Am considering undergrad at several schools and hear that SMU students that are well off sort of set the tone for the campus socially and from the standpoint of inclusion/exclusion–and that the Greek system is really for partiers.
I like sports and plan to play intramurals or club baseball while studying business. I am also from a middle class family in Colleyville. I don’t plan on doing a lot of drinking. And I understand SMU football doesn’t have the same kind of fan experience as a Texas or A&M or Arkansas, but does the student body follow its sports?
Really like the school but wondering if I’ll fit in.
Thanks!
I cannot speak to recent student life on campus, but the death penalty for the football program was that. SMU has a football team, but it generally isn’t supported like it should be. If you think about it, it makes sense. SMU is in Dallas, so SMU football would fall behind the Cowboys, the Mavs, the Stars, the Rangers, the dreaded Frogs, and SMU Basketball. So, if it gets a mention in local news, that’s something. Now, SMU men’s basketball is doing well and is getting good support. Moody has been renovated, but it is much easier to fill than Ford Field. If you want to go to college and have a great sports experience, SMU isn’t your choice. A&M is in the SEC. You are bringing in 'Bama in football and Kentucky in basketball. You are a powerhouse in football and aren’t too shabby in basketball. Plus, you have the 12th man tradition. Look, I love the Ponies, but it just isn’t even in the same ballpark.
I go to every football game and I will say many SMU fans are fair weather fans - just like all the new cubs fans I’ve been seeing all over. Basketball is a lot of fun and football everyone goes to the Boulevards (tailgates), but most dont stay long at football games, unless we are winning. This season we should be above .500 and have a few players that may surprise in next years draft (Courtland Sutton is on an early heisman watchlist). Reason for shaky attendance relative to schools like A&M and Arkansas is that there are so many things to do in Dallas including pro-sports teams, nightlife, and arts districts not offered in college towns.
I have loved my experience at SMU and would love to talk more about it especially in terms of academics, class sizes, and on campus involvement side. I do go to every basketball and football game but with so much to do they can’t be compared to SEC football games.