Pepperdine University welcomed a record-breaking group of admitted students and their families to its Malibu campus for Admitted Waves Day on April 10. The event saw 2,314 attendees who had the opportunity to experience campus life before the start of the 2026–27 academic year.
Admitted Waves Day serves as an introduction for incoming students, giving them a chance to connect with current students, faculty, and staff while exploring academic programs and extracurricular opportunities. Activities included a welcome session in Firestone Fieldhouse led by Pepperdine president Jim Gash, who congratulated the new admits. “If you’re a student in this room, I want you to hear this clearly: congratulations,” said Gash. “You earned this. The hard work, the late nights, the lengthy applications, the anxious waiting—it all paid off . . . your Pepperdine journey starts today.”
Gash referenced Ephesians 2:10 during his remarks and encouraged students to embrace their time at Pepperdine as formative years that would prepare them for future service and leadership roles. “Our people and our preparation all exist to help you find your purpose. Lean in . . . lean into this place. Let it form you. Let it challenge you and stretch you and prepare you in ways you cannot yet even imagine… The best years of your life are ahead—both here at Pepperdine, and as you go out from here to serve and to change the world.”
Lee Kats, dean of Seaver College, spoke about Seaver’s commitment to scholarly distinction across eight academic divisions. He said that academic excellence is not only found in coursework but also through active participation in research: “Academic excellence isn’t found in just a curriculum or a syllabus or a good college class. At Seaver it is found in an environment where students are real contributors to knowledge, creativity, and solutions-oriented thinking.”
Kats encouraged new admits to visit Seaver’s Research and Scholarly Achievement Symposium held later that day—a showcase featuring undergraduate research presentations, artworks, lectures—and noted that one third of all faculty publications during the previous academic year involved student coauthors.
Throughout the day incoming students interacted with current student researchers like Jace Evans who shared insights into campus opportunities: “As a current student, it’s a great experience to be able to show these incoming students the serious research we’re involved in.” Other activities included mock classes across various disciplines as well as tours of different facilities.
Ashley Nguyen (’11 MA ’14), director of undergraduate admission at Pepperdine University said each admitted student has until May 1st enrollment deadline to declare their intent: “Welcoming our newest admitted students to campus is pure joy… Everything we share with them over countless emails… they now get to see firsthand!”
Admitted Waves Day provides prospective freshmen with direct exposure not only academically but also socially—helping many decide if they will join Pepperdine University’s community.