SMU or Tulane

College Search & Selection
1

<p>Hey everybody,</p>

<p>I'm trying to decide between SMU and Tulane for college, I was wondering what y'all think. I'm think about going into Computer Science but I'm not dead set on it. Tulane has CompSci but as a Coordinate Major. Money isn't really a problem but scholarships might look good for grad school. </p>

<p>SMU
-Hilltop Scholars Program
-In Dallas (I live in Houston so somewhat convenient location)
-Half Ride worth of scholarships</p>

<p>Tulane
-Slightly more prestigious
-In New Orleans </p>

<p>I have visited both and liked both of them. It's my decision but parents say they like SMU better but will support me wherever I choose to go. </p>

<p>Other Schools I got into:
-Trinity
-Sewanee
-Rhodes
-TCU
-Southwestern</p>

2

<p>Trinity University? (Did you get a scholarship? They have a good Comp Sci program)</p>

<p>SMU from what I have heard has a decent comp sci program. Not sure about Tulane</p>

3

<p>I feel Tulane is the more national school, but if you want to stay in Texas they are comparable in overall reputation</p>

4

<p>Yup, and I got a good bit of merit money to Trinity but I’m not dead set on Comp Sci. I took Comp Sci 1 last year and really enjoyed it so that’s what I’m thinking about majoring in but I might change later down the road.</p>

5

<p>What else are you interested in?</p>

6

<p>I’m also kind of interested in business, political science and international relations.</p>

<p>Thanks for helping!</p>

7

<p>The new Bush Presidential Library at SMU will expand their opportunities in poll sci & IR. Dallas offers more business internship options than New Orleans. With a half ride of scholarships and as a Hilltop Scholar, SMU looks like a better choice than Tulane. You can do a lot of study abroad and grad school for the money you’ll save.</p>

8

<p>As I grew up in Houston and Nashville, I’m very familiar with all of the schools that you listed. I went to Tulane (poli sci) graduated '10 and cofounded a tech startup (which was recently funded by Peter Thiel and Keith Rabois) so I have a good bit of knowledge on the academic/industries that you mentioned as well. All of these schools are comparable, though Tulane has a bit more name recognition nationally and a very strong brand in Latin America. If you feel like Tulane is more of a fit, then by all means go there. Professors are very approachable, and the comp sci department is focused on its application to other disciplines (which I find more interesting). In the tech scene, if you didn’t go to Stanford, Carnegie Mellon, or MIT then the university doesn’t matter much - it’s more about what you can do (and there is a huge labor shortage for software developers in the Bay Area). Also, CompSci will be a stand alone major in 1-2 years (and there are a lot of amazing tech entrepreneurs who have been associated with Tulane - Dave Filo of Yahoo!, Jim Clark of Netscape, founder of KickStarter, etc.). Tulane is also the strongest feeder school into top professional schools out of the choices you listed. As for Trinity, everyone outside of TX/OK will think you’re talking about Trinity College in CT (which is a phenomenal lib arts school). Rhodes/Sewanee - great if you want a lib arts school, and both have strong stats on getting into top grad programs as well.</p>