Cost to attend SMU $57,756

[StallionsModelT]

Yeah I can't speak for your experience. Sorry about that. All I can do is speak to my own and SMU has always been very appreciative and thankful for my meager donations. I want to help others and my university. I'm not a wealthy guy but I'm not hurting either. I was fortunate to walk out of SMU debt-free (no student loans) so I probably have a head start on most of my fellow alumni.

Yes SMU is an expensive school to attend. I highly doubt anyone that sets out to attend SMU is under the illusion that this is not the case.

[BigT3x]

Just because they start at $500 does not mean you can't offer them less.

Regardless, I do not see the insult. What is the specific insult you feel?

I have to endure used car salesman tactics from an organization I took on MASSIVE amounts of debt for.

That's insulting.

[RGV Pony]

Don't ask don't get..

[MiracleOnMockingbird]

Top 25 in everything we do.

[bubba pony]

my daughter, a recent SMU graduate, went to an SMU young alumni event. paid maybe $20 to attend. shortly after got a thank you card from SMU for the $5 donation. So SMU charged a fee to attend a young alumni event and $5 of the fee was considered a donation. I have no problem with that. Is sort of cleaver to boost up the statistic that helps SMU's ranking.

[blackoutpony]

When I filed for graduation about a year a half ago, I had to pay a $40 or so fee to do so... My 200K+ wasn't enough? It's the nickel and diming things like this that make me never want to give a cent to SMU for something that isn't a ticket to a game. I know a lot of people my year and younger that feel the same. I was getting calls for donations before I even graduated. It's ridiculous.

[Grant Carter]

Every school in he country does that.

[gostangs]

its not ridiculous, it necessary. SMU is a private school, and the annual giving - even small amounts - is vital to keep us moving up in the world. THe percentage of alumni that give is a big deal in the rankings. Don't think of it as any insult or haranguing - think of it as what your university has to do to survive. And then throw them a bone.

Also - i discovered that if you give to them early in the fiscal year they take you off the list - so no more emails etc....Fiscal year starts June 1 - so give a little bit now and be done with it.

[MV pony]

Another top 20 list we missed.

[MV pony]

Don't be insulted. Someone has to pay for that new semi-private golf course that SMU is building in partnership with the City and AT&T. You know, the golf course that beat out the IPF and new swim center. The course that won't even bear SMU's name. Then there are all the new buildings that don't translate to any significant increase in enrollment. And let's not forget the stellar facility members who graduated from other TX unis and can't get a job in their field so they teach at SMU. All good reasons to support the campaigns IMHO.

[mrydel]

I guess all of you alums have the right to continue and bash your school. But understand they are going to stop asking for donations. As you mature you will realize it goes on in many places, not just your school. What you need to do is grow up and learn to say no if that is what you want them to hear. And screening your calls will not work. If you do not respond they will continue to call. You either tell them no or donate anything. But whatever you do keep degrading your University that provided you with your education.

[BigT3x]

I guess all of you alums have the right to continue and bash your school. But understand they are going to stop asking for donations. As you mature you will realize it goes on in many places, not just your school. What you need to do is grow up and learn to say no if that is what you want them to hear. And screening your calls will not work. If you do not respond they will continue to call. You either tell them no or donate anything. But whatever you do keep degrading your University that provided you with your education.

SMU "provided" me with nothing. They sold me an education. I provided it for myself.

I know you went to SMU during a different era. I bet if you had paid what me or the other recent grads have paid your thinking would be more like ours.

Especially when I vividly remember enduring many professors who couldn't speak English while the Dedman Simmons Caldwell Turner whoever Memorial Fountain with LED Lighting System was under construction outside the building.

[mrydel]

Did any of the English speaking professors teach you how to say no? It will come in handy as you go through life. If you have not learned how I can introduce you to most of the women I have known in my life. They can teach the word very well.

[mrydel]

As an example of what you can expect as you grow older, I have been asked for donations from 5 different causes in the past 36 hours (the weekend no less) and I said yes to 2 and no to 3. The 2 were causes I support all the time. They always ask for an increase from my past donation, as does SMU, and in these cases I said no and gave the same as in the past. The ones to whom I gave were grateful and the ones to whom I said no, there was no animosity shown. Life goes on.

I might add none of these were "telemarketing" calls to which I always say no. These are usually requests from friends, associates, or entities with whom I have been involved.

[gostangs]

Big T and MV you are a couple of big time whiners. What babies.

SMU is priced according to its value. If it were not, it would not be competitive in the higher education marketplace, which it definitely is. Almost nobody pays full fare due to tuition dollars (given by generous alumni).

The golf center is being paid for by new donations, and will help our golf team climb into the top ten - They are already performing better than the swim team. We will get to the natatorium and the IPF - are 8 buildings under construction not enough for you? We are only going to be 5-7 million of the golf facility - its not edgin out anything i promise you. And if you think the new buildings underway, none of which you apparently had anything to do with, aren't going to help our university advance in stature nationally than you are clueless. Not sure what you rant about "facility members" is about. Our faculty have never been more highly acclaimed.

Give or don't give - but the whining makes you look like a junior college grad. SMU deserves your support. We are performing at a higher level as a University than we have in our history - due to those that have loyalty to SMU and know what it takes to be competitive. Throwing them 50 bucks won't hurt you a bit and it helps the university a ton.