Sedrie Orantes
Admission Counselor
Hometown: Murfreesboro, TN
Seaver College Class of 2026
Major: Psychology
Email: sedrie.orantes@pepperdine.edu
Phone: (310) 506-4392
Favorite Spot on Campus
My favorite spot on campus is the Payson Library courtyard! It’s a great place to sit in the sun and get some work done while also running into friends and professors that pass through.
Tips for Applying
Top 3 recommendations for applying
- Visit campus! Through my own experience as a prospective student and my time as a tour guide, I think that visiting the colleges you’re interested in makes the decision significantly easier!
- Have someone else read through your essays! Although this can feel intimidating, it could offer great insight into the clarity and overall message of your essay so that you can feel confident when you submit.
- Don’t be afraid to be yourself! We are interested in getting to know you, your interests, and your goals.
Advice for essays and supplemental questions
Make it as specific to you as possible! This is not a time to blend in and be similar to your peers. Share what makes you unique as that tends to be more memorable and gives our office a better idea of what you could bring to Pepperdine.
Working in the Office of Admission
My favorite aspect about working in the Office of Admission
I love that I get to help students and families in their pursuit of higher education. My time at Pepperdine was life-changing and I’m excited to help make this experience possible for other people.
Highlights From My Time at Pepperdine
The main reason I decided to attend Pepperdine
I decided to attend Pepperdine because I was looking to expand my experience in a challenging academic setting, a devoted faith environment, and a life-giving community. After visiting campus during my junior year of high school, I met students that I immediately looked up to and faculty and staff who made the campus feel like home. It was a no-brainer!
My favorite class
My favorite class was History of the Middle East. I took it while studying and interning in Washington, DC so my coursework felt very relevant to discussions I was having at work. Becoming more familiar and knowledgeable about a subject that was new to me helped me feel more culturally competent and curious.
Activities, clubs, and service projects I was involved with
While a student, I was in Pi Beta Phi Sorority, I served as a first-year Resident Advisor in Housing and Residence Life, I was a member of the Food Recovery Network, and a participant in the Social Action and Justice Colloquium.
The highlight of my Pepperdine experience
While there are many things that made my college experience special, I think often about the semester that I studied abroad in Buenos Aires, Argentina. It was so impactful to me to be able to travel in Patagonia, to develop my Spanish, and to develop lifelong friendships in a unique place. Argentina is also Pepperdine International Program’s only homestay program which gave me the opportunity to create a meaningful relationship with a family that I’m still close with today.
Where I studied abroad
Washington, D.C. and and Buenos Aires, Argentina