Anonymous
03/17/2026 10:57
Subject: SMU?
SMU Cox is a fantastic business program with terrific placement in Dallas, which is a growing banking hub. The new business school facilities, along with the rest of campus facilities and dorms, are top notch.
Greek life is strong overall, even more notably for girls. Good school spirit, D1 athletics, and intimate class size.
There are a lot of ties to old Dallas money and the school is wealthy overall (along with a long list of other schools with such high tuition), but they do give generous aid.
Greek life is strong overall, even more notably for girls. Good school spirit, D1 athletics, and intimate class size.
There are a lot of ties to old Dallas money and the school is wealthy overall (along with a long list of other schools with such high tuition), but they do give generous aid.
Anonymous
03/17/2026 09:56
Subject: SMU?
Anonymous wrote:Anonymous wrote:Has your student visited the campus? SMU is definitely has a majority white and wealthy campus. It’s also known for a hardcore party culture, with a lot of substance abuse and illicit drug issues (many high profile stories and student deaths over the years). Things may be better but I’d definitely be researching the campus culture closely before sending a student there.
https://smudailycampus.com/114181/opinion/the-daily-campus-evaluates-progress-in-drug-policy-over-four-years/
OP here. My son did a quick visit when in the area last summer but has not taken man official tour. I have never been. Yes, campus culture is very important and that’s exactly what I’m asking for recent comment on. In all fairness, the article that you link here was written in 2011 about events that occurred four years before that. So, not necessarily relevant to present day. I
Dismiss the warnings at your child’s peril…
Anonymous
03/17/2026 09:54
Subject: SMU?
Wow, this type of cocaine-fueled college scene seems like another world. Do parents know and still send their kids to SMU, or are they just oblivious?
Anonymous
03/17/2026 09:42
Subject: SMU?
Anonymous wrote:I live in Texas and know tons of people who have gone to SMU (including multiple family members). SMU offers a solid education and great job placement. It’s gone from a safety school to a school many bright kids ED and choose over more selective schools. There is a tight alumni network and many very successful grads.
The social scene is next level. There is an inordinate amount of wealth and it’s flashy, so it seems to be everywhere. Your typical NW UMC child of a law partner can feel poor compared to the kids with multiple homes and private jets.
SMU is aka Snow Mountain (cocaine) University. The drug scene is much more prevalent there than at schools like UT, TCU or Tulane. Sure, there are drugs at all colleges but it seems they’re more of the main feature in the Greek scene at SMU vs. other schools where there’s more drinking and a small group is into drugs. If you’re part of the Greek scene, the drugs are unavoidable. My son attends a private HS in Texas that sends 5-10 kids to SMU each year. He declined to tour SMU bc he heard so many drug stories from kids he knows who attend SMU. Friends with kids there have told me how hard it’s been for their kids to find a place to fit in bc they don’t feel comfortable with the drug scene at the frats and there’s not social alternatives. I could type stories all night.
If I had a kid who was not interested in the social scene or Greek life, I think SMU would be a nice college to attend. I would hesitate to send a kid who wanted to be involved in the Greek or party scene.
A friend's kid is a freshman who is entrenched in the cocaine scene there. They are an extremely nice kid, very good looking, bright but not academically inclined. They will land on their feet and go on to be very successful (come from a family with a ton of professional connections in finance, etc) but it stresses me out to watch.
Anonymous
03/17/2026 09:32
Subject: SMU?
Anonymous wrote:I live in Texas and know tons of people who have gone to SMU (including multiple family members). SMU offers a solid education and great job placement. It’s gone from a safety school to a school many bright kids ED and choose over more selective schools. There is a tight alumni network and many very successful grads.
The social scene is next level. There is an inordinate amount of wealth and it’s flashy, so it seems to be everywhere. Your typical NW UMC child of a law partner can feel poor compared to the kids with multiple homes and private jets.
SMU is aka Snow Mountain (cocaine) University. The drug scene is much more prevalent there than at schools like UT, TCU or Tulane. Sure, there are drugs at all colleges but it seems they’re more of the main feature in the Greek scene at SMU vs. other schools where there’s more drinking and a small group is into drugs. If you’re part of the Greek scene, the drugs are unavoidable. My son attends a private HS in Texas that sends 5-10 kids to SMU each year. He declined to tour SMU bc he heard so many drug stories from kids he knows who attend SMU. Friends with kids there have told me how hard it’s been for their kids to find a place to fit in bc they don’t feel comfortable with the drug scene at the frats and there’s not social alternatives. I could type stories all night.
If I had a kid who was not interested in the social scene or Greek life, I think SMU would be a nice college to attend. I would hesitate to send a kid who wanted to be involved in the Greek or party scene.
