Pepperdine, LMU, or USD

Parents Forum
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<p>Well I have visited Pepperdine and LMU, and I plan to visit USD sometime in the near future. I'm a junior, and I'm really interested in these schools. Pepperdine and LMU seemed to be basically the same school, and I'm assuming USD is really similar as well.</p>

<p>My problem, is that, these schools are equally great, and I can't figure out which one would be better for me.</p>

<p>So if anyone of you can offer your opinion of any of these school, or better yet, compare them, I would be extremely thankful.</p>

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<p>For my college, here is the list of things I'm looking for.</p>

<p>Academics: I plan to major in business or communications, and eventually work for a company in the entertainment industry.</p>

<p>Athletics: I want D1 athletics, and school spirit is a must. Football would be great, but I'd get over it.</p>

<p>Campus: It better be amazing...Ocean views, and spotless. Small enough to walk across campus in about 15min, yet be large enough, so that it doesn't feel confining. </p>

<p>Social Life: I want to have an amazing experience, and a very active social life is a necessity. Also Greek Life is something I'm interested in.</p>

<p>Student Body: Happy, outgoing, friendly, knows how to have a good time, and easy to look at :)</p>

<p>Housing/Food: I'm not going to be picky on dorms, because I'll get used to it. As for food that is a different story. There has to be a good supply of whatever I'm feeling for. </p>

<p>Weather: Has to be perfect. Ranging from 66-83 degrees year round. It has to be sunny with a light breeze. And the occasional rain is welcomed. </p>

<p>And I can't think of anything else, so what do you think?</p>

1 Like
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<p>I'm wondering why Santa Clara University isn't on your list. It doesn't have a football team or view of the ocean...but USD also doesn't have a view of the ocean. Many students applying to USD also apply to Santa Clara. They have a excellent business program and the campus is gorgeous. Greek life is not supported by the campus, but there are sororities and fraternities off campus. There is plenty do do socially, and it's a great school (a bit biased...DD is a freshman there).</p>

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<p>I'm more into the SoCal scene, so I don't plan on applying to any NorCal schools. </p>

<p>And I'm not really looking to add anymore schools, because my list already consists of UMiami, UCSB, SDSU, LMU, Pepperdine, USD, and I'm highly considering CU-Boulder, Penn St., ASU, and Indiana.</p>

<p>But thanks for the opinion, I'll give Santa Clara a second look.</p>

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<p>All three of these schools are church-affiliated, but my impression of the campuses is that Pepperdine is much more overtly religious than is USD. I don't know about LMU; I've never been to that campus.</p>

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<p>My D applied to Pepperdine and USD was accepted to both and went to USD, Pepperdine offered no money and USD was very generous. Both schools are beautiful but as far as panoramic, breathtaking views Pepperdine is the shining star. The library itself has amazing ocean views to the point I'd be totally distracted. Academics are great at both schools, small classes, personalized attention, lots of opportunities. My D however just transferred to the honors college at University of Arizona as the atmoshere there is more laid back , friendly, and casual and although she loved San Diego she missed the Tucson life style and most of all the accepting, friendliness of the student body</p>

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<p>""""Im wondering why Santa Clara University isn't on your list. It doesn't have a football team or view of the ocean...but USD also doesn't have a view of the ocean."""""</p>

<p>uhhhh no!</p>

<p>My Brothers dorm room at usd has an ocean view.....abs. amazing</p>

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<p>USD is very strict re alcohol on campus which just makes students take parties to the beach or cross over into Mexico, it is a Catholic school and no birth control is distributed by health services. Pepperdine is less strict then it used to be but there are no males allowed in female dorms after 1 AM weekends or something to that effect. They are also very strict with their alcohol policy. There is not a lot to do in Malibu after 10PM the town closes down. San Diego has so much going that students do not stay on campus much so there is not that close knit campus community. USD is at least 70% female which makes it great socially for males. As far as dorms, Pepperdine has spacious , suites very nice. USD has some rooms with ocean views and balconies in the center of campus but many are smaller rooms with many triples for freshman. Further away are huge suites, very large rooms for 8 students, some with nice views as well with their own pool.Students tend to get very close to their 8 suitmates freshman year. I am not familiar with LMU</p>

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<p>Thanks for all of the opinions. And although you guys haven't really mentioned LMU, I came to the realization, that it is the best of the three. However, I would still like to hear what you think, because I'm not 100% sure. </p>

<p>Thanks...</p>

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<p>Pepperdine, LMU, USD...all good schools, all overpriced, all full of rich white kids. Have fun</p>

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<p>S has a friend at LMU majoring in film and loves it. You'll make lots of entertainment industry connections there.</p>

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<p>Ok don't know what happened to my original post, so excuse me if they both pop-up</p>

