What Students Say
Likes
- Nature (Trees, Greenery in College): I found one of the best parts of my college was the nice natural surroundings. The trees, gardens, and greenery it offered created a peaceful and refreshing experience and made the campus much more engaging - it gave everyone a nice place to study and relax.
- Friendly Professors: Unlike some of the professors I had throughout university, my professors were not only talented academically, but they were also kind, approachable, and empathetic. Their assistance provided value beyond that of simply an academic mentor; it included help with mapping out career goals, willingness to provide recommendations, encouragement, etc., while creating an environment where students felt welcome and connected with the institution.
- Architecture of College: In addition to the value of the professors, the Physical space, study space and common area representations of the institution influenced our common pride of attending. The variety of spaces represented a thoughtful use of space, a variety of spaces to study in, and also significantly ranged from modern classrooms to a historic building with a fantastic library.
Dislikes
- Limited Parking: One problem I encountered in college was a lack of parking. When times of the day where it was busy on campus, locating a close parking spot was often notably stressful, and at times left students and staff waiting to park for a significant amount of time if they commuted daily to the campus.
- Quality of Cafeteria Food: The campus had alternative eating options in many different buildings, although the quality and choice from the campus cafeteria could have been much better. Many times, all options for meals lacked nutritional value and things to satisfy a person's hunger, especially for the person that would spend a long amount of time on campus.
- Wi-Fi Connectivity: Although there is campus Wi-Fi, it was not frequently reliable in certain outside spaces on campus, older buildings, and the farthest parts of the campus. On occasion, this inconsistent Wi-Fi, would sometimes attune study time, project work, and online research, and this often it became annoying.
Course Curriculum
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Difficulty Level of Course Curriculum:
- I found the Academic Policies and Master of Social Work program at Southern Methodist University (SMU) to be difficult, but not overly difficult. The program was designed to provide a fair balance between theory (knowledge) and practice (application)—thus the areas where we were lacking in knowledge would be supplemented through our actual standpoints. Initially, the courses tended to be more knowledge-based, which was focused on core concepts, frameworks, and methodologies. Once we established some foundational knowledge, more practical assignments, case studies, and assignments were assigned, helping me make the transition between the academic (knowledge) and practical application of knowledge (workplace). Overall, my program was relatively balanced with in-class lectures, assignments, and projects (practical application of knowledge).
- Positive and Negative Aspects of the Course:
- Positive Aspects:
- The highly qualified faculty (research and practice) were very enjoyable, and their academic rigor and real-life experiences in class were a bonus.
- The courses were relatively small, which was great for personal relationships and interactions with professors and peers.
- The practical application of knowledge into projects and internships - which gave me a competitive advantage for the job market.
- The networking opportunities we received through this program (connections with professionals in the field) and guests on specific topic areas, which ended up being prominent within the field, were a value-added bonus.
- Negative Components:
- Heavy workload can be a burden at times. Balancing multiple assignments, group projects, and exams at once could be very overwhelming.
- The avenue of communication between departments could definitely be better in terms of providing students with proper messages of resources and what the expectations were with these opportunities, particularly early on in the program.
Admission Experience
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For my higher studies, I applied to five colleges. Below is the list of colleges and their application status:
- George Mason University—Admitted
- Southern Methodist University (SMU) – Admitted
- Clark University—Admitted
- Illinois Institute of Technology (IIT Illinois) – Admitted
- Yeshiva University—Admitted
- I am happy to report that I received confirmed admissions from all five colleges I applied to. Additionally, I did not receive any waitlists or rejections from any of the colleges in the admission process. This process was very smooth and allowed me to have plenty of good options for me to choose from based on my academic and career goals.
- Since I did not receive any rejections and was admitted to all five universities, my applications must have been strong overall. I believe there were several factors that influenced this outcome.
- If I did get rejected, I think it was for a number of reasons—never-ending competition, lack of availability in the program I applied to, or even that my profile wasn't a perfect fit with what the program was after. Sometimes the universities don't choose candidates with similar prospects or experience to try to achieve a mix of students with different academic, work, and other factors.
- To wrap up, I can only be thankful about how it turned out with the admission process. I chose the university that aligned with my long-term academic and career goals and that had appropriate faculty, program structure, and opportunities for growth.
- I selected Southern Methodist University (SMU) for the best blend of academic reputation, program layout, campus culture and employment possibilities. The master's program I chose aligned well with my long-term goals and was a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity. SMU stood out amongst the other institutions that I was admitted into because of its strong industry links, great faculty and student life. Elements like scholarships, location (Dallas being a booming city for tech and business) and SMU's focus on small class sizes and a student-focused experience heavily influenced my decision.
- The admission process was straightforward and student-driven. Here were a few key steps to complete the process:
- Fill out an online application through the SMU portal.
- Upload academic transcripts, letters of recommendation (if applicable), a Statement of Purpose (SOP) and a resume.
- Submit the official test scores (GRE/GMAT if necessary or a waiver may be available).
- Some programs required interviews, while my program provided an optional interview for students being considered for scholarship support.
