Southern Methodist University Top Questions

There are always student organizations hosting events on campus. On any given weeknight, I may have to decide between going to see a recent movie that Program Council is showing, attending the Hispanic Association's Salsa Night, or hearing a Tate Lecture by Regis Philbin...oh, and did I mention all of those are free?!

There are always student organizations hosting events on campus. On any given weeknight, I may have to decide between going to see a recent movie that Program Council is showing, attending the Hispanic Association's Salsa Night, or hearing a Tate Lecture by Regis Philbin...oh, and did I mention all of those are free?!

A lot of kids choose to get involved with Greek life, and second semester of your freshman year, your friends will completely change depending on who goes Greek or not. I'm not sure on the statistics, but it feels like everyone that isn't socially awkward or uptight went Greek, and once you're committed, basically every night of the week will be filled with mixers, parties, formals, chapter meetings, or just going out to dinner and hanging out with someone else in your fraternity or sorority. Second to Greek life, a lot of people get involved with Christian groups on campus, and the student council group is pretty big too. Personally, i'm part of the human right's group and a Christian group called One28 that meets Monday nights for small group and Wednesday nights for a big service. Unfortunately, most of the door shut automatically for fire safety concerns, but Perkins and Smith (which i hear are scheduled to be torn down next year or the year after?) have the old fashioned doors so they do stay open, and it's really a big perk to living in one of those two dorms. Football games are honestly very rarely attended. People are more into the "boulevarding" which is what we call our tailgating before the football games, and since it lasts for hours, most people are too tired to go to the actual game or just don't care. Some people go for the first half, but very few student fans are left by the end of the game. I've heard of some people going to basketball games, and i've been to one myself, but sports in general aren't too popular here. For all incoming freshmen, there's something called "AARO" that is kind of like orientation over the summer where you spend one night in the dorms getting to know other incoming freshmen, and then there's something called "Mustang Corral" which is a weekend retreat for all incoming freshman right before classes start. It's awkward, but everyone feels that way, and it really does help you get a feel for the students before the year even starts. I met my closest friends on an expedition with the Hilltop Scholars (a first-year program that you are preselected for when you're admitted if you have good grades and leadership). It was the summer before I started coming here, and there were about fourteen of us split into two groups backpacking in Colorado for a week with no showers--- so we really got to know each other well. While I sure wouldn't do it again because the whole no showering thing was gross, I am so thankful that I got that opportunity because without it, I don't know if i would have met the two girls who are my best friends here. As for weekends, I don't really know of many people who don't do the whole drinking and partying scene, but there is a cute little shopping center with nice places to eat out within walking distance, and I know i've done that a couple of times instead of going out. First semester, no one is really dating, but second semester i've seen a few couples that have formed. The majority of the dating scene is very hook-up oriented, and it's not uncommon to hook-up with more than one guy in a night and laugh about it the next morning with your friends. That's not my style, but I know of a lot of people who take that approach.

By far, the most visible organizations at SMU are fraternities and sororities. Joining a fraternity has been the best experience I've had at SMU. My closest friends are all my fraternity brothers. Fraternity and sorority parties at SMU differ from those of other schools due to the affluence at SMU. Instead of keggers at houses, most parties happen in rented out clubs/bars in uptown Dallas. Like most Greek systems, SMU's Greek life is known for dominating the social scene, but there is far more to it than parties. Greek organizations provide far more unity to the campus than they do division. They are highly involved in local and national philanthropies, and most leadership positions on campus are occupied by Greek students. SMU has many fun and memorable traditions. The most popular of these traditions is the Boulevard. As an alternative to tailgating before football games, SMU students party on tree-line Bishop Boulevard for the most picturesque party in the nation. The Boulevard is a huge booster of school spirit, and every student participates. SMU has a thriving student government with both elected positions and non-elected positions so that any interested student can participate. SMU offers the Tate Lecture series which offers students the opportunity to meet and ask questions to world leaders.

I would believe the greek life is the main activity or group at the school. It seems like most women are partaking in sorority life.

There are so many organizations that it's hard to write about all of them. We have a lot of fraternities, sororities, religious groups and so on that try to get people to join them when advertising at the student center. It's a great idea to get involved in school organizations because you can meet people that share the same views you do and you can make new friends!!

Most important student activities at SMU is GREEK LIFE.

I am currently involved in a professional organization named ALPFA, an association of Latino Professionals in Finance and Accounting. I am also part of Kappa Delta Chi Inc a sorority in campus that is an organization dedicated to service for the University and the community with especial emphasis on the Hispanic population. Last week we had our homecoming weekend. During this week we have various events for the queen and king and end up the day with a football game. Organizations have tents in the boulevard and student tailgating before the game. After the game there are many outside parties. One of the main traditions of SMU is the game against TCU, this is a big game for both school and a way to demonstrate our pride. I currently live off campus; there are many apartments complex around the area and plenty of activities to do. There are two big malls close to campus, as well as theaters, parks, bars, and more. SMU is located close to downtown in a friendly neighborhood.

