Pepperdine University Graziadio School of Business and Management

International Student Handbook

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TABLE OF CONTENTS

Contents

Welcome to Southern California………………………………………………………………………………………..…...3

Malibu and Pepperdine, Your New Home…………………………………………………………………………...…..4

Graziadio School of Business and Management…………………………………………………………………...….5

Important School Information…………………………………………………………………………………………...…….6

Obtaining Your Visa to Study in the U.S………………………………………………………………………….…..…...7

Pre-Arrival: Choosing a Place to Live……………………………………………………………………..………….……..8

Pre-Arrival: Housing (On Campus)…………………………………………………………………………………...……...9

Pre-Arrival: Housing (Off Campus)……………………………………………………………………………………...….10

Pre-Arrival: Health Care, Insurance, Immunizations…………………………………………………………..…..11

Pre-Arrival: Arranging Airport Transportation……………………………………………………………….….…...12

Post-Arrival: Cell Phone and Internet………………………………………………………………...………….……...13

Post-Arrival: Bank Accounts…………………………………………………………………………………………….…….14

Post-Arrival: Parking On Campus………………………………………………………………………………………..….15

Transportation: On Campus……………………………………………………………………………………………..……16

Transportation: Getting To and From Campus……………………………………………………………………….17

Transportation: Driving on Your Own…………………………………………………………………………………….18

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WELCOME TO SOUTHERN CALIFORNIA

The Los Angeles Experience

Whether this is your first experience living abroad,

or you’ve traveled all over the world, Pepperdine’s

unique location in close proximity to the ocean as well

as Los Angeles is sure to make your experience an

exciting one! With its diverse population, you’ll get

both an international and American experience as you

explore Los Angeles and the surrounding area.

Whether you love the beach, shopping, international

cuisines, celebrity sightings, amusement parks live

sporting events or hiking, you’ll find something exciting

to do when you need a break from your studies!

The Weather

Los Angeles is famous for its beautiful weather. It’s not

uncommon to have a sunny, warm Christmas day. While

the weather in some parts of Los Angeles can get

unbearably warm in the summer, Malibu maintains a cooler

temperature as depicted in the table above.

Distances to Popular Destinations

from Pepperdine

Location Distance in miles by car

Santa Monica 13 miles

Beverly Hills 23 miles

Hollywood 27 miles

Universal Studios Hollywood 30 miles

Downtown Los Angeles 30 miles

Disneyland 55 Miles

Road Trip Destinations

San Diego 150 miles

Las Vegas 300 miles

San Francisco 400 miles

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MALIBU AND PEPPERDINE, YOUR NEW HOME

Pepperdine University

Pepperdine is a Christian university that prides itself

on academic excellence and its’ Christian values. The

Graziadio School of Business and Management

emphasizes the core values of integrity, compassion,

courage and stewardship. The Graziadio campus is

perched on top of a hill overlooking the undergraduate

campus, the Pacific Ocean and the city of Malibu.

Places to Know Near Pepperdine

Here’s a brief list of some places of interest in Malibu

that Pepperdine students should take some time to

check out:

Alumni Park-An-on campus park with recreation

space, a small lake and a beautiful view

Malibu Creek State Park-A nearby park with hiking

and running trails

Malibu Country Mart-A small shopping plaza with

many places to eat, and small boutique shops to

browse

Malibu Seafood-A local favorite, for its’ cheap and

delicious seafood

The Getty Villa-A free museum that features

beautiful gardens and Greek and Roman art. *You

must make reservations beforehand

Point Dume-One of the more popular places to

enjoy the miles of beaches in Malibu

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GRAZIADIO SCHOOL OF BUSINESS AND MANAGEMENT

Malibu Graduate Business Society

The Malibu Graduate Business Society (MGBS) is the student government association for the Full-time MBA program at

Pepperdine University. MGBS supervises and promotes all student clubs and organizations, and is the primary association to

facilitate all student interests. MGBS additionally assigns students to faculty and administrative committees, hosts top corporate

speakers, and plans networking and social events.