<p>I am familiar with both Pepperdine and LMU. My D attends Pepperdine, I did 2 years undergrad many years ago at LMU and currently am a grad student at LMU. I think LMU has a bigger feel, but Pepperdine has a much more beautiful campus. The admin at LMU seems much less organized whereas at Pepperdine, I have found the most welcoming helpful people. Pepperdine, although having a difficult year in Basketball (although they beat LMU both times this year) have the #1 men's volleyball team #19 baseball, andnational champs in tennis last season. You will need acar at both schools and both campuses area about the same travel time to social centers ie: Hollywood, Westwood, Santa Monica, century City. Love the open beaches of Zuma near Malibu, love the charm of Manhattan Beach and Hermosa beach fairly near LMU. Nearest beach to LMU has jets flying over it all day. Nearest beach in Malibu has stars all over it...hahaha.</p>

<p>Academically both are good schools, Pepperdine has a great business school and graduate school, LMU communication dept. has a great rep. Both schools well connected in the industry. Professors at both schools seem to care. I prefer the Jesuit philosophy over Church of Christ, bu that is jsut my Catholic upbringing. </p>

<p>My D has made great friends, belongs to a sorority and has no problem finding social events on and off campus. Contrary to belief there is no curfew for students, but ther is a curfew for visitors of the opposite sex. Pretty well enforced but not exclusively. Many RA's "go to bed early".</p>

<p>The one thing that i think gives Pepperdine the edge is their International Program. It is outstanding..check out their website. MY d's friend who is a business major went to Hong Kong this year and felt he learned so much from the program.
Good luck, visit their websites, you can learn alot from them and how they are put together. Hated LMU's but they have improved it. Love Pepperdine's website.<br>
I chose LMU for me, because I got 90% grant. Pepperdine was D's dream school she got 65% grant, not bad for an undergrad. Your financial aid package may the dtermining factor!</p>

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<p>I know students at all 3 schools plus Miami and UCSB.
In my community Pepperdine would be considered more academic them LMU. Most of those who go to LMU for film that I know of wanted USC and LMU was their 2nd choice. Even though both are considered religious schools the students I know who attend all 3 schools are not overly religious and enjoy a good time.
All 3 of those school's tend to attract from our community a weatlhy politically conservative student.
It seems beach and weather is the most important factor for you. SDSU and UCSB and Miami all attract students who want to party hard. Aside from the weather I don't see those schools appearing on the same list as Pepperdine.
Why not apply to them all and do some indepth visits that include sitting in on classes. Just from a tour and walking around you can't get the true feel of a school.
Is USC to far from the beach?</p>

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<p>Below are my stats, and I'm pretty sure I don't have a chance at USC or UCLA, so I'm pretty sure my list will be Miami, UCSB, LMU, Pepperdine, USD, SDSU, and ASU.</p>

<p>Thanks for the comments.</p>

<p>GPA: 3.5 UW - 3.75W
PSAT: Predicted 1280 (I didn't study), but I'm hoping for a 1350.
RANK: Top 5-10% out of around 650 students</p>

<p>AP/Honors Classes: HL Pre-Calc, AP Calc, AP US, AP Eng, HL Chem, HL Span 3, AP Eng, AP Stats, AP Gov/Econ</p>

<p>EC's/Community Service/Awards: Tennis, CSF, Foreign Foods Club (VP), Journalism (Focus Editor), Early Academic Outreach Program, Relay 4 Life, Key Club (VP), Random Acts of Kindness Club, Conservation Club, Certificate of Scholastic Achievement, Circle B Athletic Award, Block B Academic Letter, and "Most Consistent Player" - Tennis.</p>

<p>Also 2 immediate family members had/have cancer during my high school years. My essay topic is about Relay 4 Life....I will have done it for 5 yrs, and the team I'm on with my high school friends should have raised over 50k dollars.</p>

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<p>Pepperdine wins the prize for one of the most spectacular views of any college anywhere and great weather. On many of the days when I drive out there, I feel as if I'm living life in a TV commercial...in a good way. As a small datum, the theater facilities are gorgeous, better than most you will get to work with if you go "pro." Seats about 445 and not a bad sight line.</p>

<p>Otoh, I don't like it. It's culturally very conservative, and a lot of wealthy conservative white parents whose kids have good but not great academics are sent there to be kept away from "Them" and the influences They might expose their kids to in the city. Ken Starr's position in the Law School is sorta emblematic of the outlook. Disclaimer: I once worked for Pepperdine and know them from the inside.</p>

<p>LMU is a bit laid back. My D was in a student film project when she was young and I was impressed with that program. LMU strikes me as being quite a bit less paternalistic in outlook than Pepperdine. It's only about 20 minutes from LMU to Westwood or Santa Monica, unless you're in the extended rush hour.</p>

<p>About USD I know very little.</p>

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<p>SoCal, You're a junior and it's February, you haven't taken the SAT's, right? I would take the SAT's, visit the schools that are interesting and then eliminate some, maybe choose another one. If you hang out on the CC boards at this time of year you might be picking up some of that senior anxiety because they have to actually pick their schools now.</p>