About

See what students say:

Academics

Located on a tree-lined, “beautiful campus” in the heart of Dallas, Southern Methodist University is a mid-size private university with a lot going on. The school has a “unique culture” that relies on “top academics” and a “long-standing history of strong traditions” to build “incredible alumni support,” which in turn brings students excellent internship and job opportunities. SMU offers everything “from a great social life and extracurricular activities to fun and interesting classes,” including a “phenomenal business school” and “amazing” facilities. The school prides itself on being “a close-knit community of the intellectually elite,” and this translates into “a wealth of academic resources [with which] to be successful, a flood of opportunities for those who want them, and thus a community of intellectuals who happen to genuinely care about each other.” Professors are “incredibly gifted in their fields and exceptional communicators.” They “love interacting with students” and “are willing to put in extra time to convey the material accurately to students.” “If their office hours don’t match yours, they will change their schedule to accommodate people,” says a student. Most have worked in the industry that they teach in, and therefore they “can offer real-life connections to the material we learn.” The syllabus is also modeled “to what you’ll face in the real world.” The legion of SMU alumni provides excellent connections into the business world (among others), and three “dedicated career services centers” only sweetens the employment pot. Since many attend SMU for the Cox School of Business, it helps that the school is in the ideal location “to secure great jobs with Fortune 500 companies right here in Dallas.” The school’s administration also “understands that studying abroad, internships, extracurriculars, etc., also play a crucial role in developing students into the adults and professionals they want to become.” “SMU puts the ‘classy’ back in classical education,” says a student.

Student Body

This student body is “happy and leads a balanced life” at a school that it loves. Some students at SMU “tend to be a bit preppy,” “polite,” and may come from “influential backgrounds.” Many “work a lot for pay or do internships,” take a lot of class hours, “are involved…and have fun a lot.” “They are very busy people, and they prefer it that way,” says one student. All of these “motivated, outgoing,” people “thrive on leadership” and are “dedicated to academics and involvement, both at SMU and in the greater community.” Fashion “is a big part of SMU culture.” This group is “very social” and frequently interacts with the Dallas community and “amazing arts and restaurant scene around campus.”

Campus Life

Despite the fact it is located in the heart of Dallas, “the atmosphere is very calm and relaxing.” SMU students frequently head to uptown Dallas “for fine dining and dancing” and often see movies, shop, and attend concerts and sports games. Everyone is always on campus for the football games for “boulevarding” (“basically tailgating but on steroids”), and “we love to have alums come visit us for the tailgate,” says a student. Students generally fit in with this “vibrant social life” best once they have found an extracurricular organization that is right for them, and oftentimes “sororities and fraternities tend to be this venue.” However, some wish there was “less emphasis on Greek life,” since “if you’re not Greek, you can sometimes feel left out or looked down on.” Students devote a large portion of their time to their studies, but “there is always a social event every weekend night to blow off steam.” This heavy concentration on future careers means that most here are “definitely wanting to become leaders in their field or profession,” so “fraternity parties and formals are popular, but at the same time, so are speeches from prominent members of the community and theatrical performances.”

Contact & Visit

Campus Visits Contact

Contact
Tyler Synder
Assistant Director of Campus Visits

Address
PO Box 750181
Dallas, TX 75275

Phone
214-768-2058

Email
ugadmission@smu.edu

Experience College Life

Most Popular Places On Campus
Dallas Hall
Meadows Museum
Hughes Trigg Student Center
Gerald J Ford Stadium
Fondren Library
George W. Bush Presidential Center & Library

Most Popular Places Off Campus
Morton H. Myerson Symphony Center
Dallas Museum of Art
West End Historical District
Klyde Warren Park
John F. Kennedy Memorial - Sixth Floor Museum
Southfork Ranch, Deep Ellum, Northpark Center, Uptown

Campus Tours

Campus Visiting Center
Monday-Friday; select Saturdays
8:30 a.m. - 5 p.m., M-F; 9:30 a.m. - 1 p.m. Sat.
214-768-2058

Campus Tours
Appointment Required: Yes
Dates: Year-round
Times: Info Session & Tour together, 9:30 a.m. & 2:15 p.m. M-F
Average Length: 2 hours

On Campus Interview

Campus Interviews
No

Information Sessions
Not Available

Times

Faculty and Coach Visits

Dates/Times Available
Year-round

Arrangements
Contact Admissions Office

Advance Notice
2 weeks

Contact Email Address for Visit
ugadmission@smu.edu

Class Visits

Dates/Times Available
Year-round

Arrangements
Contact Admissions Office

Overnight Dorm Stays

Overnight Dorm Stays
Not Available

Arrangements
Other

Transportation

Types of Transportation Available to Campus
Dallas-Fort Worth International Airport is approximately 15 miles from campus. Airport shuttle minivans are available for the ride from the airport to campus; direct-dial free phones are located near the baggage area. The minivans and taxis leave from the lower level of the airport. Love Field (served by Southwest Airlines) is approximately 4 miles from campus; airport shuttle minivans are also available at this airport. By special arrangement with SMU, American Airlines makes reduced fares available to visitors for all SMU special visitation days. For details, call the American Airlines Meeting Services Desk at 800-433-1790 and ask for Star Number S9700. Amtrak trains and Greyhound/Trailways bus lines serve Dallas.

Driving Instructions to Campus
From I-30 (U.S. Routes 67/80), exit to U.S. Rte. 75 N. Exit from Rte. 75 to Mockingbird Lane West, which will take you to campus.

Admissions

Applicants: 16,150
Acceptance Rate: 52%
Average HS GPA: 3.71







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