Undergraduate Admission

Southern Methodist University General Admission Policy

Consistent with its vision and mission, SMU seeks to enroll students who have the potential for academic success and who will enrich the collegiate community. SMU examines each prospective student's application for admission individually and holistically to determine the nature and extent of the applicant's potential to succeed and to enrich the community. The admission review of application materials includes records of intellectual and extracurricular achievements as well as past behavior. The rich variety of perspectives SMU seeks include those resulting from life experiences and achievements that reflect differences in racial, ethnic, linguistic, socio-economic, geographic, educational and religious backgrounds as well as talents in the arts or athletics. Through financial support, SMU endeavors to ensure that cost of attendance will not be a barrier to achieving its goal of a talented and diverse community.

SMU collects information about the prior disciplinary and criminal history of applicants for admission to SMU. This information may be considered as part of a holistic review of applicants when deciding whether to offer admission to a prospective student. An applicant's failure to disclose complete and accurate disciplinary and criminal history in a timely manner, as required in the application process, may result in the University rescinding an offer of admission or revoking that person's status as a student. SMU's Notice of Nondiscrimination is found in the catalog.

All degree-seeking first-year students, regardless of intended major, enter the University as SMU Pre-Majors, and they are advised through the University Advising Center. Students normally qualify for entry into a major and specific degree program during their sophomore year. Applicants to BFA and BBA degree programs should refer to the admission process for those degrees in the Meadows School of the Arts and the Cox School of Business respectively. Admission into any undergraduate degree program requires the completion of minimum academic standards determined by the school in which the program is based. The specific requirements to declare a major in each of SMU's undergraduate schools are outlined in the admission section of that school's information in this catalog.