Southern Methodist University is known for its impressive rankings and nationwide recognition. From being ranked the 14th most entrepreneurial university according to Forbes, the 58th best U.S national university according to U.S News & World Report’s Best Colleges, and the second most beautiful campus according to Princeton Review, SMU has another ranking to add to its list. SMU was recently ranked third hardest Texas University to get into, just behind Rice University and the University of Texas at Austin.
With an acceptance rate of 50.7 percent and a SAT/ACT 25th percentile score of 1760/27 and 75th percentile score at 2050/31 respectively, it is safe to say that SMU admissions has become even more selective in accepting students into the Mustang family.
With SMU’s impressive student-faculty ratio, traditions and prestige, high-schoolers have become more and more interested in applying to SMU. With a well-known business school and amazing engineering opportunities that are not necessarily found at other Texas universities, SMU has to be very selective with what students they accept into these programs.
SMU first-year and member of the BBA Direct program Kara Hallam applied to a variety of different schools around the country but chose SMU to call home.
“I heard about the success of students that graduated from [the Cox School of Business] and that made me really want to come here,” Hallam said.
Attracted to the success rate of students in the business school, she knew she had to have competitive scores in order to be accepted and follow the path of some of the school’s notable alumni.
“I am really excited to be here,” Hallam said. “There are so many opportunities that SMU provides and I know it’s going to be an amazing four years.”
What really draws applicants to SMU are its academics, reputation and the freshman retention rate.
“When I was looking for colleges after taking my PSAT, I noticed that SMU had one of the highest retention rates compared to other Texas schools,” SMU sophomore Jayson Nasukiewicz-Kaufman said. “Having this, plus a well-renowned business school and a beautiful campus, I am not surprised that SMU has become even more selective in admitting students.”
With over 100 majors and 75 minors, SMU makes it possible for students to find an area of study they can enjoy and pursue. Sophomore creative writing major Chloe Morris from small-town McCroy, Ark. took this into consideration when applying to the university.
“I heard about SMU because I knew one of the poetry professors and he suggested that I should apply, and I am very happy that I did,” Morris said. “And with downtown being only minutes away and the faculty-student ratio being quite smaller than other Texas universities, I knew SMU would be a place where I could enjoy my time here and succeed in a great environment.”