Student Clubs and Organizations

There are a number of clubs and organizations that you become a member of as a student at Graziadio. You’ll get a chance to meet the leaders of the club during the Resource Fair during orientation. You can find more information about each clubs at

this site: https://community.pepperdine.edu/graziadio/student-life/student-clubs/

Asian Business Club

Challenge 4 Charity

Chinese Student & Scholar Association

Digital Innovation Club

Emerging Leaders

Entrepreneurship Society

Finance and Accounting Club

Global Business Club

Graziadio Christian Business Society

Graziadio Entertainment Society

Graziadio Reaching Out

Graziadio Student Ambassadors

Graziadio Veterans’ Business Society

HR Club

Leading Waves

Malibu Graduate Business Society

Marketing Society

MBA Women at Pepperdine

Net Impact

Toastmasters Club

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IMPORTANT SCHOOL INFORMATION

Important Spring Dates

Your Valuable Pepperdine Student ID Card

Free use of the Univerisity Fitness Center, Swimming Pool, Ten-nis Courts

Free Admission to most on -campus sporting events

Free Admission to the on-campus art museum

Free Rental of Sports Equpiment

Rental of outdoor activity equipment

Discounts on amusement parks, movies and localbusinesses

You can add money on your ID card, to use as a creditcard for on-campus printing, photocopying and meals

Common Pepperdine Acronyms

Learning the Graziadio lingo can be one of the more challenging first steps.

Here’s a list of common ones to famil-iarize yourself.

EL: Emerging Leader

• FEMBA: Fully-Employed MBA

• FTMBA: Full-Time MBA

• GSBM: Graziadio School ofBusiness and Management

• IMBA: International MBA

• JD/MBA: Joint Juris Doctor andMaster of BusinessAdministration

• MSRE: Masters in Real Estate

• MSAA: Master of Science inApplied Analytics

MSAF: Master of Science inApplied Finance

MSGB: Master of Science in GlobalBusiness

MSHR: Master of Science inHuman Resources

MGBS(not to be confused withGSBM and MSGB): Malibu Gradu-

ate Business Society

Mandatory School Task List • Send all requested documents on the OISS I-20 Checklist to

oissnewgraduatestudent@pepperdine.edu

• Obtain your F-1 Visa by using the OISS Guide for Obtaining your F-1Visa

• Complete the mandatory immunizations and the GSBM Health Historyform

• If you have your own health insurance, submit the health insurancewaiver by February 2nd, 2018

• Make sure that your transcript (official, sealed and translated),certificate of graduation, certificate of degree and copy of diploma hasbeen sent to the Admissions Office.

• Secure on-campus or off-campus housing

Quant Camp (if required) January 2, 2018

Medical Insurance Waiver Date February 2, 2018

Communications Workshop January 4-6, 2018

Spring Session A Classes Start January 8, 2018

Spring Session A Classes End February 26, 2018

Spring Session B Classes Start March 5, 2018

Spring Term Ends April 20, 2018

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OBTAINING YOUR VISA TO STUDY IN THE U.S.

It is recommended that this process is started as soon as possible. Once you obtain your I-20 form, you should apply for your F-1 visa as soon as possible. Some applications require additional administrative processing that can add several weeks to the pro-cess. The Graziadio School of Business and Management cannot do anything to expedite the process. Obtaining the F-1 visa is the student’s responsibility. Students entering with an F-1 visa cannot enter the U.S. more than 30 calendar days before the program start date printed on your Form I-20. It is recommended that travel arrangements are not made until after you receive your visa.

Step One: Obtaining the Form I-20

Go to the I-20 checklist on thePepperdine OISS page

Compile all of the documentslisted and e-mail them toOISSNewGraduateStu-dent@pepperdine.edu

Step Two B: Paying SEVIS I-901 Fee This fee must be paid before applying for a visa. More

information regarding this fee can be foundhere: http://www.ice.gov/sevis/i901/faq.htm

Payments may be made at this site: https://www.fmjfee.com/i901fee/desktop/index.jsp?view=desktop

Make sure to print the payment confirmation as someofficials may request to see it.

Step Three: Obtaining the F-1 student visa in your passport

Follow the steps required to apply for a student visaat https://travel.state.gov/content/visas/en/study-exchange/student.html

Step Four: U.S. Port of Entry immigration process upon arrival

It’s important that you keep your Pepperdineadmissions letter, I-20, passport, student visa, I-901receipt of SEVIS fee, and financial documentation inyour carry-on luggage. Do not put it in your check-inluggage, as you will need to give it to the Customs andBorder Protection officer when you arrive at theairport.

