<p>My daughter is interested in Pepperdine, however we are not particularly religious. I have heard that Pepperdine requires attending chapel, etc. Could someone please comment on this and describe the amount of religious study required? She is also looking at some Jesuit colleges, but they seem to be more casual. Thanks!</p>
<p>so Im new to this and looking at colleges for the first time. I grew up in Utah where there is a very prominent religous emphasis and I am looking to get away from that. I know a lot of people say that a college’s religious affiliation isn’t a big deal and I really like Pepperdine but is the religious emphasis really that prevalent?</p>
<p>Hello, friends! I’m a freshman at Pepperdine this year. From my experience, the first week of NSO will almost feel like church camp. They put on a lot of religious services, activities, etc. to encourage students to get involved in the various ministry options.</p>
<p>Once classes start and the orientation rush dies down a bit, you’ll notice a lot less emphasis on religion. Most professors are Christian, but most of mine don’t reference God or the Bible very much. Most campus-wide dinners and major events begin with prayer, but aren’t necessarily Christian in content.</p>
<p>As for the mandatory chapel requirement you mentioned, each Pepperdine student is required to attend 14 hours of convocation each semester. The biggest convo events are Wednesday chapel, which usually involves a speaker who addresses some religious topic, and Celebration Chapel on Fridays, which is basically a church service. There are always other convo events offered too; some of them are very religious, but others are more focused on community service or different topics. People complain about going to convo sometimes, but it really isn’t a big deal and even my non-Christian friends don’t feel pressured by it.</p>
<p>The bottom line is, Pepperdine is what you make it. The overall “flavor” of the school is definitely influenced by Christian culture; many students are more conservative and modest in general. The party scene is a bit more underground, but it does exist if you seek it out…sort of like church. Nobody will drag you to religious events here unless you ask them to. That’s what I love about the Pepperdine community; I’ve met SO many students and faculty members who truly embody what a loving, generous Christian ought to be.</p>
<p>Good luck on your college decision! Hope my input was helpful :)</p>
<p>@nkayyy thanks for the help, I have a few more questions that I would appreciate your input on. I heard there’s a curfew and some pretty strict rules pertaining to campus life, is this true? Also, if I’m a Christian but not necessarily religious, is it possible for me to see Pepperdine as my college and not my church? By this I mean, if I don’t want to be religious at Pepperdine, is it possible? Are the smaller convocations you mentioned always not religious, or is that a rarity? Also I hear it’s pretty dead on the weekend and I won’t have a car on campus, is there a bus or some form of transportation to take you into Los Angeles or any of the surrounding areas or do you have to find a friend with a car?</p>
<p>Pepperdine is a dry campus, and I know a few students who’ve gotten scholarships and study-abroad privileges revoked because they were caught with alcohol. There’s no curfew for students in general; you can stay out as late as you want. The opposite sex is allowed in your suite area until 1 AM, or in the dorm lobby until 2. During finals week, all dorm lobbies are open 24/7 to allow for random study groups, etc. </p>
<p>I’d say your description of Pepperdine as “your college but not your church” is pretty much how most students feel. Nothing to worry about there. Like I said, nobody will hold your hand and force you to go to religious events, but it’s super accessible if you seek it out.</p>
<p>Most of the convocations incorporate faith in some capacity, but they sort of vary in terms of how religious they are. There are lots of interesting convo events; this year, I’ve seen everything from a Jewish Sukkot info session to coffeehouses where people perform music to charity-focused convos that promote some organization. </p>
<p>The weekends are pretty dead. A lot of students go home, and many of them just sort of lay low and study or sleep in their dorm rooms. I would definitely recommend finding a friend with a car if you want to go to LA. Pepperdine provides shuttle buses to shopping centers in Malibu, and there are city buses that can take you to LA or Santa Monica, but I definitely wouldn’t rely on that. Don’t worry, though. A LOT of students bring their cars to school, so you’re almost guaranteed to have a suitemate or dormmate who can adventure with you!</p>