Wondering when I will hear from SMU regarding acceptance (i hope). The SMU website says EA applicants will hear by 12/31/15…do they typically send out sooner? Someone commented that they received an email from SMU saying that EA decision would be posted on the portal on 12/11/15, but I didn’t receive an email stating this.
My son received an email over Thanksgiving break with the subject line “Happy Fall from SMU!” It included this info:
"Having recently completed your Fall 2016 Early Action Application (non-binding), we’re sure you’re eager to receive your admission decision. This year, SMU will be sending students notification of their admission decision on Friday, December 11, at 7 p.m. CST. "
Maybe you missed it since the subject didn’t seem to be application related?
Thanks so much for taking the time to share this! So exciting! Do you think they will notify us by email at 7pm? Or perhaps update the application status page? Many thanks again!
Email says it is on the portal.
They have started giving our rolling admits
Mine was rejected even after getting excellent GPA in my undergraduate college .They normally notify you sending email to check your status of admission . Upon login you can verify if you are admitted or not. Normally they take around 1-2 weeks to convey their decision.
Our son got an email today reminding him to check the portal on Friday at 7pm CST for his EA decision. He did not get an earlier email like others here reported receiving.
i received an email telling me to check the portal on friday today, but this was the first email I received. Are all EA/ED decisions being released Friday? Or are they going out in waves?
Does merit aid information come with the decision on Friday?
Yes
Got in. With merit Scholarship 20K/yr - 4 yrs 80K.
Awesome!!!
Question - Do you all think SMU is better than UT Austin or Texas A&M?
My child was accepted at UT Austin, and regrets choosing SMU over UT. S/he has friends who attend and have recently graduated from A&M (s/he did not apply nor ever considered A&M), and they all very much enjoy the school. Although my child has not had a positive experience with SMU, many students do. Your happiness at any school depends on the type of college experience you are seeking. The rumors circulating about partying and Greek life at SMU are largely true. UT Austin is more diverse than SMU, which is to say there seems to be more diversity of thought. Most SMU students I’ve had an opportunity to visit with find the Cox School of Business quite good. Nevertheless UT also has a great business school. Meadows School of the Arts is top-notch, particularly the school of music. UT offers more in most of the sciences. Pros of SMU include small class sizes and professors who are generally easily accessible. Do not, however, presume being “accessible” equates with giving a darn. This is a common complaint at most universities, though, and you will undoubtedly experience both good and bad professors at any school. The smaller environment of SMU allows a great deal of opportunity for research, but UT seems to offer more meaningful research. It is, indeed, a trade-off. Travel abroad is quite popular at SMU. The SMU campus is certainly more aesthetically appealing than UT, if that sort of thing is important to you. Best of luck whatever your decision!
My daughter had her heart set on SMU but her $90K scholarship was not enough to bring it within our budget. She is in her second year at UT studying engineering. She could not be happier. She loves UT and is happy that she ended up there. Daughter number 2 did a little better with SMU scholarships getting 90K from the college and 36K from the engineering school but it will still cost more than UT Austin. I think daughter 2 will study biomedical engineering at UT next fall. Austin is a great city and UT offers an excellent education. It is difficult to give up in-state tuition.
@bk1366 My husband went to UT Austin and my son went to SMU so we are familiar with both. They are both good schools but they are both VERY different. The best school for you depends on what FITs you.
If you are okay with being in a school with 50,000 students, where every course is practically a weed out, you are a number, hard to sign up for courses, etc. then UT is it. It may take more than 4 years to graduate due to too many students and not enough courses too.
If you want smaller classes, individual attention, easier access to opportunities such as co-ops, TA, internships, etc. then SMU is it. My son was offered all of these things in engineering at SMU and he is very successful.
Personally I would recommend SMU for undergrad and UT for grad school that way you have easy access to your professors and are in smaller classes for both.
Professors teach at SMU and aspiring grad students teach at UT which I totally disagree with. You also won’t be pushed out due to too many students/harsh grading at SMU but you will at UT. SMU doesn’t push you out. Instead they are there to help you succeed.
In short pick what’s best for you. It’s all about FIT. Good luck!
@Dallas14 Congratulations! That’s a very impressive scholarship. 
@newjersey17 Thanks for the insight. Few additional info. I got into Business school and have about 30 hrs of AP credit going into college. In other words, I will be starting 2nd courses from day 1. The way I look I should be able to graduate in 3 year. But I will do 2nd major or minor to be there for 4 year or Do Masters. The only challenge is SMU scholarship (what they have provided so far is $80K) is not sufficient. My parents are willing to pay for instate for Austin.
Congrats on your merit offer. That’s an exceptional offer. It’s so hard to get. You have no idea!!
How much is the difference between UT and SMU for you? You need to do the comparison based on how long it will take you to graduate with ONE degree. For example it may take you 3.5, 4 years or 4.5 years etc. at UT because of how difficult it is to get into their classes due to unavailability (overcrowded). Also will UT accept your AP courses? Then compare that price to SMU using 3 years.
Also don’t you have to apply to their business school? What if you don’t get in? The nice thing about SMU is you can major in anything you’d like as long as you meet their GPA requirement. Once you gain acceptance to SMU you can graduate with any degree you desire.
Also there are many ways to reduce your costs at SMU. My son was offered a research job, TA job (which is usually grading papers, tutoring, and helping with labs), and free room fees via being an officer of a club. You can also live off campus to reduce your room fees too.
Also I highly recommend that you do NOT get a second major. Instead get a masters. It is worth A LOT more. That way you can finish SMU in 3 years and even get a job and get a masters via night school (paid by your employer as a possibility). Or maybe you could get a scholarship from SMU to get a Masters. My son was offered a full Masters scholarship at SMU.
Just send me a PM. I’ll be glad to help.
Good point on Dual Major. I will try to pursue Masters if needed. Regarding business school - I got in Mccombs at UT and Cox in SMU. Regarding UT accepting AP credit - Yes I have checked both UT and SMU website I will get about 30 hrs. I can skip Freshman year courses and go directly to sophomore.
What about prestige?. Everyone say UT business school is Top 10 across the board in Business.
Regarding money - UT is 26x4 = 104K; SMU (-80K) - 260K- 80K - 180K. I am still looking at about 65K gap.
If I finish in 3 year? My guess is UT - 75K; 195K-80K = 115K
May be I go to SMU business school and ask for more money?.
I am still waiting for private college - Washington U STL, Emory, CMU, and Washington and Lee (it has a business school).
UT engineering does grade harshly. The class is curved so that the average is a B-. In some classes 30 percent or more either drop out or score less than a C. I believe the retention rate in engineering is about 60 percent. I heard SMU engineering has a retention rate approaching 90 percent. That is something to consider. I was concerned about my older daughter because she was not a super student. So far she is doing fine. My younger daughter is a super student so there is less risk. SMU would be a minimum of 15K per year more than UT even with $31,500 per year in scholarship money. If cost were the same, SMU might be the way to go but UT offers a great education for those students that really go after it. My first daughter has not had any problem getting the classes she needs. She has liked her professors and although the classes are large, the professors have been accessible.