I am currently involved in a professional organization named ALPFA, an association of Latino Professionals in Finance and Accounting. I am also part of Kappa Delta Chi Inc a sorority in campus that is an organization dedicated to service for the University and the community with especial emphasis on the Hispanic population. Last week we had our homecoming weekend. During this week we have various events for the queen and king and end up the day with a football game. Organizations have tents in the boulevard and student tailgating before the game. After the game there are many outside parties. One of the main traditions of SMU is the game against TCU, this is a big game for both school and a way to demonstrate our pride. I currently live off campus; there are many apartments complex around the area and plenty of activities to do. There are two big malls close to campus, as well as theaters, parks, bars, and more. SMU is located close to downtown in a friendly neighborhood.

Greeks, greeks, greeks.

Partying with fraternities and sororities. Late nights at Fondren Library studying. and Dallas night life.

sororities and franternities are big. they don't dominate the social scene so not everyone is in one but everyone knows someone who is in one and even if you're not involved its easy to be involved on the sidelines with frat parties, formals, away weekends, relay for life, sorority events and parties, etc. everyone is really spirited at smu and goes to the games even though we're not very good at sports. the big thing is "boulevarding" which is tailgating except its held on the boulevard which runs up and down the centre of campus. if i was awake at 2 am on a tuesday i would probably be leaving the bars with my friends (first semester, M Street Bar is where everyone goes on tuesdays) or late-nighting at a fraternity house. if i don't feel like going out i might be hanging out in my friends rooms or doing work at the library. traditions are really important at smu and they might seem a little corny but everyone gets really into them and they're actually fun. one of the biggest ones is the celebration of lights and thats where everyone gathers outside of dallas hall (the main building on campus) and its lit up with christmas lights and everyone has candles and sings carols. its cute.

If you want to go greek, this is your place. Otherwise it's tough to really get involved unless you are part of a large student organization or in one of the sports teams.

Greek organizations are by far the most popular on campus, every party has to do with them. Football games are a sort of ongoing joke. People go to the boulevard (our version of tailgating), but don't stay for the game; although, some diehard fans do. Since our soccer team is so good, they sometimes get more fans than the football team. Close friends are easiest to meet in the dorms. Prop your door open from the beginning of the year and you'll meet a lot of new people. The best tradition on campus for the year is Celebration of Lights which is done every year in the beginning of December. At the end of the celebration, lights on Dallas Hall (the oldest building on campus), as well as on the nearby trees are lit which creates an amazing spectacle which is left up until the holiday season is over.

Greek life is VERY important to the SMU culture. Athletic events, guest speakers, and campus events are very well attended. I met my closest friends through greek life/sorrority sisters. Tuesday and Thursday nights are big party nights for SMU. Frat parties, etc are always held on either Tuesday, Thursday, or Friday nights. If I am awake at 2am on a Tuesday I am most likely coming home from a bar. Traditions/events that happen each year: Tailgate for every home football game, Homecoming week, Celebration of Lights, Rush, Relay for Life, Spring game. Fraternities and sorrorities are VERY VERY VERY important to most students on campus.

I'm in a sorority and I find that they are focused on social life more than on philanthropy or bettering themselves or the community. SMU students have little interaction with the community around them, we live in a bubble. I am in a sorority and rarely go to parties or drink, it is frustrating how important this part of life seems to be on campus.

Social life = Greek life. Theres always something going on and the location of SMU just 3 mins from downtown Dallas is a huge plus, from amazing shopping and restaurants to every type of bar possible all within a short distance. Dating is dating like every other school I think, there but not a big deal. The library and student center are open 24 hrs and so are alot of cafes in the area. Theater, dance, and athletic events are big and we get very important guest speakers on a regular basis like Tony Blair, Vincente Fox, and Anderson Cooper for example. Those events are smaller and students are allowed to ask questions and engage with the speaker.

SMU PD ruin the social life at this school. They are more worried about busting college kids for drinking rather than dealing with drugs and more serious crimes at this school.

the most popular groups on campus are the greek sororities and fraternities. a large portion of the student population is greek but there are those who aren't. most of the activities are open to the entire campus. i'm in a sorority on campus as well as a sport team. my first year, i lived in an upper-classman dorm because of my sport, so it was a totally different experience than living in a freshman dorm-quiet, not very social, mostly juniors and seniors. athletic events are popular, especially basketball, but football will gain more popularity in the coming years with June Jones. before every football game, we boulevard, not tailgate, on the main road into campus.

Greek life is pretty big even though there are tons of people who never join a frat/sorority. It isn't a big deal if you are not a part of greek life, there are many other groups you could join including the business fraternity. People party all the time, and alchohol is prevalent in the dorms. I met my closest friends through different groups I was involved in.