Hello, I am posting this because I am very interested in SMU as a school that l could possibly be attending next year, and I would like to ask current students/alumni/anyone who has been associated with SMU to share their experience. I am an out of state applicant who’s already been accepted, so if you could expand on the community, academics, or anything else really that would be great!
As a mom with a student there, here is what I have to say. Unless you become part of the Greek life, the only qualifications being that you went to a private school, or have a father who achieved status in life, then you will never make it into a group and you will always feel left out, always. It is a fairly fake atmosphere amongst all the "Greek"students there who dominate the culture. It is a much more extreme culture focused on drinking than most schools, even though drinking is present at every college. This is further encouraged with the “boulevarding” tradition. There are some great professors there, but there are also some young professors that have no business teaching any subject because they are robots, with no theory of mind. Dallas is not very diverse; the people there are very polite and well dressed. Dallas corporations hire SMU graduates so if any of this describes the life you are accustomed to, then you will fit in. Good luck.
Thank you for that candid post @imluvinit.
Also a parent with a student at SMU… I agree with much of what was posted by imluvinit. My dc was never interested in Greek life but instead hoped to find good academics as an honors student. The honors program has been a positive experience. As the previous poster noted, there are some very good and caring professors at the school. I think much depends on what you are studying. I do believe that some of the younger, less experienced professors are enthusiastic and well-prepared. Further, I feel there are tenured professors at SMU that have no business teaching. Some have been horrible. The administration does not care. As for Dallas itself, I feel it IS a diverse city. One only needs to get outside the bubble to enjoy the diversity. The previous poster is correct in stating that Greek students dominate the culture at SMU, but there are other groups and clubs. It comes down to what sort of experience you want.
Thank you @imluvinit and @zebbadimday for your responses!
As yet another mom with a student at SMU my son’s experience has been very different from imluvinit. I feel very sad for imluvinit and her child. If my child was attending the university she described, I would ensure he/she transferred to another school as quickly as possible.
Like at any University, there are some very good professors, and others that are not as good, but on the whole, my son has been pleased with his professors. More frustrating for him, is the inability to get into a particular class or section.
Greek life is huge at SMU, and my son is in a fraternity, but he did it without having gone to an expensive private school, and without having a"father who achieved status in life". We know many, many students who did not join, and/or tried to join, but did not get a bid to a fraternity or sorority who are still very happy at SMU. Like minded people find each other, and there are many non Greek organizations that you can join. We also know students who did not get into a fraternity or sorority and decided to transfer out of SMU because for them, Greek life was the end all be all of a college experience.
Is there drinking at SMU–yes! Is drinking more prevalent than at other schools—no–Unless we are comparing Oral Roberts University, BYU or other “dry” school. Are there students at SMU who do not drink and others that drink too much? Absolutely.
College and life require effort, compromise and self motivation. Your academic and social success and happiness are up to you and the effort you give; however, I do feel that some schools are a better fit than others. My experience has been if you visit a campus, sit in on a class, and talk with current students, you will have a good idea if the school is a good fit for you.
We are very happy with SMU, and think it is a very good school. Is it perfect? No, but I don’t know if a “perfect” school exists. Is it the best choice for you? Only you can answer that question after visiting, talking with current students, and sitting in on a class.
Best of luck with your college decision.
As a mom to a current SMU student, my child have had good experience and we are very happy with the school even though the school is not perfect. She/He enjoyed her/his time in SMU. There are a lot of opportunities available for motivated student. Research opportunities, study grant, overseas research grans for travel available for students to apply to.
Take a look at their Engaged Learning grant available
https://www.smu.edu/Provost/EngagedLearning/PROJECTS/CURRENT
http://www.smu.edu/TowerCenter/Students/StudentFellowships
Yes, there are plenty of rich students in SMU. However, if one were to look at most private schools, majority of the students do come from affluent homes as well. We told our child that regardless of which private college she/he goes to, she/he will have to learn overcome lack of status compared to her/his surroundings in schools. Part and parcel of growing up is to overcome the stigma.
There are fraternities that are open to both males and females. E.g. The Engineering Fraternity. It is a professional networking group and not expensive to join at all. Plenty of down to earth students abound within this fraternity. There are also Christian fraternity. Many different non Greek organization’s available in the school.
I agree with @doreasearch. Your academic and social success depends on your attitude and the effort you give. Yes, there will be compromises. That is a given in any institution. SMU is my child first private school experience. My child is not in a traditional Greek organization, he/she does not have a father who achieved social status in life. Neither factors diminished my child’s opportunities available to him/her in school. It also did not hampered her/his ability to foster/develop meaningful friendships.
All the best in your college decisions.
Thank you both @doresearch and @paperpen !
I can only tell you about SMU’s perception in Texas. It is located in a very upscale and central suburb bordering Dallas. Good for social life and networking. Religion isn’t an important factor, money, race and connections are. Academics are what you make of them and what major do you have. Overall SMU graduates are well respected in Texas. Rice being too competitive and UT being too huge and public, most wealthy parents send their kids to SMU, Baylor and TCU as these are small private bubble schools with strong academics and good athletics. If you are a business major then SMU and for pre-med, Baylor are school of choice for ones who can afford insane cost of attending. Baylor is like a cult in health industry with undergrad, nursing, medical and dental schools. They also own most hospitals. I wouldn’t hesitate to send a kid to any of these schools.