S24 was accepted to 17 schools (of 20)!
His top four are:
Santa Clara
Syracuse
Southern Methodist
UConn
Would love your opinions. Did you choose one over the others, and why?
He would like to study business with interests in finance, entrepreneurship, digital media, and art.
Want him at a school with happy and friendly kids and a place where there is spirit and vibrancy, but where he can’t hide too much.
We are from CT. Our kids didn’t apply to UConn.
DD (STEM major) considered SMU but decided that wasn’t her cup of tea. She is a grad of Santa Clara. Her roommate was a business major. I can’t say enough good things about Santa Clara. Our kid really liked the Jesuit mission of giving back to the community. This was woven into many courses. We all felt that the Jesuits have higher education down! The size of the school was not too big and not too small. Our kid got all the support she ever needed (including during a medical emergency during her senior year). Very responsive advisor and Dean of students.
I do not know where you reside, but the San Jose airport is all of 10 minutes away from the school…and there is a free bus from the airport to the Caltrain station which is across from the main entrance of the school. Very convenient if plane travel is required.
Our DD made great friends there, and did have a lot of fun. She found many activities to do that she really liked.
If you have any specific questions, send them this way. I’ll answer or ask my DD. She graduated in 2010 but she keeps in touch with people there.
Super interesting. What turned them off about SMU? Did you consider UConn or Syracuse at all?
All can be good options. Is cost or travel a significant factor? Is student in at Cox at SMU?
Does your son have any geographic preference post graduation?
One of my kids was a music performance major and didn’t consider UConn. The other felt UConn was just way too big and also way too far away from anything!
Neither of our kids considered Syracuse, again…size for one, and not what the music major was looking for.
SMU…it was just the vibe. Plus she decided she didn’t want to go to college in Texas. Really, SMU and SCU are similar demographically…except for the Jesuit mission (we are not Catholic). My kid just liked SCU better.
I will say…both SCU and SMU have fine business schools.
I have a son at Syracuse. It’s funny, he always liked the school, but didn’t think he was interested because he considered it too big for his preference. He then went to accepted student’s Day and met the Dean of his particular program/college (Falk) and what sold him was that particular program and how it also had a small program/college feel within a bigger school, if that makes sense. That’s true of many programs there. So, he never felt overwhelmed by the size. He’s a junior and absolutely loves it and has amazing opportunities that he likely wouldn’t have gotten elsewhere.
Did your son get accepted as a business major at SCU, and to Cox at SMU?
Cost/full pay is not an issue.
Travel is not an issue. (In South FL)
Post-graduation - open
Student is in an expedited transfer program at SMU (auto-accept to Cox if achieves a 2.75)
At SCU he is in Arts and Sciences; we think he would do a business minor and an individualized major there in “creativity and innovation” leveraging the many classes there and the strengths of the region.
My son has some great business school offers and is probably going to commit to SMU Cox. Their business program is incredible. He is looking for a top rated business program with strong internship opportunities and SMU Cox appears to be superior in both those areas. The new business building and amenities (opening this Fall 2024) was the best we’ve seen (even will be superior to USC Marshall in our opinion). We spoke with 4 current Cox students on our tour, all of which already completed 2-4 internships and one just came back from a work-abroad program, and they couldn’t speak more fondly. My younger cousin just graduated from SMU in 2022 and secured a job prior to graduation. He’s currently working for PW in NY. He had an incredible experience at SMU and said that throughout his interview process, employers were very impressed with SMU Cox students.
My son graduated from SMU Cox in 2017. Had a tremendous experience. Dallas is booming and there are many employment opportunities. He got an excellent job on graduating, and hasn’t looked back.
I am sure the other schools are great too, I am just not familiar with them.
Where else are you considering?
He is considering Penn State Smeal, IU Kelley, Fordham Gabelli and SMU Cox. (Other offers but not as nationally ranked). -He’s mainly between IU Kelley and SMU right now. We’re going back to Dallas in a couple weeks, staying 5 days to really soak it in and attend the Admitted Students Event.
So at SCU he’s in A&S and at SMU, he can get into Cox but isn’t assured?
Is he in at Whitman at SU? How about UCONN.
With digital media, he can do a double major at Newhouse/Whitman (not sure if you had to apply to Newhouse up front). Or worse case a minor.
You have weather differences and other differences too - from location (UCONN is most rural). Winters at the 'Cuse are very very cold - and then there’s academic differences.
I would look at curriculums to help you decide which can get you to your stated goals - to me, a direct entry program should take precedence - in that you’re assured to study what you want - some schools are more flexible to double major or double major and minor than others. But also look at time to graduate - if you start outside of a b school, will that add time to your studies once you can transfer into your major?
If there was an “IB” or “Wall Street” type financial interests, SMU often appears on feeder lists.
Best of luck in whatever you decide.
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