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 extra-curricular 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.

First-Year Admission Criteria

Selection of degree-seeking students at SMU is competitive and based on several criteria: the high school curriculum, academic performance in the classroom, grade pattern, rank in class (if available), SAT and/or ACT scores (if provided), counselor and teacher recommendations, essay, resume, behavioral record and extracurricular activities. Although no specific cutoff is applied to any single measure, generally a student who has both accomplished a strong academic record and exhibited a variety of noteworthy and personal achievements will contribute and benefit most from the SMU experience. Matriculation to the University is contingent upon continuing academic achievement and completion of the high school diploma. The Admission Committee may rescind offers of admission for students whose academic, extracurricular or behavioral records are not consistent with information presented in the application for admission. As an independent institution, SMU has no limits on enrollment based solely on geography or distinctions in tuition, fees or other costs based on the residency of the student.

High School Curriculum

High school curricula, including curricular rigor, academic performance in the classroom, elective choices and senior-year course load, are considered in the admission review. Applicants should submit high school records with a minimum of 15 or more academic units. The recommended distribution for a minimum program is as follows: four units of English, three units of mathematics (algebra 1, plane geometry, algebra 2), three units of science (including two units of laboratory science), three units of social science and two units of a second language (a two-year sequence).

American Sign Language may be used to satisfy a second language. Engineering applicants should have completed four years of math (including higher-level math beyond algebra 2) and a year each of chemistry and physics. Note: Most students who are successful in the admission process present credentials well in excess of the minimum course recommendations.

Home School Criteria

Home school and distance learning applicants are expected to complete the equivalent of the high school curriculum as outlined above. In addition, students must submit the Home School Supplement form, which provides the education coordinator an opportunity to share his or her philosophy for homeschooling, comments concerning the grading scale and caliber of academic work completed, and a brief recommendation of the student. Access a checklist at www.smu.edu/admission/apply/firstyear/homeschool for the home school requirements. Home-schooled students are eligible for federal student aid for college if they have “completed a secondary school education in a home school setting that is treated as a home school or private school under State law” [Section 484(d)(3) of the Higher Education Act of 1965].

Application Timetable for First-Year Students

All prospective students must complete an application form. Any student who submits an application form to SMU with sufficient academic information will be fully considered for admission. Those who do not submit additional materials (e.g., transcripts, test scores, recommendations, etc.) to provide sufficient evidence of academic and extra-curricular achievement to earn admission may be denied admission or offered a place on SMU’s wait list. First-year applicants are reviewed on the admissions calendar as follows:

Application Deadline: November 1

Early Decision 1 (binding)

Early Action (nonbinding)

Notification Date: By December 31

Application Deadline: January 15

Early Decision 2 (binding)

Regular Decision (nonbinding)

Notification Date: By April 1

Note: The priority deadline for merit scholarship consideration is January 15. Applications for admission received after January 15 are considered if space is available. Notification will be rolling after April 1.

Standardized Testing

First year applicants choose if their ACT and/or SAT scores are considered in the admission process at the time of application. Applicants choosing to submit scores may self-report them for admission consideration as long as official test results are on file prior to beginning course work. SMU will superscore an applicant’s ACT or SAT scores – combining the highest scores on each section of a test in order to achieve the highest possible ACT composite or SAT combined score. When a student submits both ACT and SAT scores, the admission office will use whichever is higher to make an admission decision. Further, a student’s educational record at SMU will include only those test administrations used to compute the highest ACT composite superscore or the highest SAT combined superscore, whichever contributed to the offer of admission. If an applicant chooses to submit ACT or SAT scores, those scores will be considered for both admission and scholarship consideration according to this policy.

Students whose native language is not English and whose entire secondary education has not been in an English-medium school are required to present evidence of their ability to perform academic work and contribute to a classroom in English. Such students should submit one of the following:

• an official total score of at least 90 on the TOEFL English language proficiency exam with recommended subscores of at least: 20 Reading, 20 Listening, 24 Speaking, 24 Writing. Because SMU values class participation and a writing-intensive curriculum, particular emphasis is placed on speaking and writing skills. Students who score less than 90 are generally not offered admission* to SMU, or
• an official score of at least 6.5 on the IELTS Academic English competency test with recommended subscores of at least: 6.5 Reading, 6.5 Listening, 7 Speaking, 7 Writing. Because SMU values class participation and a writing-intensive curriculum, particular emphasis is placed on speaking and writing skills. Students who score less than 6.5 are generally not offered admission* to SMU, or
• an official score of at least 60 on the Pearson Test of English (PTE Academic). Students who score less than 60 are generally not offered admission* to SMU, or
• an official score of at least 115 on the Duolingo English Test (DET). Students who score less than 115 are generally not offered admission to SMU, or
• evidence of successful completion of SMU’s Intensive English Program with a recommendation for degree study at SMU from the IEP Director.

