Here is the siuation: My friend and I are very good students, both of us having around a Mid 4.0 gpa (4.4 and 4.5 to be exact). Basically, we can get into the very selective colleges. We are interested in going to Pepperdine, as the location and atmosphere looks good. We just want to know if the education part is as good at pepperdine as it is at other selective schools in the same acceptance rate range, because we like the school, we just don’t know if it is worth it to go there over other colleges. Basically, does Pepperdine have a good academic program?
Are you religious?
What do you know about the school? Why do you like it?
To what other should are you comparing it?
Yes we are both christians. We like it because of the location, and the campus, and it seems fairly good with an acceptance rate arount 30%. we both want to go to duke, my dad is a legacy football star there so i will get in. I just want to know am i selling myself short going to a school that i could do better than?
Pepperdine is one of the preeminent Evangelical Christian colleges in the nation, equal academically to Wheaton Illinois. You can’t think of it as “selling yourself short”: either your goal is a deeply Christian education (in which case Pepperdine is topnotch) or it isn’t (in which case Pepperdine isn’t the best choice).
It has some of Duke’s glamour but make sure you’re dedicated to growing in your faith as well as academically: there’s mandatory Chapel and Bible Study, service and missions are very important to the college. It’s very different from Duke in that respect.
https://www.pepperdine.edu/spiritual-life/christian-university/
I dont really care about the religion, but is Dukes education significantly better?
They don’t have Duke’s resources and their influence is less national. On the west coast it competes with the UCs, Stanford, the Claremonts … But the education is very good and among Christian Evangelical schools they’re known to be among the top 3 academically. You’ll be among very good students - average GPA 3.6, SAT range mostly 1250-1380. Attending Pepperdine will not hinder you. The only issue is that out of respect for the Church Of Christ and its beliefs, don’t go just because of the terrific location and good ranking. Go because you want to learn AND grow in your faith, too. (This isn’t like ‘Methodist’ in SMU.)
Ok thank you. Do you anything about the party scene there?
It’s a Christian Evangelical school with a dry campus. There are parties but they’re low key and fewer than you’d find at other colleges.
I know that, but I heard that lots of girls go there just for the beach, not really accepting or understanding the christian limits that are set, and still drink.
It is fine to explore and daydream with your best friend, but keep in mind that there is little certainty about college admission chances when you are only sophomores with just one year of grades and no test scores.
Duke is at a very different selectivity level.
What about Pepperdine attracts you? Maybe others could offer additional suggestions to check out.
I dont know about my friend, but i will get in. This isnt fair, but my dad is the alumni interviewer and we had the dean of admissions over to our house for dinner, and he all but said I would get in if i stayed above a 4.0.
I like the campus and location of pepperdine, and the fact it is smaller. It seems to be a pretty selective school as well, which i would like to attend.
If you like the location and want a pretty selective university, what about UCSB, Cal Poly SLO, SDSU…? All of these would deliver on your beach and party criteria much better than Pepperdine.
You can’t attend a serious Evangelical Christian school if you’re not serious about your faith and if you’ve not investigated its special mission. (Keep in mind you’ll have mandatory Chapel and Bible Study; you’ll also have 3 courses in Christianity, 3 courses in Western Civilization, and a Great books colloquium.)
Don’t count your chickens before they’ve hatched, personal relationship with the Dean or not.
Start investigating colleges that match what you like - colleges near the beach, medium (3,000-5,000? 7,000?) size…
Duke and Pepperdine are both selective, but at different levels. Each college publishes admissions data that you might be interested in. Duke’s class of 2022 middle 50 percentiles for admitted students are SAT 1490-1560 and ACT 33-35, with an acceptance rate of 8.6%. Class of 2021 middle 50 percentiles for enrolled students are SAT EBRW 670-750, SAT math 710-790, ACT 31-35.
Pepperdine’s class of 2022 middle 50 percentiles for admitted students are SAT 1270-1420 and ACT 28-32, GPA 3.62-3.95 UW, with an acceptance rate of 35%. Class of 2021 middle 50 percentiles for enrolled students are SAT EBRW 600-690, SAT math 600-700, ACT 26-31.
For the most part, the 25th percentile for Duke students is above the 75th percentile for Pepperdine students. Consider which setting might be more comfortable for you. Also understand that there are a lot more colleges, including many in between these levels of selectivity and below. Think about what attracts you to Pepperdine and look for additional colleges that have those characteristics.
I took the act and got a 35… does that give any help?
If you are an especially strong student, over the next two years as you think about college, consider what you might prefer with regard to the relative strength of the majority of students in your classes. The Duke classroom experience and the Pepperdine classroom experience might differ. There isn’t a wrong answer. This is sort of a big fish/small pond vs little fish/big pond question. Some students find more success when they are especially confident about where they stand compared to peers, while others may be more motivated being surrounded by students of similar or even superior strength.
that makes much more sense. thanks.