Print your Admission (I-94) Number Retrieval Format http://www.cbp.gov/travel/international-visitors/i-94-instructions and keep it with your permanentrecords.

Step Five: Reporting your arrival to the Office of International Student Services (OISS) to activate your SEVIS Record

Go to http://www.pepperdine.edu/admission/international-students/new-students/graduate/ andclick on "Arrival Checklist"

Compile the documents listed on thechecklist and e-mail them toOISSNewGraduateStudent@pepperdine.edu within15 days of your arrival or your visa can be takenaway!

Step Two A: Paying SEVIS I-901 Fee If you have attended or are currently attending a US school, the SEVIS Status Verification form must be completed. Your SEVIS record must be in "active" status in order to request a transfer

to Pepperdine University. If it has been completed or terminat-ed, you will receive a Form I-20 issued for "initial attendance"

with a new SEVIS ID number, and the Form I-901 SEVIS fee must be paid again. Go to the site in Step Two B if you need to pay the

Former/Current U.S. Students

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PRE-ARRIVAL: CHOOSING A PLACE TO LIVE*

Pepperdine University/Malibu

No traffic problems getting to class

Quiet and safe at night

Best option for people who aren’t planning to drive

Malibu is not conveniently located for public transit

Cafeterias on campus are open 7 days a week

Campus dorms do not have air conditioning

Regular shuttle service to the grocery store available from campus

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Calabasas/Woodland Hills area

(12 –16miles from campus)

Newer and bigger housing compared to those that arethe same price in Santa Monica

Quieter lifestyle with many hiking trails in the area

A good family community

Temperatures in this area get much warmer in thesummer and much cooler in the winter

No public transportation to campus from here

Not as much nightlife as Santa Monica

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Tips • Compared to most major cities,

Los Angeles’ publictransportation system is notvery good. Many students optto drive while they live here.Class schedules can not beadjusted due to transportationissues.

• A 15 mile trip can take muchlonger with traffic in Los Angeles,especially during rush hour(7-10AM and 3-7PM)

• Los Angeles is one of the moreexpensive cities to live in. Makesure to take this into accountduring your housing search.

*Where you live is a personal choice, this is merely a guide for the most popular choices that students choose to live at.

Santa Monica/West LA area (16-22 miles from campus)

Easy access to the beach, freeway, night life and shopping

More public transportation options to other parts of LA

Older, smaller apartments compared to those that are in Calabasas

Many apartments don’t have air conditioning

There is one bus to Pepperdine, but it stops before 10PM, and some clas-ses are scheduled from 6PM-10PM

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PRE-ARRIVAL: HOUSING (ON-CAMPUS)

On-Campus Housing Tips All on-campus housing will be shared by four students, you will have your own bedroom, but four people

share the bathroom, kitchen and living room

No alcohol is allowed in the dormitory, not even for cooking purposes

Cleaning services are not provided, so the students are responsible for cleaning their own dormitory. Clean-ing supplies and vacuums are not provided by the school.

There is no air conditioning in the dorm rooms. There are a few weeks in the summer where it can get verywarm, but in general, the weather in Malibu is cooler than other parts of Los Angeles

When you move in, there are no sheets for the beds or kitchenware for cooking

See the “Transportation: On-Campus” section for where to find shuttle schedules to get around campus andthe shopping shuttle that will take you to the grocery store.

Upon arrival, the on-campus dining options can be limited. Check the dates of the closest cafeteria (theDrescher Café) to the dorms here or the biggest cafeteria (the Waves Café), with longer hours here. The

cafeterias will all have regular hours once the school year starts.

On-Campus Housing On-campus housing is very convenient to the Graziadio campus, so you will never have to worry about traffic and being late to class. On-campus housing is shared with three other students. You can find all the information you needfor on-campus housing on the Housing website. Any questions regarding on-campus housing should be directed to Pepperdine’s Housing Office. Make sure to check the dates that you’ll be able to check-in, so you won’t arrive to campus before your housing is ready .