*Students not offered admission to SMU based on English proficiency may be offered conditional admission pending completion of SMU’s Intensive English Program (IEP) www.smu.edu/iep. SMU has successfully provided support for English language learners through its IEP and dedicated coursework for students whose first-language is not English. The University uses these tests to provide the best possible path for success to our students whose native language is not English.

SMU offers courses to support an English language learner’s academic success. Students should consult with an academic adviser to enroll in the appropriate language course. Students offered admission based on scores from one of the above tests may be asked to complete an English language placement exercise prior to beginning classes. In cases where a student’s skills are not sufficient to begin for-credit course work, SMU may require the student to complete the Intensive English Program prior to beginning a degree program at SMU.

Consideration for the Performing Arts Auditions/Visual Arts

In order to pursue one of the Dual Admission Program (“dual-admit”) majors, all first-year and transfer students must be admitted both to the Meadows School of the Arts via submission of a Meadows Application and audition or portfolio review, as well as to the University via the undergraduate application for admission. Admission to Meadows through the audition or portfolio process does not guarantee admission to the University. Information regarding the Meadows Application, audition and portfolio requirements and deadlines may be obtained at www.smu.edu/admission/arts or by contacting the Meadows Office of Admission and Financial Aid, Meadows School of the Arts, Southern Methodist University, Dallas TX 75275-0356; email meadowsadmission@smu.edu or phone 214-768-3217. Auditions are scheduled after the Meadows application is submitted, while portfolio work is submitted in the Meadows application. The Meadows Application, audition and/or portfolio review are both an admission review and a review for artistic scholarships.

Transfer students entering degree programs within the Division of Theatre may do so only in the fall term. Transfer students in the Division of Dance, Division of Music, Division of Art, and Division of Film & Media Arts normally enter in the fall term; spring admission may be offered in exceptional cases. Entry in the fall is encouraged as course sequencing for transfer students beginning in the spring could delay graduation.

Consideration for the Edwin L. Cox School of Business

In order to be considered for admission into the Cox School of Business, applicants must indicate a Cox major as their primary academic interest on their application. All applications will be processed through the main SMU Undergraduate Admission Office. Admission to the Cox School of Business is highly selective, but holistic in nature with an emphasis on a student’s academic performance. Students will be notified if they have received admission into the Cox School of Business after their acceptance to the University. If a student is not admitted to Cox, they are still eligible for admission to the University if they indicate a separate academic interest outside of the Cox School on their application.

Reserving a Place

All admitted students are required to submit a nonrefundable deposit and orientation fee. Admitted students who did not apply under a binding decision plan must submit this deposit by the May 1 deadline to reserve a place in the class. Students admitted under a binding decision plan will be notified of their deposit deadline when they are admitted. This deposit includes the nonrefundable housing deposit as well as the matriculation and orientation fees. All first-year and second-year students must live on campus unless permission is granted to live at home by the dean of Residence Life and Student Housing. To facilitate advising and enrollment, students are required to submit their final high school transcript confirming graduation prior to enrolling.

Credit by Examination, Audition and Portfolio Review

Credit by examination policies are reviewed annually and are subject to change for the following academic year. The following policies are for students who matriculate during 2024-2025.

Examinations Administered in High School

The Common Curriculum (CC) allows students admitted as first-year (FYR) and first-year transfer students (FYT) to satisfy up to three (3) Breadths with any combination of AP, IB, other transfer credit. Only approved AP and IB exams with appropriate scores may be used. Students admitted as transfer students (TRN) may fulfill up to seven Breadth requirements using external credit. Additional credits may apply to an SMU degree through graduation, major, minor, or elective coursework requirements.

Students may not receive credit for an AP exam, an International Baccalaureate (IB) exam, and a college course covering the same subject matter; i.e., the course equivalency will only be awarded once. Students may decline all or part of their test credit in favor of taking the equivalent credit at SMU; declining test credit is an irrevocable declaration. Test credit granted by SMU is not considered resident credit and does not count toward the 60 resident hours required for an SMU degree.

The testing agency must send an official copy of test results to the University Registrar’s Office for credit. Students should submit their official scores as soon as possible to facilitate academic advising but must submit no later than the end of their first term of enrollment.

