I’m considering applying to SMU because both my parents are alumni, so I figure that’ll help my chances. However, I’m wary because I’ve grown up in California and am pretty liberal in my political views, and the South, particularly Texas, is stereotyped as strongly conservative. I’ve heard their stories about having college friends who owned Confederate flags, and I’m wondering if the culture there has changed at all in the time since my parents went. Does anyone know what it’s like? Thank you in advance!
From what you’ve written, it looks like you haven’t spent much time in Dallas. I’ve been in and out of Texas for the past several decades and have had family members attend SMU. While SMU leans conservative, they are big enough to have the full spectrum of political opinions. As for seeing a confederate flag, I laughed when I read that. I strongly encourage you to visit and rely on your own observations.
Is that saying it’s not a thing? Cause I live in FL, usually known as a less stereotypical southern state, and I have heard/seen exactly that in some colleges. I don’t think that’s as laughable question as you might think.
I don’t know SMU well enough to add, but I think clarification there could help, coming from a southern living perspective.
I’m from UT, the school that reported last week the Jefferson Davis statue is being removed and being placed into a museum. I dunno why I typed that, but whatever.
Honestly, you should concern yourself with the views of the student population of your interested college, not stereotypes of a state’s political swing.
@PengsPhils Yes, I’m saying it’s not a thing.
I’ll add that it’s not something I have heard about or seen in my experience.
@smallkid9 The political views of a campus are not always clear, I guess you can kind of judge by the number of people in campus Democrats/Republicans, but often times one has to rely on the political views of the surrounding area. I know this doesn’t work for very liberal LACs in redneck country though.
SMU tends to be on the conservative side, but they are open to various political views, if you are looking for a liberal college in Texas, then UT is the way to go.
SMU isn’t as conservative as other religious schools of Texas.