Can anyone tell me about the SMU journalism program? I have trying to do some research, but I am not finding anything - maybe looking in the wrong place. Does anyone have any opinions? Are people getting jobs in the field? All I can tell is that it is not accredited by the ACEJMC, but I am not even sure if that means anything in the big picture. Thank you.
I may be able to help a bit. So our journalism program is actually through our meadows school of the arts. I have some friends that are involved in the program. Being in dallas there are great opportunities at local papers and magazines for internships. As far as that specific accreditation I would reach out to the meadows school of the arts admissions group for more information https://www.smu.edu/Meadows/Admissions/Undergraduate
Thank you. Do your friends like the program itself? Dallas is a huge draw for internships - one of many reasons SMU is staying at the top of the list. Just trying to get some general feel for the program. It’s in the Meadows - School of the Arts as you mentioned, and I just wonder how this differs from a full and separate Journalism college. I can research a lot, but would love to get some “real people” general feedback on the program. Thanks! I saw your post on another thread I am involved in. Do you have the time to do one of those " I am a student at SMU - ask me any questions…" The SMU board here isn’t used too much right now, so thanks for stepping up for SMU. @james2014
@3mamagirls @buttercup2018 I am going to put this here since i saw this thread after i wrote this all. Most of these were in response to buttercup and sorry if incohesive im writing this in bed and i stayed up later than i wanted to reading.
First, would like to clarify that i did not get admitted into vanderbilt, but did apply. My best friend is at vanderbilt and we have visited each other many times during the course of our collegiate careers. I also have had a few friends that were admitted to vanderbilt and came to smu because of the financial benefits. Many of my friends classmates at vanderbilt applied to both and a majority decided to attend vanderbilt over smu. The schools are actually both founded by the methodist church and share a lot of similarities, which explains the overlap.
Many of my friends here also applied to and chose between wake forrest and tulane so there is much overlap. USC is also has a fair amount of overlap.
I chose SMU because of the opportunities in leadership and internships. The campus, city, and surrounding area were also highly desirable.
To double major is fairly easy unless you are in say engineering and theater. Or other intensive majors with no overlap in classes.
The academics at smu I have always felt were dependent on your major. I have been comfortable in my finance classes and found them to be rather easy, though i did struggle in other classes and am thankful im not premed because those students are significantly challenged. I have had some friends struggle to above a 3.0 and others get above a 3.9 with ease. It depends on your work ethic.
I have had friends transfer in from lehigh, university of miami fl., emory, duke for one reason or another who have felt the workload to be comparable.
Dallas is an excellent city. There is so much opportunity, parks, art districts, and food (my favorite). The surrounding area of highland and university park are some of the safest areas in the country and a good place to be. I like to expand beyond them though and go to museums and such.
I have had an internship that i took the train all summer to as a line runs within a half a mile of campus. my roommate worked at a small (like tiny we met them at a startup shared workspace a professor was a member of) vc firm helping startups in their portfolio. Many of my friends have done ibanking or consulting work too. Many of the large firms have dallas offices for access to both coasts and to centrally locate themselves.
I have had friends in the sciences do research and to my understanding it was not difficult to get involved with.
School spirit I have found to be fairly strong. Now many students were not lifelong fans for instance im from columbus ohio where everyone is a huge ohio state fan. Now I have gone to every football game and some of the away ones, but it is different from back home. Now when we play basketball the stadium is full and rockin. To my understanding the football spirit is similar for my friends at vanderbilt and tulane where many students didnt have a natural geographic connection.
Now I have been able to do orientation and give tours and take our freshman on a camp experience where i cried singing the alma mater as a senior this year (like two weeks ago). I love the school and the opportunities i have had and friends i have made. Thats been a big part of my spirit for sure.
Dorms here are called commons. It is a two year on campus living learning community. They are fairly spacious and actually not bad. All are carpeted or have wood floors (handicap rooms). There are common areas, study areas, most have renovated bathrooms or are getting them. Pretty good all around space.
Greek culture is prevalent but i would say changing since they put in commons my freshman year. The reason it is prevalent is as with most schools when kids parents arent around they like to have parties. It is easier to have parties when you have a lot of people paying money to have them. Fraternities are prevalent here, usc, vandy, tulane, etc. for those reasons. That being said they are changing and most are shrinking. The demographics here are shifting too as the student quality keeps rising. Im in a christian fraternity focused on spiritual development, brotherhood, and having parties free of drugs and alcohol - they are not at all what i expected based on the movies. There are also tons of ways to be involved and in leadership without being in a greek org - 5-10 years ago not sure if i could say that.
Wow this is super long
Also if youd like i can answer whatever you may have questions on - the next few days im a bit busy but i can get to them soon. Its hard because a lot of investment banks and consulting firms are already recruiting and im trying to get a lot of apps in.
@jamesk2014 Thanks again! Good luck with the recruiters. You are such a helpful person.I just have one more question. Would you say that the wealth of the students is very visable at SMU? Is everyone always dressed up, driving nice cars? Do you get the sense that people are status conscious? Thanks again
Oh student wealth so a lot of students are well off. More of an issue most private schools face. Some people may show it more than others. I live with two people whose parents were c-level had no idea they drive hundais. Some kids its more visible - some nice cars exist. The thing is i really dont hang out with them im too involved. It has a more southern preppy feel but i wear a hawaiian shirt and athletic shorts everyday - sort of a remainder of being a school in the south. I have personally never experienced any of the status consciousness - i sure its around the thing is the school is big enough where I wouldn’t know about it.