I saw that BWeek ranked it #18 this year after not making the top 25 or 30 in the previous rankings. My gut tells me it has quite a bit of value if you want to work in Dallas or Texas in general but maybe not so much if you want to go elsewhere. From a networking perspective, I understand that is has a very powerful list of alums. What do y’all think? Does anyone have any opinions?
If you are staying in Dallas it is a very good school to go to. And yes, the networking is pretty strong around that area. Given I am in Dallas I cant speak to outside that area. From the few MBA students going to SMU that I have tutored I think the studies are pretty strong as well.
My girlfriend worked in Dallas and thinks SMU is really something special. I’ve never spent any time working there, so I’ve never thought much of it at all. I think you’ve got it figured out. It’s a great school, but it’s worth a lot more in Dallas than it is elsewhere. It will also cost you a small fortune - a lot more than than UT.
I talked to a Fort Worth HF dude a few weeks ago, and he said they do most of their MBA recruiting out of SMU.
Speaking for someone that was born, raised and working in the Midwest, I have never run across anyone that has gone there and didn’t even know it had an MBA program until recently. I am pretty young so that’s not saying too much. Still makes sense, I dont know who would move from the warmth of Texas to the midwest of all places. Though you are right might be one of those value you plays that will be a name brand school in the future. Didnt Darden become a more of a household name in the not so distant past? U-Texas even seems to be rising quickly as a national name. That being said, I bet it is tougher for a smaller school to rise as quickly as a VA or U-T Just my thoughts
Talking to several people I know who attended SMU, my sense is that the recruiting and networking opportunities are very good for Texas jobs, but I don’t know how far-reaching they are elsewhere. I’ve heard pretty mixed reviews about on-campus recruiting. Seems like you have a much better bet going to McCombs if you’re serious about business school. That being said, there are some pretty lovely ladies at SMU. If you’re an eligible bachelor, your odds in the “social scene” there will be quite good.
SMU places very well in Dallas. I am in Houston and most of the trading and banking jobs are going to UT, Rice and Tulane students. I know a lot of the energy firms are at Rice all the time since it is known for a strong finance program. I got the feeling that more people are UT are looking to go the wall street route or simply not stay in Texas… more of the Rice crowd are looking to stay in houston.
weird - I would be wary, too - if its a virgin in the rankings, it could be an anomaly - go to UTexas or a top 15. if you can get into SMU you can likely get into a better known school
i second daj… if you can crack 650 and good grades and decent story… you can get into a lot of good schools.
There is another University in Singapore called Singapore Management University(SMU) also 