+1
Anonymous
03/17/2026 09:28
Subject: Re:SMU?
I heard that the Brunswick School in Greenwich (top all boys private) is no longer “allowing” their students to apply to SMU due to the intense partying atmosphere (yes more intense than average), incredible social pressure, lack of seriousness among the enrolled students, and dangerous fraternity hazing. According to my friend whose DD attended and transferred, the level of entitlement among the students is astounding. It is something to keep in mind. PS I love Texas and my son is going there for college so this has nothing to do with the state. It’s an SMU specific problem. Be wary.
Anonymous
03/17/2026 08:39
Subject: SMU?
Snow Mountain University
Short Men University
Simple Minds University
Short Men University
Simple Minds University
Anonymous
03/17/2026 00:43
Subject: SMU?
Amazing that so many kids from St. Albans go to Boston College. Up until the late 1980s, BC was the working class Irish Catholic commuter school. Reunion weekends must be a huge culture class. Guessing most of those St Albans families aren’t Irish or Catholic. The Jesuits in Chestnut Hill are selling something.
Anonymous
03/17/2026 00:10
Subject: SMU?
I went as a poor liberal and while there were lots of rich republicans I was unbothered by that. More than half of the undergraduates don’t participate in Greek life.
I liked it because for motivated students the school had tons of opportunities. I completely switched majors my first year and my new majors worked out new scholarships for me. Lots of freedom to switch or double or even triple major. Only caveat is it can be hard to switch into business.
I was a dual science major and easily found research positions in both departments, plus worked in a lab, plus got paid to TA. Lots of access to faculty. I ended up in a top grad school with a top national fellowship. I found the school was extremely accommodating for the motivated students.
I socialized with the other science students most of which were not rich or in Greek.
Campus is beautiful and it’s a nice safe spot in the best neighborhood in Dallas. For a kid wanting a city experience, it’s nice because you can get to everything you’d want to go to downtown in 20 minutes on surface streets.
So, I’d say that while it’s great for kids who want the Greek life/private school/D1 sports experience it’s also good for smart, motivated kids who are good at taking advantage of opportunities.
I liked it because for motivated students the school had tons of opportunities. I completely switched majors my first year and my new majors worked out new scholarships for me. Lots of freedom to switch or double or even triple major. Only caveat is it can be hard to switch into business.
I was a dual science major and easily found research positions in both departments, plus worked in a lab, plus got paid to TA. Lots of access to faculty. I ended up in a top grad school with a top national fellowship. I found the school was extremely accommodating for the motivated students.
I socialized with the other science students most of which were not rich or in Greek.
Campus is beautiful and it’s a nice safe spot in the best neighborhood in Dallas. For a kid wanting a city experience, it’s nice because you can get to everything you’d want to go to downtown in 20 minutes on surface streets.
So, I’d say that while it’s great for kids who want the Greek life/private school/D1 sports experience it’s also good for smart, motivated kids who are good at taking advantage of opportunities.
Anonymous
03/16/2026 23:26
Subject: SMU?
Anonymous wrote:Anonymous wrote:Anonymous wrote:Anonymous wrote:Actually, that's a very helpful link because it feeds right into the SMU stereotype. Rich kids from conservative families who can't get into the top privates end up there.
Yes, that's pretty much illustrated very clearly in that list.
But honestly how is that any different from USC, Tulane, Miami, and other schools like that?
It’s basically the Texas version of the University of Miami. Some people will love it, some people will hate it. Be prepared to shell out some cash on the kid’s social events if they want to keep up.
Texas version of U Miami, that is spot on!
Anonymous
03/16/2026 23:21
Subject: SMU?
Anonymous wrote:I live in Texas and know tons of people who have gone to SMU (including multiple family members). SMU offers a solid education and great job placement. It’s gone from a safety school to a school many bright kids ED and choose over more selective schools. There is a tight alumni network and many very successful grads.
The social scene is next level. There is an inordinate amount of wealth and it’s flashy, so it seems to be everywhere. Your typical NW UMC child of a law partner can feel poor compared to the kids with multiple homes and private jets.
SMU is aka Snow Mountain (cocaine) University. The drug scene is much more prevalent there than at schools like UT, TCU or Tulane. Sure, there are drugs at all colleges but it seems they’re more of the main feature in the Greek scene at SMU vs. other schools where there’s more drinking and a small group is into drugs. If you’re part of the Greek scene, the drugs are unavoidable. My son attends a private HS in Texas that sends 5-10 kids to SMU each year. He declined to tour SMU bc he heard so many drug stories from kids he knows who attend SMU. Friends with kids there have told me how hard it’s been for their kids to find a place to fit in bc they don’t feel comfortable with the drug scene at the frats and there’s not social alternatives. I could type stories all night.
