Getting into pepperdine + ucsb, AND WHAT COLLEGE IS BETTER?

<p>I am currently a sophomore at a private catholic high school in Maryland, My GPA is about a 3.0 right now (AVERAGED BETWEEN FRESHMAN YEAR TO Sophmore) and I hope to get it up to about a 3.2. My question is would I be able to get into UCSB or pepperdine? I know pepperdine is very catholic so would going to a catholic high school help? We are also required at least 60 service hours before graduation. Also, I do like to go out and party and drink. I can handle not doing that all the time, But I would definitely like the college experience. I definitely want to go to college in california near the beach. I really like both of these colleges, but dont know if I could get into either of them. What are my chances of getting into each? Also, If I was to get into both of them which would you choose and why?</p>

<p>I don’t think Pepperdine is Catholic. Probably you would enjoy UCSB better if you like to party. I don’t know anything about UCSB stats. A Catholic college nearby you might like is LMU.</p>

<p>a 3.2 is not going to be likely to get you into UCSB. I think their weighted GPA average is something like 3.9 You can find more stats looking on the UCSB website. Since you are an OOS student, I hope you are aware that UCSB will cost over $50K a year? For that money you could get the same large classes and lack of personal attention at your in-state college and still have plenty left over to bankroll Spring break and summer vacations on the beach.</p>

<p>Of greater concern, I would hope, is why you are settling for a 3.0-3.2 in HS if you are aiming at colleges with reasonable degrees of competitiveness for admission. What would you need to change to get better grades? There’s lots of help available online and you can get tips here, providing of course its something you want to improve.</p>

<p>Do you think I would be able to get into Pepperdine with that? I really like pepperdine and think that I would prefer to go their because I feel like I would make better friendships. However, I wonder If their would be parties and such their?</p>

<p>Pepperdine is a Christian University. It is not Catholic. It is a dry campus and I don’t believe it is a school to go to if you like to party. I know this because my daughter is applying there and fell in love with the school. We have been there twice to visit. It is a beautiful school. If you want to party UCSB would be a better choice for you. But, I think you need to raise your unweighted GPA to a 3.8 at least.</p>

<p>@andi0527 Catholicism is a denomination of christianity, so it would be very similar to my current school religion wise. I also have seen the campus and love it!</p>

<p>Please repost, you have questions that belong on the What are my Chances? forum and others that belong on the College Search & Selection forum, but not here.</p>