Advanced Placement Examinations

SMU grants credit and placement for scores of 4 or 5 on most Advanced Placement (AP) examinations taken in high school (see table below). Credit will be awarded only for exams taken while in high school. AP test scores are evaluated, and SMU course credit is assigned based on the articulation policies in effect for the term students matriculate to the University, regardless of when the test was taken.

 Notes:

• Students will receive the physics lab credit as long as they make the indicated score on the Credit by Examination table.
• Duplicate credit is not allowed toward an SMU degree. Students who enroll in classes that duplicate Advanced Placement, International Baccalaureate or other test credit awards will lose these credits after the fifth day of the term. Once credit is revoked, it may not be awarded again.
• Students should submit their official scores as soon as possible to facilitate academic advising, but must submit no later than the end of their first term of enrollment. 

College-Level Examination Program

SMU gives credit for CLEP subject examinations based on the specified minimum scores below:

CLEP credit granted by SMU is not considered resident credit and does not count towards the 60 resident hours required for an SMU degree. CLEP testing is offered at the University Testing Center. Visit smu.edu/testing for more information.

SMU Departmental Examinations, Auditions and Portfolio Review

SMU also awards credit for departmental examinations offered in a variety of disciplines. Such SMU credit may not transfer automatically to other universities. Credit for examinations awarded by other institutions will not transfer to SMU. Credit awarded through SMU department exams, auditions and portfolio reviews is considered resident credit.

World Languages. All students whose native language is English are required to take a language placement examination. Scores on these examinations determine the world language competency of entering students so that they may be placed in classes appropriate to their level of achievement and degree program. Students may not enroll in a course below the level of their placement. When the student has successfully completed the course with a grade of C- or above, the student will retroactively earn up to 16 credit hours of University credit for the preceding courses in the beginning and intermediate levels of the language sequence. Students must enroll in the world language courses for a letter grade (not pass/fail) for the course to serve as a basis for granting retroactive credit. Language courses taken at other institutions cannot be used as a basis for granting retroactive credit. Although students may earn retroactive credit in more than one language, the maximum aggregate credit involving more than one language allowed to count toward graduation is 16 credit hours.

Physics. The Physics Department offers placement exams for PHYS 1303  and PHYS 1304 . The placement exam, which must be taken in the first term that the student enrolls at SMU, is based on the final exam in the PHYS 1303  and PHYS 1304  courses. The department does not allow test credit for labs (e.g., PHYS 1105 , PHYS 1106 , PHYS 4311 ). The essential element of the lab is the hands-on experience; therefore, substitutes will not be accepted.

Mathematics. Math credit exams are offered for the courses listed below and must be taken prior to initial enrollment. Calculators are not permitted on these exams, except for MATH 1307 . Students interested in credit exams for courses beyond this level may contact the Mathematics Department.

• MATH 1307 - Introduction to Mathematical Sciences  
• MATH 1309 - Introduction to Calculus for Business and Social Science 
  (suggested preparation = one full year of high school calculus)
• MATH 1337 - Calculus I 
  (suggested preparation = one full year of high school calculus)
• MATH 1338 - Calculus II  

Computer Science. The Department of Computer Science offers a credit exam for CS 1341 - Principles of Computer Science I  that must be taken prior to initial enrollment. Please contact Beth Minton, Computer Science Department Coordinator, for more information at minton@smu.edu.

Music. All entering undergraduate students (except transfer students from 4-year NASM schools) are required to take entrance examinations in written music theory and musicianship before classes begin. The date and time of these exams are listed in the “Orientation Schedule” published by the Division of Music each year and emailed to students. Students are advised to make appropriate end-of-summer plans to be present and on time for these exams. Students must be available for the entire testing period, and these exams cannot be made up once the semester begins. Since the exams are used for course section placement, all students are required to take the exams whether or not they are seeking credit by examination.

All music degrees require coursework in Class Piano. Prospective music majors with no formal piano study should enroll directly in Class Piano during their first semester. Prospective music majors with any amount of formal piano study must be tested individually for placement into the appropriate Class Piano course. Scheduling information for these tests is provided in the “Orientation Schedule” published by the Division of Music each year and emailed to students.

International Certificate Programs

SMU grants credit for successfully completing the international certificate programs listed below. Credit granted by SMU is not considered resident credit and does not count towards the 60 resident hours required for an SMU degree. In certain cases, departmental examinations may be required as a part of the evaluation process.

