<p>Is SMU currently a heavy Fraternity Sorority culture? What's the best Frat house with a high mix of Academics and Athletes? I have a son going there next fall and I intend to do a bit of preliminary research for him. We are not from Texas so he will have to go on word of mouth.</p>
<p>I have heard that the "greek system" definitely plays a large role at SMU. But, SMU does have a reputation of having students that are very materialistic. Nice cars, ex$pensive clothes, narcisstic attitude...again, not everyone of course but I know the Greek System has a lot to do with money there.</p>
<p>Thanks! (10 Char)</p>
<p>It does seem to be true that SMU has a REPUTATION for materialistic students according to people on CC. But we have been there 5 times in the past 9 months for all-day visits, and we have not seen any blatant materialism. There are definitely nice cars on the campus and around the campus. We assume they belong to faculty. The kids themselves seem to be great, smart, very balanced people. </p>
<p>The school IS located in the middle of a very rich community. The houses in the community are beautiful. You do pass all kinds of gorgeous, expensive cars on the streets surrounding the campus. But the kids seem to be awesome, centered, grounded students who are there to learn and experience all the great things that SMU has to offer.</p>
<p>Truly, I think the reason SMU has this “reputation” that people (who don’t go there) often seem to talk about, is because people (who don’t go there) keep talking about it!</p>
<p>My son and I don’t value materialism. In fact, it turns us off. We are not anywhere near rich. And yet, we have not had any problem feeling like he could fit in perfectly beginning today.</p>
<p>This college is impressive! And I mean: the education, the faculty, the educational opportunities, the Cox School of Business, the Meadows School of the Arts, the beauty, the food (!), and the students we’ve met. It’s really, really, nice – and we think somewhat wholesome, actually.</p>
<p>But, sorry, we can’t help you with the greek life/athletes question because my son is also just a prospective student.</p>
<p>My son is seriously considering SMU. His other choice is George Washington.</p>
<p>All the people he met on his campus visit were extremely down to earth.</p>
<p>I know 3 SMU grads. None of them was in a fraternity or sorority. All are very nice people.</p>
<p>I too wonder if the stereotype of SMU students is a stereotype based on students 10 years ago?</p>
<p>As someone who lives in Dallas, not far from the campus, I can say there are definitely a ton of materialistic type people there. Granted, like always, it’s not representative of the whole student body, but it seems to be very prevalent. Probably perpetuated by its location, practically in the richest part of town.</p>
<p>Today I went to a meet and greet for accepted students.</p>
<p>There were about 15 students there. There were about 14 white students, and one asian.</p>
<p>All were very good looking. All were well dressed. All, except 1, went to a private school. The one public school went to school in a very exclusive part of town.</p>
<p>Perhaps SMU specifically targets wealthy good looking students, or the students target SMU. I can’t if its a chicken or egg situation.</p>
<p>In any event, if kids want to dress up for class, more power to them.</p>
<p>I’m reviving this thread to ask a question.
What is the SMU social life like for kids who don’t pledge?</p>
<p>I can’t answer the question, but I am certainly interested in the answer.</p>
<p>My son will be attending next year. He turned down scholarship money from BU, and was also accepted to Tulane and UT/Austin. However, he fell in love with SMU, and that is where he is going.</p>
<p>He is not a partier. He has a small group of friends, and they are are more interested in video games than partying. He is not a “nerd” but he will never be BMOC. I assume he will not join a fraternity, but he says he might.</p>
<p>I think SMU is changing. The average SAT scores are rising, and they are giving large scholarships to make them continue to rise. </p>
<p>I think as the SAT scores change you get more serious students who are not interested in partying first and studying second.</p>
<p>In any event, I think the 75% or so of boys that don’t join frats will find something to do.</p>
<p>Mustangdad-- It sounds like our sons might have something in common : )</p>
<p>Has your son selected a dorm? If my son does choose SMU, I’d like for him to be in the honors dorms. From what I have heard, some dorms have the reputation for being party dorms. I don’t think my son would be happy in one of those.</p>
<p>I do hope some current students answer.</p>
<p>My son will be joining you all at SMU!</p>
<p>He also fits the profile of having a group of good friends, but not a huge partier. He plans to live in one of the Hilltop Scholar dorms and will be bringing his X-box! We decided that a smaller dorm would create a more close-knit community and stronger friendships.</p>
<p>He will be in the Lyle School of Engineering, and turned down nice scholarships from Northeastern U and Santa Clara University Computer Science departments.</p>
<p>He is, however, interested in joining a fraternity.</p>
<p>It sounds like there will be more than a few like-minded students next year!</p>
<p>Is SMU currently a heavy Fraternity Sorority culture?
To put it simply: Yes. That being said, can you still get along just fine without going Greek? Yes, but much more so for guys than girls. </p>
<p>What’s the best Frat house with a high mix of Academics and Athletes?
