<p>Anyone here framilar with them?</p>
<p>Somewhat.</p>
<p>Students tend to be conservative, rich, Southern. Academics are pretty good. Alumni connections are great.</p>
<p>I think Baylor is a disaster. SMU is in my backyard- has some strong programs, but is VERY preppy except for the arts/music kids.</p>
<p>If you are looking at SMU, be sure to also look at Texas Christian University (TCU) in Fort Worth. Despite its name, TCU has little emphasis on any particular religious viewpoint (unlike Baylor). TCU has only 7000 undergraduate students on a handsome campus in the "happening" city of Fort Worth. Its endowment of over $800 million funds many programs on campus and its tuition is several thousand dollars less than SMU.</p>
<p>TCU and SMU are both pretty much independent of any church influence these days. Baylor still has a pretty heavy Southern Baptist influence. All three can be pretty preppy and have a large quantity of wealthy students. SMU has a decent EE and CS program along with Bio Eng. It also has a well rated B school.</p>
<p>Out of the three, TCU is the least respected and SMU the least conservative.</p>
<p>kcirsch, are you sure?</p>
<p>I notice you're from Dallas, so maybe it's different from your point of view. I definitely got the impression that SMU was the least respected and TCU the least conservative.</p>
<p>Does anyone know anything about TCU's journalism program? It looks solid on the website, but I kind of expected that, since it's promotional.</p>
<p>TCU's journalism program is definitely one of its better departments.</p>
<p>And despite the fact that I am from Dallas, I assure you that SMU is more respected than TCU, both across Texas and nationwide. Both offer a lot of the same things but each has its strong points. I may be wrong about the conservativeness of TCU as I have not spent much time around the campus, but SMU, while fiscally conservative, seems to be becoming more and more socially liberal. I know plenty of gay guys at SMU that are completely fine with everyone there. </p>
<p>But...I do know that SMU has a better reputation (ESPECIALLY their Business school...Cox is outstanding).</p>
<p>I actually got my SMU application in the mail today. Maybe you can help me out.</p>
<p>But honestly, I think I'm too liberal for either SMU or TCU. I'm a moderate democrat and I don't come from money. Would I be a hopless social outcast there? Would I do better at one school than another?</p>
<p>There are plenty of democrats at SMU. Being conservative and a democrat are 2 very different things (at least in my opinion). You would definitely find your niche but if you are not really into the frat scene or not interested in majoring in business or an art major, I would kinda think twice about the school. You don't live too far (Kansas) so a visit to both schools might be in order. Sorry, but I can't speak for TCU other than that Fort Worth is more conservative than Dallas.</p>
<p>Well, I'm into the frat scene. I'm not into business or art. Really, SMU isn't what I want except that it's in Dallas. You're probably right about the campus visits.</p>
<p>i personally would never go to SMU, Baylor, or TCU. at my high school, in north texas, has a lot of people who end up going there and those types are some of the worst people i've met in my life. If you like hypocritical rich snobs, go to SMU or TCU. sorry but thats being brutally honest.</p>
<p>I disagree with girlfriendmb. I live an hour from SMU, and my school sends a couple of people to the school each year. Sure because of SMU's location, in highland Park a very wealthy part of Dallas, it has it's share of wealthy children. It also has normal kids who are attracted to the excellent business school. One kid that I am very good friends with has been there two years, and is definently not rich, nor is she a sorority girl. She is in the band, and loves it. She doesn't feel like an outcast because she doesn't drive a beemer, although lots of kids there do. If you are interested in living and working in the DFW area, SMU will give you great connections, but it is still a primarily a regional school. It is also trying to get kids that are less rich trust-fund babies, and more scholars. It is giving some pretty nice merit aid packages because of this quest.</p>
<p>well of course not all people in a single school are all the same. I've known really nice sweet girls who ended up transfering out of TCU they hated the fake blond, fake tan, wear diamonds to a football game type so much.</p>
<p>I hope I didn't make it sound like art and business are the only good things at SMU. Most of its departments are very good, but I would only go to SMU if you intend on living in the South/Southwest/Texas for your first few years after school.</p>
<p>I agree with kcirsch. It is really a regional school (except for the arts department) and it is best if you stay in the area. There is quite a SMU network in Dallas. It is even hard to get a job AT SMU unless you are an alum (non-teaching positions).</p>
<p>If you want to live in Dallas after you graduate...go to SMU.</p>
<p>Having lived in Dallas and Houston i think it is fair to say that SMU is the strongest academic institution of this group. SMU is the preppiest school in Texas that draws the children of many wealthy people in Texas and throughout the country. The scene there overall is very materialistic with the new mercedes or trust fund the topic of conversation. It is seen as a good school that isnt all that difficult to get into if you can pay the tuition plus living cost(Highland ParK). However SMU is investing in scholarships to attract smart students away from the state schools. TCU is viewed as a school for wealthy kids that could not get into the two state schools. It is an alright school with a very preppy fake vibe. Baylor on the otherhand is located in Waco about an hour and a half south of Dallas. Its the largest Baptist university in the country and still has strong baptist fundamentals. It has average programs across the board with an excellent med school. It is a large private school so it will feel alot like a public school in some situations(not monsters like UT or A&M). Most Baylor students are from the Metroplex or the Houston area. It is a decent school for the most part. Baylor is a likely destination for student whom get rejected from the two state schools. In most instances because this is Texas the political stance is going to be slightly conservative with the greek scene very strong on all campuses</p>
<p>Hah, most people at Baylor are from central Texas (especially the Waco area since the faculty's kids don't have to pay tuition). Baylor has a very conservative culture, but don't take that to mean conservative in its behaviors. Despite being officially "dry," frats and sorors (with all their alcohol-driven escapades) dominate the social scene. Academics are fair to okay to good, depending on the department. It's getting prettier with all of the new buildings they've been adding, especially the Law School and the new science building.</p>
<p>I find it interesting that a lot of SMU's student population are from California. I wondered why Cali kids would pick SMU to go to over other schools. Hmm...</p>
<p>Kinglin - As you would expect, you have received bits and pieces of advice from many people regarding Baylor, SMU, and also TCU. As usual, if any of these schools are a serious consideration to you, be sure to visit and then draw your own conclusions. Just a factoid correction, Baylor University in Waco does not have a medical school. There is a top notch medical school in Houston which also shares the name, Baylor, but Baylor - Waco and Baylor - Houston have no affiliation with each other.</p>
<p>Also, though I'm sure there are some students who chose these three schools because they could not get into Texas A&M (over 30,000 undergraduates) or University of Texas (over 38,000 undergraduates), there are also many others that chose these schools over UT and A&M because they genuinely saw them as good educational alternatives to their mega-sized brethren in College Station and Austin.</p>