The true value of an SMU degree

[that's great raplh]

I started a thread that read: smu academic requirements are a joke

and red and Blue Dude called me out on how this may look to recruits - i thought about it and then realized he had a good point. So i responded:

what smu needs to do is spin it differently

if they lose credits, they will just need to make them up and we'll pay for it

in the end - they will be holding a very valuable piece of paper - an SMU Degree

i went to smu - i went to Cox and now i work on wall street and i make more than most pro atheletes

I thought this topic deserved its own thread.

I have a story about the power of a good degree.

I rcvd an MBA from Michigan (SMU helped to get me into a top MBA program.) and went to work on wall street. This past year, one of the Michigan cocaptains from the Rose Bowl was hooked up to me thru the Michigan network. He was recently relaeased from the Steelers and was looking for a job. His football got him in the door - his education got him the job. It is not a question if he will make 1 million a year in comp, bit a matter of how soon...

[McClown27]

Raphl,

I don't make that kind of money, but I still think SMU is a heck of a school. The value of an SMU degree over over other Texas schools is enormous (esp. if you live in Dallas, which I don't). I agree with you that this could help recruiting if spun differently.

McClown27

[EastStang]

I applied to about 15 law schools because my SMU GPA was borderline, I was accepted to 10 and wait listed at 3. I went to William and Mary (in- state tuition good reputation). Yes, an SMU degree is respected by graduate school admissions offices. My sister, who majored in journalism at SMU, went to work on Capitol Hill as a press secretary for a congressman, then as PR director for a large charity, before succumbing to the pressures motherhood. SMU degrees mean something.

[Arkpony]

My son graduated in 1994 with a degree in Economics and FInance at SMU. Becuase of the BUsiness school's reputation throughout the South, he was hired by a well-known brokerage company..the SMU degree played a part his boss told me. He now makes in excess of $1 Mil a year.

[Danny Noonan]

Raphl,

The value of an SMU degree over over other Texas schools is enormous (esp. if you live in Dallas, which I don't).
McClown27

No it isn't enourmous. Its value is probably placed below a degree from UT or Rice everywhere in Texas, including Dallas. The only exception would be if the employer was an alum. Not saying it s not good, becasue it is. But leaps and bounds over other schools? Not even close.

A large amount of SMU's student base is made up of rich kids that couldn't get into UT, and their parents would rather pay for SMU than send them to A&M or Tech.

Value over other Texas schools is enormous. LOL, good one.

[No Cal Pony]

Maybe not "leaps and bounds" Danny, but certainly on par depending on the situation. I met a gentleman years ago, who got BA from SMU and Masters from ut. His opinion was that ut was fine, but his SMU education was better. I was head of the LASR in LA once upon a time, and a member of my team was a PhD candidate @ ucla. Her opinion was that her SMU undergrad was way better than ucla. This is a tale I've heard elsewhere and otherwise. I know my experience was as good if not better than those that I have met and known who went to a ucla, usc, ut, or anywhere else.

Yes, SMU has a number of "rich kids," but that doesn't equate to not getting into ut. I knew some "rich kids" and they could've gotten in to ut, just didn't want to go there. I also knew kids at SMU who got accepted to a number of schools, and chose SMU because they could parlay the undergrad experience into a farr better situation for them than at a ut, or a$m, or even a number of other schools.

Go Ponies!

[mrydel]

My son graduated in 1994 with a degree in Economics and FInance at SMU. Becuase of the BUsiness school's reputation throughout the South, he was hired by a well-known brokerage company..the SMU degree played a part his boss told me. He now makes in excess of $1 Mil a year.

Arkpony, I am available for adoption by you or your son!!! Did you know I was 5th in the Heisman balloting in 1971?

[SWC2010]

Raphl,

A large amount of SMU's student base is made up of rich kids that couldn't get into UT, and their parents would rather pay for SMU than send them to A&M or Tech.

Value over other Texas schools is enormous. LOL, good one.

-----------------------------------------
LOL, good one is right, DN (on you).

You obviously have no clue about the present enrollment system at UT.

If youattend a demanding academic HS, you may not get a chance into UT-- but if you got to a low-achieving school you can walk into the 40 acres.

Those kinds of decisions are wrecking the talent pool that is going thru ut at this time.

[smupony94]

I had a 32 ACT, 1290 SAT and could not get into UT not even provisional - SMU said come on and I am very glad I did.

[SWC2010]

I had a 32 ACT, 1290 SAT and could not get into UT not even provisional - SMU said come on and I am very glad I did.

---
Don't know when you applied ( '94 ?), but if it was recent it shouldn't surprise anyone. Testing (SAT/ACT) to prove ability doesn't impress UT eggheads.

UT application is now like the opposite of the BCS-- doesn't matter if you're any good, it's how you're ranked in your conference (read class).

Today all that matters @ut is top 10%-- hopefully you go to HS where there are a bunch of village idiots & you're into the 40 acres.

IMO, I do believe (for example) a Cox BBA trumps a McComb BBA.

[smupony94]

I arrived at SMU the second year after the death penalty - anyone was accepted if they could write the check. The academic prowess of SMU has steadily increased since then.

[smupony94]

I am also transcribing notes I have taken from my grandfather who was on the Cotton Bowl committee in the early 60's on how vastly different the AD's of that era are from what SMU has had recently - boils down to they were able to involve the local business community - no matter where the businessman went to school (sorry ladies it was the early 60's).

By the way my grandfather is a die hard Longhorn and he just gave me plaques that SMU gave him (his company) for being a Mustang Club member. I am jealous as all I have been given is a tacky want to be plaque.

[me@smu]

nm

[EastStang]

The one point of an SMU education is that classes are pretty much taught by professors (not graduate assistants). This is in contrast to many state schools and makes it a bit more academically challenging than many other schools. At SMU when I was there, if you wanted to take organic chemistry, you got Dr. Jesky and only Dr. Jesky. If you wanted to take investments, you got Dr. Jackson and only Dr. Jackson. I think no student would trade those experiences with some class taught by a grad student.

[that's great raplh]

I arrived at SMU the second year after the death penalty - anyone was accepted if they could write the check. The academic prowess of SMU has steadily increased since then.

ha - licky for you anthropology onkly required 33hrs to get that major