I also apologize for how messy this post is. If you need any more information, please let us know. </p>
<p>Note:
We're aware of price, admissions, etc. We're just more concerned about student life/academics. </p>
<p>I drove through the campus last summer. It is very pretty, overlooking the ocean, but extremely hilly. So unless your daughter does not mind walking hills all day, she would enjoy the atmosphere. It is across the highway from the beach and up very high in the hills. The students looked very clean cut and it felt somewhat removed from L.A. If my daughter chose to go there, I would not be at all worried about her safety from what I could see. Don't know a whole lot about student life, academics though.</p>
<p>Gorgeous campus. On the beach at Malibu. Religious - I believe Christian, though I know of a student who was not very studious, was admitted because of a reference by the Dalai Lama, and after graduating did a a truman or fulbright on meditation in Nepal, living in an Abbey. A religious class is required daily. Students are conservative, dress is formal. A Division One Athletic school. Kids and I didn't like the overall vibes.</p>
<p>Our youngest looked at Pepperdine.
The campus is isolated; not much within walking distance except the beach.
It seemed very conservative; daily chapel required as well as 3 required religion courses (2 are specified, one of student's choice).
The views are wonderful, but H and I thought the campus proper was made of concrete.
The visit turned our D's opinion around; she didn't even apply.</p>
<p>My D attended a conference at Pepperdine so we spent the day there. We live in SoCal, so we know the area. Yes, the location is beautiful, set in the hills of Malibu with gorgeous views. Newer campus in appearance, planned and homogeneous in style, generally mediterannean in flavor with red tiled roofs, plazas with fountains. Pleasant environment, but not quirky or active if that's what your daughter would be attracted to. Housing looks nice and from what I hear, it's a dry campus (no alcohol) due to its religious affiliation, conservative student body. Safe environment, but somewhat isolated from activity as mentioned before. Academic reputation somewhat like Loyola Marymount in LA area which actually may be another option if the interest is there). I believe it has a good education program, but otherwise not sure about general academic strengths. Has a separate business school.</p>
<p>If she won't have a car, you should ask about how kids get around. As I recall, there isn't much in the way of public transportation in the area. They may have a shuttle bus to a shopping center- I'd make sure before she commits. </p>
<p>What is on her criteria list? If Loyola is a similar fit, than University of San Diego and Santa Clara are also possibilities. There are a lot of LAC's in California that might fit what she is looking for. The ocean? Conservative? Christian?</p>
<p>The Christian thing is not a problem for her. She is very attracted to its location and study abroad programs. Our biggest concerns are that she might not fit in. After some quick research, my findings were almost all the same: that the school has very wealthy students who attend. Now, we're a little upper middle class but we couldn't afford to send her off with a Mercedes or anything. We're just worried that she may be somewhat isolated from the other students. </p>
<p>sevenhills and mominva, what particularly turned you off about the school? Was it the students? </p>
<p>One thing to add. Virtually all of the 11 LAC's we looked at in California had a good study abroad program, so it shouldn't be hard to find another school that has a terrific setting and good travel program.</p>
<p>My wife and I went to Pepperdine many years ago, and two of our kids are planning to go there in a couple of years. Some of the comments above are not totally accurate, but their overall impression of the school is correct (e.g., there are required religion classes, but they are not daily; convocation is required one day a week, but it is not extremely religious in nature). The school's association with the Church of Christ does influence the campus culture -- no alcohol, separate sex dorms with limitations on visitation, etc. There are off campus parties that are just like the parties that you would find at any college, but they are not the most significant part of the campus social scene, and many students avoid them altogether. There are a lot of on campus cultural and social events for students, so students can find plenty to do without leaving campus. Malibu is a small beach town and the area is very beautiful and rural (wild deer come on to campus from the surrounding mountains). Having a car is helpful, but not absolutely necessary. It is about a half hour drive to Santa Monica or Westwood (near UCLA) for great shopping, restaurants, clubs, etc. The academics are strong, with great professors, almost all of whom have PhD's. Many faculty live on campus and invite students into their homes for social events. Except for a few general education classes, all of the classes are small in size. The school has a tremendous overseas program, with its own facilities in many different countries. The school is conservative, but also very accepting of different points of view. Although it is expensive, there are many kids with financial aid who do not come from rich families, so there is some diversity in that sense. The facilities are excellent, with a lot of new buildings. The dorms for freshman consist of six suites with four double occupancy rooms to a suite. Each suite has a bathroom and its own living room area. Because of the suite set up, and the small dorms, it is easy for new students to meet people and make friends. The school emphasizes community service and a lot of the students volunteer in the Malibu area or elsewhere in the LA area. The admissions office has events with alumni all over the country to help recruit students. You might want to give the admissions office a call and see if there is an alumni group in your area that could answer some more of your questions.</p>
<p>One of my D's friends will attend Pepperdine this fall. Her family is not wealthy, and she's very down to earth ...the type of student who would carefully look into a school for good fit. She was accepted to a number of UCs and a few other privates. She's only one student but I'm not sure the characterization of mostly very wealthy students may be accurate.
