Choosing The Right College School Spotlight: Pepperdine University Written by Elyse Krantzon May 18th, 2020 I became interested in the college admissions process after serving as a student tour guide in the admissions office of my alma mater. After graduating, I accepted an admissions counseling position at Bennington College in Vermont where I evaluated applications and reviewed art portfolios from students across the country. Three years later, after pursuing my master's degree in New York City, I joined the admissions staff at Barnard College where I served as a senior admissions officer. At Barnard, I directed Long Island and Boston recruitment in addition to managing the College's alumnae interview program, coordinating admissions statistics, and editing various college publications. Having also served as an alumni interviewer for Dartmouth College and visited over 75 colleges, I feel especially well-equipped to help students prepare for admission interviews and campus tours. Learn More About Elyse choosing the right college, college lists, There are over 4,000 colleges and universities in the U.S. And while the media tends to focus on just a handful of schools, we at College Coach encourage students to think outside the box during their college selection process and explore a wide range of colleges. As such, we are highlighting a new college each week in our School Spotlight series. Check out the college below, along with the other posts in our series, and you may just stumble upon your dream school! School Spotlight: Pepperdine University Malibu, California With its Malibu address, Pepperdine is famous for its picturesque 830-acre campus overlooking the Pacific Ocean. But there are three facts about Pepperdine that may surprise you: its size (just 3,300 full-time undergrads), its student body (53 percent come from CA and an additional 8 percent hail from overseas), and its profound commitment to Christian ideals. Pepperdine is affiliated with the Churches of Christ, and although students of all faiths are welcome, Christian values permeate most aspects of academic and social life. A strong core curriculum consisting of 19 courses ensures that students are well-versed in a range of subjects, including religion, art, and foreign language, before graduation. Seaver College, the primary undergraduate division of the University, features 40 majors, ranging from business administration and creative writing, to international studies and sports medicine. The University is proud of its strong D1 athletic tradition, having earned 13 team national championships and 12 individual national championships. Fun fact: over 80 percent of students at Seaver, Pepperdine’s letters, arts, and sciences college, study abroad, with many opting to spend their entire sophomore year off campus. Image Credit: Top, Courtesy of Pepperdine University Related Resources Read | Posted on April 11th, 2025 The Basics of First-Year Study Abroad Programs Read | Posted on December 10th, 2024 Navigating Medical School Applications: The Three Types of Letters Applicants Send Read | Posted on November 12th, 2024 Unlocking College Admissions: The Power of the Common Data Set
