Pepperdine c/o 2019 Forum

[zot1]

What does everyone think about that drastic drop in ranking; down 13 points to 65?

These rankings are almost entirely worthless. They tell you virtually nothing of value and they probably do more harm than good. The schools in this zone of the rankings bounce around a lot from year to year. Is Pepperdine suddenly a 20% worse law school than it was the year before? Of course not. It's the same school.

By the way, the same is true of the ranking of students once you're in law school. Fractions of a grade point, reflective of a question or two on an exam, will separate you from your classmates by 20 places in the rankings. But that doesn't mean one student is 10% or 20% smarter than other students. It's really hard when you're staring at these rankings to ignore them, but they really are more damaging than helpful.

Except only 57% of the Class of 2015 is employed in bar passage required jobs. YIKES! http://law.pepperdine.edu/career-develo ... a-2015.pdf.

[LShopeful2016]

What does everyone think about that drastic drop in ranking; down 13 points to 65?

These rankings are almost entirely worthless. They tell you virtually nothing of value and they probably do more harm than good. The schools in this zone of the rankings bounce around a lot from year to year. Is Pepperdine suddenly a 20% worse law school than it was the year before? Of course not. It's the same school.

By the way, the same is true of the ranking of students once you're in law school. Fractions of a grade point, reflective of a question or two on an exam, will separate you from your classmates by 20 places in the rankings. But that doesn't mean one student is 10% or 20% smarter than other students. It's really hard when you're staring at these rankings to ignore them, but they really are more damaging than helpful.

Except only 57% of the Class of 2015 is employed in bar passage required jobs. YIKES! http://law.pepperdine.edu/career-develo ... a-2015.pdf.

That means it's gone up since last years 53%

[zot1]

What does everyone think about that drastic drop in ranking; down 13 points to 65?

These rankings are almost entirely worthless. They tell you virtually nothing of value and they probably do more harm than good. The schools in this zone of the rankings bounce around a lot from year to year. Is Pepperdine suddenly a 20% worse law school than it was the year before? Of course not. It's the same school.

By the way, the same is true of the ranking of students once you're in law school. Fractions of a grade point, reflective of a question or two on an exam, will separate you from your classmates by 20 places in the rankings. But that doesn't mean one student is 10% or 20% smarter than other students. It's really hard when you're staring at these rankings to ignore them, but they really are more damaging than helpful.

Except only 57% of the Class of 2015 is employed in bar passage required jobs. YIKES! http://law.pepperdine.edu/career-develo ... a-2015.pdf.

That means it's gone up since last years 53%

Oh well in that case it sounds like Pepp would actually be a good investment.

[LShopeful2016]

What does everyone think about that drastic drop in ranking; down 13 points to 65?

These rankings are almost entirely worthless. They tell you virtually nothing of value and they probably do more harm than good. The schools in this zone of the rankings bounce around a lot from year to year. Is Pepperdine suddenly a 20% worse law school than it was the year before? Of course not. It's the same school.

By the way, the same is true of the ranking of students once you're in law school. Fractions of a grade point, reflective of a question or two on an exam, will separate you from your classmates by 20 places in the rankings. But that doesn't mean one student is 10% or 20% smarter than other students. It's really hard when you're staring at these rankings to ignore them, but they really are more damaging than helpful.

Except only 57% of the Class of 2015 is employed in bar passage required jobs. YIKES! http://law.pepperdine.edu/career-develo ... a-2015.pdf.

That means it's gone up since last years 53%

Oh well in that case it sounds like Pepp would actually be a good investment.

Haha.
Well regardless of the fact that these rankings aren't really important in the sense that you should base your decision off of this, I'm still interested in knowing why it went down so much.

[LShopeful2016]

Did anyone go to the admitted students day?

[kitkat12]

Withdrew recently w/ a little under a full ride, hope this helps someone out! Good luck everybody.

[crystallize]

Withdrew recently w/ a little under a full ride, hope this helps someone out! Good luck everybody.

Just withdrew with almost a full ride. I hope it goes to someone on the waitlist, best of luck all!

[lawschoolgirl12345]

For those who received an increase in scholarship, could you explain how that happened? Did you just get an email without soliciting more money, or did you send emails/meet with the Dean, financial aid office, or other faculty member. Also, what were your stats (LSAT/GPA)? I'm trying to figure out how I can go about to successfully receive a scholarship increase.

[LShopeful2016]

For those who received an increase in scholarship, could you explain how that happened? Did you just get an email without soliciting more money, or did you send emails/meet with the Dean, financial aid office, or other faculty member. Also, what were your stats (LSAT/GPA)? I'm trying to figure out how I can go about to successfully receive a scholarship increase.

There's nothing you can actively do to get it. It has to do with their matrix. If they decide to increase $ for a certain group, they will just email you.

[LShopeful2016]

So I read somewhere that All of the school hosted events are dry (meaning they don't provide alcohol - including at the barrister's ball) can anyone conform or deny?

[jnam806]

So I read somewhere that All of the school hosted events are dry (meaning they don't provide alcohol - including at the barrister's ball) can anyone conform or deny?

Friend went here for UG. It's really really strict. No alcohol on campus. No partying on campus. I dont remember smoking though. I believe the dorms had extremely strict rules you had to follow too. He also had to take a mandatory religious course during his first year. Wouldn't be surprised if everything was dry

[lawschoolgirl12345]

I got an increase in scholarship since admitted, and have emailed the school again to seek more financial aid. At this point, would you recommend also requesting to meet with the financial aid office director or his/her assistant in person? I would like to know what method would be more effective to seek more scholarship money. I have made copies of awards, diplomas and other documents that go beyond LSAT/GPA that demonstrate how capable and accomplished I am. Do you recommend requesting a meeting with financial aid office to discuss my merits aside from just LSAT and GPA. What other negotiating tactics should I employ at this point? July 1 was the second deposit deadline so I'm guessing at least a few people will have decided not to attend and next week may be a good time to reach out to the school again?

[knowcompinc]

For those attending Pepperdine today we were assigned our class sections. I'm in section 2. Looking forward to meet everyone.

[wgkellog]

So I read somewhere that All of the school hosted events are dry (meaning they don't provide alcohol - including at the barrister's ball) can anyone conform or deny?

Friend went here for UG. It's really really strict. No alcohol on campus. No partying on campus. I dont remember smoking though. I believe the dorms had extremely strict rules you had to follow too. He also had to take a mandatory religious course during his first year. Wouldn't be surprised if everything was dry

Just graduated from Pepperdine Law. Pepperdine UG is very different from Pepperdine Law. The mission is similar and the people are cut from the same cloth, but everyone is an adult and treated as such. Actually its kind of nice being sober in class, unlike my UG classmates and occasionally myself still drunk from the night before.

As far as drinking, Barristers Ball had an open bar this past year. It was only beer, wine and champagne, but it was bottomless. Most party-friendly law schools don't even have that. Bar review has events every other week. Several off campus events also had open bars. Every off campus event has at least a cash bar. Alcohol is only strictly controlled (read: not prohibited) on campus. It makes sense once you see the regular DUI checkpoints on the PCH standing between you and your place in Santa Monica/Brentwood. I've been to happy hours with professors. The reputation is a tad overstated, but perhaps that is by design to keep away students who are already drinking like a 9th year associate whose been passed over for partner.