However, yes it's wise to research carefully to determine whether the school would be the right place for your D. Any chance you could visit and get a better feel, preferably during the academic year?</p>
<p>Here is a link to photos and a tour (which you may already have looked at)</p>
<p>thank you all very much, my wife and I truly appreciate all of the information you've provided us with. if anyone else would still like to share, that would also be greatly appreciated. :)</p>
<p>Here is a statement about Pepperdine's Christian character:
[quote]
As a Christian University, Pepperdine Affirms:
That God is
That God is revealed uniquely in Christ
That the educational process may not, with impunity, be divorced from the divine process
That the student, as a person of infinite dignity, is the heart of the educational enterprise
That the quality of student life is a valid concern of the University
That truth, having nothing to fear from investigation, should be pursued relentlessly in
every discipline
That spiritual commitment, tolerating no excuse for mediocrity, demands the highest standards of academic excellence
That freedom, whether spiritual, intellectual, or economic, is indivisible
That knowledge calls, ultimately, for a life of service
[/quote]
</p>
<p>I especially like this statement: "That truth, having nothing to fear from investigation, should be pursued relentlessly in
every discipline." My only problem is the really nasty anti-Catholic tv ads that the Church of Christ was running A couple years ago. They were pulled under pressure. I see that a fairly big chunk of the students are, in fact. Catholic. Does anyone have comments or impressions about the school's view on Catholicism? Does it follow the ugliness of the ads?</p>
<p>I have two cousins at Pepperdine (well, one just graduated), and I have spent a fair amount of time around there. That said, I don't have much to add to what others have said: Stunning views, modern campus, conservative, religious students, many of whom are stunningly beautiful (both women and men). Malibu is Malibu -- stars on the beach and in the grocery stores, beautiful hills and canyons. While I'm sure most of the student body isn't rich, the vibe is rich.</p>
<p>I think it would not be a comfortable place to go to college for a student who was not an evangelical Christian, or who was not completely used to being in an environment dominated by evangelical Christians. However, in the world of evangelical colleges, Pepperdine is undoubtedly one of the class acts (as the material quoted by StickerShock suggests), and I believe that it promotes mainstream scholarly values and rigor, and that it is significantly more tolerant of dissent and discussion than many other evangelical colleges. This is confirmed by the experience of one of my cousins (who is very much an evangelical Christian), who transferred to Pepperdine after a less-than-satisfactory experience at a different evangelical college.</p>
<p>I know of a young woman who was a recruited athlete at Pepperdine (they're outstanding in tennis) -- she loved the setting, and liked most of her classes, but had mixed feelings about the student body. For her they were too clean cut and religious. She said she ended up socializing mostly with the athletes who were at the school more for the sports/finanacial aid than a personal fit. A beach-loving niece who loved the campus & its location turned down a 100% athletic scholarship for the same reason -- too much prayer, she said.</p>
<p>'sevenhills and mominva, what particularly turned you off about the school? Was it the students?'</p>
<p>The students seemed nice enough, but very preppy. The general nice feel had an underlying conservative message which, for our liberal D, would be fine for a visit but not to live there.
The campus, built into the hill, had lots of cement terraces with planters rather than open green spaces. It looked very 60's-ish to H and me.
I agree with KarenColleges about other CA school fitting the bill. DD actually ended up choosing between Santa Clara and the U of San Diego. She plans to study abroad.</p>
<p>If you do plan a trip, visit other LACs and colleges as well. Claremont Colleges for example, Occidental, LMU, which would all be within driving range.</p>
<p>StickerShock is confusing the United Church of Christ, which ran the objectionable ads, with the Churches of Christ that are associated with Pepperdine. They are totally unrelated. There is no anti-Catholic sentiment at the school.</p>