The Common Curriculum (CC) allows students to satisfy up to three (3) Common Curriculum Breadths with Advanced Placement credits or other test credits and/or post-high school transfer work. Additional credits may apply to an SMU degree through major or minor requirements or elective coursework.

1. The International Baccalaureate. Six to eight credits will be awarded for scores of 5, 6 or 7 on International Baccalaureate higher-level exams in transferable subjects, with a maximum award of 32 credits. Students will not be awarded credit for standard-level exams.
2. The General Certificate of Education A-Level (United Kingdom). Six to eight credits will be awarded for grades of A and B on A-level exams in transferable subjects, with a maximum award of 32 credits. Credits will not be awarded for a grade of C, or for O-level and AS-level exams. Credit awards for the Art and Design A, High Level exam are reviewed on a case-by-case basis by SMU’s Art Division.
3. The Baccalaureate (France). Six to eight credits will be awarded for scores of 11 or above, with a maximum award of 32 credits.
4. The Abitur (Germany). Six to eight credits will be awarded for scores of 7 or above on each of the written exams in transferable subjects, with a maximum award of 32 credits. Credits will not be awarded for oral exams.
5. The Italian Maturita (Italy). For the Maturita Tecnica, Classica, Scientifica and/or Linguistica, credits will be awarded for scores of 6 or above in transferable subjects, with a maximum award of 32 credits.

Concurrent Credit and Dual Credit

Students may receive credit for college courses taken prior to graduation from high school if the courses meet the criteria for transfer work outlined in the Transfer Admission Criteria section of this catalog.

Students entering SMU in the first regular semester following high school graduation, or transfer students entering SMU with 23 or fewer transfer credits earned after high school graduation, may use transferable dual or concurrent credit to satisfy Common Curriculum, major, minor or elective requirements. Official college transcripts are required for all college-level work attempted, regardless of transferability. During their first regular term of enrollment at SMU a student may opt out of a course taken before graduation from high school. Opting out of a course will remove any transfer credit awarded and remove the course from the transfer grade point average. The decision to opt out is irrevocable.

Transfer Admission Criteria

Selection of transfer applicants is based on several criteria, including academic curriculum, performance, grade patterns, behavioral and extracurricular activities, as well as other relevant experiences. For all candidates who are not entering SMU directly from high school, the Admission Committee considers the rigor of the courses attempted. We recommend that all transfer applicants should have completed at least one course in English composition, a lab science, a math course beyond college algebra and at least one course pertaining to the applicant’s in­tended major. The committee weighs overall academic performance as well as evidence of recent improvement. For some applicants, high school performance is also a factor. Candidates with fewer than 24 hours are considered on an individual basis and may be asked to submit additional information. Transfer students with fewer than 24 credits at the time of matriculation will follow the same Common Curriculum  requirements as first year students. Although the average GPA of successful transfer applicants is considerably higher, applicants with a transfer GPA below 2.700 (on a 4.000 scale) are not typically successful in gaining admission. Candidates with a transferable GPA below 2.000 are not competitive for admission to the University.

Students may be admitted directly to the school of their intended major if the admission requirement of that school has been met. The specific requirements for admission into each of SMU’s undergraduate schools are outlined in the admission section of that school’s information in this catalog.

All transfer students who intend to major in dance, music or theatre must also audition. Art majors and students seeking a B.F.A. in film and media arts are required to submit a portfolio for consideration. Requirements and contact information are available in the First-Year Admission Criteria section under the heading Performing Arts Auditions/Visual Arts Consideration.

Prospective transfer students must complete an Undergraduate Application for Transfer Admission. An official academic transcript that includes the last completed term from each college or university attended must be sent to SMU Undergraduate Admission, PO Box 750181, Dallas, TX 75275-0181. In addition, applicants must submit a Statement of Good Disciplinary Standing from all colleges or universities attended since they last attended high school.

A final high school transcript (or GED high school equivalency test results), required of all transfer applicants, should be sent to the address above to confirm high school diploma as well as world language and math background.

Transfer Credit

Regardless of the number of transferable credit hours completed elsewhere, University policy requires that of the 120 minimum credit hours required for a degree, students must earn either 48 or 60 credit hours through enrollment at SMU depending on their last school of full-time attendance (see SMU Credit Requirement  in the Enrollment and Academic Records section of this catalog). That is, they must be earned in SMU courses, SMU credits or SMU-approved international programs.

