<p>Great Thread. My daughter just recently was accepted after being deferred! We are so excited. We have planned a visit for the next Destination SMU on March 31. I have a few questions.<br>
If we stay at a hotel nearby campus, do we need to rent a car?<br>
Do the majority of students stay for the “dive-in movie” if they are not doing an over night? (sounds like a fun event)
the summer AARO - is this “strongly recommended” to do or can she do it remotely. Just wondering if we need to schedule plane tickets now and then again for August move-in. </p>
<p>And - big question for you John. My son is a sophomore at Vandy in Nashville. I get the feeling - even without having visited SMU yet - that they are similar in size and genuine friendliness of the faculty. We have fallen in love with Nashville too. Is Dallas as much fun? How do they compare (obviously I know Dallas is much bigger, but for a college student…). Thanks for your answers.</p>
<p>@DizziMom If you stay at one of the hotels near campus you don’t need to rent a car. If you aren’t within walking distance most of them will have shuttles that you can ask to take you to SMU. My mom typically doesn’t rent a car, and she’s always able to get to campus with those if I can’t pick her up.</p>
<p>I’d encourage going to all the programming possible. The nice thing about the “dive in” is that it’s more relaxed and you get to know other students… because no matter where you’re looking if you don’t like the people, you won’t like the school.</p>
<p>AARO is mandatory, Corral is strongly recommended. You can schedule the last AARO (if it’s not already full) and wait for move-in, but most people have to make two trips. You don’t necessarily want to bring all your stuff with you then anyway. </p>
<p>SMU and Vanderbilt are very similar schools overall. I felt like I grew up on that campus and have spent a million hours there. I’d say the differences between the schools are in the details but they’re both fine institutions. My final decision was actually between SMU and Vanderbilt. I love Nashville with all my heart, but I also quickly came to love Dallas. I don’t think I could pick a better place to go to school than right where we are (Park Cities right in the middle of Dallas).</p>
<p>@Newjersey - I don’t know what’s up with the AARO website. They may not have that up and running yet because they just announced today who the AARO leaders are. Give it time and if it isn’t up in a month call NSOSS</p>
<p>@Tiger1992 I’m in the honors program, but I really have no idea how many. It’s not everyone, that’s for sure. </p>
<p>@Plentyquestions Honors classes are smaller and more-discussion based, and I know that I really have enjoyed my honors classes. We have some cool receptions, there are awesome events that you can go to, we have our own advisor, you immediately have a “group” of people when you get here, you can apply to have UHP pay for your study abroad, and more. I would totally recommend honors, especially for those doing anything in the humanities or business.</p>
<p>AARO sign up date is apparently March 21st. That’s what was said at destination SMU</p>
<p>For those of you one the fence about SMU I really suggest Destination SMU! I just went last weekend and it was INCREDIBLE! I had a blast! </p>
<p>As for the Dive In Movie, nobody actually swam or even watched the movie but we played volleyball in the sand and hung out. It really gave everyone a chance to relax and get to know one another. I loved it!!</p>
<p>JohnAngle: Do you know when Meadows scholarships are supposed to be announced? Thanks!</p>
<p>Sorry, New Student Orientation and Student Support (NSOSS) is the organization that runs AARO and Mustang Corral - both of which you should attend. </p>
<p>@KollegeKid2011 First off, thanks for suggesting I create this thread. Meadows scholarships are being processed… give it a couple more weeks. I don’t think they’ve made their decisions yet</p>
<p>Do you know if a lot of freshman request a roommate (that they meet through facebook/■■■■■■■■/destination smu)? I was accepted a few weeks ago and I’m going down to Destination at the end of March, but as I am still waiting to hear back from one other school that would compete with SMU, I don’t want to start looking for a roommate until I am sure that I am attending, but I also wouldn’t want to be looking for a roommate last minute if everyone else was already ahead of the game with that?</p>
<p>Coco, I wouldn’t say you’re behind the game at all. From the people I’ve talked to over the years I’d say that most people who made a specific roommate request met them at AARO or from creeping on the SMU Class of 2015 Facebook page. That said, you can also do random and have SMU pick for you. I did pot luck and hadn’t met my roommate before move-in day and it worked out great… he’s my best friend! </p>
<p>So many people don’t decide on their school until the last minute that you absolutely aren’t behind!</p>
<p>Flex: Is the money on your ID Card that can be used to purchase food and items on campus. It expires each semester. </p>
<p>Pony: Is the money on you ID Card that can be used to purchase anything on campus and at certain places off campus. Some places include: CVS, Rusty Taco, La Madeline, Etc. However, Pony doesn’t expire each semester. </p>
<p>My recommendation: only get Pony it doesn’t expire and you can use it everywhere.</p>
<p>Ditto that. Flex also has a good ratio ($ 0.70 = 1 flex point) but can only be used on campus, while Pony is one-to-one ratio and can be used lots of places on campus and off campus. I don’t have a meal plan any more but I still load Pony</p>
<p>John, Thank you for the answer to the earlier post.
You mention that the classes are disscussion based. Are the honors courses without lecture and the students are responsible to research and study following the syllabus? Is there a created curve in grading making the courses competitive or are all courses collaborative in nature?</p>
<p>John, our son got an invitation for the BBA Honors Program. I know this is different from regular honors program. Is it new this year? It requires honors courses in the Cox Bus School but also offers the opportunity to take honors in electives. So, in some respects, it is not that different from honors program. Well, then again, I am not sure! If you can help on this…thanks</p>
<p>Hey guys, I’ve been on spring break and without wireless so just getting back to asnwering questions. Honors classes are pretty much like regular classes but just smaller and involve more discussion and less lecture than normal classes. I’ve always really enjoyed them! Some of my honors classes have been as small as nine or eleven people.</p>
<p>We have a Business Honors Program but it’s entirely elective so I’m not sure about them sending out invitations. Maybe they’ve started doing that and if so it’s something to consider for sure… business honors classes are like university honors classes in that they’re smaller, more intense, and have more discussion. I’m a BBA Scholar and University Honors, but I’m not doing business honors.</p>
<p>Hi, I received a letter from SMU about being invited to be a New Century Scholar. Can you tell me a little bit about the program, and the inside scoop? I understand you have a common dorm, a common english class, and do community service together. How are students selected to be a part of this program, and what type of people generally participate?</p>
<p>The New Century Scholars program was just created this past year so I don’t really know much about the people that are involved, but I do know that you all live together in Macelvaney and do community service together. Not much more than that, however</p>
<p>If my son signs up for Mustang Corral, will he be able to move into his dorm three days earlier? Or will he have to live in a different dorm until his dorm opens up? He is probably going to be living in the Cockrell dorm, the engineering floor. Thank you.</p>
<p>What do you know of the 6 person suites at Cockrell? Do you know if that means 6 share
one of the baths? I wouldn’t want that but wanted to list it as my first choice. SMU is closed now so just seeing if you see this tonight. thanks</p>