Howdy!
After looking through colleges, I have finally tied it down to either UTD or SMU. At UTD I have been awarded a full ride + 3000 stipend, whereas at SMU I have been given Distinguished Scholar + Discovery Scholar. It is such a difficult choice to make and I don’t know where to go. I would be grateful for what help I could get.
Thank you!
Depends on the experience you want. If money isn’t an issue I personally would choose smu. The campus being in the heart of Dallas puts utd to shame. I don’t think the education would be better at smu for computer science but I think the connections would be better. My daughter considered both institutions but for a different major, and came away more impressed by smu, but only applied to utd. The aes money from utd was never going to be matched by smu, and didn’t want to take out huge loans to make it happen.
I live in Dallas and I am familiar with both schools. I really depends on what type of college experience you want. They both great schools are are different as night and day. SMU will give your more a traditional college experience while UTD is much more of commuter school. They do offer great financial incentives to compete the top universities in Texas. Need more information as to what is important to you to give you better advice.
As everybody has said, the 2 schools are very different for the college experience. I agree that SMU would give the more traditional experience. My daughter is in her 3rd year at UTD (and she did start out as a CS major) and her experiences have been one of expansion. Her roommates have been from all over the nation. Her friends are of all colors and backgrounds. Because of the scholarship, she has been able to travel abroad to Italy and is now in Peru. She is going to Prague in May. The people she has met there are from around the world and have inspired her to go see it. I don’t know if you see that diversity at SMU (don’t know much about the school). She personally has not missed the football games and the ensuing parties around them, but that is a personal choice.
As far as CS, I live her in Austin and I know that UTD is well thought of. Their scholarships are pulling in many bright students from the area and the companies here do recruit from UTD. I know SMU is well respected in the Dallas area but not talked about here. Probably because of the size of the school. UTD is producing 400 to 600 CS graduates each year so it does attract recruiters.
Thank you all very much!
I want to go into video game design. That being said I am not big into partying and I live in Plano so I am slightly closer to UTD. I have visited UTD and have yet to fully visit SMU, though from what I have seen SMU did look over and even pointed out some parts of my application.
What is important for me is skills I can use in my field, Computer Science, so that I can not only hone said skills but utilize them
- Why are you limiting yourself to your area? Is there a reason for limiting your options?
- UTD and SMU are academically similar. Well, SMU ranks higher overall but UTD has good CS program.
- SMU is a proper university like Rice, Baylor, TCU. UTD is pretty much a community college.
- That being said, SMU is overpriced due to location. You get similar education and experience at Baylor and TCU for less with scholarships with an additional advantage of being far enough for learning to be independent and close enough to visit your town as often as you care for.
- Consider Rice & UT as well, if you can get in.
@Riversider
UTD is a community college?
You have no idea.
It lacks in traditions, sports, culture, community spirit, residential community, Greek life etc. Its not a wholesome traditional college experience. You sure can get a CS degree and get employed.
SMU is a different world.
Hello. What did u end up choosing and how is your experience? We are in the same situation now