No transfer credit is given for any correspondence course or work completed at a school that is not accredited by a regional or national accrediting agency. Only grades of C- or better in comparable courses are transferable to SMU for accepted students. Vocational-technical courses, courses below college level, credit by examination earned at another college or university, and PE activity courses in excess of two hours do not transfer. For courses not taught at SMU locations or in SMU-approved international programs, free-elective transfer credit (FETC) may be awarded for appropriate courses completed with a grade of C- or better at regionally accredited colleges or universities that meet SMU’s academic standards. FETC is assigned by the various school records offices for transferability, or used by the Office of the University Registrar if courses are considered transferable but lack sufficient information to determine an exact equivalency. Similarly, Business Elective Transfer Credit (BETC) is used to award transfer credit by the Cox School of Business’ Office of BBA Academic Advising, Records and Special Programs, for transferable courses where there is not an equivalent business course prefix. 

All grades for transferable courses are used to calculate the transfer GPA. Courses with a grade of D or F are not transferable to SMU for credit, however the grades are calculated into the transfer GPA. Exceptions are made for repeated courses where only the grade from the most recent attempt will be calculated. Transfer course grades are not calculated in major/minor GPAs. A grade of W (Withdrawn) is not used to calculate the transferable GPA. A grade of I (Incomplete) or a missing grade is calculated as F. A grade of IP (In Progress) for a current term is not calculated. This grade replacement policy for eligible transfer courses will be used in all transfer and all-college GPA calculations and other academic determinations at SMU. For a complete list of how grades are calculated please see the smu.edu/transfer.

Note: For some majors requiring a subset of courses and specific GPAs for entry, the subset GPA is calculated using the first graded attempt of these courses, even if the first attempt of the course was failed or later repeated.

Official college transcripts are required for all college-level work attempted, regardless of transferability. Transcripts must be sent directly to SMU from the institution attended. A transcript issued to a student is acceptable provided it is received in a sealed, letterhead envelope with the institution’s Office of the Registrar stamp. Transcripts must be dated fewer than three years prior to processing. Coursework from one institution that appears on an official transcript from another institution will not be accepted for transfer credit. An official transcript must be issued by each institution attended. Photocopies of transcripts provided by other institutions are not acceptable.

An online version of the transfer credit evaluation is available to transfer students prior to their enrollment.

SMU Statement on Transfer Credit

Consistent with SMU’s mission and its commitment to transfer students, and in accordance with SACSCOC’s position statement that member institutions should award transfer credit for courses taken at institutionally accredited institutions and should award equivalent credit when those courses are substantially similar to courses offered by the institution to which the student transfers, SMU commits that all pre-matriculation transfer credit (transfer credit taken before a student matriculates to SMU) will be evaluated for credit only on the basis of equivalency, regardless of the modality or method of delivery of the course. Courses are evaluated upon application to SMU. Students may petition to have courses re-evaluated, once credits transfer, using the Re-Evaluation of Transfer Credit petition, available through the Registrar’s Office Forms Library. Although limits exist regarding how much transfer credit may be applied towards the undergraduate degree, the Common Curriculum, and to SMU academic programs, no pre-matriculation transfer course will be denied solely on the basis of modality or method of delivery. Please refer to the Enrollment and Academic Records, General Education, and Educational Programs sections of the SMU undergraduate catalog to understand these limits and restrictions.

Matriculated students (students who have been admitted to and who have enrolled at SMU) must seek approval to take post-matriculation transfer credits, using the Pre-Approval of Transfer Credit petition available through the Registrar’s Office Forms Library. Students may petition courses for free-elective credit, departmental or major credit, or Common Curriculum credit. Courses approved for free-elective credit may not be used to satisfy major or Common Curriculum requirements. Limits exist on the number of transfer credits that may be applied to the undergraduate degree, to specific academic programs, and to the Common Curriculum. Students are advised to review SMU policies, Common Curriculum policies, and departmental policies for details on these limits. Many departments have restrictions on the nature and types of courses for which they will award post-matriculation transfer credit, and some departments have restrictions on the modality or method of delivery they accept (this applies only to post-matriculation credit). Please refer to departmental policies in the SMU undergraduate catalog on departmental websites to understand these specific policies and restrictions.

International Transcript Credit

All international university transcripts must be accompanied by a professional evaluation and an official transcript, including an English translation if it is not in English, and course descriptions or syllabi. It is the student’s responsibility to procure this evaluation and to assume financial responsibility for it. An exception to this requirement is an exchange agreement between SMU and an international institution that is modeled after the U.S. education system.

