Thoughts on SMU - s/o from ole miss thread

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:This is how Texas schools stand.

Rice
UT Austin
SMU, Baylor, TCU, Texas A&M, Trinity College
UTD, U of Houston
TXU, Texas Tech, UNT
others

Other than first two, rest offer merit scholarships so sometimes even top students who aren't eligible for need based aid, go to lower tiers for merit money.

That being said, SMU doesn't have a good return on investment unless you are getting aid, scholarship or have jobs lined up though contacts.

This list was obviously not compiled by a politician. If I may, I would like to make a couple of adjustments to your list:

U Texas at Austin Texas A&M

U Texas Satellite campuses Texas A&M satellite & affiliate campuses

U Houston, Baylor, TCU, Texas State, Texas Tech, UNT

(This space intentionally left blank)

SMU, Rice, Trinity University

Aggies

But, if you know Texas, you know that the state is divided between the two schools--and those divisions run deep and last for life.

Fifth generation Texan here, who also knows that, as much as Aggies love their school, they greatly overestimate its importance to anyone who didn’t go there.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Laura Bush attended SMU in her pre marriage era but her daughters declined and one went to Yale and other to UT Austin.

SMU is home to the Bush Presidential library, and the Bushes live nearby and frequently attend basketball games, sitting courtside. The Bush Library hosts frequent interesting events for students.

Whatever you think of President Bush’s politics, he’s very gracious to the SMU students and it’s exciting for young people to meet a former President.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I’m from Texas and have many friends and family members who went to SMU. It’s one of the few colleges I won’t let my kids consider due to the conspicuous consumption and drug culture. I have one family member who ended up in rehab straight out of college and many friends who talked about being exposed to way more drugs that I ever saw on the frat scene at UT.

That can happen anywhere. I know lots of SMU grads (many from the 80’s, when coke was flowing everywhere) and none of them have had drug issues. IME, there was more talk about drugs than actual drugs. My personal experience was that there were way more drugs at UT than SMU. Austin has always been know for its drug culture.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:It's a rich kid party school. Good for networking.

Do you work for SMU admissions ?

The two are not mutually exclusive. I'd even argue SMU has a better networking scene than most elite east coast universities. It's just how the affluent South and Texas operates. Same for the Southern flagships too, although a lot of it also comes down to being in the right frat and sorority too.

I agree with you 100%.

(My admissions comment was intended to be humorous.)

But don't call them frats there. They are fraternities.

Comments like that make it even more likely I will refer to frats as frats.
DP

Ditto. And anyone who objects is a douche or a douche bag.

Hey I don't make the rules. I just know them. Passing along.

Except those aren’t the rules. Frats are commonly called frats on university campuses nationwide.
DP

Not sure if it is a Texas or maybe southern thing, but fraternity is the nomenclature in the fraternity/sorority scenes, at least the good ones. Again, I don't make the rules.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:This is how Texas schools stand.

Rice
UT Austin
SMU, Baylor, TCU, Texas A&M, Trinity College
UTD, U of Houston
TXU, Texas Tech, UNT
others

Other than first two, rest offer merit scholarships so sometimes even top students who aren't eligible for need based aid, go to lower tiers for merit money.

That being said, SMU doesn't have a good return on investment unless you are getting aid, scholarship or have jobs lined up though contacts.

This list was obviously not compiled by a politician. If I may, I would like to make a couple of adjustments to your list:

U Texas at Austin Texas A&M

U Texas Satellite campuses Texas A&M satellite & affiliate campuses

U Houston, Baylor, TCU, Texas State, Texas Tech, UNT

(This space intentionally left blank)

SMU, Rice, Trinity University

Aggies

But, if you know Texas, you know that the state is divided between the two schools--and those divisions run deep and last for life.

I know Texas culture and Texas schools as well as anyone and no, A&M is not on the same 'level' as UT. The first list was correct in terms of academic reputation.

Not sure what you mean by the state being divided though. The state is huge and most don't care about either. And mostly UT doesn't care about A&M but A&M cares very much about UT.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:This is how Texas schools stand.

Rice
UT Austin
SMU, Baylor, TCU, Texas A&M, Trinity College
UTD, U of Houston
TXU, Texas Tech, UNT
others

Other than first two, rest offer merit scholarships so sometimes even top students who aren't eligible for need based aid, go to lower tiers for merit money.

That being said, SMU doesn't have a good return on investment unless you are getting aid, scholarship or have jobs lined up though contacts.

This list was obviously not compiled by a politician. If I may, I would like to make a couple of adjustments to your list:

U Texas at Austin Texas A&M

U Texas Satellite campuses Texas A&M satellite & affiliate campuses

U Houston, Baylor, TCU, Texas State, Texas Tech, UNT

(This space intentionally left blank)

SMU, Rice, Trinity University

Aggies

But, if you know Texas, you know that the state is divided between the two schools--and those divisions run deep and last for life.

Yes as most people can't get accepted to Rice and can't afford to pay for SMU.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:This is how Texas schools stand.

