Pepperdine Forum

[StyrofoamWar]

For one of you current students out there...

In your experience, do the exams at pepperdine tend to be open book? Also, I have heard about professors who are anti-laptop, have you experienced this at pepperdine to much extent? Just some curiosities.

Thanks in advance!

[1ferret!]

The only class our section had last semester that was open book was civil procedure. I think this is the norm.
Our first semester our property professor didn't let our class use laptops, but has changed his mind for this semester. Generally professors aren't big fans of the laptop use, but haven't heard of anyone else prohibiting...

[StyrofoamWar]

What about self-prepared outlines? are those allowed or banned?

[utilitarianjac]

For one of you current students out there...

In your experience, do the exams at pepperdine tend to be open book? Also, I have heard about professors who are anti-laptop, have you experienced this at pepperdine to much extent? Just some curiosities.

Thanks in advance!

Like 1ferret! said, the only open book exam for 1Ls is CivPro. My Torts I exam was open book, but it was taught by a visiting professor who did things his way (his exam was 2 hours longer than normal, too).

None of my professors at the law school banned laptops. There were only 3 or 4 students in each class who did not use a laptop to take notes. There will be people who chat, surf, and update Facebook. If they can do that without distracting other students, fine. It's their loss, not mine.

What about self-prepared outlines? are those allowed or banned?

If the exam is open book, then self-prepared outlines are generally allowed. They are not allowed in closed book exams.

[RadMobile]

Anybody else get the Admitted Student Open House email?

I'm planning on going...anyone else?

[fenderjsm88]

I decided to apply super late. Just went complete on 3/2. Hopefully they have room for me. Both my LSAT and GPA are above the 75th, but still, I'm really ridiculously late.

[1ferret!]

I decided to apply super late. Just went complete on 3/2. Hopefully they have room for me. Both my LSAT and GPA are above the 75th, but still, I'm really ridiculously late.

Probably a good shot at admission actually. However, your ability to get in on scholarship dollars might take a hit on account of the late application.

Have you been admitted elsewhere?

[fenderjsm88]

I decided to apply super late. Just went complete on 3/2. Hopefully they have room for me. Both my LSAT and GPA are above the 75th, but still, I'm really ridiculously late.

Probably a good shot at admission actually. However, your ability to get in on scholarship dollars might take a hit on account of the late application.

Have you been admitted elsewhere?

Yeah, Indiana and Fordham. Hopefully I can get some money (if I actually get admitted based on my late app.) But, if not, no biggie.

[1ferret!]

I decided to apply super late. Just went complete on 3/2. Hopefully they have room for me. Both my LSAT and GPA are above the 75th, but still, I'm really ridiculously late.

Probably a good shot at admission actually. However, your ability to get in on scholarship dollars might take a hit on account of the late application.

Have you been admitted elsewhere?

Yeah, Indiana and Fordham. Hopefully I can get some money (if I actually get admitted based on my late app.) But, if not, no biggie.

Should be a likely admit. Inevitably some of the initial group that were admitted with $$$ elect for other options, and if your #s are up there you will likely get the ok sooner rather than later with the schools focus on increasing its student #s. Your other school choices are interesting; are you just looking to explore options on the west coast? Or does Pepperdine attract your interest for a particular reason?

[dalancas]

Looks like a lot of WLs are going out this week. Still haven't even been considered yet I think. Probably doesn't bode well though...

[1ferret!]

I decided to apply super late. Just went complete on 3/2. Hopefully they have room for me. Both my LSAT and GPA are above the 75th, but still, I'm really ridiculously late.

actually, your #s put you in the 75th for LSAT but in the middle 50 for GPA. Pepperdine's GPA 75th is at 3.79 and LSAT at 163.

[meggers88]

Has anyone else been waiting literally forever for their status to change? Mine's been complete since November 19 and hasn't changed. Is that bad?? I'm 3.58 / 160

[fenderjsm88]

actually, your #s put you in the 75th for LSAT but in the middle 50 for GPA. Pepperdine's GPA 75th is at 3.79 and LSAT at 163.

Oh, okay. I thought their 75th was around 3.6 (I have a 3.66,) but I guess it's around 3.8, which does put me right in the middle. Do they seem to be favoring GPA over LSAT this cycle? Or does a high LSAT seem to get you in as long as your GPA is at the median?

Your other school choices are interesting; are you just looking to explore options on the west coast? Or does Pepperdine attract your interest for a particular reason?

Yeah, I really want to keep my west coast options open and I've heard awesome things about Pepperdine. Applied to UCLA and USC. Dinged from UCLA almost immediately. Expecting a WL/Out from USC.

[1ferret!]

actually you probably have a better shot with the higher LSAT than the other way around. Although (I am currently attending) I do know people who got in being splitters in both directions...