A piece of advice to start off, ranking houses is difficult to do and should be avoided. Each house has its own personality and your son will have a chance to get to know guys in each house and figure out where he fits best. There is everything from a Christian fraternity to multicultural fraternities and the entire IFC system. Let him see which house he fits into because he has an entire semester before formal rush even starts, though rush really does start the moment he steps on campus. Once he does get on campus his best bet for getting an unbiased opinion of the houses on campus would be to ask some single upperclassman sorority girls. I didn’t pledge until my sophomore year, but I am glad that I didn’t come in with any preconceived notions of what the best “frat” was. </p>
<p>Also, make sure your son knows that there are “frat” boys and fraternity men. He wants to be a fraternity man.</p>
<p>If you have anymore questions just shoot me a PM, not everything can be said on the board.</p>
<p>I am a senior at SMU and want to just clearify a few things:</p>
<p>SMU’s reputation? I refuse to talk in detail about the rich, white, snobby reputation because this is why it continues to linger. SMU will continue to have this reputation as long as people talk about it, and it’s not true, so lets stop talking about it.</p>
<p>Now, what really matters are the facts. The ranks say it all. And when you visit campus, you will fall in love. The Professors are outstanding, the staff is wonderful, campus is beautiful, and the stats are rising. SMU WILL keep going up in rank over the year. I know it!I transferred here after my sophomore year, and I can’t believe I wasted my time at a state school. The education I am recieving here is outstanding compared to where I was. I picked SMU because of its prestige, academics, location and campus. I LOVE IT.</p>
<p>While SMU’s Greek life is pretty active, this does not mean you won’t find friends and fun without it. I am not in a frat, and I am having the best time at SMU. I know tons of people involved in the Greek system, and they don’t require their friends be greek either. That’s dumb. </p>
<p>I love SMU, and am super happy with my decision to transfer here. I have friends that have gone here right out of high school too, and their feeligns don’t differ from mine at all. We are all happy! Go STANGS!</p>
<p>I just graduated from SMU in May, and would love to help any and all inquiring prospective students/parents (whom I know are probably more concerned than their children). </p>
<p>To the Greek situation… the Frat/Sorority scene isn’t as big as it once was, but it still dominates the social scene. It becomes less of a force every year, and it seems as though the administration (specifically the Dean of student life) are behind this in an effort to improve SMU’s academic reputation. It’s been argued that the Greek influence has impeded academic progress, and it seems that the current administration agrees with this notion and is taking noticeable action. Just this past year, a very old and established frat was kicked off campus after being on probation. Each frat definitely has it’s own stereotypes… there are the party ones, the more bookish ones, jocks, etc. It may not be fair to profile them out here in public, but going to SMU for four years and having friends in literally every frat, I can give anyone who’s interested more info over PM. Just shoot me a message if you’re interested in anything specific. I can also reply here if anyone feels inclined to post more Q’s.</p>
<p>How is the Engineering school? Many internationals?</p>
<p>SMU is one of my favorite universities that I’ve looked at and I’m very interested in the school. My main concern and question is do I need to be in a sorority to have a social life? I wouldn’t consider myself a major partier, but I’m also not a bookworm. I like getting to know people and want to have a good time, but I’ve never been to keen on the greek scene. Thanks.</p>
<p>I’m thinking you might have wanted to start a new thread since this one is a couple of years old. Hope a current student will chime in here. But I’ll answer. For some reason, the SMU site on CC is not very active. Guess everyone is outside hanging out by the sunbathing pool. (no kidding, there is one)</p>
<p>I’m a parent – attended orientation with my son and while many girls seemed like “sorority types,” many did not! 30 percent of SMU females are Greek, which is a large group, but no where near the majority.</p>
<p>Even if you don’t think you are a sorority type, don’t discount the whole idea. Sororities are all very different, each with their own personality. You might find one you like. If it’s definitly not your thing, you’ll likely to find a great group of friends who are independent.</p>
<p>The campus of SMU is almost too perfect – matched buildings, manicured lawns, gorgeous landscaping, which may contribute to the school’s Southern Millionaire’s University rep. But at orientation, I met very few kids whose parents qualify for that tax bracket. Instead, I met really nice, friendly students from all over the country. I was impressed and if I were looking at schools again, it would be on my list.</p>
<p>Good luck!</p>
<p>As a current SMU junior and member of a sorority as well as the University Honors Program and a campus ministry, I can tell you that SMU is an awesome school which enables so many different types of people to find their place on our campus. </p>
<p>I am a native Californian, and was really nervous to come to SMU because of the reputations mentioned above: Southern Millionares., overwhelming greek life etc. The truth is that I had nothing to worry about! I have met awesome, down to earth friends, most of whom I met in my dorm, playing intramurals or through other extracurricular activities (before I decided to join a sorority). Some of my friends are not greek or in a different house, and it is not a big deal at all, we are all equally happy here! I mean, if you center your life around a fraternity/sorority, then obviously it can become a significant part of your social scene, but the truth is that occurs at any school with greek life, and SMU has many other outlets for students to meet and hang out with friends!</p>