Rice
UT Austin
SMU, Baylor, TCU, Texas A&M, Trinity College
UTD, U of Houston
TXU, Texas Tech, UNT
others

Other than first two, rest offer merit scholarships so sometimes even top students who aren't eligible for need based aid, go to lower tiers for merit money.

That being said, SMU doesn't have a good return on investment unless you are getting aid, scholarship or have jobs lined up though contacts.

This list was obviously not compiled by a politician. If I may, I would like to make a couple of adjustments to your list:

U Texas at Austin Texas A&M

U Texas Satellite campuses Texas A&M satellite & affiliate campuses

U Houston, Baylor, TCU, Texas State, Texas Tech, UNT

(This space intentionally left blank)

SMU, Rice, Trinity University

Aggies

But, if you know Texas, you know that the state is divided between the two schools--and those divisions run deep and last for life.

Yes as most people can't get accepted to Rice and can't afford to pay for SMU.

If you account for UT Austin’s unique acceptance process, the actual UT acceptance rate is about the same as Rice.

https://www.ivyscholars.com/2022/07/07/ut-austins-true-acceptance-rate/

[Anonymous]

OP requested "thoughts on SMU".

How do you feel about attending an ACC school ?

[Anonymous]

Every woman I know that went to SMU married extremely well. They are not impressive (other than pretty) on their own, but they know how to bag a rich husband.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Every woman I know that went to SMU married extremely well. They are not impressive (other than pretty) on their own, but they know how to bag a rich husband.

+1

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:It’s a beautiful campus! We used to live down the street and enjoyed being nearby. The student body is like a small, intense version of a school like Alabama. They have some really strong programs in business as well as dance so there’s an interesting mix of students. A BBA from SMU is a straight shot into a solid role at any Texas-based Fortune 500 companies, especially for someone aiming for b-school. They are not the smartest BBAs I’ve encountered- UT picks up the brightest group nearby- but SMU alumni look out for each other. I think it would be easier to be a male undergrad than female because the social expectations there are pretty strong. There is still an old Texas money vibe to the place that would make it hard to penetrate from out of state unless you’re a rich preppy white Methodist or have an activity like marching band, dance, or a sport that will provide a social life.

I agree with solid/balanced as a description. Also, Dallas has changed a lot and would be a fun place to be late teens/early 20s!

Great info.

Your post suggests that SMU is like one big Southern fraternity for life--am I reading that right ?

I have two sons at SMU (from DMV) - a lot of these posts are really outdated. About 1/3 of the men at SMU are in frats, so they are outnumbered by others. Same with the BBA impressions. The top programs at Cox are competitive for undergrads.

SMU business school ranks No. 3 for graduate earnings in new nationwide study
https://dallas.culturemap.com/news/city-life/smu-business-school-earnings-salary/

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:The info about complaining a family doesn’t own a plane/jet is an interesting tidbit

I know (through an internet board for people looking at college dance) several parents with children at SMU. I know one of them is a single parent who said that scholarships were the only thing that made a school like SMU possible for her. It makes me want to ask her how her daughter is doing with that social climate. I wonder if the dancers are somewhat separated from that?

It is totally delusional to believe that more than a small handful of kids fit into the private plane crowd. - Parent of two UMC SMU students who accepted merit aid to attend.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:This is how Texas schools stand.

Rice
UT Austin
SMU, Baylor, TCU, Texas A&M, Trinity College
UTD, U of Houston
TXU, Texas Tech, UNT
others

Other than first two, rest offer merit scholarships so sometimes even top students who aren't eligible for need based aid, go to lower tiers for merit money.

That being said, SMU doesn't have a good return on investment unless you are getting aid, scholarship or have jobs lined up though contacts.

This list was obviously not compiled by a politician. If I may, I would like to make a couple of adjustments to your list:

U Texas at Austin Texas A&M

U Texas Satellite campuses Texas A&M satellite & affiliate campuses

U Houston, Baylor, TCU, Texas State, Texas Tech, UNT

(This space intentionally left blank)

SMU, Rice, Trinity University

Aggies

But, if you know Texas, you know that the state is divided between the two schools--and those divisions run deep and last for life.

Fifth generation Texan here, who also knows that, as much as Aggies love their school, they greatly overestimate its importance to anyone who didn’t go there.

Third generation Longhorn and I agree!

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:The info about complaining a family doesn’t own a plane/jet is an interesting tidbit

I know (through an internet board for people looking at college dance) several parents with children at SMU. I know one of them is a single parent who said that scholarships were the only thing that made a school like SMU possible for her. It makes me want to ask her how her daughter is doing with that social climate. I wonder if the dancers are somewhat separated from that?

It is totally delusional to believe that more than a small handful of kids fit into the private plane crowd. - Parent of two UMC SMU students who accepted merit aid to attend.

Agree. People really extrapolate from a tiny number of wealthy families there. I think SMU is really underrated for what it has - excellent academics, gorgeous campus, way more “normal” kids (vs super rich). The loyal alums are very generous so it’s a well-funded school with plenty of resources to recruit good faculty, invest in labs/ facilities. Again as PP noted well above, more than 70% of students have some sort of financial aid so it’s not all super wealthy.

[Anonymous]

Texas no

Never