If you are admitted (either to USC or Pepperdine) I would recommend visiting before making your decision with regard to your other options. The West coast attitude/environment is quite a bit different from a lot of schools in the east and might factor into your decision about where you want to spend the next three years.

[1ferret!]

Has anyone else been waiting literally forever for their status to change? Mine's been complete since November 19 and hasn't changed. Is that bad?? I'm 3.58 / 160

Probably heading for the waitlist. However, Pepperdine was not the quickest to get back to me last cycle...

[fenderjsm88]

actually you probably have a better shot with the higher LSAT than the other way around. Although (I am currently attending) I do know people who got in being splitters in both directions...

If you are admitted (either to USC or Pepperdine) I would recommend visiting before making your decision with regard to your other options. The West coast attitude/environment is quite a bit different from a lot of schools in the east and might factor into your decision about where you want to spend the next three years.

Alright, thanks for the advice. I've been to SoCal several times, but haven't visited a law school there. I'll be in the LA area next week so I'm planning on visiting the schools then. What would you say are the major differences in attitude/environment?

[meggers88]

Has anyone else been waiting literally forever for their status to change? Mine's been complete since November 19 and hasn't changed. Is that bad?? I'm 3.58 / 160

Probably heading for the waitlist. However, Pepperdine was not the quickest to get back to me last cycle...

it seems like pepperdine is a lot more competitive this year...looks like i'll be going to san diego i guess. which isn't bad i just really wanted to stay in LA cos i'm interested in entertainment law.

[Indianaman]

Anybody else get the Admitted Student Open House email?

I'm planning on going...anyone else?

I think I'll be there, too. Any idea on ways to get around the city? Just take a taxi from the airport to the campus?

[utilitarianjac]

Anybody else get the Admitted Student Open House email?

I'm planning on going...anyone else?

I think I'll be there, too. Any idea on ways to get around the city? Just take a taxi from the airport to the campus?

A taxi will be rather expensive. If you take a shuttle (Primetime, Super Shuttle, etc.), you will save a lot of money.

Once you get here, there are free shuttles on campus.

[Jaded]

Darn. Waitlisted today. Thinking a withdrawal is in order.

[eberl032]

I called financial aid yesterday in regards to need based aid. They told me in the next few weeks they will start awarding grants and loan offers.

This provoked some questions of mine. If loans are based on credit checks (like the Grad Plus loan) and the school is going to give me an award offer. Does this mean every school I applied to is going to be running a credit check on me? Or does FAFSA run it once and all the schools basically tell me what FAFSA said?

Im asking these questions because Im concerned. I want to attend Pepperdine but what if I'm not offered enough loans to cover the cost? Does this happen to people often? I have the oppertunity to attend a Tier 4 in my local area with a full ride. I'd much rather go to Pepperdine, but I have to make a decision by April, and do so not having discovered my loans and/or grants available to me. Am I missing something?

[meggers88]

so scared...decision rendered 3/8!

[Kase Law]

I called financial aid yesterday in regards to need based aid. They told me in the next few weeks they will start awarding grants and loan offers.

This provoked some questions of mine. If loans are based on credit checks (like the Grad Plus loan) and the school is going to give me an award offer. Does this mean every school I applied to is going to be running a credit check on me? Or does FAFSA run it once and all the schools basically tell me what FAFSA said?

Im asking these questions because Im concerned. I want to attend Pepperdine but what if I'm not offered enough loans to cover the cost? Does this happen to people often? I have the oppertunity to attend a Tier 4 in my local area with a full ride. I'd much rather go to Pepperdine, but I have to make a decision by April, and do so not having discovered my loans and/or grants available to me. Am I missing something?

When I visited Pepperdine, I talked to Financial Aid as well. They told me that every student will receive loans to cover the cost of attending (housing, tuition, etc). I may be mistaken, but they made it sound like no matter what your situation is, you will be able to at least take out loans to cover the cost of attending the law school... Maybe call back and talk to them again about your concerns? I haven't ever heard of someone not being able to get loans to go to law school...just complaints about paying them back at the end! haha. Well, I hope it gets all figured out...hope to see you at Pepperdine too!

[atfarmer]

went complete last friday (3/5) and my status just changed to decision rendered today (3/9). Do they call people or am I going to have to wait to hear from them via snail mail?

[uwb09]

went complete last friday (3/5) and my status just changed to decision rendered today (3/9). Do they call people or am I going to have to wait to hear from them via snail mail?

if you are in, you will receive a wavenet e-mail in the next few days, before the letter (this appears to be the case)

if you are rejected/waitlisted, you won't receive any e-mail, and you will just receive a small envelope