I'm lost: SMU or Villanova?

College Search & Selection
1

<p>Hi, for those of you who are familiar with SMU, I was recently chosen to be a Hunt scholar, which is basically a full ride for me because my federal aid covers my room and board. I was also invited into the honors program and into the bba scholars program, so that's a plus to. </p>

<p>On the other hand, I got into villanova after being deferred and surprisingly, I got a ton of aid from villanova since I have a low EFC and so nova is very affordable now. And Im pretty sure it's a consensus that nova has the superior business program. </p>

<p>So, cost really isn't an issue as of now, and SMU is guaranteed 4 years since it's all merit aid while nova is all need based aid. So the two big things that have me torn are this: job placement and social life. </p>

<p>At SMU, I'll have a ton of opportunities being a hunt scholar and a bba scholar, but recruiting is pretty much limited to Dallas. Although Dallas is one of the beat business communities in the nation, I really don't want to live there after college, even though it has a ton of job potential. Also, SMU has a fantastic social life. </p>

<p>On the other hand, villanova has links to the northeast, which is much more appealing than the southwest for me. But, all I hear is "villanofun" so that worries me. </p>

<p>If anyone has any input or advice, I would really appreciate it. I am an intended finance major, from Hawaii, and Filipino. The type of things I'm interested in in college are Greek life and intramural/possibly club basketball, I'm a very social, active person. </p>

<p>Thanks for the help. This is the toughest decision of my life.</p>

2

<p>Anyone? Thanks</p>

3

<p>I’m not really familiar with smu, but villanova certainly is not no fun. most people that say that really just don’t know how to have fun. I also applied to villanova and if u are into sports, especially basketball, this is definately the place for u…they got an ill bball team and a lot of the community is involved with sports. also, I feel as though villanova has a better reputation considering I’ve never heard of smu. also villanova has a large alumni base so that could be beneficial in the long run</p>

4

<p>Thank you that is reassuring. I love basketball and I am very involved with sports so I figured i could fit in with villanova. Where do most VSB grads end up? Philly/NYC?</p>

5

<p>If you don’t want to stay in Dallas, I would definitely go with Villanova. It is the better school and will serve you better in the northeast. There are plenty of parties and fun at Villanova, and a lot of other colleges nearby. It has easy train access into downtown Philadelphia.</p>

6

<p>Does anyone have input about SMU, specifically the Hunt Leadership Program and Cox?</p>

7

<p>Bump for more opinions</p>

8

<p>I live right down the street from Villanova, and can tell you that yes, those kids really know how to party. They love to go into University City Philadelphia to attend parties, but they are usually well under control. These kids are also quite academic too, so they study just as hard as they party. Two other factors to consider: SMU has Nastia Liukin, total babe; Nova has Minella’s Diner, one of the greatest eating establishments of all time. Nova grads all seem to have great job placement too with many of the grads living on the Main Line, which is the wealthy chain of towns everything Nova kids do is centered on. I doubt this helps anything at all it is just something to think about.</p>

9

<p>Thanks for your input! I really appreciate it. I’m so lost haha this month is going to be incredibly stressful.</p>

10

<p>haha I know I am in the same situation.</p>

11

<p>Does anyone else have anything?</p>

12

<p>The SMU stereotype is fratty, drug-taking rich kids. Of course, many students defy the stereotype but that’s the rep. Also, I’ve heard from other moms that lots of the girls who attend SMU get breast augmentation as a high school graduation present. The actual numbers are probably few, but I’ve not heard that particular tidbit about any other school.</p>

<p>SMU Cox School of Business is respected locally, but I don’t know about nationally.</p>

<p>You would enjoy the weather here in Dallas. The campus is pretty, as is the surrounding area.</p>

13

<p>I don’t know if you’ve dealt with Texans very much, but they can be more than a little full of themselves some of the time. Then again, 'Nova probably has more than its share of the NY/NJ crowd. </p>

<p>SMU’s business school is pretty well regarded…I don’t think it’s a slam dunk in favor of Villanova’s biz school.</p>

14

<p>If you don’t want to stay in Texas, OK etc., I do think it is a slam dunk in favor of Villanova. I agree with missypie. While SMU has some excellent programs, most kids who don’t fit the stereotype go there because they were offered a lot of money to do so. It is regarded as an extension of the affluent public high school to the south of the school.</p>

15

<p>

</p>

<p>Funny that this should come up. Just yesterday, a colleague was reporting a weekend conversation with a friend whose D is an alum of that HS and is now at SMU - the D has told her mom that “everyone at SMU takes drugs” just like she told her mom that “everyone” at that HS drinks. We were saying, perhaps everyone in her particular crowd, but surely not everyone.</p>

16

<p>I agree that Nova is the better choice for someone who’s aiming for a career in the northeast. You can still join the Greek system and have a lot of fun at Villanova. The Greeks don’t dominate Villanova the way they do SMU, but those who choose to join still really enjoy their organizations and have plenty of school spirit.</p>

17

<p>The only reason why SMU is an option for me is because they’re offering me a merit full ride. It wouldn’t be an option if I didn’t get the Hunt Scholarship. </p>

<p>Villanova has been my top choice since my sophomore year and I really want to go there but lately I’ve been hearing more negatives than positives so this decision is really hard.</p>

18

<p>If you’re dying to go to Villanova, and can afford it, go to Villanova. Both Villanova and SMU are good schools, but they aren’t at the level of schools that are almost impossible to transfer into (Ivies, MIT, Chicago, Northwestern, etc.). So in the event that you don’t like Villanova, it would be very possible to transfer into a comparable school.</p>

19

<p>What negatives have you been hearing?</p>

20

<p>Mainly about the strictness, student body, and lack of parties. But I hear a lot from others that combat those concerns. I hear that if you aren’t Irish/Italian catholic from NJ/NY you won’t fit in, but I’ve heard the opposite as well.</p>