Southern Methodist University Top Questions

What are the academics like at Southern Methodist University?

FCG

Southern Methodist University is known worldwide for the Cox school of business as well as other schools on campus. I am in the Cox school of business studying finance. I love my campus, the classes are small and professors are helpful, friendly, and always willing to help. SMU offers unique courses such as the Business Leadership Institute (BLI), a course where students learn important fundamentals in effective business presentation skills, writing skills, team presentations, and interpersonal communication. Also, SMU professors are experts on their fields of expertise which makes their lectures interesting and fun. Furthermore, students have a chance to learn from many successful professional such as one of the Dallas Fed officer Harvey Rosenblum who teaches a class in Finance and Economics. BLI has been one of my favorite classes at SMU, in this class we had three presentations per semester where the professor tape the students during the presentation and then send comments for improvement. Professor Miao, adds his knowledge and wisdom from this many successful business worldwide to the class. He memorized the name of the students after the first class and from then on you will be expect to be called by your first name, he also help students prepare for impromptu presentation, and the doors of his office are always open to students. He enjoys helping students our and he has written many recommendations letters for me and other students on campus. One of the biggest advantages of being part of SMU are the networking opportunities that this school has to offers. Cox school of business holds career workshops, resume workshops, classes, training, mock interviews, and many other resources that help student land a job before graduation. Moreover, having a staff of professionals create better connections for the students. Professors pay attention to those students that excel in their classes and refer them to organizations or professionals with whom they maintain close relationships with. Students also enjoy the challenge that this school represents. The acceptance rate for the Cox School of business is highly competitive, and students take pride on their school. I personally receive many complements outside of campus from friends and family about my school. In the personal level I can say that this school has pushed me to go above my limits. Every class is a competition. In my finance course only 20{4a082faed443b016e84c6ea63012b481c58f64867aa2dc62fff66e22ad7dff6c} of the classes can receive an A or A-, this means that every student is doing their best to land on that top 20{4a082faed443b016e84c6ea63012b481c58f64867aa2dc62fff66e22ad7dff6c}. It is very competitive, but it is also rewarding to know that sacrifices pay off at the end. Although, my department represents, challenge, pride, recognition, and competition, it also offers opportunities for growth outside of school. There are many business organizations that focus on networking outside of school. At these organizations students talk about their classes, their projects, they internships, homework’s, and more. I am currently the VP of Programs of ALPFA, an Association of Latino Professional in Finance and Accounting. At this organization we worked together to bring companies to talk to us about their expectations from new employees. They also come to recruit students for internships and full time jobs. Overall SMU has been the best experience of my life. I have grown so much professionally, and I have made so many friends, and have wonderful experiences inside and outside of school. I am proud to be a Mustang.

FCG

Southern Methodist University is known worldwide for the Cox school of business as well as other schools on campus. I am in the Cox school of business studying finance. I love my campus, the classes are small and professors are helpful, friendly, and always willing to help. SMU offers unique courses such as the Business Leadership Institute (BLI), a course where students learn important fundamentals in effective business presentation skills, writing skills, team presentations, and interpersonal communication. Also, SMU professors are experts on their fields of expertise which makes their lectures interesting and fun. Furthermore, students have a chance to learn from many successful professional such as one of the Dallas Fed officer Harvey Rosenblum who teaches a class in Finance and Economics. BLI has been one of my favorite classes at SMU, in this class we had three presentations per semester where the professor tape the students during the presentation and then send comments for improvement. Professor Miao, adds his knowledge and wisdom from this many successful business worldwide to the class. He memorized the name of the students after the first class and from then on you will be expect to be called by your first name, he also help students prepare for impromptu presentation, and the doors of his office are always open to students. He enjoys helping students our and he has written many recommendations letters for me and other students on campus. One of the biggest advantages of being part of SMU are the networking opportunities that this school has to offers. Cox school of business holds career workshops, resume workshops, classes, training, mock interviews, and many other resources that help student land a job before graduation. Moreover, having a staff of professionals create better connections for the students. Professors pay attention to those students that excel in their classes and refer them to organizations or professionals with whom they maintain close relationships with. Students also enjoy the challenge that this school represents. The acceptance rate for the Cox School of business is highly competitive, and students take pride on their school. I personally receive many complements outside of campus from friends and family about my school. In the personal level I can say that this school has pushed me to go above my limits. Every class is a competition. In my finance course only 20{4a082faed443b016e84c6ea63012b481c58f64867aa2dc62fff66e22ad7dff6c} of the classes can receive an A or A-, this means that every student is doing their best to land on that top 20{4a082faed443b016e84c6ea63012b481c58f64867aa2dc62fff66e22ad7dff6c}. It is very competitive, but it is also rewarding to know that sacrifices pay off at the end. Although, my department represents, challenge, pride, recognition, and competition, it also offers opportunities for growth outside of school. There are many business organizations that focus on networking outside of school. At these organizations students talk about their classes, their projects, they internships, homework’s, and more. I am currently the VP of Programs of ALPFA, an Association of Latino Professional in Finance and Accounting. At this organization we worked together to bring companies to talk to us about their expectations from new employees. They also come to recruit students for internships and full time jobs. Overall SMU has been the best experience of my life. I have grown so much professionally, and I have made so many friends, and have wonderful experiences inside and outside of school. I am proud to be a Mustang.

Jeremy

They're better than you think. It's a big school but you get what you're paying for.

Quinn

SMU has great and amazing academic opportunities. There's so much but you have to go out and look for them. Sometimes there's so many you become numb to all the ads that you wont do any.

Reese

classes at smu are all completely different. some are really small and personable but some are in huge lecture halls and your professor doesn't know your name unless you make it a point for him/her to. some take attendance, some are total bullshit classes where you just show up on the day of the exam. theres a huge variety of classes so students come away each year knowing lots of random (but useful) things. a lot of people major in business because the business school at smu is one of the best in the country. another popular major is communications.

kevin

business school is top knotch, engineering is really good, classes are small

Sara

Class sizes are usually smaller discussion style classes, but the rigor of courses is honestly up to the student. You can make your degree as easy or as difficult as you wish. If you are willing to learn, the faculty generally love to help you on your way in any way they can. The best and most unique class I have taken was a class on feminine divine (goddesses) which was taught by a professor who understood how to make class interesting, yet challenging. He would use pop culture references in a way to help students understand without trying to seem like he was trying too hard.

Jessica

Small classes most of the time. Professors may not not your name but will recognize you as a class member. Hate English... Love CCPA and Buisness School classes. Education at SMU is most definitley geared toward getting a job.

Blair

I enjoy classes when teachers call out the people who are not working hard or focused on their academics. I hate when other students waste the teacher and other students' time. I wish we could take more than one class with teachers we specifically enjoyed, it's too difficult to get to know teachers over your four years here, which causes challenges when consideirng who to get recommendation letters from.

mari

Academics at SMU, depending on the major, is difficult and challenging. As an anthropology major I know many of my professors and other staff members are some of the leading experts in the field worldwide. It is very comforting knowing that I am being taught and mentored by these people. The professors are almost always available to talk to whether about the class or other topics related to the field. The requirements to get into SMU are difficult, especially if you want scholarships but I think its good that they just dont let anybody in.