Southern Methodist University
Responses from the Student Interview
From a student who identifies as Major: Finance
Minor: Spanish & History double minor
Student Self Identifies as: White Straight Male
Summary
I’m in a Greek fraternity, a business fraternity, I [have a leadership position] in my dorm, I’m a Hilltop Scholar, and I was an orientation leader for the school.
Background
Gender Identity: Male
Race/Ethnicity: White
Sexual Orientation: Straight
High School Experience: Private Catholic high school in St. Louis, Missouri with a graduating class of about 65 students. There was a culture of going to college.
First-Generation College Student: Yes
Major: Finance
Minor: Spanish & History double minor
Extracurricular Activities: I’m in a Greek fraternity, a business fraternity, I [have a leadership position] in my dorm, I’m a Hilltop Scholar, and I was an orientation leader for the school.
Did any of your extracurricular activities have a particularly big impact on your experience? In what ways?
The business fraternity and being an orientation leader are the most impactful in developing professional skills. I learned how to behave in an interview and speak in a professional setting. Being an orientation leader, I learned how to be nice to everyone, how to get everyone to like you, and making people feel comfortable and accepted. I also learned public speaking from that. We talked a lot in front of a lot of people.
Academic Experience
Can you describe your weekly coursework for your Finance major?
I don’t have many problem sets with my classes right now. Your workload depends on the class. This semester I have a lot more tests but not much week to week work. There are lots of papers for general education courses, so starting them early is important for me. I have random busy work I do as well, but the bulk of my school work is studying or writing an essay.
Is there anything you feel the business school does especially well or poorly?
I’m in my first class in the business school so it’s hard to know for sure. If you don’t come in with AP credits, you don’t start taking your business classes until sophomore year. I like my accounting class this semester, they do a good job. I don’t think there’s anything they’ve done poorly. I think it’s good to take some easier classes before the major business classes to get you adjusted to college life. In my first semester I did well, but my second semester was so much better. I wasn’t trying harder, I just knew how to study better.
How would you describe the learning environment? Do you think it’s particularly competitive or collaborative?
I think it’s collaborative, but can also be competitive when you get in the finance classes because most of them are graded on a curve. Right now, it’s collaborative and everyone can do well. My accounting teacher wants everyone to get A’s and encourages us to work together to figure things out.
How accessible are your professors?
I think they’re really accessible. I’d say I have really good relationships with my professors. Not everyone does and they aren’t going to just present themselves to you. But if you make the effort, your professors will know you.
Do you feel that people are open to multiple schools of thought in the classroom?
Yeah, I think so. SMU is a school where there are lots of people with different opinions. I feel that there’s a healthy mix. Some people may say the school leans right [politically], but I don’t think so, especially because most professors lean left.
Why did you pick your major? Are you happy with your choice?
I knew I wanted to do something in business and I have a pretty math-based brain. I was thinking if I wanted to do accounting or finance, and a friend of my dad said finance is like you’re driving the business and accounting is more so recording what the business is doing. That’s what led me to choose finance.
Reasons to Attend
1) The people, resources, and the professors.
2) The Cox Business School.
3) The Boulevard.
4) The food on campus and the dorms are so nice.
Reasons Not to Attend
1) There’s the reputation that it’s a school of rich kids, and it can be that way but most people aren’t. if you’re uncomfortable with that kind of culture or being around people of a different background than you, SMU may not be for you. [23% of students come from families in the top 1% socioeconomically.]
Around Campus
Where have you lived on campus?
Freshman: Kathy Crow Commons with one roommate
Sophomore: Kathy Crow Commons with one roommate
How was transitioning from St. Louis, MO to Dallas, TX?
It’s a pretty easy transition, they’re pretty similar cities. I like Dallas a lot.
Can you describe the level of safety you’ve experienced on and around campus?
It’s a really safe campus. I’ve never felt unsafe on campus, even when I walk back from the library at 3 AM I’m not worried.
Social Opportunities
What kind of weekend activities or nightlife do you like to participate in?
I like to go out, but there are also good things to do. We’ll go to Dallas Rangers [minor league baseball] games sometimes, or go out to eat.
What nights of the week do you regularly go out?
I try to stick to Friday and Saturday. A lot of people go out on Wednesday, but I usually tend to go out less than three times a week. One or two times is the average for me. Fraternity parties and bars are equally common on those nights.
What is the impact of Greek life on nightlife?
I’d say it’s has a pretty big impact, especially depending on how invested you want to be in your [Greek organization]. I think it’s good we don’t rush until the second semester, because you’ll have friends from both your Greek fraternity as well as friends you met before not in your Greek fraternity. Most of my best guy friends aren’t involved in a fraternity, but I have friends in other fraternities as well. [Before rushing a fraternity] if you know where the part is and you don’t have a bad reputation you can go to any part you want for the first couple of months. It’s a cool thing but is also a little overwhelming. [Approximately 43% of students are in Greek life.]
How happy are you with the weekend options at SMU? Is there anything you would change about them if you could?
I’d change how much the drinks cost [laughs], but I like the places people go to. There’s something for everyone. There are clubs, but there are also sit-down bars to hang out at.
Campus Culture
How did you meet your closest friends?
We do something called Stampede. When you get on campus they take you to a camp off-campus and you hang out there. It’s kind of fun and you meet people there. other than that, random classes and in my dorm commons.
How would you describe the overall social scene at SMU?
The first semester it’s really easy to meet a lot of people, and then it tends to get harder I’d say. You kind of stick within similar circles, if that makes sense. There are people who talk to people everywhere, but most of my guy friends tend to be in certain fraternities. I have a lot of unaffiliated female friends, but most of my female friends are in three sororities. That’s not bad, but I wish I knew people in more different groups. I’m always trying to meet new people. It’s a little annoying how people tend to stay in the same circle, but I also understand it.
To what extent do you think people of different races and sexual orientations mix socially?
People of different sexual orientations probably have a harder time getting involved in Greek life. I have friends who are gay or lesbian, and it doesn’t matter to me. You’ll definitely find that African-American students tend to stay in their own circle, but there are others who branch out and join fraternities. It depends on the person. [The undergraduate population is 12% Hispanic, 5% Black, 64% White, and 7% Asian.]
How do you like the size of SMU in terms of undergraduate enrollment? How was transitioning to a school with [about 6,500] students?
I really like the size and I wanted a smaller school. It’s nice because there’s always someone new to meet I’d say. There’s also a lot of people you’re going to know and say hi to as you walk to class or into the library. It’s easier to get to know your professors, and they’re actually teaching classes opposed to bigger schools where there might be more TAs. I haven’t had a single TA teach a class.
To what extent do people in Greek life and not in Greek life mix socially?
It depends on the person. I think if you’re an outgoing person then you’ll have friends in fraternities and you can go to parties if you want. I didn’t rush until the fall [of my sophomore year] so I’d go to stuff last semester as well as first semester. First semester people in Greek life mix with people not in Greek life. The second semester is more sectioned off between Greek life and non-Greek life.
Careers
What have you used the career office for? How helpful have they been?
I was in a program last year, but it was a lot of time for not a lot of work. They do a good job and can help point you in the right way.
Have you learned any computer languages or software that will be helpful to you professionally?
I’ve done Excel stuff, but no Java or anything like that.