<p>I just got accepted into SMU for the fall of 2019 and couldn't be more excited. However, I was reading student reviews and it scared me. SMU has been my top choice for awhile and I need to know if majority of the kids are rich and stuck up? I'm higher than middle class, but my parents don't buy the latest lv bag or Cartier bracelet. I do fit that preppy lifestyle just not to the extreme. Could someone who either goes there or knows someone who goes there tell me what it's like and if I could fit in because I do really love this school. Also, I am from New York so will that cause me to be an outsider at the school? </p>
<p>I have a friend who is a student there and she is one of the most down-to-earth, genuine people I know. She has LOVED SMU. I do know that she pledged a sorority freshman year and that was not for her. She depledged, but has ended up being friends with many of the same girls.</p>
<p>@deborahb thank you! Do you know if she had an opinion on the girls in Greek? I would love to be in a sorority but did she say the girls are mean or rude? Also, did she notice the amount of rich people there(high end fashion) or was that only a certain amount and not too overwhelming? </p>
<p>@15aflynn Hello. My son is a student at SMU and he absolutely LOVES SMU. It really fits him. </p>
<p>He chose not to be a part of Greek life. Most of the students are not part of it either. It is up to you if you’d like to be a part of it or not. </p>
<p>Also take a look at the common data set and you’ll see that 500 freshmen received FA out of over 1400 students which is over a third of the class.<br>
<a href=“http://www.smu.edu/~/media/Site/ir/commondatasets/2014/CDS_2014-2015_Part_H_Financial_Aid.ashx?la=en”>http://www.smu.edu/~/media/Site/ir/commondatasets/2014/CDS_2014-2015_Part_H_Financial_Aid.ashx?la=en</a></p>
<p>Hope this helps. </p>
<p>There are many kids that fit the stereotype, especially if you go Greek. However, it is NOT at all like some of the Southern schools, where you are predestined from birth to be in a certain house. It sounds like we may be from a similar background as you, and my daughter had a good rush and had many friends in her house. She didn’t think she would ever buy some of the brands that are more popular in Texas than CA, but she picked up a few things here and there and it was fine.
It is very preppy, but I think about 20% is from California, so they bring in some of the surf/more laid back attitude and clothes. There are many from Chicago, St Louis, Vermont, CT and Az. The kids dress nicely, but you absolutely don’t have to have the latest $1200 bag to fit in, unless that is important to you.</p>
<p>Oh, and the girls do wear dresses to football games. We thought that was odd, but once there, it’s really normal and fun, and it is 90 degrees in August and September, so it makes sense!</p>
<p>Also, there are about 60% that are not Greek, and they seem to do just fine.
For spring break, SOME kids go to the Bahamas or wherever, but lots rent overcrowded beach houses in Florida.</p>
<p>My son is a HS senior and is seriously considering SMU. He’s not a conformist at all, but sees that the business school is highly regarded and that is guiding him. </p>
<p>I know it is said all the time, but if you go to a Destination SMU event, you will get an accurate sense of whether or not it is for you.</p>
<p>One thing for sure, you will have a job at the end of your 4 years. The students are serious about that, and their internships. Best of luck!</p>
@15aflynn Congrats on your acceptance! Don’t let stereotypes scare you away. I’m a current female student at SMU and I fit in just fine without the newest designer wear 
Some students are rich (not the majority), and even many of the rich ones are sweet and surprisingly down to earth. Being from NY won’t cause you to be an outsider, either - the 51% of students are from outside of TX and NY is one of the top 10 states we draw students from. If possible, come to campus for a Destination SMU or a daily visit to see for yourself what the student body is like!
We just came back from Destination SMU with our son. The studnets (not just tour guides) were shockingly polite, down to earth and kind - no overt designer labels in sight. We intentionally asked for directions from “random” students, to get a feel for the campus. We are from TX, but half the students in our group were from So.Cal. My son was ready to commit on the spot, everything about the visit was overwhelmingly positive. Son is a BBA Scholar, but loves the way that acceptance into Cox is purposely non-competitive. He will proudly pass up “higher ranked” schools for SMU.
Congrats, @prayerfulsearch. He’s made a wise choice. May I ask what you mean by “acceptance into Cox is purposely non-competitive?” It is a highly competitive program-and getting more so- with only the top students being chosen. Only approx 100 freshmen are chosen for BBA Scholar, and getting into Cox after freshman year is quite difficult.
@Osserpusser My DS3 and I just did the whole tour/ business session over spring break. I think what @prayerfulsearch is referring to is the business school entrance process for non BBA admits. It is based solely off of meeting a GPA threshold in a core group of classes as opposed to limiting the spots to the top GPAs until all the spots are taken. Simply, if you do the work to earn the threshold GPA, you can count on advancing into the business school. This eliminates students competing against their peers for the available spots.