SMU

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Vandy is better

Obviously…that’s like saying Harvard is better than Penn State.

+1. SMU is a good school but not in the same category as Vanderbilt. as one data point, SMU accepts 52% of applicants whereas Vanderbilt accepts 6%.

[Anonymous]

The student body does skew affluent, but it is diverse geographically. About 60% are from OOS, with about 20% from California (sometimes it seems like more than that). Next most % of students are from Florida, New York, Illinois and Connecticut.

The Greek system is much more of a big deal for the girls than the boys. The school is serious about cracking down on hazing, and there are fewer fraternities than there used to be, and even one of the "top" sororities was kicked off campus last year. However, social media has girls arriving on campus from all over the country with their heart set on specific sororities, and it's very competitive. The boys seem to be more take it or leave it, with some gravitating that way and others who have no interest and still have a great time.

SMU is one of the few colleges in the US that is in the middle of a city that is also in a very safe neighborhood. University Park is an urban enclave with its own police department, and the campus is covered by the Dallas Police Department as well. The one downside of being in the city is that Dallas has amazing restaurants and clubs it's easy for students to spend too much time and money going out if they aren't disciplined about such things.

SMU students will generally have lower grades/test scores than Rice students, but higher than TCU, Baylor, etc (UT is hard to compare because the "top %" admission system in state, and the cap on OOS students makes admissions from OOS so difficult). SMU does not have Vandy's prestige, but it seems similar in many ways. Also, unlike Vandy, SMU will offer significant merit aid if your kid is on the higher end of their stats range.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Better to go to a top SEC flagship like Texas or UGA.

Good luck getting into Texas from OOS.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:What type of student attends SMU? We’re not from the South and have never interacted with an SMU grad. DS is looking for a school with an excellent work-life balance with good weather. They have good stats so far and plan to retake the June SAT.

I ran into a SMU grad (the law school) and her mom in London on vacation two weeks ago —

My god both were beautiful

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:The student body does skew affluent, but it is diverse geographically. About 60% are from OOS, with about 20% from California (sometimes it seems like more than that). Next most % of students are from Florida, New York, Illinois and Connecticut.

The Greek system is much more of a big deal for the girls than the boys. The school is serious about cracking down on hazing, and there are fewer fraternities than there used to be, and even one of the "top" sororities was kicked off campus last year. However, social media has girls arriving on campus from all over the country with their heart set on specific sororities, and it's very competitive. The boys seem to be more take it or leave it, with some gravitating that way and others who have no interest and still have a great time.

SMU is one of the few colleges in the US that is in the middle of a city that is also in a very safe neighborhood. University Park is an urban enclave with its own police department, and the campus is covered by the Dallas Police Department as well. The one downside of being in the city is that Dallas has amazing restaurants and clubs it's easy for students to spend too much time and money going out if they aren't disciplined about such things.

SMU students will generally have lower grades/test scores than Rice students, but higher than TCU, Baylor, etc (UT is hard to compare because the "top %" admission system in state, and the cap on OOS students makes admissions from OOS so difficult). SMU does not have Vandy's prestige, but it seems similar in many ways. Also, unlike Vandy, SMU will offer significant merit aid if your kid is on the higher end of their stats range.

This is a good and fair overview. Great school and lots of other positives, but the whole question of fit is especially important here. There was a post a few months back that linked selfie-videos from SMU sorority rush and it blew my mind. It really seemed like another planet (and a very very very wealthy one at that.)

[Anonymous]

Rich kids who couldn’t get into more prestigious schools but are still smart. And they will do well because they are from wealthy families with connections.

[Anonymous]

I have many friends and family members who attended. The drug scene is much bigger than at other Texas school. I could give many specific examples but instead will note that I was in a sorority at UT and spent way too much time a frat parties and could count on my fingers the number of times I saw drugs in college. At SMU, they’re everywhere:

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:What type of student attends SMU? We’re not from the South and have never interacted with an SMU grad. DS is looking for a school with an excellent work-life balance with good weather. They have good stats so far and plan to retake the June SAT.

I ran into a SMU grad (the law school) and her mom in London on vacation two weeks ago —

My god both were beautiful

I also know a really nice mother/daughter pair who both attended SMU and yes, they are very beautiful. And looking at the sorority pics the daughter shared with me, all her sorority sisters seem to be as well, or very, very well groomed so as to give that effect. My good-looking but slightly disheveled DD would have to have a different personality transplanted into her to fit in.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:What type of student attends SMU? We’re not from the South and have never interacted with an SMU grad. DS is looking for a school with an excellent work-life balance with good weather. They have good stats so far and plan to retake the June SAT.

I ran into a SMU grad (the law school) and her mom in London on vacation two weeks ago —

My god both were beautiful

I also know a really nice mother/daughter pair who both attended SMU and yes, they are very beautiful. And looking at the sorority pics the daughter shared with me, all her sorority sisters seem to be as well, or very, very well groomed so as to give that effect. My good-looking but slightly disheveled DD would have to have a different personality transplanted into her to fit in.

As long as she's foyine, there's a place for her at SMU.

[Anonymous]

My ex-boyfriend went here. Was obsessed with money and status. He's doing ok. Nothing special and seemed depressed there probably because of all the competition.

[Anonymous]

Quite literally the richest of the rich. I work at a boarding school so the vast majority of students are wealthy and the wealthiest among them go to SMU. We can pick them out of a crowd in freshman year. It is a pipeline for old money finance jobs (and their future wives).

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Rich
Skinny
Beautiful
Greek life
Pre-professional/career oriented
Conservative (not religious right types, more like country club Republican)
Social

Having grown up in Texas - this is spot-on.

[Anonymous]

It is really one of the most beautiful campuses I've ever seen and agree in a nice part of Dallas. I wouldn't go there if your kid won't fit into the scene as PP's describe, which I think it pretty accurate.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:What type of student attends SMU? We’re not from the South and have never interacted with an SMU grad. DS is looking for a school with an excellent work-life balance with good weather. They have good stats so far and plan to retake the June SAT.

I ran into a SMU grad (the law school) and her mom in London on vacation two weeks ago —

My god both were beautiful

...and rich.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:What type of student attends SMU? We’re not from the South and have never interacted with an SMU grad. DS is looking for a school with an excellent work-life balance with good weather. They have good stats so far and plan to retake the June SAT.

I ran into a SMU grad (the law school) and her mom in London on vacation two weeks ago —

My god both were beautiful

...and rich.

Yes for sure - they were leaving dinner/drinks at the Connaught — not exactly “value for money”