Southern Methodist University’s name appeared in four categories in the Princeton Review’s “Best 361 Colleges” 2007 edition released earlier this week.

In the Great College Town category, the university moved down two spots from last year (ranked No. 4) to No. 6 this year. SMU was surpassed in this category by schools in cities like New York, Boston and Chicago.

“I am surprised that SMU moved down in this category. Dallas is by far one of my favorite cities and has so many different kinds of attractions and entertainment that appeal to a multitude of different kinds of students,” said junior Amanda Fehr.

Other students were surpised by SMU’s drop on another list. The school moved down in the Happiest Students category by 16 spots, from No. 4 in 2006 to No. 20 in 2007.

Student Danielle Dial agrees that as a whole the SMU student body is pretty content with its situation, and although the university has moved down in the Happiest Student category, she agrees that SMU should remain on the list.

“We are a pretty spoiled and privileged group of kids, so I think that the majority of the students here are pretty happy,” Dial said.

SMU moved up one and was ranked No. 8 in Little Race/Class Interaction category. Junior Alex Weckiewiczi agrees that SMU’s ranking in this category is accurate.

“Even if there is some diversity on campus, SMU definitely has racially segregated groups,” Weckiewiczi said.

The University also acquired a predictable No. 9 ranking in the Major Fraternity and Sorority Scene category.

“SMU is known all over the nation for having a huge percentage of Greek involvement on campus, so it is no surprise that we ranked in the top 10 in this category,” said SMU sorority member Paige Wingert.

The University was also ranked as one of the 123 colleges named as Best Western Colleges by the Princeton Review.