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PRE-ARRIVAL: HOUSING (OFF-CAMPUS)

Off-campus Housing Securing a place to live off campus can be a challenging task, especially when moving from another country. If you wish to

live off-campus, seek the advice of current Graziadio School students regarding off-campus housing before you come to the U.S. Click on the below link for some useful resources to find housing and/or roommates off-campus Please be sure to carefully read and understand the lease for your apartment or room before you sign it and agree to rent it from the land-lord. The Graziadio School and its staff and faculty are not responsible for assisting students with housing arrangements.

Off Campus Housing Resource List

Things to Consider… Price:

Monthly Rent

Security deposit-many places require a deposit that is the same amount as one month’s rent before you move in.

Utilities-make sure to check if utilities are included in your rent. Otherwise you should consider this expense too

Furnished vs. Unfurnished-Some places will come with appliances and furniture. Make sure what is provided before

you move in. Appliances can be costly if they’re not included

Location:

Proximity to campus-some GSBM classes start at 8AM, so be sure to find a place that you can make it to class on

time from

Though some places look close on the map, traffic in the Los Angeles area is unpredictable and can often extend the

time of your commute

Proximity to grocery stores and restaurants

Safety of neighborhood

Transportation: How will you get to and from your new place?

Living Situation:

Roommates: Will you be searching for a place to live alone, or will you find other classmates to share a place with?

Renting a room: Some places listed in the off-campus housing resources below are rooms rented where you will

share the place with another person, or even a family. In these cases, find out your access to the rest of the house

(i.e. kitchen, if the bathroom is private or shared)

Move-in Date:

Make sure the place is available before or on the day you arrive in Los Angeles

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PRE-ARRIVAL: HEALTH CARE, INSURANCE, IMMUNIZATIONS

Student Health Center The Pepperdine Student Health Center provides health services to all Pepperdine students, including students

of the Graziadio School. The Pepperdine Student Health Center is committed to providing high-quality, multi-specialty, and low-cost healthcare to the diverse community of students. The primary focus is to keep students healthy by providing preventative care, treating illness and injury in a timely manner, and making appropriate referrals when necessary.

The Health Center functions similar to a family practice office and provides a wide variety of services which in-clude care for illness and injury, women’s and men’s health, dermatology, sports medicine, immunizations, labs, in-

house testing, nutrition, and administering medications. In addition, the Health Center offers specialized clinics such as flu vaccination, travel medicine, allergy, and STI/HIV testing. For more information about the Student Health Cen-

ter, please visit their website.

Health Insurance All Malibu registered students are required to purchase health insurance with U.S. coverage comparable to the Univer-sity's policy, or enroll in the Student Health Insurance Plan (SHIP). If you have your own U.S. based coverage, and it is comparable to the University’s policy, you MUST submit an electronic waiver before the deadline, or you will be auto-matically enrolled in (SHIP), and it will be charged to your student account. The electronic waiver must be submitted before each fall trimester. You can find Graziadio School’s health insurance requirements and important dates at this site. If you’d like to waive the Student Health Insurance Plan, you can find the electronic waiver form by clicking here.

Immunizations Requirements Prior to registering for classes, all international students must complete mandatory immunizations and submit the GSBM Health History Form, the most current version of this form can be found here. Make sure to use the GSBM International Health History Form.

You may either receive your vaccinations in your home country before you arrive on campus or at the Student Health Center. You will not be able to register for classes if you do not have the required vaccinations listed on the Health Center’s website. The online immunizations requirement is also available on this page. If you receive your vaccina-tions at home, make sure that you have a translated copy to submit to the Health Center.

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PRE-ARRIVAL: ARRANGING AIRPORT TRANSPORTATION

Transportation to your new home When making your travel plans, try to fly directly or find a connecting flight to Los Angeles International Airport

(LAX). Depending on whether you are living on or off campus, there are a few options to get to your new home. It’s a good idea to bring cash to pay for your transportation from the airport. Graziadio School of Business and Management is

not responsible for the transportation of the students from the airport to Pepperdine or their off campus housing.

Taxis From LAX to Malibu, a taxi ride can cost up to $120, including tip. There may be

strangers outside who offer to give you a ride from the airport. DO NOT accept

their offer and DO NOT take a taxi that is not at the designated taxi stands. You can find the designated taxi stands by following the yellow signs outside the

terminals.