Because of the importance of this information, SMU accepts evaluations only from the following agencies of proven reliability:

International Education Evaluations, Inc.
7900 Matthews-Mint Hill Rd. Suite 300
Charlotte, NC 28227
Telephone: 704-772-0109
E-mail: myiee.org

International Academic Credential Evaluators Inc.
PO Box 2585
Denton, TX 76202-2585
Telephone: 940-383-7498
www.iacei.net

World Education Services Inc.
PO Box 745 Old Chelsea Station
New York, NY 10113-0745
Telephone: 212-966-6311
Toll-free: 1-800-937-3895
Email: infor@wes.org
www.wes.org

Josef Silny & Associates, Inc. International Education Consultants
7101 SW 102 Avenue
Miami, FL 33173
Telephone: 305-273-1616
Fax: 305-273-1338
Email: info@jsilny.org
www.jsilny.org

SpanTran: The Evaluation Company
2400 Augusta Drive, Suite 451
Houston, TX 77057
Phone: 713-266-8805
Email: status@spantran.com
www.spantran.com

The evaluations provided by the above agencies should include an explanation that the institution is recognized by the ministry of education in the student’s home country and is generally considered to offer at least the equivalent of U.S. higher education credit. In addition, it should include an explanation of the credits, the grading system and course levels, as well as a course-by-course evaluation.

The expertise and reliability of a professional evaluation report is recognized worldwide and is likely to be accepted by other academic institutions, employers and state licensing boards. However, the report is not binding to SMU and it will be considered a recommendation for SMU’s independent decision of the credit to be given. Information and applications from the agencies are available online. For more information, students should contact the Office of Admission.

Application Timetable for Transfer Students

Summer term entry: All application materials are due no later than June 1.

Fall term entry/scholarship consideration: All application materials are due no later than April 1.

Fall term entry: All application materials are due no later than August 1 (final).

Spring term entry: All application materials are due no later than November 1 (final).

Note: The deadline for priority scholarship consideration is April 1 for fall entry and November 1 for spring entry.

The Office of Admission recommends that prospective students submit application materials well in advance of the deadlines above, particularly for those applying for financial aid or University housing. University housing for transfer students is limited and may require the student be admitted and apply for housing prior to these deadlines.

Application processing begins in early March (for the summer and fall terms) and in early October (for the spring term) upon receipt of pertinent data, including each official transcript through the last completed term.

Reserving a Place

All degree-seeking admitted transfer students wishing to enroll at SMU are required to submit a $700 transfer orientation and matriculation deposit to reserve a place in the academic program. This $700 deposit should be sent to the Office of Admission. Space can be guaranteed only to those students who have submitted the deposit by the deadline noted in the acceptance packet. Note: This $700 deposit is nonrefundable. Students seeking financial aid should wait until they receive their financial aid award before submitting a deposit.

Note that admitted transfer students cannot enroll at SMU until their final transcript has been received and evaluated for transferability and a Good Standing Form has been received from their prior institutions. For this reason, transfer students entering for the fall term are discouraged from attending the second summer term at their current institution before matriculation to SMU.

Housing Deposit

Housing accommodations are offered on a space-available basis for new transfer students who submit their housing application by the priority application deadline. Housing links will be sent to interested transfer students once the student has been accepted and has sent a nonrefundable deposit of $800, which includes an additional $100 housing deposit, to the Office of Admission.

International Student Admission

International citizens and U.S. passport holders studying outside the United States who apply to SMU as first-year and transfer undergraduate students are expected to meet all requirements for admission.

For admission consideration, students for whom English is not the native language and whose entire high school curriculum was not in an English-medium school are required to submit a test score from an internationally recognized English language test as explained in the Standardized Testing section of this catalog.

Students who are otherwise admissible but whose English proficiency scores are slightly below those mentioned above may be offered conditional admission pending successful completion of SMU’s Intensive English Program prior to matriculation. Transfer students from U.S. institutions without an internationally recognized English language test score will be evaluated on the basis of university-level grades in English composition/rhetoric courses. All students whose English composition courses were completed at a university outside the United States are required to complete an SMU English language placement exam for appropriate course-placement.

International transfer students who have completed work at a university outside the United States are required to submit the following (in English or with an English translation):

• An official transcript.
• Professional evaluation. (More information is found in the International Transcript Credit section of this catalog.)

The expenses to be incurred in attending the University are listed in the Financial Information section of this catalog. Additional costs that international students may expect include housing and dining living expenses during school holidays, travel expenses, international student health insurance, and the international student fee (foreign passport holders only). Need-based financial aid is not available for international students; however, first-year international students will be considered for academic scholarships if their application is complete by the January 15 deadline. Transfer international applicants will be considered for all transfer scholarships for which they are eligible, provided the appropriate application deadline has been met.

