A&M or SMU - Page 2

Vyse · 05-26-2009, 01:50 AM

A&M has a much larger network, and is a more prestigious school. I live about 7 miles away from SMU, and I didn't even apply there. Its a great school and everything, but I was set on A&M.

Momof2forCollege · 05-26-2009, 02:22 AM

But how are the sciences?? that is what Cats is asking.

My son has a high SAT score so he too would qualify for a full ride, but if the science classes are not as good as A&M it is not worth it. And what about after graduation?
Can he expect the same or at least as good of a network to get a decent job out of college?

These things are important. A full ride is good, but after college is over if one cannot get a job.............
I would suggest asking the admissions department who and what type of vendors show up for the job fairs.

sja1202... Go away. Your brand of message is not valued nor wanted. Do you feel so threatened that you must come over to this site and post garbage?

klparker312 · 05-26-2009, 08:50 AM

SMU is known for their Cox Business College. Their Sorority/Fraternity system is a big big deal. A full ride scholarship would certainly allow you to put money into their Greek system :\
SMU is a beautiful campus, and a good school. But SMU is not a Tier 1 University.
A&M would certainly be a better choice for Science.

LiveOak · 05-26-2009, 03:27 PM

Texas A&M is a better choice imo. Two of my children are Aggie graduates and basically write their own tickets. My son is traveling the world now as a geologist making stacks of money...he has a degree in Bio-evironmental science. My daughter has a degree in Psychology with a minor in sociology and can pick and choose where she would like to work...when she puts her credentials up on monster.com etc, she gets tons of hits or whatever and is delighted. It is that Texas A&M diploma that does it. Also, both of these kids are forever astounded by the "Aggie network" and how far it reaches. My son was on an elevator in Anchorage and met a fellow who also had that Aggie ring and they were of course instant friends and comrades. My daughter is always telling me of different instances in life now where she gets "special treatment" when another Aggie and she cross paths. In fact, I am planning on going back to A&M at the age of 53 just to get that ring. It's on my bucket list. I have an associates degree in nursing, but that is with another school. It is my lifelong dream to gradaute from Texas A&M and I am going to do it....WHOOP!

Kyle555 · 05-27-2009, 02:46 AM

Correction ...

SMU is a Tier 1 University.

Vyse · 05-27-2009, 03:02 AM

SMU is right on A&M's tail in the USNews rankings, but I bet if you just went around asking what were the best 3 schools in Texas, everyone would say "Rice, UT, and A&M". I havent heard anyone put SMU in front of A&M.

ag54 · 05-27-2009, 09:53 AM

That is true, Vyse. But, I have to add that SMU is highly respected around the country. Many people go there from the upper east coast, the Chicago area, and the west coast. When I was there, my 3 roommates were from Greenwich, CN, Pensacola, FL, and Lake Forest, IL.

It's not considered some regional hick school, and is probably more well respected outside of Texas than inside for whatever reason.

Kyle555 · 05-27-2009, 12:04 PM

I have. I know quite a few people who chose SMU over A&M, because they are doing business (cox ranks higher), AND they prefer a private school . UT and A&M are more popular in Texas because they are bigger state schools, they automatically accept top 10percent, they are cheaper, and the football is big. I have several friends who go to A&M and have no idea what SMU is, but they also hadnt heard of Vanderbilt, Villanova or Tulane (for example). Perhaps, those three are the best in some people's opinion. Fine. BUT, I think a lot of people who would say those three schools in Texas are only niave.

I'm from Texas, and I had heard of all the schools before applying. I did my research, and visited campuses, and I only applied to SMU out of those.

So I guess in the end, everyone has their opinion, but my point is, not EVERYONE would say that, vyse.

klparker312 · 05-27-2009, 06:53 PM

The three Teir 1 schools in Texas are A&M, UT, & Rice.... sorry SMU is not on the list of Tier1's...

I am not saying SMU is not a good school.... it is not a Tier 1 school. That isn't an opinion... it is simply a fact, look it up...

SMU isn't even on the Texas Ledislatures list to become a Tier 1 school....

The Texas House passed a bill April 24 designed to providing research funding for Texas’ seven “emerging research universities,” while a similar measure in the Senate continues to move forward.

The funding for bill – estimated at $500 million over the next two years – remains an issue in this cash-strapped session. A similar bill in the Texas Senate is moving forward, according to a spokeswoman for Sen. Judith Zaffirini, D. - Laredo, the key sponsor of that bill.

