Pepperdine vs. San Diego State

College Search & Selection
1

<p>Okay this may be a bit premature, but I don't want to have rush my final decision.</p>

<p>I will have all of my admission decisions by April 1st, but there is no way I will be able to decide where I want to go in just a month. I have been accepted to my favorite school, Indiana University, but bc I'm OOS, I will most likely have a great deal of loans. So I want my final decision to be deciding if IU is worth it compared to my 2nd choice. I also love UMiami (My other #1 - it's tied with Indiana), but I don't plan on getting in, so I'm not going to consider it until I hear back from them in late January. </p>

<p>I have also been accepted to Florida State and UPortland, but I recently realized FSU isn't worth any amount of student loans, and I don't really want to attend UPortland. But I will reconsider UP if all of my other schools reject me.</p>

<p>And I have recently been deferred from LMU, and they want to see my first semester grades. But my grades are very mediocre this semester (3.0UW/3.5W), so I'm pretty sure I will be rejected. But with Pepperdine I feel they will truly consider my 5 essays (they have 5 questions on their app!!), my great recommendation letters, and my extenuating circumstances...so I feel I have a decent shot at getting in. And then there is SDSU where I'm almost guaranteed admission.</p>

<p>So I have a battle between Pepp and SDSU. I'm not considering cost bc Pepperdine is great with financial aid, but I'm pretty sure SDSU will be a bit cheaper. </p>

<p>I love Pepperdine's campus, laid-back atmosphere, student body, and their business/communications programs seem very reputable. However, I think Malibu may be a bit too secluded, and I think the religious overtone may put a damper on the social life. Also I'm worried with only 3,000 undergrads it may feel like High School Part 2. </p>

<p>SDSU has an amazing social life. Their business program is one of the best in Southern California. San Diego is my favorite city....and I could get season tickets for the San Diego Chargers. I know I would have a great experience, but I'm worried a degree from SDSU would hold me back. I also am worried about their 4 year graduation rates, because they are less than 25%.</p>

<p>So basically I feel I would enjoy SDSU more, but I'm worried about graduating in 4 years due to SDSU's overcrowding. And I'm also thinking that passing up Pepperdine for SDSU would be a big mistake.....</p>

<p>I don't know...what do you think?</p>

2

<p>Oh and I would just like to add that I have visited Pepperdine already, and that I plan on visiting SDSU in February. But I don't think the visit will decide much, bc my only problems with SDSU is their graduation rates and mediocre academics.</p>

3

<p>Go to Pepperdine...there aren't that many religious freaks there...</p>

<p>SDSU: Party central...if that's your thing go for it...but I'm warning you...if Party Central with a capital P...</p>

4

<p>BUMP</p>

<p>I definitely prefer SDSU's environment, and while I'm sure I could make Pepperdine work, I feel that SDSU is a way better fit for me.</p>

<p>So are Pepperdine's academics (specifically in business) way stronger than SDSU? Is the difference so great that I should pass up having an amazing time at SDSU?</p>

<p>I don't know...what do you think...</p>

5

<p>Hate to burst your bubble but Season Tickets for the Chargers are $810. per seat and there is a waiting list.</p>

6

<p>I know for a fact that Pepperdine has great academics. On range on 1-10, Pepperdine's academics rate 8 while I would rate SDSU a 6.</p>

<p>If you know what you're leaning towards, go to SDSU.</p>

7

<p>I know season tickets are $810, but if I'm going to be in San Diego, I'm going to have season tickets. However, I probably won't get season tickets my freshman year, because I'll first have to meet people down in San Diego that want season tickets too.</p>

<p>But anyways, I really don't know how much better Pepperdine is. Maybe I will call the schools and get their job placement records.</p>

8

<p>So nobody has an opinion on these two schools....</p>

9

<p>From what you described, I would go for Pepperdine. You want to major in Business and both sound good for it from what you are describing. Research more about SDS, since you wanted it. Ask any graduates there, see how they are doing. Would you want to have a wild time at college or a stable life after graduation? Still, if you are too keen and can't choose then look at the staff to student ratios, assistant professors, the housing/dining, facilities, etc. Visit the colleges because you can learn more from there. Good luck, SoCal18 & make the right choice! :)</p>

10

<p>I dunno if your interested, but you might want to look into applying to the SDSU honors program. That way you could have the best of both worlds-good social life, but still in a reputable academic setting.</p>

11

<p>I know someone who hated Pepperdine due to all the religiousness, so be careful and check around a lot.</p>

12

<p>I've looked into it, but I really don't have a problem with the academic environment and how intelligent the student body is. I know SDSU is a good school, but I feel Pepperdine is on a different level. </p>

<p>My problem is that I want to go to SDSU, but I'm worried I will regret my decision after I graduate. Either because it took me 5 years to graduate or I would have had more career opportunities if I had gone to Pepperdine.</p>

<p>And I have been to Pepperdine, and it didn't fell overly religious. I'm just worried that the school won't have much going on, and I'll be forced to drive to Santa Monica or LA just to have fun.</p>

13

<p>if that's the case, I'd say just to go to SDSU all the way. As long as you are ambitious enough, you'll be able to find a job (ideally, anyway). I've read that the alumni connections for SDSU are pretty substantial, so that might be a plus.</p>

14

<p>Umm.. it will take you closer to 5 1/2-6 years to graduate from SDSU with a business degree. The last few students I knew from there drove to orange county to get the classes needed to finish up.</p>

<p>I hear Pepperdine is boring-many kids leave campus on the weekend. Some of my students say the religion vibe is weird there and they didn't like it. The academics are much stronger than SDSU. Pepperdine is pretty pricey. </p>

<p>San Diego is a big party place (I went there years ago) but it is cheap and fun. The students that I had go there liked it.</p>

<p>Sounds to me like you really want to got to SDSU.</p>

<p>Do you live in the San Diego area? O/S of Cal Poly, it is considered one of the the hardest CSU to get into unless you're local.</p>

<p>If you really can't make up your mind, go with SDSU then transfer to a private if you're not happy. It's much easier to transfer from CSU to private than the opposite.</p>

15

<p>What about USD?? It is an up-and-coming school with a wonderful setting.</p>

16

<p>bus52...those are pretty much my concerns with both schools. I know most people would say choose Pepperdine bc academics should be the most important thing, but I feel social life is equally important, so I really don't know which one I would choose.</p>

<p>I'm just going to pray that UMiami or Indiana works out for me. I really want to be a Hurricane or a Hoosier!</p>

<p>But anyways, maybe by hearing which school (between Pepperdine and SDSU) other people prefer that would help me figure out what I want more. So where would you go?</p>

<p>And I would also like to add that I should probably wait until I hear back from Pepperdine before I compare these two, but honestly I couldn't pick between my options in only a month...so this website is really helping me.</p>

17

<p>And I've looked into USD, but I prefer Pepperdine and LMU to USD.</p>

18

<p>What about LMU???? My older D loved it. Sorry, Pepperdine scares me, and SDSU, while great in some areas, IS tough for getting into classes you want.</p>

19

<p>For LMU I was deferred to Regular Decision, so that could potentially be an option if I were to get accepted. </p>

<p>I also have the University of Portland as an option, but for some reason I just don't want to go there. I mean I only applied there in the first place bc they gave me a free application.</p>

20

<p>Don't disregard Portland- my neighbor's son goes there and loves it.</p>