<p>I'm an entering freshman, so I can't help much with telling you what classes are like, etc, but I am willing to help with any questions about the admissions process, financial aid, student/spiritual life, or whatever else you would like to know.</p>
<p>And yes, I'll chance you :]</p>
<p>Can you go to Pepperdine if you aren’t Christian?</p>
<p>Absolutely. There are many people that attend Pepperdine that don’t identify as Christian. You should know that there is a chapel/convocation requirement, you must go to a certain number of spiritually-based activities for a grade, but there are definitely some that are less religiously-demanding than others. There’s everything from student worship to a club about losing weight to a club that analyzes depictions of Jesus in different movies, and you can receive convo credit for any of them.
The grade is calculated into your GPA, but it doesn’t count for grad school admission, unless you’re applying to Pepperdine for grad school.</p>
<p>Also, there are 3 religion classes integrated into general ed, no alcohol allowed on campus, and a curfew of 1AM for being in the dorm room of the opposite sex.</p>
<p>Aside from that, Pepperdine is just like any other university.</p>
<p>What were your stats that you got admitted with? And what is Pepperdine known for, such as its programs and things of that nature? Thanks for your help.</p>
<p>My GPA was a 3.7 weighted and maybe a 3.5 unweighted (I’m not sure), and my SAT score was 1770. I think my essays and extra-curricular activities were critical in my admission, I thought I had a 50-50 chance when I applied.
Pepperdine’s most popular majors are in the business and communication departments, including journalism, telecommunications, etc. The international studies and political science majors are also strong. I’ve heard a professor here compare the sciences to ivy league caliber lol.
It is a liberal arts school, with only about 3,900 or so undergrads— that’s smaller than my high school. All but one of my classes have more than 15 students (intro to psych- 200 students). That’s nothing compared to my friends at UCs where their largest classes have 600.</p>
<p>Well is it possible to get accepted into Pepperdine, if you have better ACT/SAT scores and grades, rather than ECs? Thanks for all your help.</p>
<p>You have 200 kids in your Psych 200 class? I’ve got about 40 in mine and I know the other one only has about 15…I wonder what Pepperdine is thinking by doing that.</p>
<p>trojanman10101- Pepperdine isn’t an Ivy League; if you have good enough scores and grades they probably won’t care what EC’s you have.</p>
<p>I disagree with Snowc1b. They almost pride themselves on selecting people based on fit rather than scores.</p>
<p>Thanks just making sure. I don’t want to waste my app. fee money : }</p>
<p>I can tell you that the beach is gorgeous! Bring all of your swimwear!</p>
<p>While Pepperdine doesn’t look at scores and grades like a UC would, to say they select people based on “fit” rather than academic merit undermines part of Pepperdine’s mission as a top flight university. While I’m sure some people are admitted based on Church of Christ affiliation, Pepperdine, as its website states, “is selective in enrollment and committed to high academic standards.”</p>
<p>Thanks for offering answers to our questions…</p>
<p>Does anyone by chance know if Pepperdine honors classes that have been retaken??? My GPA is good, but I dropped 2 classes after the drop date (I didn’t have a choice at the time) and received F’s. Since then I have retaken them and received A’s. While most UC schools don’t count the F’s in your GPA I know some privates do not. Does any one know if they will count those F’s?? Thanks a lot.</p>
<p>I didn’t mean to say they don’t choose based on academic merit. I should have said academics get you in the door and ECs give some definition. However, that is a huge pool of students left and after that they tend to select based on fit. I know this for a fact because I have talked to several admission officers from there. </p>
<p>Pepperdine could have higher score and gpa averages but they don’t just accept the val because he has good grades. He has to mesh with the University. Pepperdine, I believe, recognizes that when a student fits pep’s environment they will most likely thrive both socially and academically.</p>
<p>Again, Pepperdine isn’t an Ivy League; you’d have to have a criminal record or something to not get admitted if you’re a valedictorian.</p>
<p>“I should have said academics get you in the door and ECs give some definition. However, that is a huge pool of students left and after that they tend to select based on fit.”</p>
<p>Obviously that’s very true. Once all the merit kids and shoo-ins have been accepted and the applicant pool gains parity, then EC’s and fit tend to determine the last whatever percentage of admits.</p>
<p>imprezivrex- I really have no clue; you should check with the admissions office about that.</p>
<p>Spoke to admissions the person on the phone had to put me on hold because she “didn’t know how they calculate classes that are retaken into your gpa.” </p>
<p>She ended up telling me that they honor whatever GPA your transferring school shows. Hopefully that means they look past it!</p>
<p>Well, to chime in to the debate, my school’s valedictorian is a good friend of mine, and she chose to attend Pepperdine this Fall. However, even she only a received the second level merit scholarship (Dean’s). This is a person with a 4.8/4.0 GPA, around 2000 SAT, a record of 5s on AP tests, involvement with ASB, honor societies, community service, and deep religious devotion.
*She turned down acceptances to UNC Chapel Hill and Duke for Pepperdine.
I would say that Pepperdine does not excuse a lack of extracurricular involvement.</p>
<p>I’m taking PSYC 200, the GE class. PSYC 210, the intro to psych class for psych majors, is much smaller.</p>
<p>Trojanman- It is definitely possible, but a fluff a little where you can, write solid essays, and get letters of rec that speak for your character and passions.</p>
<p>I realize gwu_girl may not be able to help on this one, but I’ll take the chance for an answer anyway…</p>
<p>I’m going to be a senior in high school this year. I’ve visited Pepperdine, and I love the campus of course. I haven’t gotten to see the student body yet though. From what I keep hearing, most people are either the very intelligent type who got in with scholarships, or the less-intelligent type who got in with their parents’ money, with enough left over to outfit them with a couple BMW’s and thousand dollar wardrobes. Any insight on this? Is their an overpowering “snobby” culture?</p>
<p>Also… I’ve heard many complaints about “everything” in Malibu closing at 10 pm. I don’t frequent clubs, parties or bars… I have a feeling that’s what people are talking about mostly. Do you have trouble finding things to do off campus?</p>
<p>How often to students go the beach, everyday? Every weekend?</p>
<p>I wouldn’t say the “snobby” culture is overpowering at all. It is there to an extent, but then you have plenty of rich kids who are still perfectly nice and friendly, and there’s still a great variety throughout the remaining student body. The “snobs” are definitely more the exception than the rule. I come from a middle-class family, don’t wear designer anything, and hasn’t had any problems fitting in.</p>
<p>There honestly isn’t much do to in Malibu even during the day, when everything’s open. There’s a movie theater, but it only has two screens. Typically when I went somewhere in Malibu, it was either to the beach or to get something to eat. It’s not hard to find things to do, but you’ll probably be leaving Malibu for Santa Monica, LA, etc.</p>
<p>How often people go to the beach really varies. This past year, I think I went two or three times. But some people will go once a week when it’s warm, maybe more often depending on their schedule. Some people take advantage of it being there, others (like me) really don’t care that much.</p>
<p>I heard there’s no public transportation in Malibu. How do people get to LA?</p>