If you’re drawn to a “rah, rah” Southern university D1 football culture with strong Greek Life, yet access to smaller classes and professors that care, SMU may be for you! On my recent visit, I felt the energy and go-getter atmosphere. SMU’s gorgeous campus lies five minutes from central downtown Dallas in an area called University Park. Being so close to one of the hottest job markets in the country, internship opportunities abound. In fact, over 20 Fortune 500 Companies are based in Dallas and over 65,500 alumni work in the DFW area giving SMU students a huge leg up in the jobs market upon graduation.

Some of their strongest and most interesting programs include the Cox School of Business, the Lyle School of Engineering, the Simmons School of Education and Human Development, and the Meadows School of the Arts. Cox is a very competitive direct admit process where students indicate their interest in Cox as their first choice of study. If they are not selected to Cox, they may still be accepted to SMU and will have the opportunity to minor in business. There are a handful of internal transfers available but extremely difficult to secure. Finance is the most popular major but new programs in Real Estate and Business Analytics and Supply Chain Management are gaining in popularity.

The Lyle School of Engineering hosts its own supercomputer and the first LEED Gold Standard Building for Environmental Design. The school offers undergrads numerous research opportunities and runs a co-op program with local engineering and technology companies. The school also prides itself in its high ratio of women as students and faculty.

The Simmons School of Education and Human Development boasts one of the strongest sports management and physiology programs in the country. Sports are huge in Dallas and SMU takes full advantage.

Meadows School of the Arts is a dual admission process requiring students to submit their portfolio/or audition. It is one of the few conservatory style degree programs in the country that allow students to double major outside of the arts. Many students opt to combine their art degree with a minor in business at Cox….no need to be a starving artist they say! Fashion media, communications, and advertising are also well-respected majors within the school.

All students complete a liberal arts Common Curriculum (CC). In addition to the southern sports culture, there is also a strong emphasis on the Methodist values of “teaching and learning for the greater good.” Students are encouraged to give back to the local community. All students live on campus for their first two years in 11 residential commons with faculty, their families, and pets. The faculty host weekly events and the residential commons host events and compete with one another at the end of the year for the residential common cup…great fun had by all!