Pepperdine Admissions The SAT Scores, ACT Scores, and GPA You Need to Get in

Pepperdine University is a private, Christian, research-based college located in Malibu California. Overlooking the Pacific Ocean, I can’t think of a more beautiful place to go to school. While you don’t have to identify as any particular religion to attend Pepperdine, it’s worth mentioning right away that attendance requires religious participation. According to U.S News and World Report, â€Å"Students must attend 120. So what does this actually mean? It means that if you score an 1220 or lower, you’ll be below average compared to the other students applying to Pepperdine. On the other hand, if you score a 120 A good rule of thumb, then, is to aim for the 75th percentile scores or higher for an excellent chance of getting into Pepperdine. More About Pepperdine ACT Scores Here are a couple things to keep in mind about Pepperdine ACT scores: Pepperdine does not superscore the ACT, but you can choose which scores by testing date are sent to them. The ACT Writing test is optional. The average composite ACT of students accepted to Pepperdine is 29, which is considered a competitive score. As far as percentiles: The 25th percentile for composite Pepperdine ACT scores is 26. The 75th percentile for composite Pepperdine ACT scores is 32. In other words, a score of 26 or lower will put you below average compared to the other applicants, while a score of 32 or higher will place you above average. So your sweet spot to aim for? 30 or higher! More About Pepperdine GPA The average high school GPA of students admitted to Pepperdine is 3.6, which is a B+ average. This means you’ll need very good grades to be a strong applicant. Depending on how your high school calculates GPA, getting high grades in honors, AP, and IB classes can help raise it, since these classes are often weighted more heavily. In fact, excelling in these challenging courses indicates to colleges that you are ready for the rigor of their classes. One thing to keep in mind, though, is that it’s very difficult to change your GPA after your sophomore year. So if you have your eye on Pepperdine, you’ll have to earn A’s and B’s from the get-go! Here’s a breakdown of your admissions chances with various GPAs: GPA in High SchoolPepperdine Freshmen Accepted 3.75+ 39% 3.50 to 3.75 25% 3.25 to 3.50 21% 3.00 to 3.25 11% 2.75 to 3.00 20 or higher on your SAT or a 32 or higher on your ACT Earn a GPA of 3.6 or higher Have plenty of extracurricular and volunteer activities listed, especially if you served in leadership roles Get a very strong letter of recommendation from a teacher who knows you well and can speak to your ability, growth, and potential. Here’s a handy resource on how to ask for a letter of recommendation to ensure you get the best letter possible in a timely manner. Write a strong Common App essay and strong responses to the Pepperdine-specific essays. Strong writing goes a long way and this is your best chance to give Pepperdine a sense of who you are, not just of your academic performance. And if you want advice right from the source, here’s what Pepperdine’s Admissions says about candidates: â€Å"The admission committee looks closely at an applicants academic record, GPA, standardized test scores, background of service and leadership, and character as exhibited in references and short answer/personal statements.† And of course, as always, since test scores play a large role in your application, you’ll want to start studying as early as possible. Check out this 1-week SAT free trial as well as a great 1-week ACT free trial to get you started! Best of luck!!!