<p>I'm really considering SMU for next year...it's in my top 3. The only thing that is really holding me back is everything I hear about it. On one hand I hear that it's a great school with lots of opportunities, and that alone really attracts me to it. On the other hand, I hear that it's very materialistic and snobby. Considering the fact that I will most likely go through sorority rush in my freshman year, will the "snobby" aspect be a problem? </p>
<p>All the stories I've heard emphasize the materialistic aspect of girls' life at SMU...and I was wondering if anyone has any stories or experiences that could show that it's not really THAT bad? unless it is really that bad, of course.</p>
<p>Basically, what I want to know is if I would still fit in if I didn't have the super nice things that other people supposedly have? Any help is welcome, I'm just not really sure what to think about it right now. Thanks!</p>
<p>Unfortunately, stereotypes are a fact of life. And they are especially evident during the college search process. While it’s nice to say “Don’t believe the stereotypes!”, it’s kind of hard not to. And the more you hear about the stereotypes, the more sensitive you are to examples that affirm that stereotype.</p>
<p>There are women (and men) at SMU who value material things. There are students here who live an affluent lifestyle and are snobs about it. They exist at SMU - just as they exist everywhere else. </p>
<p>But then there are regular people - like me - who come from very normal backgrounds. I drive a fifteen year old car and I have one designer bag that I saved up for over several months working an on campus job. I loved my time at SMU and every memory I have of my time as an undergraduate is treasured. I made friends, got involved in several student organizations, lived on campus for three years and joined a sorority. I met snobby people, sure. But I also met A LOT of incredible, smart, talented, ambitious, kind and generous NORMAL people. Those are the people I chose to surround myself with. And those are the people who helped shape my SMU experience into something so overwhelmingly positive I decided to come back and work for my alma mater after graduation. </p>
<p>This is a place I love and there are many, many good people here. You can find bad eggs (and you will). But choose to seek out positive interactions and build meaningful relationships with people who share the same values as you. I think once you spend time on campus and get to know SMU students, you’ll quickly find that stereotypes aren’t always true and that the great trumps the bad.</p>
<p>clairepeep:<br>
I am also looking at SMU, I am a little worried about rush because I am jewish. Do you think this will hurt me? I am from Atlanta so I understand how many of the big states schools have those few sororities that won’t accept jews…do you think at SMU the majority do not? I have heard many different things.</p>
<p>@collegeboundhs14 Your personality is more important than your identity group during rush. One of my close friends is Jewish and she was her sorority’s rush chair and later VP. We are of course in the South, but SMU is an incredibly diverse school</p>