What is Pepperdine looking for?

<p>Okay so Pepperdine was the only school that rejected me. I got into all the top UCs with a 4.02 and a 2100 on the SATs. I had a great personal statement and extra curriculars. I know about five girls that were at the same level as me and they were rejected as well. I know a girl that got into USC but not Pepperdine. A guy got in last year with lower stats. What’s going on what do they want. I want to know because my cousin really wants to go there in a couple of years. Is Pepperdine really that competitive compared to UCLA, Cal and USC?? I also heard a rumor that they were trying to level out the number of men and women that go there, that there are a lot more women than men. Could they be accepting boys that have lower stats because of this?</p>

<p>My impression is that it helps to have a strong Christian faith and lots of community service. And it doesn't hurt to be male...but that goes for a lot of private colleges. Check out the ratios sometime.</p>

<p>Yep, being a guy really helps. The word with college counselors is if you are a boy apply to private schools and you have good shot. Twice as many girls applied to Pepperdine than boys and the current freshman class has 1.5 girls to guys. However, ec and church related activities help.</p>

<p>I believe they also put a lot of stock in the essays questions. My D was accepted and admitedly her numbers are not quite as good as yours, but she is a gifted writer and does very well on her essay writing.</p>

<p>She is very active in her church as well so maybe that was another big factor.</p>

<p>Thanks for your help. I know that being an active Christian helps, which I am. But I was shocked to learn my friend had the same stats as me and her father was a priest and even she was rejected. Do you think it helps to come from a private high school?</p>

<p>My daughter was accepted with the Dean's Scholarship, coming from a private all-girls Catholic high school and ranked at the top of her class. Her test scores put her in the top 2-3% nationally... and she is attending Notre Dame.</p>

<p>Good luck to all of you.</p>

<p>My daughter was accepted with a nice scholarship offer. She had a 31 on the ACT, class rank about #10 in a class of around 600 . She has some extracurriculars, but not extensive.</p>

<p>I didn't get in. I also had a 31 on the ACT and I did a lot of community service including with the church. I have no idea what Pepperdine is really looking for.</p>

<p>I was accepted with the Dean's scholarship from a public school - but its ranked the highest public school in the state. Stats were 2170 SAT/ 3.85 GPA. Also, I'm a minority and very involved in the church, and had my pastor write a recommendation.</p>