Public Transportation

This is the cheapest option, but could be the most complicated. Los Angeles’ public transportation system can be complicated and difficult to navigate, especially for someone who is new to Los Angeles. Unlike the other options, public transportation will not take you to your door. You may have to walk long distances with all of your luggage from the station. Public Transportation may be confusing and stress-ful, so use these options at your own risk. Some forms of transporta-tion may also have restrictions on the size of baggage allowed.

Santa Monica Big Blue Bus: If you’re moving to Santa Monica, this bus leaves from at the Metro Bus Center located in Lot C. Maps and schedules provided on webpage Fly Away Bus This bus has drop off locations to Union Station (Downtown Los Angeles), Van Nuys, Westwood, the Metro Orange Line and Hollywood.

Shared Ri de VansBecause of the convenience of this form of transportation it is highly recommended. You can get a quote and book them online before you arrive, or you can go to the Ground Transportation Infor-mation Desk on the baggage claim level of most LAX Termi-nals. These vans will drop you off exactly at the address given. You can catch these by following the orange signs outside the termi-nals. Note: It’s possible that these shuttles will be shared with oth-er passengers and other stops will be made along the way. Here are a few companies that offer this service

Prime Time Shuttle Super Shuttle

Road Runner Shuttle and Limousine Service

Car RentalThere are many different car rental companies that have offices in LAX

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POST ARRIVAL: CELL PHONE AND INTERNET

Cell Phones There are four major providers of cell phone service available in the United

States: AT&T Wireless, Verizon Wireless, T-Mobile and Sprint. However, due to the mountainous landscape of the Drescher Graduate Campus, certain

cell phone carriers do not provide very good reception, which can be an in-convenience especially if you choose to live on-campus. It is recommended that students enroll in a Verizon Wireless or AT&T Wireless cell phone plan.

Other cell phone carriers, such as T-Mobile and Sprint are less expensive compared to Verizon and AT&T but service on the Drescher Campus is lim-ited. Though Wi-Fi is available throughout the Graziadio School, incoming calls and texts may be limited with Sprint and T-Mobile service due to poor

reception.

Bringing Your Phone from Your Home Country Most phones brought from your

home country will work with U.S. cell phone carriers provided that the phone is an unlocked version. If your phone is compatible with one of the U.S. cell phone carriers, in most cases, you will just need to buy their SIM card, and sign up for one of their plans to have your phone activated.

Contract Plans vs. Pre-paid Plans Below is a general summary of the differences, so you should contact your chosen cell phone company for de-

tails. Each company has different offerings for contract and pre-paid plans. You should find the company that best fits your needs. The Graziadio School and its staff and faculty are not responsible for assisting students with obtaining a cell phone in the U.S.

Contract Plan Pre-Paid Plan

You must bring a form of I.D. (i.e. Passport, Visa) Valid form of payment (i.e. checking account or credit

card) If you don’t have a Social Security number, the com-

pany will likely charge a deposit that can cost up to$500

Depending on the company, the terms of the con-tract can be up to 2 years. If you cancel the contractbefore the term is up, there will be an early termina-tion fee

Discounts on a brand new phone will be given if yousign up for a two year contract (early terminationfees apply if you cancel it early)

You must bring a form of I.D. (i.e. passport, visa) Valid form of payment (i.e. checking account or

credit card) You do not need a Social Security number, so no

deposit will be necessary You will pay a set amount every month. There may

be extra charges if you exceed the minutes or datain your plan

You will not get a discount on a brand new phone,but you can use your own phone if it is compatiblewith the company’s system

Internet Access On Campus

Wireless Internet service is available throughout Pepperdine. You will be able to access the Pepperdine wireless Internet network on campus through your Pepperdine University WaveNet account, which will be assigned to you once you are enrolled. Off-campus, it is your responsibility to enroll in net-work provider plan so you will have access to the Internet.