- I decided to apply for the Fall 2024 intake at Southern Methodist University (SMU).
- Complete Admission Timeline:
- Application Submission: Early/MidDecember 2023
- Application Completed (All documents, SOP, LORs): Mid December 2023
- Acknowledgement of Application: 2-3 days after submission (December 2023)
- First review and Admissions Committee: Later December 2023
- Admission decision: Mid January 2024 (approximately 4-5 weeks after submission)
- Notification of scholarship offer: in conjunction with admission offer January 2024
- Accepting admissions offer: End of January 2024
- I-20 Issuance (for visa): February 2024
- Visa process and preparation: March 2024–May 2024
- Coursework begins: mid- to late August 2024
- Timeline:
- The entire admission process—from submitting the application to receiving my admission decision—took approximately 4 to 6 weeks.
Faculty
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- Student-to-Faculty Ratio:
- With a one-to-ten or one-to-fifteen ratio of faculty members to students in my program at SMU, I felt it was a small programme relative to other larger institutions or even small institutions with strong faculty-student ratios. I truly felt this positively affected the quality of education. With fewer students per class, professors could devote a significant amount of time to each student. They could cater to each student's individuality and give tailored guidance, and the quality of interaction in the class was good. There were also significantly more opportunities for genuine and deep interaction during office hours, group projects, and discussions.
- Teaching Method:
- The teaching method used by faculty was engaging and dynamic. They used a combination of lectures, case studies, group discussion, and practice projects to present the material. Many professors would also include industry examples in the course material and real-world situations from their careers, as well as guest speakers from the community who were experts in the field.
- This experience not only stressed theoretical learning but also practical learning with practical applications that were used to prepare students to enter the fields they were pursuing (getting a job!). For instance, we continuously did case studies and used previous work experience to problem-solve like we would if we were on the job.
- This extensive approach was enough for us to gain the skills and knowledge necessary for securing jobs following graduation. The programme had career-related workshops, networking opportunities, and involvement from companies to help students connect to future employers.
Campus Life
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Number of Campuses and Their Locations:
- There are no other primary campuses of SMU in addition to the University's main campus, which is located in University Park (a residential neighborhood in Dallas, Texas). The University Park campus is located in a highly connected and easily accessible part of the city. The University has multiple facilities and branches for some academic departments, but there are no other main campuses besides this. SMU does have various satellite locations for some programs and partnerships.
- Facilities on Campus:
- SMU has an abundance of high-quality facilities supporting student success, including physical, academic, and health and wellness facilities.
- Libraries: Fondren Library serves as the hub of academic support at SMU in the form of books, journals, and other academic resources, including digital ones, and study spaces (individually and in groups). There are even specialised libraries on campus for business and law students.
- Sports Facilities: The Dedman Centre for Lifetime Sports has a gym, indoor courts, fitness & climbing centres, a swimming pool, and outdoor sports fields. The Dedman Centre has several additional capabilities, including group exercise classes and personal trainers.
- Medical Services: The SMU Health Centre provides medical care, wellness, mental health and support services (along with many resources) for student health and wellness. It is important to note that the Health Centre is available to all students. this includes routine health care (such as check-ups) and counselling if warranted.
Part Time Jobs
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Teaching Assistant (TA), Research Assistant (RA), and Departmental Assistant (DA) Positions:
- Many students at SMU find employment as Teaching Assistants (TAs), Research Assistants (RAs), or Departmental Assistants (DAs) as part of their graduate study. TAs, RAs, and DAs provide a great opportunity to gain exposure to faculty, research, and teaching and are typically regarded as highly coveted positions in the higher education space.
- The number of students who get TA/RA/DA positions varies each semester, depending on the department and the funding available. Typically, about 30–50 per percent of graduate students in a range of departments, but particularly in STEM areas, business, and social science areas, can obtain these positions. Some departments will have more abundant opportunities than other departments, particularly those that are research-heavy.
- Pay band:
- The pay varied for TA/RA/DA positions depending on the department and positions, but typically the pay is between $12 and $12–20/hour when working as an hourly TA/RA/DA. Some departments may offer their Research Assistants stipends instead, and in some cases, there are opportunities to also obtain tuition waivers or partial scholarships.
- SMU students from India usually opt to work on campus for convenience and flexibility with classes. Indian students typically find lots of good options for jobs on campus. Some popular on-campus job roles that Indian students tend to pursue are: Library Assistant: many students conduct this job role because they have quiet times to work and can be flexible with their hours. Dining Services: students working at The Market Place and dining services tend to have consistent hours and connecting with fellow students and faculty adds an interesting component to the role. Administrative Support: students either apply for positions which equal an office assistant where they do small pieces of office work such as photocopying and data entry, or students apply for positions (in different departments) or event organisers, which is considerably more work.
- Teaching Assistant (TA)/Research Assistant (RA): mostly graduate students will find a TA/RA position. A TA/RA position adds value, at least academically. And, it is certainly an opportunity for students to work closely with faculty on projects. A number of students also pursued off-campus jobs, primarily in retail/hospitality, in stores, restaurants, and such, primarily in places like NorthPark Centre or Galleria Dallas. Working off-campus mostly is an “extra job” for money and experience. Working in retail/hospitality jobs can especially add real-world experience as business or management students.
