Pepperdine University

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Students Say - Academics
Pepperdine University, in sunny, "calm" Malibu is a smaller liberal arts school affiliated with the Church of Christ "where students are given numerous opportunities to mature and develop academically in a spiritually nurturing environment." "Christian values" are unmistakable here. Attendance at chapel is required, and the mandatory core curriculum (which includes an optional, highly recommended Great Books sequence) involves religion courses. The faculty is "pretty much all Christian" as well, and, while "some of the professors need to be fired," most are "challenging" and "truly passionate." "My professors have all been excellent with the exception of maybe two in all my four years," says a biology major, "and they really look out for their students." The administration is full of "religious zealots" who "tend to shelter students way too much," but staffers all the way up to the top brass are "very easy to communicate with," and the school is "very well managed." "You feel like a student and not a number at Pepperdine," says a journalism major. Study-abroad pro- grams in Germany, Hong Kong, France, Argentina, and a host of other places are reportedly "beyond compare." About half the undergrads here go overseas at least once. "Right now, I'm studying abroad in Switzerland and loving every minute of it," declares an advertising major.

Students Say - Campus Life
The gym is pretty bad, and "the food is far too expensive for its quality." However, "the dorms are very nice," and students at Pepperdine enjoy "amazing weather" and a "uniquely breathtaking" campus "with a killer view" of the ocean. During the week, life is "vibrant." "Speakers and musicians come to campus" frequently, and "students are very active with organizations, clubs, and social life in general." "Sororities and fraternities are really big at Pepperdine," and some students "party like rock stars." Be warned, though: Drug and alcohol policies are "zero tolerance." "Rarely do students drink on campus," says a junior. "It's a big risk." There are "curfew rules" and "restrictions for when opposite genders can be in one another's rooms," too. Mostly, students "go off campus if they want to get wild and crazy," and the parties tend to be "fairly exclusive." Many students avoid the party scene altogether. "Instead, we go out to dinner, go stargazing, have political discussions, go shopping, or catch the latest movies," explains a senior. "Church-related functions" are also popular, and there is "a big emphasis on service." The number of volunteer opportunities is "almost overwhelming." Outdoor activities are outrageously abundant, too. "Running into celebs at local restaurants and businesses is pretty cool" in the glitzy surrounding enclave of Malibu, but otherwise it's "pricey" and "everything closes down at 10:00 P.M." "Even the beauty of the Pacific, sadly, can become old." Santa Monica and Hollywood aren't terribly far but Pepperdine often feels "totally isolated." Having your own car is "almost necessary."

Students Say - Student Body
There are many students receiving financial aid here. "It's mostly white and rich and, if not white, just rich." Pepperdine has its "fair share of millionaires' kids and minor celebrities." "Appearances and brand names are important," and the atmosphere is "somewhat superficial." "There are two types at Pepperdine," suggests a sophomore, "the type who has a scholarship or financial aid and is exceedingly intelligent and the type who is pretty stupid but whose parents pay full tuition to the school and give them BMWs and beach houses." Politically, conservatives tend to dominate. Many, many students are "active Christians." Some are "Churches of Christ diehards" "who are totally on fire for God." Pepperdine students are also "sun-kissed," "social," "excited about life," and "high in character" as well. There are surfers, athletes, frat boys, "Barbie girls," quite a few Texans, and some "eclectic" students but, all in all, it's a "slightly preppy" and "typical Southern Californian" crowd. "Not very many people who attend this school are unique or radical or experimental in any way."

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