The House version of the bill, authored by Rep. Dan Branch, R-Dallas, was approved unanimously. The bill would create three funding pools to provide grant funds for the seven state universities that are seen as “emerging research universities,” including the University of Texas at Arlington, the University of North Texas, the University of Texas at Dallas, the University of Texas at El Paso, the University of Texas at San Antonio, the University of Houston and Texas Tech University.

The three funding pools would be designated the Research University Development Fund, the Texas Research Incentive Program and the National Research University Benchmark Fund.

Supporters of the push for more research funding for state universities say the state must increase research funding to keep Texas economically competitive. Three universities in the state – the University of Texas, Texas A&M and Rice University – are already considered Tier 1 research universities. Tier 1 research universities are generally defined as schools with annual research expenditures of more than $100 million.

While the concept has plenty of supporters, the current economic situation has left the state with a tight budget and that may hamper funding of the Tier 1 research university effort.

Kyle555 · 05-28-2009, 12:06 AM

"Weighted more to the undergraduate experience, U.S. News & World Report ranks the top 100 Tier 1 national universities. On this list are Rice, Texas A&M, UT Austin—and SMU."

Right out of D Magazine:
D Magazine: SMU Goes for the Top - SMU

Now, I don't know if different websites, research programs or organizations have different standards for different tiers, but I DO know that many consider SMU Tier 1.

Maybe when you're talking about research, SMU is not tier 1. I don't know. But ... sources clash because I have seen it listed as a tier 1 university.

klparker312 · 05-28-2009, 08:19 AM

The Texas State Ledislature does not consider SMU a Tier 1 school. SMU does not receive any Tier 1 money from the State of Texas, only Rice, A&M, and UT do.

SMU is a wonderful school, No Question. It is a highly ranked, highly reguarded school.

ag54 · 05-28-2009, 10:29 AM

Quote:

The Texas State Ledislature does not consider SMU a Tier 1 school. SMU does not receive any Tier 1 money from the State of Texas, only Rice, A&M, and UT do.

While Rice is considered a Tier 1 University, it does not get any state funding from Texas - it is a private university, just as SMU is (albeit ranked much higher in US News). The Tier 1 funding initiative that is being taken by the state legislature is to add funding dollars to emerging PUBLIC universities in th state of Texas, ie. UT Arlington, UT Dallas, UTEP, University of Houston, etc.

Quote:

Legislation filed by Dallas Rep. Dan Branch (HB 51) would create a program for matching state dollars when an emerging research university:

1. Receives a major research grant.

2. Recruits top research faculty and staff.

3. Receives a gift to the research endowment.

4. Invests outside money to establish research-enhancing professorships, fellowships, scholarships or financial aid.

5. Invests outside money in research facilities or equipment.

State universities that would qualify: University of Texas at Dallas, UT-Arlington, University of North Texas, Texas Tech University, University of Houston, UT-San Antonio, UT-El Paso

The only publice dollars that Rice gets is in the form of grants, specifically - national grants from departments such as Defense or Health and Human Services, in order to fund specific projects and research.

Rice isn't and has never been part of the public university system in Texas, nor do they want to be...

Neither is SMU, TCU, Trinity, Austin College, etc.

ResurgamBell · 05-31-2009, 09:37 PM

Quote:

UT and A&M are more popular in Texas because they are bigger state schools, they automatically accept top 10percent, they are cheaper, and the football is big. I have several friends who go to A&M and have no idea what SMU is, but they also hadnt heard of Vanderbilt, Villanova or Tulane (for example).

yes i agree with you 100%
SMU isnt in any average student's eyes because it is small and selective. many people in the bush circles attended SMU and it is very well respected among the blue bloods in the bible belt. SMU is a Tier 1 school:

Southern Methodist University - Best Colleges - Education - US News and World Report

it's comparable to baylor and tulane! TAMU is better at the sciences b/c it is a land grant research university but that doesnt mean SMU doesnt do any research.

either choice cant go wrong.

Vyse · 06-05-2009, 02:42 AM

Just one more thing: I'd dispute that SMU's business school is any better than A&M's, at least academically. It may have better access to firms in Dallas, but the Aggie network reaches across the whole state.

Kyle555 · 06-05-2009, 03:05 AM

I don't think SMU's network is limited to Dallas firms. Cox is nationally recognized. I was actually in a business finance class today at SMU (Markets and Freedoms), and I was one of 4 people from Texas in the classroom. Not to mention, a good chunk of students were from a different country. There are about 50 or 60 students total. You might think A&M is a better school, that is your opinion, but COX isn't only recognized in Dallas, or Texas.