<p>Ok, here goes.</p>
<p>I have wanted to go to SMU since 7th grade. I'm trying to get into dedman to major in history and go onto dedman law. Stats.</p>
<p>650 Critical reading
560 Math</p>
<p>Will not take SAT again until after application is submitted. Will not take ACT until after application is submitted. </p>
<p>3.3 weighted if i'm lucky. A good thing is that I haven't taken many honors and AP to get unweighted. 1ap 3 honors for now, senior year I am taking 4ap and one honors. Topic of my essay is that I am an upward trend. I'm applying early action and my application should be submitted in about a week. Reccomendation letters and other requisites will be submitted by mid-august. I have an interview august 8 with a new admissions counselor. As for extracurricular not that much one year of student congress one year of NHS chosen to go to American Legion Boy's State in Texas, one of two from my high school which is huge. I really want some tips and advice and would honestly like to know my chances. I really appreciate this, after all it is my future i'm worrying about here.</p>
<p>Aww man. I remember when I was in your position posting stats and stuff. haha. I'll give you my honest opinion. First, is there an early decision? Because SMU is your first choice, doing early decision is better than doing early action the only diff is that early decision is binding which would tell the admission council that you are ready to attend the school if accepted. Secondly, numerical stats are very important, this includes your GPA, rank, and SAT scores. SAT scores are pretty important. I would try to raise your scores a little higher atleast into the mid 600s. You may want to let them know when you are planning to retake the SATs. As for ECs, I would really try to take some LEADERSHIP POSITIONS in specific clubs that interest you. (president, treasurer etc) This is pretty important. I'd also do some major volunteer service during your senior year. This will show them that you are active in your community and in school. Make sure you write an extraordinary essay that really tells them about your personality! And let them know that you are interested in their school by joining their mailing list and frequently visiting the campus if possible. And I'm thinking of the worst possible situation here, if you do get deferred, write them a letter saying how interested you are in the school. That's what I did, although the school I wanted to go to was a lot harder to get into than SMU.</p>
<p>I think that if you raise your SAT scores, have a decent GPA, take leadership positions in school, be active in school and in your community and write a good essay, there is no doubt you will get in. Oh and make sure you get outstanding reccomendation letters!</p>
<p>I hope this helps! Keep me posted on what happens. Let me know if you need anymore help.</p>
<p>No, there is not an early decision, just early action. i'll be sure to ask that during the interview though to show i'm serious. I'm trying to raise my math score to mid 600's and reading to ~700. I will go for leadership in spanish club, psychology club and i'm not sure what else. My questions are 1. does it matter being president of these clubs? does smu really think anything of it? another is 2. since I haven't been in many clubs won't it look like i'm just now joining to get into college? it would, however enhance my 'upward trend' appeal. I've been involved in a program called collin county teen court since the middle of my junior year, do I need to submit documented community service hours or does it only matter how many hours I put on the application? because of this program, i'm getting a reccomendation letter from a judge and one from the program coordinator, someone who will graduate from SMU this year and go onto the law school. I've had one campus visit and been to one of their 'mustang monday' program and joined their mailing list. I hope this shows interest, should I point that out in the interview? Thanks for all your help and anymore tips and advice will really help me.</p>
<p>Answers:
1. It doesn't matter if you're president of those clubs really. You don't have to be president, it can be any leadership position in that club. And you don't want to put down any unnecessary info such as "member" of bowling club for instance, becuase you can be a "member" of 27 clubs. I can guarantee that the admissions council does NOT care about those 27 clubs. They would care more about those 2 clubs that you were actively involved in. Make sure you put down info about YOUR leadership roles.<br>
2. It may look like you are joining just for college but a lot of kids do that too, so you're not the only one. I think that the teen court is a very good idea. You may want to have a copy of your documented service hours. I think the recommendation from the judge and from the program coordinator are an excellent idea! This will really show that you are passionate about this activity. Many people just put down a bunch of ******** things and claim they are passionate about it. But they don't have anything to back their claim up. So these recommendations would REALLY help. </p>
<p>Tips:
As for showing interest, I think you've done a magnificent job. There's only so much you can do. </p>
<p>In the interview, I'm sure they'll ask you questions like "why SMU?" And that's when you should ENTHUSIASTICALLY tell them about what you want to major in and tell them that you really LOVE SMU law and you would like to go there some day. Give your top 2 or 3 reasons and elaborate on it. I wouldn't really mention anything about location, although SMU's location would provide "an excellent opportunity for internships, jobs, etc," but so can other schools in Dallas. You want to let them know that you would go to SMU even if it were in Alaska!</p>
<p>The interview is a good time for you to also ask them questions. Go in with a few good questions about SMU (even if you know the answer). That way they KNOW you're really interested in the school. Enthusiasm is key.</p>
<p>I think that with higher SAT scores, leadership roles in one or two clubs, superb recommendations from teachers, school counselor, that judge and the program coordinator, and a constant display of enthusiasm for the school, there is no doubt you will get in. Oh and a good essay--nice topic by the way.</p>
<p>Good luck!</p>
<p>I'd also like to add that my rank is probably top 45%. I go to a large high school, plano senior high. Again my GPA is probably about 3.3 this is without any adjustments, with 1 ap and 4 or 5 honors.</p>
<p>Haha, when I read your first post I thought "probably one of the Plano schools." Don't ask me why I thought that, I just did.</p>
<p>Schedule an interview; I'm told it can only help you (unless, of course, your cell phone goes off in the middle of the interview and your ringer is the USC fight song). Make sure you come prepared with questions of your own; it shows that you have done your research. </p>
<p>My personal opinion is that you are right where an essay may make or break your application...just do a good job and you will get in.</p>
<p>I concur with nathanTX07. The essay is quite important. You have a really unique topic, just make sure you have it proofread by a teacher or counselor. You don't want too many grammar mistakes. But most importantly, make sure the admission council is getting the whole enchilada about YOUR personality and how you would contribute to the school. I think you have very high chances of getting in. Just write an excellent personal statement and you're in!</p>
<p>haha wow all these years laters I find this...</p>
<p>I wound up getting into SMU, changing my major to biz and getting into Cox and now I have a 3.8 and am doing a double major and hoping to graduate a year early...funny how things turn out!</p>