<p>mtpop, I didn't intend for that post to be negative ... Just realistic. However, if you want "basis and justification," I can give it to you. We aren't supposed to post links to student blogs on here, but I'm becoming tempted to post quotes from some and they ain't pretty. I'll send you some links by PM. See also campusdirt.com. There also used to be some very telling ones on Studentreviews.com, but they seem to have deleted that part. I'm NOT making this stuff up ... and yes ... SMU does have an image problem to people from outside the region. If it looks like a duck, walks like a duck, swims like a duck and flies like a duck, it must be ... a Mustang? :) Only school in history to get the NCAA "Death Penalty?" That's all my dad knows about it .... Hrmmmmmm</p>
<p>I read some of these posts. They are just blogs and journals from kids who don't seem like pillars of society themselves. You can't damage a school's reputation by a few kids who have opinions based on who knows what. Those quotes would be out of line. Your posts are very interesting, aren't they? Things seem to just jump around in them. I think you have to speak for yourself. If SMU has an image problem to you, then state that, but no one should speak for others.</p>
<p>Wow, this is getting really nasty; why don't you folks dial it back or take it to PM level?</p>
<p>razorback, that threatening post of yours is entirely inappropriate. Who is the adult here?</p>
<p>MTPop, you are understandably a proud and happy alum of this fine school. </p>
<p>I just want to clarify that I did not refer to any websites in my post that said that one can read about these schools and that I had read three directories that described SMU. All three painted a similar atmostphere but no one source should be taken as "gospel". Each source quotes students on campus and again, those are just SOME students' comments. Just so you know, I looked at 2003 editions of those three directories I named. There are student quotes and descriptions in each of those that describe the typical student and atmosphere. This is true of all schools, not just SMU. While nobody should make a decision of where to apply simply from these large directories, that is where many students start their search. From these descriptions, I wonder if my own kid would fit in. This is no different than perhaps someone from another leaning or region might say they might not fit into Goddard College, Hampshire College, Smith, Evergreen, Reed, for example. Diversity on campus however, is a VERY good thing. That being said, many students care about fitting in amongst a diverse student body. If the student body is not that diverse and the student does not fit the majority, SOME students might feel uncomfortable. A student will read a guidebook and if it says: "very liberal campus, accepts gay community, lots of crunchy granola types who care about the environment, social justice, activism, wear Birkenstocks, hippy culture, many minorities on campus, no place for jocks, attracts quirky types, alternative culture, laid back atmosphere on campus" and that same student reads: "affluent student body sporting Prada backpacks, kids drive BMWs, school heavy on social life over academics,heavy emphasis on huge frat scene and parties, conservative student body, students not politically active, lack of diversity on campus, country club atmosphere, pre-professional elites", then the student is going to either say, "this school is for me" or not. It may not be justified but it is based on written descriptions. By the way, I DO NOT READ BLOGS. I only read published college guidebooks. It is important for some students to discern the "fit" of a school. SMU is obviously a very fine school with an excellent acting program at Meadows. Some kids will be attracted to the campus climate, some won't, just as some would like Hamsphire College, for example, and some won't. I do not think the descriptions are negative but actually give accurate depictions of the strengths of a school, as well as a flavor for the campus life.</p>
<p>By the way, as I am writing this, I am really bothered that anyone would threaten to copy a post here by a student to a college administrator. The students here are welcome to post their views or what they have read about a school on this forum.</p>
<p>Susan</p>
<p>By the way, while I don't read live journals for schools other than my own kids' schools, prospective students DO read those and are entitled to do so and to post about what they have read. That does not make the information factual. Everyone is entitled to post opinions or sources of other opinions. If you don't LIKE those opinions, you are surely allowed to disagree. You should not take it as offensive or threaten others who don't share the same opinions. What you CAN do is offer up another view. Share what YOU know of the school and the climate on campus and the students who are attracted to going there and back it up. All views are welcomed.</p>
<p>i give. one person posts and it's their valued opinion. another person posts and it's inappropriate. i just hated to see a good school treated this way. But, it's really nothing to me, I'll just leave this thread for whatever you want to do with it.</p>
<p>and let me add, that no threat was intended and I do apologize for that. It was out of line. His post was just so derogatory regarding a school he says he wants to attend. i just could hardly believe what he was posting. But, again, I will apologize and there was never any real intent to do copy anything. Just hoped it would make him remember that this is a public forum and posting such nastiness about a school or region of the country is not appropriate in my mind. But, I'll apologize one more time to clear the air.</p>