After an international student has been admitted, paid the appropriate enrollment deposit and provided adequate proof of sufficient financial funds, the International Student and Scholar Services Office will issue the I-20 Certificate of Eligibility. The student will be required to produce the I-20, acceptance letter and proof of finances when applying at the U.S. embassy or consulate for a student visa.

All international students taking one or more credit hours must enroll in and pay for the University-offered health insurance plan unless they have a special waiver granted by SMU’s Dr. Bob Smith Health Center.

Admission for Military Veterans

SMU welcomes applications from military veterans. Student veterans meet undergraduate admission criteria of the University as first year or transfer students. Veterans are considered for first-year admission if they graduated from high school within the last three years and have not completed any college coursework. Student veterans seeking to be competitive in the transfer admission process should have 24 or more term credit hours at a previous accredited college or university and a recommended 2.700 cumulative GPA (on a 4.000 scale). Additional information is available online at www.smu.edu/EnrollmentServices/Veterans and www.smu.edu/apply (“First Year Students” or “Transfer Students” links).

Undergraduate Visiting Students

Visiting students are those who enroll in University courses for credit but do not intend to pursue an SMU degree. This category of students is normally limited to those described under “Admission Requirements” below. Visiting students are admitted through the Division of Enrollment Services based on their likelihood to be successful in and benefit from SMU coursework as evidenced from their academic, behavioral and extracurricular history. They are eligible to register – on a space available basis – in classes for which they have satisfied SMU’s prerequisites. Visiting students must maintain a cumulative grade point average of 2.000 or better in order to continue their studies at SMU. Failure to maintain the appropriate GPA standard may result in removal from the program. Admission as a visiting student does not qualify a student for admission to a degree program at SMU. Applications for visiting students are found at www.smu.edu/visitingstudent or may be obtained by emailing visitingstudent@smu.edu; phone 214-768-3417.

Visiting students from international colleges and universities whose entire curriculum is not taught in English are required to submit a test score from an internationally recognized English language test as explained under Required Testing in the Admission section of the catalog.

Visiting Student Application Components

A complete Visiting Student application is comprised of an online application, a non-refundable $75 application fee, official transcripts from all colleges attended, and Statements of Good Standing from all prior colleges. The application must be completed one month prior to the start of the term in which they seek to enroll.

Admission Requirements

Eligible for Visiting Student Studies:

• Students in good standing and visiting from another four-year college or university.
• Students who have already earned a degree and wish to take undergraduate prerequisite courses for graduate school.
• Students who have transferred to the Dallas area, and with permission from their home universities, wish to finish their degrees by taking SMU courses and transferring back credit.
• Students who wish to participate in SMU programs such as SMU-In-Taos, SMU Abroad, and SMU Intersessions.
• Students participating in special SMU initiatives such as concurrent or summer enrollment opportunities for college and high school students.
• Members of the Dallas community who wish to take SMU Courses for personal enrichment.

Ineligible for Visiting Student Studies:

• Students who have below a 2.000 GPA at other institutions.
• Students who have been suspended or expelled from SMU.
• Students who are not in good academic or disciplinary standing at another institution.
• Students with a criminal record.
• Students who applied to SMU as first years or transfers but were denied admission.
• Students who have not satisfied specific prerequisites for a desired course. Exception may be made with permission by instructor.
• Students who do not have a high school diploma or GED unless participating in a special SMU initiative as described above.

Note: Exceptions may be made to the above on a case-by-case basis by the Director of Transfer Admission.

Readmission of Students

If a student in good standing withdraws from SMU for one term, the student’s file remains active and the student is able to register as though in continuous enrollment at the University (re-entry). Students who left on probation will return on probation. All holds must be cleared prior to enrollment. Re-entry students are responsible for meeting all financial aid, housing and advising deadlines.

After nonattendance for two or more regular (fall, spring) terms, students who formerly attended SMU, including those who have completed a degree, are required to submit an application for reinstatement or reactivation through the Division of Enrollment Services, Undergraduate Admission. The application for admission is available at www.smu.edu/admission (“Apply” tab). Any student who has been suspended is also required to apply for reinstatement. Students who have been suspended are required to attach to their reinstatement application a statement indicating the reasons why they now are prepared to return to SMU. Although the Division of Enrollment Services facilitates the application process, an academic dean or the Committee on Academic Appeals determines reinstatement.

