Will I be academically challenged at SMU?

Melissa:

Yes and No, it depends what you're looking for.  One of the big differences between high school and college is that you have the ability to create your own schedule.  With the freedom to choose your own classes you can make your schedule as easy or challenging as you would like.  There are plenty of challenging courses, but their challenges come in different forms.  Some will be difficult simply because of the volume of work they require. (i.e. a large amount of reading or a considerable number of papers)  Other classes will be challenging because the material they cover is complicated.  SMU is also great about working with students who decide they want to double, triple, etc. major (which may create more of a challenge) even if those majors aren't all in the same school.  I have found that each semester I like to take a few classes that will challenge me, but also a few that will be fun.  Whatever your looking for, you can find it here.

David:

The answer to this question definitely depends upon some of the choices you make when you get to school.  Certainly, any academic program that you choose at SMU will have its challenges; however some are certainly more demanding than others.  One of the big decisions that many SMU students make is whether or not to take on more than one major.  This can greatly contribute to the academic challenge of your college experience.  Speaking from personal experience, I am taking on three majors, and they definitely keep me challenged.  So basically, your academic experience at SMU can be as easy or as challenging as you would like it to be.  The key is to go through your first semester or two, see how it is going, and then make your decisions from there.

Will there be leadership opportunities available to me?

Melissa:

Absolutely!  One of the great things about this University is that it's large enough to have a variety of opportunities, but also small enough that everyone can take advantage of those opportunities.  Also, you don't have to feel that by taking on a leadership position you are limiting yourself to one organization or activity. Even though I have an officer position with one student organization I still belong to two others and have an on-campus job.  SMU has over 160 student organizations and if you think we're missing something you can always start your own.  To learn more about what we have to offer check-out the student activities web site at www.smu.edu/sac/groups.asp.

David:

Absolutely!  One of the greatest things about SMU is its size, allowing students to get involved with many activities.  SMU has over 200 student organizations, and they are always looking to add more.  When you get to SMU, you will get the chance to explore all of the student organizations to see which ones are a good fit for you.  If you decide that you would like to see a new student organization at SMU, you can start it.  All of the student organizations have officer positions, so you just have to get involved to run for a position.  Also, many of the large organizations on campus like Student Senate and Program Council are always looking for new people to get involved.  In addition to student organizations, there are many other leadership opportunities that are available to SMU students.  For example, I am a Resident Assistant in one of the residence halls on campus.  This is a great opportunity for leadership that is available to any student who has lived in the residence halls for at least two semesters.  Through this position, I have learned many valuable lessons and have infinitely improved my leadership abilities.  Leadership opportunities are abundant at SMU.  The best advice I can give is to get involved in a lot of organizations when you get to SMU and then see which ones fit you best.

How is the cafeteria food?

Melissa:

The cafeteria food here is pretty good.  In addition to the hot meal of the day there are stations that offer hamburgers, sandwiches, pasta, a salad bar, and even cereal.  Despite all the options you have it will seem, at times, that you are eating the same thing everyday which is usually easily fixed.  You will notice that with each meal plan you receive a number of "Flex Dollars" which can be used at an on-campus deli, Chick-fil-a, Subway, to name a few.  While you may not love every meal you have here, you should always be able to find something you like. You can find more information about the different meal plans at www.smu.edu/admission/dining_plan.asp.

David:

As a three year veteran of the establishments of Umphrey Lee and Mac’s Place, I can honestly tell you that the food in the cafeterias is not bad at all.  The biggest complaint many people have about the cafeterias is repetitiveness, but anywhere you eat is going to serve the same meals now and again.  For a college cafeteria, SMU dining halls are far above average.  There are always many options at every meal, and the food is generally pretty good.  I will admit that as each semester draws to a close, I find myself longing for something different, but I am always pleased with the food when I come back for a new semester.  Having eaten in the cafeterias for three years now, I can say that usually some kind of improvement is made every semester.  The dining areas are made nicer (like the brand new booths in Umphrey Lee) and new items are added to the menus.  The cafeterias are good as they are now, and they continue to improve every semester.

What is it like to live in the residence halls?

