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Pepperdine University Admission Essay Writing Guide

How to Write a Pepperdine University Supplemental Essay

Acceptance into Pepperdine University is competitive. With a 36% acceptance rate, a student to study at Pepperdine will need to have more than strong grades to be admitted. Writing stellar supplemental essays can boost the student’s acceptability.

In our Pepperdine supplemental essay example, all you need to write is 300 — 500 words. So, you need to ensure that every word, line, and statement counts. To write that stellar Pepperdine essay, here are some things you need to take note of:

Understand what they want

Pepperdine essay prompts serve two major purposes: to give you want to write about and provide the necessary information to develop your essay. Read the prompt more than once to ensure you understand what they want and emphasize the values they want you to emphasize.

Many supplemental prompts are essentially asking you why you chose the institution. It is a ‘why this school’ question couched in another way. You know why you chose the school and what excited you about it, so let them hear it.

Be Precise and On-point

They simply want to know why you chose the university and not someplace else. So, you have 300 to 500 words to work with; make every statement count. Let them know the points that excited you about the school and the things. However, in letting them know, you need to keep within the ambits of the prompt.

To beef up your Pepperdine essay, learn about the school’s core values. For instance, Pepperdine prioritizes the Christian faith, and they would want this to reflect in your essay.

Do Your Research

Pepperdine is a unique institution, so you can’t be generic about the information you will provide in your essay. You need to learn about the school. Go online, read about the history, the vision for Pepperdine, and the reason why it was founded. The information you will gather will enable you to write a stellar essay answering the Pepperdine essay prompts.

Let them know how Pepperdine will contribute to your career

Don’t forget that you’re answering a why us’ question, so the institution will like to know what you saw that would boost your career chances. This could be a special program they offer or the achievements of the university. For instance, as I mentioned earlier, the undergraduate school of Pepperdine ranked 13th in the country. Now, this is a pull for many undergraduates.

You should also zero in on the program you’re particularly interested in. What is it about the faculty that drew you to it? Will an undergraduate degree at Pepperdine put me in a better position in the competitive labor market?

What impact will you have on Pepperdine?

If Pepperdine is going to impact you, you must also contribute something to the institution. What are you bringing to the table? It is okay to come and learn, but will you be interested in joining the organizations on campus and playing your part in societal development?

This is an opportunity to present yourself as a person of value. You’re not just going to benefit from the school; you’re also planning to contribute something to the institution.

Pepperdine University essay prompt

Prompt:

Pepperdine is a Christian university that welcomes all students and motivates them to challenge each other to pursue truth. Faith is a fundamental principle on which the university is built, and it is a recurring theme in classrooms and all over the campus. In the light of this, why did you choose Pepperdine, and how do you plan to contribute to our faith-based community?
To provide a satisfactory answer, you need to provide about 300 — 500 words. When you look at the question, you’re being told that Pepperdine has a faith standard. If you’re going to study in the institution, you must be ready to go by that standard and show why you’re interested in going by that standard.
So, you may have to start with your spirituality: how it conforms with Pepperdine’s standard and how your faith will be strengthened by attending an institution based on faith.
You also need to show that you’re ready to participate in the faith-based activities of the institution. This is one of the ways you contribute to the conversations of faith on campus.
Another important aspect is community life. You must show readiness to enjoy the faith-based community on Pepperdine Campus.

This guideline should help you write a Pepperdine accepted essay.

Admission requirements for Pepperdine University

To get a Pepperdine admission, you need to meet all the requirements. As I mentioned earlier, the acceptance rate is 36%; you have to do more than the usual to get into Pepperdine. Your GPA and SAT/ACT scores must be high enough.

For an institution as selective as Pepperdine, you should aim for an SAT score of at least 1420. Anything below that score can greatly reduce your chances of getting into Pepperdine. For ACT, you should shoot for 32. With these, you strongly stand a chance of getting a Pepperdine admission.

The average GPA at Pepperdine is 3.66. Anything below this will require you to have strong SAT or ACT scores.

The SAT breakdown is as follows:

Math — 730
Reading + writing — 690
Composite — 1420

For graduate school requirements:

For students seeking admission into Pepperdine Graduate School, here are the requirements:

An online application with a non-refundable fee.
Your electronic transcript(s)
Two professional recommendations
A statement of Purpose
Fill out the Exception Request Form if your GPA is lower than 3.0.
Your professional CV or resume (optional)

For international students

Foreign transcripts translated into English
Your GPA (grade point average) calculated on a 4.0 scale
A degree from an accredited university

For bachelor’s degree requirements

This is for those seeking admission into Pepperdine’s undergraduate school, Seaver College.

Start the Common Application process by paying the $65 Application Fee (Non-refundable).
Attempt the Common Application Personal Essay
Attempt the Pepperdine Essay Question
Attempt the Pepperdine Supplemental Essay
Submit your transcripts. Note that all documents must carry your Common Application ID.
Submit an Academic Letter of Recommendation, which must be from a core subject such as Math, Science, English, History, Foreign Language, or religion.
SAT/ACT scores sent directly from testing agencies or via the self-reported test score form on the Pepperdine Applicant portal (optional)
Sign up for an admission interview (optional)

For Scholarships

Pepperdine has a wide range of scholarships for students. Some of them are:

Special Achievement Scholarships
Academic/Merit Scholarships
Pepperdine Grant
Church of Christ Scholarships
Brenden Mann Foundation Scholarships
Outside/Private Scholarships
Pepperdine University Restricted Scholarships
Frank James “Buddy” Vinci and George B Ellsworth Scholarship
Foster Youth Horizon Scholars Program

Various Faculties at the University

Pepperdine is structured into colleges and schools.

They are:

Seaver College
Caruso School of Law
Graziadio Business School
Graduate School of Education and Psychology
School of Public Policy

About the University

Pepperdine University was founded in 1937 by George Pepperdine. His vision was to establish an institution of higher learning that puts a premium on both academic excellence and Christian values.

Former names	George Pepperdine College (1937–1971)
Motto	Freely ye received, freely give
Type	Private research university
Established	1937; 85 years ago
Endowment	$881.1 million (2020)
President	Jim Gash
Students	10,446 (Fall 2021)
Undergraduates	3,708 (Fall 2021)
Postgraduates	6,738 (Fall 2021)
Mascot	Willie the Wave

This vision has guided the students, faculties, and administrative direction since its inception. It is not surprising that Pepperdine University stands high in cutting-edge research and spiritual growth. In 2021, Pepperdine University was ranked 49th in the top 50 universities in the United States by the U.S. News & World Report Best Colleges.

Pepperdine University’s flagship undergraduate school, Seaver College, was featured as 13th among all other undergraduate schools in the country in the “Best Undergraduate Teaching” ranking. This shows the level of commitment that goes into undergraduate teaching by the faculty and, by extension, the university.

One of the strong points of the university is the graduation rate. While the average graduation rate in the United States is 60%, the average graduation rate of the university is a strong 85%. This is a testament to the immersive university experience that students enjoy in the institution.

Conclusion

With about almost 8000 students, Pepperdine University has a vibrant community of students spread across several schools and colleges. It is a very competitive school to get into. The 36% acceptance rate means that 64% of applicants don’t get in every year.

You must do well on the Pepperdine supplemental essay to stand a chance for admission. Browse through the accepted essays to see the style and content required, and how to structure and write yours.

However, it could be the case that writing is not your strong suit. You’re not alone in this. We all have our different strengths. This is why we exist. We help you write the stellar essays that Pepperdine wants to you provide. Just order any of our writing services, and we shall deliver beyond your expectation.