<p>I was just accepted to SMU with a good scholarship. I have narrowed down my school preferences to a couple schools but SMU has been standing out... </p>
<p>The only thing that is causing me to question SMU is some of the negative comments towards the school about administration and it being a "stuck up school". To me, I didn't see this school to be stuck up, however I am not a student there yet. Also, academics is the main priority in college, but so is school spirit, meeting friends, and Greek Life! </p>
<p>Could someone help me get a better understanding of what SMU is like? All of the things above are important to me and SMU appears to be a great and accomplished school, so I am hoping to get some positive feedback that keeps me optimistic! Thanks!</p>
<p>Hi. I sent you a PM. :)</p>
<p>@Firstchoice123 I would be more than happy to answer any of your question and calm any of your nerves. I believe @newjersey17’s son had a poor and very isolated experience at SMU so I can answer from a less biased viewpoint. Feel free to PM or ask away on this thread.</p>
<p>I too was very concerned with the Southern Millionares University stereotype and I almost let it stop be from coming and making the best decision of my life. The majority of my friends are on financial aid and scholarship and we all work part-time jobs. At any school you will find stuck up people but SMU has some of the most geniuse and well-natured students and faculty. And even the “millionares” like the Marriott heiress never flaunt their money or talk about who they are. People are here for a top-notch education, which you will get along with an amazing network of peers and campus tradition</p>
<p>The staff and administration most definitely do not seem stuck up! They’ve sent me the nicest stuff in the mail out of all my colleges, and they’ve been very friendly when I’ve emailed with them. Plus, since it’s a smaller school, it seems like they really do a lot to promote school unity and bonding. And I don’t know for sure about the kids, but from what I heard, they’re pretty friendly. Whether its genuine friendliness or whether its just because they’ve had very easy lives so far and really have no worries or anything, they’re apparently pretty nice. I definitely do think though that there are lots of wealthy kids, for sure, but of course, SMU is pretty generous with scholarships, so there’s a lot of average kids there too.</p>
<p>Gostangs2014. Not sure where you heard that! Funny. My son is a very happy kid and he is also very successful student at SMU. He absolutely loves SMU and he says there is everything at SMU and it is up to you if you’d like to be a part of it or not. He is also very happy with his advisers and the faculty. He has made lots of friends too.</p>
<p>@newjersey17 my sincere apologies! I must’ve gotten you confusde with another poster. So happy to hear your son is loving SMU :)</p>
<p>Please do not listen to the stereotypes!!! The best way for you to decide is to visit SMU at least once or twice and see for yourself. It is a great school with great professors and students. Is it perfect? No but neither is any school and any school will have positives and negatives. You just need to pick the one that is the best fit for you, your educational goals, and finances.</p>
<p>Also, college is the time when you choose who you want to surround yourself with. There will be stuck up kids at any private university you go to. That is general sterotype you will hear about at any private university, but at the end of the day, you decide if you want to be apart of that culture or not. Most of the students are not that way at all. 4/5 of the students are on financial aid or scholarships. Just make sure when you come to SMU (best decision I have ever made) you get involved with a lot of clubs and find out what type of people you want to hang out. Same goes to any pther higher level education you choose. But go to SMU! The opportunities here are unmatched to any other school in my opinion!!!</p>
<p>PerunaTonic is right! Don’t listen to stereotypes - every school has them and they usually aren’t true.</p>
<p>If you have not yet, be sure to watch ESPN’s Pony Exce$$, it runs regularly and is available on demand and showcases SMU.</p>
<p>I’m a current undergrad student at SMU and I can honestly say that the stereotype of SMU students is unfounded and based on pure assumptions. Throughout my experience I have met some of the most interesting, relatable people of my life. Sure, there are some students here who are very well off, but this will be the case with any private school. I come from a small, rural college town with a large public university, and I can say that attending a private school has provided me with more opportunities than I could have ever dreamed of had I gone to a public school. </p>
<p>You said that you wanted academics and then “school spirit, meeting friends, and Greek Life.” SMU sounds like a perfect fit for you. SMU is everything a college experience should be. You will make the best friends of your life here and have access to incredible professors. School spirit abounds at boulevarding and football games, and there is never a dull moment!</p>