David:

Living in the residence halls has been one of the best experiences I have ever had.  Your first year at SMU, chances are that you will make some of your best friends in your residence hall.  For many people, this is the first experience they have had living so close to other people, and it can be a very fun experience.  As the year goes by, you begin to make close connections with the people that you live near.  Eventually, it’s like having a big family on your floor.  There are always many different programs going on in the residence halls that residents have an opportunity to take part in.  These programs range from movie nights, to academic programs, to community service, and many others.  Also, living in the halls you have a chance to participate in intramural sports with others in your hall.  Living in the halls, you will be afforded many opportunities that you would not have otherwise.  I highly recommend that students live in the residence halls because it will be a great time, if you let it be.

Do I have to be in the Greek system to have a social life?

David:

The short answer to this question is absolutely not.  I am not affiliated with any Greek organization, and I still feel like I have a fun time at college.  Everyone has their own idea of a good time, and whether or not that involves a Greek organization is up to the individual.  There are certainly times when you will notice who is in the Greek system and who is not.  For example, Monday evenings all of the fraternities and sororities have their chapter meetings.  At this time, the campus seems a little less crowded, and you will notice who is there and who isn’t.  Other than this, I really do not feel left out at all by not being in a Greek organization.  One of the best parts about the SMU Greek system is that our recruitment period is in the spring.  This way, every first-year student has a semester to see what these organizations are like from the outside, and they can then decide whether or not they would like to join one.  Also, many people will begin to go through recruitment to see if they still want to join but change their minds during recruitment week.  At SMU, you have many opportunities to examine the Greek system to decide if it is something you would like to be a part of.

I found the same choice difficult to make when I first came to school as well, but I ultimately chose to go with a laptop for a number of reasons.

First, I liked the idea of being able to take my computer with me when I wanted a change of scenery from working in my room. Also, it is convenient to be able to bring it with you to the library when you have research or group projects to do. The biggest factor in my decision was that I'm not from the Dallas area and I fly home during vacations. I wanted to be able to take my computer with me to either work on the plane or at home.

Finally, while I have never used my laptop to take notes I've had several friends that like to bring them to class. They claim it keeps their notes more organized from the start. While the laptop was best for me, it's important to look at what you want your computer to do and what features are most appealing/important to you.

Based on my experience, I would have to say that it all depends on your computer habits. There are definitely pros and cons to both; I will try to address some of these in relation to your question.

First of all, I think that a laptop is essential if you are a person who likes to study in many different places. If you think that you will be studying in the library or in friends' rooms a lot, then you probably want to consider a laptop simply for the convenience. However, as you mentioned, there is the definite downside that laptops are not easily upgradeable. Depending on what you're using your laptop for, however, if you buy one of the machines that is on the market now, it should be just fine to last through your time in college. Being an engineer, though, I opted for the desktop because some of the programs that we have to run might require a little more memory than a laptop can provide. Another overlooked downside to the laptop is the high theft rate. At any university, SMU included, thieves may take advantage of student belongings left unguarded. 

For desktops, you definitely have the right idea, since desktops are usually a little more powerful for less money. Also, you get the advantage of easily setting up speakers if you like to listen to music or watch movies on your computer. Of course, you lose the ability to take your computer with you. Essentially, the final decision is up to you. Hopefully this information will give you a little more insight about which path you choose to take, but it sounds like you already know the basic pros and cons of each. I would encourage you to put some thought into what you will most likely be using the computer for, and then decide based on that. Good luck with your decision!

Actually, neither microwaves nor toaster ovens are permitted in the residence halls. For a list of items permitted/not permitted please see the following web page published by Resident Life and Student Housing:  http://smu.edu/housing/whatbring.asp.  While some students are concerned about not being able to have a microwave in their room there is one available for residents to use in most halls. In addition, some convenience appliances, such as coffee makers, hot pots, and hot air popcorn poppers, are permitted in the rooms and can prove to be pretty useful.

You are correct about microwaves not being allowed in residence hall rooms; however, I'm afraid you were misinformed about toaster ovens. For reasons of fire safety, no open-coil cooking devices are allowed in residence hall rooms. This includes, but is not limited to, toaster ovens, hot plates, grills, etc. For a full description of what is and is not allowed in residence hall rooms, please see the following site:  http://www.smu.edu/housing/fire_safety.asp.  Even though you are not allowed to have a microwave in your room, there are microwaves on every floor of every building that are available for community use. In some halls (for example, Smith), there are even ovens and stoves for community use. Of course, if you have any doubts about whether or not something is allowed in your room, you can always consult your RA or Hall Director once you move in.