Placement
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- Percent of Graduates Employed Within 6 Months
- A large proportion of students in SMU's Data Engineering and similar programs will have found employment within 6 months of finishing their course.
- According to the career services section at SMU, 85-90% of students in STEM fields – including Data Engineering, Computer Science, Electrical Engineering, etc.—went on to find employment or internships within 6 months of graduation. This statistic represents both high industry demand for technical-type graduates and well-developed career services at SMU.
- Average Salary Range After Graduation
- The average salary for students graduating from Data Engineering and specialisations at SMU is in the $70,000 to $90,000 range.
- Entry-level salaries typically start in the $70,000 - $80,000 range depending on the industry (tech, finance, etc.) and location.
Accommodation
Off Campus
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- Accommodation:
- I chose to live off campus during my time at SMU. While there are options for on-campus housing, I preferred to be flexible and save some money by living off campus. Off-campus housing provides more control over the environment in which you wish to live (e.g., near a grocery store or café), and there are just more options available as a whole.
- Finding Accommodation:
- I looked for accommodation off campus using multiple sources:
- 1. Online: Typically, there are a lot of options available online to find accommodation rentals, such as Zillow, Apartments.com, and Craigslist, to name a few. They were all very useful in investigating what rentals were available.
- 2. Student Groups: I joined numerous groups on Facebook and Discord and joined groups on Telegram that had current students or alumni posting available accommodation options or recommendations. These groups were incredibly useful in being able to read first-hand reviews and find roommates.
- 3. Real Estate Agents: In certain situations, I utilised a local real estate agent that specialised in student housing to help narrow down some options that met my budget and wants.
- Monthly Rent and Amenities:
- My monthly rent for off-campus housing ranged from $900 to $1,200 depending on the apartment and location. I had a private bedroom in a shared apartment. Some amenities and costs that were included in the monthly rent were:
- Utilities (i.e., electricity, water, trash) were usually included but internet and cable were separate utilities.
- Basic apartment amenities included air conditioning, heating, a full kitchen, and laundry facilities at the apartment complex.
- Workout facilities and parking were also included in the apartment complex, which were also very helpful.
Exams
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Admission Examinations
- In order to be considered for admission to my program at Southern Methodist University (SMU), the following exams were required of or accepted from applicants.
- TOEFL (Test of English as a Foreign Language): Required of international course applicants to demonstrate English language proficiency with a minimum score of 80-100.
- Required Admission Documentation:
- To fulfill the admission requirements at SMU, I submitted the following documentation:
- Signed Application: submitted online.
- Official Transcripts: from my undergraduate institution, showing my complete academic history.
- Statement of Purpose (SOP): This was a very important part of the application. In this piece, I stated my academic goals, the reason I chose that program, and how that program matched with my professional aspirations and goals.
- Letters of Recommendation (LORs): Two references from an academic profession or a professional who could speak to my ability and potential.
- Resume/Curriculum Vitae (CV): Focusing on academic experience, professional experience, and related experience.
- English Language Tests: either TOEFL, IELTS or PTE, based on my preference and eligibility.
Fees
- Tuition fees: total program price is approximately $45,000 - $50,000 depending on the number of credit hours you need.
- Hostel fees (on-campus housing): total approximately $8,000 - $12,000 per academic year, depending on the options (shared room, private room, or apartment housing).
- Meal Plan (on-campus housing option only): total approx. $4,000 - $6,000 annually.
- Student Services & Health Fee: total approximately $500 - $700 per academic year.
- Insurance (mandatory for international students): total approximately $2,000 - $2,500 annually.
- Books and Supplies: estimated total $1,000 - $1,200 annually.
- Therefore, the estimated total for the entire duration of my course (normally 1.5 - 2 years for a Master's) is about $70,000 - $80,000, which covers living costs and additional expenses. Fees at SMU are charged on a semester basis.
- Each semester you will be billed tuition according to the number of credit hours you sign up for. Most graduate courses charge about $1,400 - $1,600 per credit hour. Other services such as housing, insurance, etc., are billed separately to each student each semester, either in their course registration or as an additional charge at the time of payment.
Scholarship
- Certainly scholarships are available for studying at Southern Methodist University (SMU). SMU offers various merit-based scholarships for both domestic and international students. SMU scholarships are awarded based on a combination of academic excellence, professional accomplishments, and, in some cases, financial need.
- I was indeed fortunate enough to have received a Merit-Based Scholarship, from the university as a condition of my admission.
- The Name of the Scholarship: SMU Graduate Merit Scholarship.
- Eligibility Requirements: Excellent academic record with high GPA in undergraduate studies, concise Statement of Purpose, strong Letters of Recommendation, and work/research experience. GRE/GMAT is optional for the programme but might help enhance the profile if provided.
- At the time of the award, the amount of the scholarship I received was a total of $5,000, which went towards the overall tuition fees. The scholarship amount was divided into semesters and applied that way, which better managed financial needs over the course of the program.
