SMU campus culture?

txfriendly
Wed, 11 Aug 2021 16:00:13 +0000

I have a friend on faculty at SMU and another friend whose kid is a student, and I’ve known/worked with lots of alums, but neither I nor my family have attended the school - so feel free to take this with a grain of salt. I think it’s fair to say that traditionally, the predominant vibe has been “old-money rich kids,” with the Greek life and social scene that implies. SMU is located in University Park, one of DFW’s wealthiest and most exclusive enclaves, and it’s long been common for students at the local ultra-high-SES high school to head down the street to SMU for college. (My friend’s kid received a shockingly fancy and expensive “dorm-warming” gift from his new freshman roommate, which I wasn’t aware was even a thing.) That said, I agree with others that SMU is making real efforts to diversify, and that culture may well be changing.