Purchasing a SIM Card and Calling Plan BEFORE You Arrive

There are some companies in the United States who will ship a SIM card to you in your home country before you arrive in Los Ange-les. You can activate your service from home, so you can use your phone when you land. Your phone must be an unlocked version. Two of the more popular companies to use this service are CampusSIMs J1 SIM cards

We do not sponsor these companies, so the University does nottake responsibility for any problems that may arise from using them.

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POST ARRIVAL: BANK ACCOUNTS

Money Upon Arrival It is recommended that you do not bring large amounts of cash with you to the United States. In addition to cash, you can also bring travelers checks to exchange when you arrive in Los Angeles. You should bring cash (and travelers checks) for your immediate needs when you arrive; such as transportation from the airport, meals and if necessary, the security deposit for where you decide to live. Once you open a bank account, you can send money to it by wire transfer, so you can avoid bringing all your money with you. Be advised that there may be a charge by the bank per wire transfer.

Bank Choices

There are many choices to open a bank account in Califor-nia; however, the nearest bank to Pepperdine is Bank of Ameri-ca, which is located within the Malibu Colony Plaza shopping area. It’s about a five minute drive from Pepperdine’s campus and there are multiple branches in the area. You can open a bank account at any bank convenient to where you’re living, but be advised only Bank of America ATMs are located on Pepperdine’s campus. If you don’t have a Bank of America account and you use the Bank of America ATMs on campus, there will be at least a $2 convenience fee per transaction. The Graziadio School and its staff and faculty are not responsible for assisting students with opening a bank account in the U.S.

Required Documents to Open a Bank Account

Below is what is required to open an account at Bank of America, but expect to have similar requirements at other banks. Please contact the bank of your choice to see what documents are necessary. At Bank of America, you need to bring TWO of the following documents: Foreign PassportForeign Drivers LicenseU.S. Government issued TIN NumberAlien I.D. Card # & Country of issuance of any other government issued document evi-dencing nationality or residency (document must include picture)

How To Write a Check Writing checks is a new concept to many international students. While most places of business accept credit cards or payments online, there may be some times that you’ll need to write checks during your time here. Below is a sample check, and the information you should include while writing a check,

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POST-ARRIVAL: PARKING ON-CAMPUS

Parking Permit You must have a parking permit to park on campus:

You can get your free parking permit online at this web-site https://pepperdine.thepermitstore.com/ or drop into the Public Safety Department.

You will need your e-mail address, vehicle informationand a mailing address to register your vehicle.

You can ask for a visitor’s permit when you first arriveon campus.

Make sure the area you are parking in does not haveany restrictions (i.e. carpool permit, staff, visitor only) oryou may get a parking ticket!

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TRANSPORTATION: ON CAMPUS

Malibu Shopping Shuttle

Another free service to students is the Malibu Shopping

Shuttle. This is an especially convenient service to students

living on campus who do not have a car. This shuttle will take

students to the Ralphs shopping center and Malibu Country

Mart center for grocery shopping, banks and restaurants. Con-

tact the transit services office for the shopping shuttle’s sched-

ule if classes are not in session (310-506-4802).

Malibu Shopping Shuttle Schedule

Monday through Saturday when Seaver classes are in session. Times are

approximate and subject to change. Check the schedule link above for details.