<p>I am still trying to figure out how this thread went from Mary Anna being happy for her students acceptance to SMU... to a conservative vs. liberal debate on the school! I think we should all be happy for the students accepted. Obviously they want to attend SMU or they would not have auditioned in the fist place.</p>
<p>I fell compelled to somehow address this discussion about SMU and perhaps help find some happy middle ground for all. This time last year my husband and my daughter and I all expected that she would be a first year acting student at SMU right now. It was her first audition and her first acceptance and came with a generous scholarship offer. She too had concerns that perhaps the school didnt fit her liberal bent since football and Greek life are not her thing. However, never one to shy away from adversity, she decided that the benefits of SMU far outweighed the perceived disadvantages and public perception.</p>
<p>SMU has a first-rate acting program and incredible facilities. The faculty at the Meadows school is top notch and the administration is in touch, hands on and easy to communicate with. As Mary Anna pointed out back when this thread originated, perhaps the biggest draw was that it would satisfy her desire to keep her feet wet in musical theatre while pursuing an acting major. SMU was one of the few schools that she could find that would allow a voice and/or dance minor as a supplement to her acting major. This is the path that she had chosen to follow to eventually become an employable actress for both straight theatre and musical theatre.</p>
<p>What I really want to address is that the faculty and administration at the Meadows School or at least those involved with the Theatre program have their eyes wide open about the perception of SMU and its image to some as a party school, jock school, rich school, conservative school, I dont know insert your own adjective here. We addressed this head on with our conversations with SMU faculty, administrators, and students. Every school out there has a public image and perception, SMU is well aware of theirs and embraces the good and strives to improve its perceived weak areas along with the stuff that simply isnt true. </p>
<p>My daughter ultimately chose another program and is happily in her first year of acting at another fine University. Ultimately it was not SMUs public image or conservative climate that swayed her decision, but other factors. Her chosen school has its own image and climate that is probably not appealing to some of you out there (i.e. too urban, too liberal, too gay-friendly, too big, too international, not enough of a campus, not enough sports, no real Greek life). These are all items that we weighed and considered. There is no perfect program. Every single one of them has strong points and drawbacks and if any of you out there think that yours is perfect, well please bring it on, because I guarantee that unfortunately there are those on these boards who will find the faults and bash it to pieces. Search the Live Journals or My Space pages of any school and you will find the negative interspersed with the positive. I would hope that we are all wise enough to realize that there are the disgruntled and negative thinkers everywhere.</p>
<p>I hope that others will continue to post about schools other than the big top five that are continually discussed on these boards. This site was full of such good information when my daughter was out there narrowing down her list and going through the audition process. Thanks Mary Anna for trying to bring attention to yet another great program!!!</p>
<p>Caromom, thank you so much for that terrific post! I meant to thank MTPop too because that is precisely what is needed here....to hear other viewpoints that are backed up. Your post and his are very informative and as with any school, there are many perspectives so the more we read the better. I think it is good to read all sides about a school and decide then for yourself. I want to hear a variety of opinions. </p>
<p>You are so right that there are negative views of all schools or slants to a school that don't appeal to others. I'd be the first to tell you that my kids' schools ain't perfect and many would NOT like those schools (Brown and NYU). My kids happen to love them and feel they fit in and that the cultures are diverse on campus. But these schools are NOT for everyone. </p>
<p>I am glad to be reading about SMU actually because until I read this forum, I was unaware of their strong acting program.</p>
<p>Susan</p>
<p>I'm not going to respond directly to someone who has already established a condition of zero credibility through prior posts on this thread, but I am auditioning for SMU (If I don't get into Brown ED) because they were recommended to me by some MFA heads last winter as having one of the better BFAs to pursue to get into grad school. I never said it's not a great theatre department. Attacking the source is also favorite tool of the perpetually cranky, but asserting that the bloggers I have referenced are less than "pillars of society" is absurd. One of them is obviously a top student and his blog was even featured off the SMU website at one time. If anyone wants links to decide for yourself, PM me.</p>
<p>yeah, almost as absurd as bringing up a NCAA athletic sanction from the early 1980's. you must really have an axe to grind kellster - talk about cranky!</p>
<p>Haha! No ... That's just the first thing my dad said when I told him I was going to apply there! It's part of the image. No axes here!</p>