If I had a kid who was not interested in the social scene or Greek life, I think SMU would be a nice college to attend. I would hesitate to send a kid who wanted to be involved in the Greek or party scene.
This is OP. Thank you for this.
Anonymous
03/16/2026 23:03
Subject: Re:SMU?
Anonymous wrote:The only people I know from NW DC who have kids at SMU are MAGA losers and really fake/unfriendly.
Not from DC, but this is an accurate description. Obscene wealth and politically conservative/MAGA. Good place to get an “Mrs.”
Anonymous
03/16/2026 22:41
Subject: Re:SMU?
Anonymous wrote:Anonymous wrote:St Albans grads from the classes of 21, 22, 23, 24, 25
University of Chicago (35)
Boston College (16)
University of Virginia (14)
Dartmouth College (13)
Yale University (12)
Princeton University (12)
Georgetown University (11)
Southern Methodist University (10)
Cornell University (9)
Harvard University (8)
Bowdoin College (8)
Duke University (7)
Tulane University (7)
Morehouse College (7)
Colgate University (6)
University of North Carolina (6)
Emory University (6)
Amherst College (6)
University of St. Andrews (6)
Columbia University (6)
University of Wisconsin (6)
Wesleyan University (6)
Is this a Big3? The college results are meh compared to NYC schools. Except for UChicago.
Yes, STA is a Big3. And comparing NYC privates to DC privates (except for Sidwell) is apples to oranges. NYC has much more wealth, connections, people, and many more elite private schools.
Anonymous
03/16/2026 22:40
Subject: SMU?
I live in Texas and know tons of people who have gone to SMU (including multiple family members). SMU offers a solid education and great job placement. It’s gone from a safety school to a school many bright kids ED and choose over more selective schools. There is a tight alumni network and many very successful grads.
The social scene is next level. There is an inordinate amount of wealth and it’s flashy, so it seems to be everywhere. Your typical NW UMC child of a law partner can feel poor compared to the kids with multiple homes and private jets.
SMU is aka Snow Mountain (cocaine) University. The drug scene is much more prevalent there than at schools like UT, TCU or Tulane. Sure, there are drugs at all colleges but it seems they’re more of the main feature in the Greek scene at SMU vs. other schools where there’s more drinking and a small group is into drugs. If you’re part of the Greek scene, the drugs are unavoidable. My son attends a private HS in Texas that sends 5-10 kids to SMU each year. He declined to tour SMU bc he heard so many drug stories from kids he knows who attend SMU. Friends with kids there have told me how hard it’s been for their kids to find a place to fit in bc they don’t feel comfortable with the drug scene at the frats and there’s not social alternatives. I could type stories all night.
If I had a kid who was not interested in the social scene or Greek life, I think SMU would be a nice college to attend. I would hesitate to send a kid who wanted to be involved in the Greek or party scene.
The social scene is next level. There is an inordinate amount of wealth and it’s flashy, so it seems to be everywhere. Your typical NW UMC child of a law partner can feel poor compared to the kids with multiple homes and private jets.
SMU is aka Snow Mountain (cocaine) University. The drug scene is much more prevalent there than at schools like UT, TCU or Tulane. Sure, there are drugs at all colleges but it seems they’re more of the main feature in the Greek scene at SMU vs. other schools where there’s more drinking and a small group is into drugs. If you’re part of the Greek scene, the drugs are unavoidable. My son attends a private HS in Texas that sends 5-10 kids to SMU each year. He declined to tour SMU bc he heard so many drug stories from kids he knows who attend SMU. Friends with kids there have told me how hard it’s been for their kids to find a place to fit in bc they don’t feel comfortable with the drug scene at the frats and there’s not social alternatives. I could type stories all night.
If I had a kid who was not interested in the social scene or Greek life, I think SMU would be a nice college to attend. I would hesitate to send a kid who wanted to be involved in the Greek or party scene.
Anonymous
03/16/2026 22:39
Subject: Re:SMU?
Anonymous wrote:St Albans grads from the classes of 21, 22, 23, 24, 25
University of Chicago (35)
Boston College (16)
University of Virginia (14)
Dartmouth College (13)
Yale University (12)
Princeton University (12)
Georgetown University (11)
Southern Methodist University (10)
Cornell University (9)
Harvard University (8)
Bowdoin College (8)
Duke University (7)
Tulane University (7)
Morehouse College (7)
Colgate University (6)
University of North Carolina (6)
Emory University (6)
Amherst College (6)
University of St. Andrews (6)
Columbia University (6)
University of Wisconsin (6)
Wesleyan University (6)
Is this a Big3? The college results are meh compared to NYC schools. Except for UChicago.