Trying to decide between the two. Both campuses are awesome. I am going to study business. Pepperdine seems stronger academically but USD seems more fun… Anyone have any thoughts?
<p>Pepperdine is certainly more prestigious and is better known among corporate hiring managers in California. It also has several satelite locations in SoCal as well as one here in Silicon Valley.
<a href="http://www.pepperdine.edu/admission/locations/%5B/url%5D">http://www.pepperdine.edu/admission/locations/</a></p>
<p>My D chose USD. Initially Pepperdine was her first choice. At USD The admisnistration seems more flexible and responsive and it is less isolated. USD has a strong business program and strong sciences. There are shuttles that bring you everywhere.You don't need a car like you would in Malibu. For us an added incentive was USD was 1/2 the price. Students on the whole seem happier and more satisfied at USD. At Pepperdine there seems either to be an I love it or disgruntled feel. We spent time in the area and talked to a lot of upper classmen who were working in nearby restraunts. Students felt they were isolated in Malibu and were not ecstatic about their experience. The acedemics seem very good at Pepperdine and most agreed on that piece. My D did love Pepperdine and the students she met. There is a more balanced male/female ratio at Pep. USD is 60/40 but this years class is 45/55 so they are trying. Let me know what you decide. The money difference was initially a large part of the decision but if they were equal my D would now not change her mind.She is very excited about USD. Let me know what you decide to do. There are no wrong answers her, both are great schools and you will have a lot of fun and great academics at either!</p>
<p>Thanks......</p>
<p>arizonamom, you still need a car at USD. They are taking the shuttle away as of next year due to costs.</p>
<p>Seems as though Pepperdine is more prestigous/more likely to attract employers. If you're worried it's not fun enough, I hear students frequently go to other campuses, including USC & UCLA, for parties and what not.</p>
<p>When I visited USD the students I stayed with told me that 40% of the campus leaves during weekends. Also, everyone told me to go to USC instead. And everyone at USC told me that everyone at USD was jealous of USC. lol. Who knows? USD certainly is a beautiful place.</p>
<p>I say Pepperdine. I haven't actually visited Pepperdine but I've heard from several people and a friend who goes there, and my neighbor who goes there, that it's beautiful and they are very happy there. I actually visited USD and hated it so much. Lots of mean snobby people, a girl burped in my face, I just didn't like it at all and don't want that kind of atmosphere. Others like it but if it's between Pepperine and USD, I say Pepperdine. Plus Pepperdine sounds a lot cooler, lol :)</p>
<p>Sirwatson, are you sure about the shuttle? The admissions talk stated that many upperclassmen live onthe beach and they have a shuttle to prevent traffic congestion on campus. It picks students up in the morning at different times and drop them off later in the day. They were talking up the benefits of the shuttle to all senior. That would be pretty poor to use it as a selling point and then discontinue it. Student body at both Pep and USD were similar but the ratio of male to female is more balanced at Pep. Most folks choose USD over USC because of the small class sizes and safer neighborhood around campus. Religion is less emphasized at USD then Pep but it is there if you want it. For us though it was 42,000 at Pep vs 20,000 at USD so it is easier to see it's good points. Neither of these schools are for everyone. I personally would not choose either of them but my D loved both of them , it is such a fit thing which is why noone can answer the question for another. For grad school anyways it is what you make of your experience, I have friends who excelled in state schools, got all A's and then got into Ivys for grad school where they recieved their PhD. They are quite successful in their careers. Did you decide on one rand?</p>
<p>Last I heard (two weeks ago), USD was undecided as to what was happening with the shuttle next year. They are discussing discontinuing the shuttle down to the beach because it is not used very much at all (probably since so many kids have cars). They will still offer the shuttle from one end of campus (very close to the trolley) to the other. I think they are still getting input from current students. I got the impression that it wasn't so much the cost to operate as it was a cost/benefit decision since it wasn't fully utilized.</p>
<p>Thanks for all the help. I waited until the last day to finally decide. I actually was deciding between 5 schools. BU, Boulder, Arizona, USD, and Pepperdine. In the end it came down to Pepperdine and Boulder. I chose Boulder. It had the best balance of what I want.... but it would have been nice to be by the beach......just felt Pepperdine was too small.....</p>
<p>Congratulations Rand, beautiful campus as well!! Best of luck!!!</p>
<p>When we had a panel of students speaking to us they told us directly this, "The admissions won't tell you this but next year we won't have the shuttle due to costs. We are all mad about it."</p>
<p>"Most folks choose USD over USC because of the small class sizes and safer neighborhood around campus."</p>
<p>These two schools are rarely considered together. And when they are, the cross-admit ratio is very much in USC's favor.</p>