<p>I am from Louisiana. I am thinking of applying to this school b/c they offers computer science.
Well, I had a conversation with my family and they laughed at the name. He said," I am going to SM you lol!" (Don't take it offensive plz. Sorry if you did.)
Well, anyway, is it a good school? Does this school have a lot of international students and out-of-state students?
If you are a Texan, can you please tell me what opinions/stereotypes do they have?</p>
<p>What are your stats? SMU is becoming more and more selective. SMU is definitely a pretty good school with a good reputation. I’m not sure if your dad was confusing it with another school or if he was mocking it because of it’s rich-kid stereotype. People don’t generally make fun of SMU.</p>
<p>It is stereotypically very wealthy and snobby. I’ve been to the campus many times and sometimes this attitude is apparent, other times it’s not. It’s most known for business and law, but the CS program is good.</p>
<p>I’m a Texan!!! As for stereotypes SMU is thought of as the school for the the wealthy and preppy, which in many ways holds true. I visited and I thought the campus was very pretty. Think nice manicured lawns and historic, “presidential” buildings (columns, etc. I can’t think of the exact architecture right now lol). At my high school it was thought of as a good place for business, but I’m honestly not too sure what its best programs are. Also, the school has a large greek presence. </p>
<p>On my visit there is one comment the tour guide made that I will always remember. We came to a part of campus where students apparently gathered before big football games to eat, drink, party, etc. While pointing out this area the tour guide says, “Here at SMU we don’t call it tailgating. We call it boulevarding. It’s just more classy.” In my head I thought its the SAME DARN THING! He was really serious, though. To me that says something about the atmosphere (not necessarily good/bad), just interesting…</p>
<p>SMU wasn’t for me, but I know people who really like going there. Hope this was helpful :)</p>
<p>I’ll “third” the wealthy students bit. I know two people enrolled there, and both of their families were definitely doing very well financially. Neither one came across as completely snobby though, maybe a little spoiled, but most kids these days are.</p>
<p>When my brother toured the campus apparently there were some people from Orange County, CA in his tour group. So it seems like the wealth thing is pretty well-founded.</p>
<p>That being said, SMU has a pretty good reputation in Texas, but I wouldn’t say any moreso than UT-Austin or Texas A&M. I’m not super knowledgeable but I have heard that their CS and Business programs are supposedly very good, so you’d probably be fine studying CS there.</p>
<p>It is, in many respects, an extension of the affluent public high school to the south of the university. it is very Greek and has a lot of wealthy students. I know some retail owners near campus and they can’t stand the SMU students. It can all get to be a little much. There are some strong programs and faculty members, however, and merit money can be very generous. It is one of the few schools I would not have paid for my kids to attend, not that either of them would have been interested. I’m just not a huge fan unless it is the right economic decision for a family.</p>
<p>In Texas, UT-Austin is far better in CS, and UT-Dallas is also fairly strong in CS. Rice is certainly strong in CS, though of course Rice is far more difficult to gain admission to. There are reasons to go to SMU, though I am not sure that the program in CS is one of those reasons. </p>
<p>A son of a first cousin of mine is the only person I know to attend and graduate from SMU. He was from a middle class background but was from the DFW Metroplex and received a full scholarship for academics to SMU, so he decided to go. He never felt comfortable there, surrounded by all the wealthy kids, and regretted his decision. You could have a different experience as I am sure others have.</p>
<p>andrewt787:
Anyway, my father (and my relatives) can make fun of Tulane. So…meh.
CS should be good b/c it is ABET accredited.</p>
<p>Austinareadad:
UT are public institution. Since I am from Louisiana, it is harder for me to get in based on the fact that I am out of state.</p>
<p>Everyone:
First of all, I was trying to make a point. I apologize again for the cruel joke my family made.
It sounds like this school is rich school…and have a lot of endowment like Tulane.
Well, anyway, can you tell me whether I should bring a car to campus? Can you tell me more about the city of Dallas please?</p>
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<p>More comments on SMU would be appreciated.</p>
<p>From SMU you can actually use public transportation to get into downtown Dallas (should you need to go). That said, Dallas is a car city, but I’m not sure how much you would need one as a freshman. Dallas is not a beautiful city (I lived there 28 years) but the area around SMU is the prettiest with trees and very expensive homes. The main recreational activity in Dallas is shopping, so bring lots of money.</p>
<p>MomofWildChild:
I see. It sounds like it is just like New Orleans.
Do they have car rental like Zipcar?</p>
<p>I like Dallas and the rest of the Metroplex. It is not much like New Orleans.</p>
<p>UT-Dallas is a better school for computer science. So is LSU.</p>
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<p>That would be a stretch. Only the unkept downtown Dallas might have some similarities with New Orleans. Dallas is a testament to the values of consumerism and capitalism. It is a city that likes the wealthy and tries to please them. Houston “might” compare better to New Orleans, but again that would be a stretch. </p>
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<p>I hate to contradict MOWC but Highland Park High School is actually due West and ever so slightly to the North. South of SMU is a residential area and the start of the McKinney restaurant district. </p>
<p><a href=“Google Maps”>Google Maps;
<p>Otherwise, many people in Dallas would agree with the so-so comments. An old say about SMU is that it is the school where one pays his fees and collects his B’s. Probably unfair to some of the competitive students, but it is hardly the toughest school in Texas, academically speaking.</p>
<p>noimagination and xiggi:
I get it. Seems like Dallas is different.</p>
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<p>If there are more people can comment this school, please do.</p>
<p>From where I live (CA), SMU is known as a good school, not a great school. It is known as a social, Greek school, a lot like the USC (Univ of So. Cal) of olden days. I have heard that Greek rush can be rough (competitive), especially for the sororities.</p>
<p>Oops. Of course. See what a few years away will do? :). Too much time north of Forest Lane!</p>
<p>As someone who has lived in Dallas nearly their entire life up until college, I can’t recommend it for a college student. I’d venture to bet that NO, is probably much more “fun” than DFW.</p>
<p>It is definitely NOT a college town. AFAIK, there just aren’t many activities for people our age.</p>
<p>EnterNameHere:
I am not sure. I have been in NO forever since I moved into US many years ago. I never find NO exciting. Except people are nice, schools are “■■■■■■■■”, things easier, etc.</p>
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<p>Haha, I think we all just fatigued of our hometowns eventually–sometimes anything new is nice. I mean, I know a guy from here (DFW area) who goes to Tulane now and loves it in NO. How’s the saying go? If you eat cake everyday you’re bound to get sick of it? Seems like a similar thing applies here.</p>
<p>Enternamehere:
I think so lol. Now I am kind of tired of New Orleans. When they always trying to promote Jazz music, but who the heck would go listen to them? In fact, most people like national music like Hip-hop.</p>
<p>The downtown New Orleans have nothing except tourist traps and fancy places. Streetcars are majorly tourists.</p>
<p>However, it is a very good place to live in general, despite the fact - high crime rates.</p>