<p>Hello, I am a Thomas. and I'm a caucasian rising junior from PA. I have recently gotten interested in Southern Methodist University. I will be honest, I am pretty well off. I could definitely afford the top designer clothes and have a decent car and etc. I am not trying to sound arrogant. I am just saying this for the purpose of the thread. Even though I can afford and do very nice things, doesn't mean I do. In no way do I flaunt myself and unless you know me personally, you would have no idea how well off I was. You could say that my family lives frugally for what we have. We have nice things but in no way do we live in a huge house with 5 garages. I live in a regular looking house. I dress respectfully and make sure I look good, but in no way am I preppy. My outfit is khaki pants and a t-shirt. And in no way am I changing anything about me. So, I have heard that SMU is packed with gazillionaires white kids who spend their daddy's money blindly. and they are all arrogant. Is this true, please respond! Parents, students, and anyone that has a connection with the school please comment!</p>
<p>According to [Economic</a> Diversity | Rankings | Top National Universities | US News](<a href=“http://colleges.usnews.rankingsandreviews.com/best-colleges/rankings/national-universities/economic-diversity/page+9]Economic”>http://colleges.usnews.rankingsandreviews.com/best-colleges/rankings/national-universities/economic-diversity/page+9) , Southern Methodist has 17% of students with Pell grants (meaning from households of approximately lower 40% or so household income), which is relatively low, but not the lowest of the “national universities”.</p>
<p>As a rising TX senior who has visited SMU twice on school trips, I can chime in on this one. SMU does seem to have a ‘rich kid’ stigma about it given that it is relatively close to the affluent parts of Dallas (e.g. downtown, Highland Park). However, based on my interactions with a decent number of the students there, the school is not as snobby or stuck-up as one might presume. The school places a big emphasis on Greek life (has quite a few frat/sorority houses), but it is not the right school if you are looking for an intellectual powerhouse like UChicago, Haverford, or whatever. </p>
<p>It has respectable academics in the liberal arts, but when I asked about math or science programs they (tour guides) would try to deflect the questions and instead talk about the school’s law, business schools and study abroad opportunities.</p>
<p>Don’t let me deter you if you are interested in the school, though. It’s a good school if you can afford it and I don’t think you would have any problems finding people to hang out with.</p>
<p>bumppppppppppppppppp</p>
<p>I will add something else. If you have never lived in a hot climate area, be warned. Dallas gets hundred-degree weather from June all the way to late September. Temperatures rarely dip below 40, even in the ‘winter’ months.</p>
<p>Thank you @ybrown234. It will definitely be a low match/safety. I am a very good student and dedicated. But, I have read that their accounting program is 7th in the nation</p>
<p>I have been exposed to hot weather but nothing like that! thanks so much!</p>
<p>The people I knew there were nice, but very brand specific. I have been told if you don’t go Greek, you won’t have a social life. Once Greek, for the girls, you are told what to wear, and it is expensive. And you get weighed in. I have been told the heavy drug thing is a big issue there, as in heroin. It is very Highland Parkish. On that note though, the Park Cities is a nice and upscale area. So you would definitely like the area.</p>
<p>bumppppppppppppp</p>
<p>OP, what prompted your interest in SMU? You can find good accounting programs everywhere. Where do you want to live and work after graduation? Do you want to relocate to Texas?</p>
<p>I only know one person who went there, many years ago, on a large merit scholarship. She disliked it and wished she could have afforded to go elsewhere. She studied political science and went on to graduate school. The campus culture was not very academic and she felt alien. This person grew up in Texas so it wasn’t a regional problem.</p>