Location Time Time Tim

e

Time

Start Up 11:40 3:40

Rho Lot 11:45 12:45 3:45 4:45

Main Lot (depart) 11:50 12:50 3:50 4:50

Bank of America/Wells Fargo 11:56 12:56 3:56 4:56

Ralphs (arrival) 11:58 12:58 3:58 4:58

Cross Creek (Arrive) 12:05 1:05 4:05 5:05

Cross Creek (Depart) 12:15 1:15 4:15 5:15

Ralphs (to campus) 12:23 1:23 4:23 5:23

Main Lot (arrive) 12:31 1:31 4:31 5:31

Page Residential 12:33 1:33 4:33 5:33

Rho Lot 12:36 1:36 4:36 5:36

Upsilon Lot 12:38 1:38 4:38 5:38

Drescher Dorms 12:40 1:40 4:40 5:40

Rho Lot 12:45 4:45

Pepperdine Wave Shuttle

The Pepperdine Wave Shuttle is a free service that will

take you to all parts of the Pepperdine campus. Refer

to this page to see the schedule and the pick-up/drop-

off points. The Orange Route shuttle is the one that

comes up to the Drescher campus. Take note that

shuttles run less frequently when the undergrad cam-

pus is not in session. You can see where the shuttles

are in real time by using the Pepperdine app on your

phone. You can see a screenshot of the app below, the

orange circle is where the shuttle is at on campus

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TRANSPORTATION: GETTING TO AND FROM CAMPUS

Getting Your Own Car Because of the somewhat limited public transporta-tion options, many students of Pepperdine University find it necessary to have a car to get to and from school, as well as to explore Los Angeles. The Graziadio School and its staff and fac-ulty are not responsible for assisting students with obtaining a driver license and purchasing a car. Seek the advice of current Graziadio School students regarding purchasing a car before you buy one.

Public Transportation Compared with many large cities around the world, Los Angeles’ public transportation system is not always the most convenient option to get around, especially here in Malibu.

To and From West LA (through Santa Monica) There is only one bus line, Metro Bus line 534, that runs between West Los Angeles and Malibu via Santa Monica. You can find the map and time tables of Metro Bus line 534 here:http://www.metro.net/riding/maps/500-599/ You can get off line 534 at the corner of Malibu Canyon Road and Civic Center Way or Pacific Coast Highway (PCH) and John Tyler. Both stops are right in front of Pepperdine, and enter the university campus to catch the free Pepperdine Wave Shuttle. Warning: the Metro Bus does not run after 10pm, and some classes at Graziadio finish after 10pm, so this is not the most convenient form of transportation.

To and From the Valley (Calabasas, Woodland Hills) Currently there are no bus lines that will take you to points north of Malibu, such as Calabasas, Woodland Hills, and Agoura Hills.

Ride-sharing Though it is not a permanent solution for transportation, ride-sharing companies such as Uber and Lyft have be-come popular to get around. When you use the ride-share apps, you can arrange for someone to pick you up and drop you off at your destination. If you choose to use a ride-share app, you do so at your own risk. Graziadio and the University is not affiliated with these apps and bears no responsibility from the use of these apps.

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TRANSPORTATION: DRIVING ON YOUR OWN

Getting a Valid Driver License A foreign driver’s license must be replaced by a valid

California driver’s license in order to drive in California. You must take a written and driving test to get a California Driver License at the Department of Motor Vehicles. You must bring your I-20, passport and I-94 card.

To study for the test you can review the Driver Li-cense Handbook here:http://www.dmv.ca.gov/pubs/pubs.htm

Be prepared to pay an application fee: http://www.dmv.ca.gov/dl/fees/driverlicense_fees.htm

It’s highly recommended to make an appointment forthe driving test:http://www.dmv.ca.gov/foa/welcome.do?localeName=en

Purchasing a Car Purchasing a car, even if it's a used one, can be very expensive. Make sure every cost is taken into consideration before you come to the U.S. Some additional expenses you should consider in addition to the cost of the car are: vehicle registration with the Department of Motor Vehicles (mandatory), auto insurance (mandatory), gasoline, and repairs (if necessary).

You should use caution when buying a used car from a private party (as opposed to through a dealer). If you do buy a used car, it is highly recommended that you take a mechanic with you to check the condition of the car. Here are a few resources that you can check to get an idea of how much purchasing both new and used cars will cost

Autotrader.com-lists both new & used cars

by dealers and private parties

Carfax-Used car listings, with details about

the history of the car

Carmax-buys and sells used cars, they certify

the quality of their cars

Cars.com-You can check prices of new vehi-

cles and contact dealers to negotiate pricing

through this site

Craig’s List-Used car listings by private par-

ties, use caution when buying from private

parties

Recycler.com-Used car listings by private par-

ties, use caution when buying from private

parties

Department of Motor Vehicles Near Pepperdine

Santa Monica

2235 Colorado Avenue Santa Monica, 90404

Thousand Oaks

1810 E. Avenida De Los Arboles

Thousand Oaks, 91362

Winnetka

20725 Sherman Way Winnetka, 91306

Auto Insurance It is required by law that all drivers in California have auto

insurance. At a minimum, drivers must have liability insurance. There are many auto insurance companies that offer insurance to international students. Get quotations from a few companies before making a decision to ensure

you get the best price.