A student who has already earned an undergraduate degree at SMU and is seeking an additional undergraduate degree must apply for reactivation if the student has not attended SMU for two or more regular (fall, spring) terms.

Returning students are strongly advised to apply for reactivation or reinstatement at least 60 days prior to the start of the term of re-entry. Returning students should note that separate applications exist for financial aid and residence halls and that they should contact these offices as early as possible. The deadline for filing this application and supporting materials for domestic students is one month prior to the first day of classes of the term of re-entry. International applicants must apply at least one month prior to the term of re-entry; however, they are encouraged to apply at least 90 days in advance in order to facilitate the immigration process. In addition, the availability of academic advising and courses may be limited immediately prior to and at the beginning of the term.

All students who return to SMU after any period of nonenrollment must forward official transcripts from each college or university attended since last enrolled at SMU. If the last term of enrollment at SMU was prior to fall 2000, official transcripts from each college or university attended prior to SMU also must be forwarded to the Division of Enrollment Services.

Students should be aware of specific policies regarding transfer courses taken after matriculation to SMU (see Transfer Courses from Other Institutions in the Enrollment and Academic Records section of this catalog). In addition, each college within SMU has specific policies regarding reinstatement, reactivation, transfer credit and statute of limitations, so students should refer to their school’s section of this catalog for that information.

Academic Forgiveness

SMU’s academic forgiveness policy permits a student to have academic work taken 10 or more years prior to the term of admission or readmission forgiven. Forgiven hours will not be included in the GPA nor used for actions such as the determination of admission, academic probation, suspension, honors, scholarships and graduation. Students should see the Enrollment and Academic Records section in this catalog for details of this policy. The academic forgiveness application is available through the Division of Enrollment Services.

Final Matriculation to the University

Final matriculation to SMU is contingent upon the student maintaining the same academic and behavioral record on which the University based its offer of admission. In addition to the nonrefundable deposit (and housing application and deposit for those seeking on-campus housing), the following items are required for final matriculation to the University:

Official Final Transcript. All new students must supply a final, official transcript from the institution(s) previously attended. In addition to final grades and degrees awarded, the transcript must bear an official seal of the school and signature of its certifying official.

Official Test Scores. Students entering SMU as first-year students who submitted self-reported ACT or SAT scores as a part of their application must have official ACT or SAT scores on file that match those on which the University based its offer of admission. Official scores are those that come directly from the testing agency or appear on the student’s high school transcript that bears an official seal of the school and signature of its certifying official. If the student submitted such scores as part of the application process, there is no need to submit them again. The University may review and possibly revoke an offer of admission or status as an SMU student to those persons whose official ACT or SAT scores do not match those reported on their application for admission.

Statement of Good Disciplinary Standing. All incoming transfer students must supply a Statement of Good Disciplinary Standing from all prior colleges and universities attended since they last attended high school.

Immunizations. All students (undergraduate, graduate, part-time and full-time, to include international and IEP/ESL students) are required to have an SMU medical history form on file with SMU’s Dr. Bob Smith Health Center before registration. To comply with SMU policy, all students must also submit to the health center their immunization records that provide proof of immunization against measles, mumps and rubella. These MMR immunizations must be documented by a physician, public health record, military health record or school health record. Students will not be allowed to register without immunization compliance. Texas state law requires that all new students under the age of 22 must provide documentation demonstrating they have been vaccinated against bacterial meningitis. The documentation must show evidence that a meningitis vaccine or booster was given during the five-year period preceding and at least 10 days prior to the first day of class of the student’s first term. Students should provide the documentation at least 10 days before the first day of class. Students seeking exemption from this requirement due to health risk or conscience, including religious belief, should see the second page of the SMU medical history health form.

Students are encouraged to check their my.SMU account for immunization status. Immunizations are available at the health center. Health history forms are available on the health center’s website.

Health Insurance. To ensure that students have appropriate health care coverage, SMU requires all domestic students taking nine or more credit hours, both undergraduate and graduate, to have health insurance through either an individual/family plan or the University-offered plan. All international students taking one or more credit hours must enroll in the University-offered plan unless they have a special waiver granted by SMU’s Dr. Bob Smith Health Center.

International Student Compliance. Students who will need an SMU I20 or DS2019 immigration document student visa (F/J visa) in order to apply for a student visa must complete the International Student Compliance online course in order to enroll for classes. The student holds ultimate responsibility for ensuring their compliance with U.S. immigration requirements and other U.S. law.