SMU Dedman applicants c/o 2019 (2015-2016) Forum

[texasrangersjb]

Someone convince me SMU is amazing. Rejected from UT today so yeah haha I'll be at the admitted students day next Friday anyone else going?

I was rejected from UT also, but even before that it was 50/50 UT and SMU.

I live in Dallas and love Dallas, thus SMU is a top option. Great placement in Dallas, and if you do well, shots at Dallas Big Law.

I work on campus and it is beautiful. I don't know your goals but SMU is a really good law school and hope you will go.

[texasrangersjb]

I'm a current 1L at SMU, and I've loved my experience thus far. If anyone has any questions, or would like to get an honest perspective of the school feel free to ask me here or PM me.

So I'm an undergrad at SMU, and as much as I've grown to love it, the culture was definitely a shock for me at first. Can you give some insight as to what the law school culture is like? Thanks for your help.

There's definitely a sense among most of the students that we'll be working with each other for most of our careers (most of us fully intend to work in Dallas), and keeping a good reputation and being helpful are very important in addition to grades.

Wow didn't consider that, that makes sense. Will likely rub shoulders with at least some classmates for the next 30 years.

[OtterLaw]

I'm still waiting on my admissions package. Can someone please share the deposit amounts and deadlines?

$750 due by April 1 or it goes to $1000

Whoa seriously? April1 and $750?! That might change my decision in itself. That's absurd.

It's absurd but it does go to first year's tuition

I think the April 1st deadline is more absurd than the amount, although both are kind of ridiculous.

[texasrangersjb]

I'm still waiting on my admissions package. Can someone please share the deposit amounts and deadlines?

$750 due by April 1 or it goes to $1000

Whoa seriously? April1 and $750?! That might change my decision in itself. That's absurd.

It's absurd but it does go to first year's tuition

I think the April 1st deadline is more absurd than the amount, although both are kind of ridiculous.

Ahh.. what are usual deadlines?

[OtterLaw]

I'm still waiting on my admissions package. Can someone please share the deposit amounts and deadlines?

$750 due by April 1 or it goes to $1000

Whoa seriously? April1 and $750?! That might change my decision in itself. That's absurd.

It's absurd but it does go to first year's tuition

I think the April 1st deadline is more absurd than the amount, although both are kind of ridiculous.

Ahh.. what are usual deadlines?

All of the schools I have been accepted to are late April or May 1st. It kind of forces someone to make a decision pretty early ahead of other seat deposits. Hell at the rate my cycle is going, I might not even hear from some schools until April, so I'm hesitant to commit that early anywhere.

[texasrangersjb]

I'm still waiting on my admissions package. Can someone please share the deposit amounts and deadlines?

$750 due by April 1 or it goes to $1000

Whoa seriously? April1 and $750?! That might change my decision in itself. That's absurd.

It's absurd but it does go to first year's tuition

I think the April 1st deadline is more absurd than the amount, although both are kind of ridiculous.

Ahh.. what are usual deadlines?

All of the schools I have been accepted to are late April or May 1st. It kind of forces someone to make a decision pretty early ahead of other seat deposits. Hell at the rate my cycle is going, I might not even hear from some schools until April, so I'm hesitant to commit that early anywhere.

Know what you mean. Still waiting on a school too... will be glad when this cycle is over.

[BVest]

They do a one time reconsideration correct?

Which they will deny.

[p1921]

They do a one time reconsideration correct?

Which they will deny.

[texasrangersjb]

They do a one time reconsideration correct?

Which they will deny.

Well ok then. Seems like a waste of paper and everyone's time.

[ChampionshipPressure]

If you look at their website, it says they will not consider school ranking/prestige when reconsidering scholarships. Seems like a waste of everyone's time if they don't even care about ranking and will deny anyways. What's the point of the reconsideration form?

[texasrangersjb]

If you look at their website, it says they will not consider school ranking/prestige when reconsidering scholarships. Seems like a waste of everyone's time if they don't even care about ranking and will deny anyways. What's the point of the reconsideration form?

Well if they don't genuinely reconsider scholarships, the benefit of the recon. form is all for SMU. For those who choose not to attend SMU, it sets a bar-- 'Baylor with this amount of money is chosen over SMU with this amount of money this % of the time'. And so on, with other schools. It can give them a guideline by which they can use to strategically dish out scholarships... to help meet their main goal-- that is bumping their medians.

Not saying that's what they do, it's just a thought.

[ChampionshipPressure]

If you look at their website, it says they will not consider school ranking/prestige when reconsidering scholarships. Seems like a waste of everyone's time if they don't even care about ranking and will deny anyways. What's the point of the reconsideration form?

Well if they don't genuinely reconsider scholarships, the benefit of the recon. form is all for SMU. For those who choose not to attend SMU, it sets a bar-- 'Baylor with this amount of money is chosen over SMU with this amount of money this % of the time'. And so on, with other schools. It can give them a guideline by which they can use to strategically dish out scholarships... to help meet their main goal-- that is bumping their medians.

Not saying that's what they do, it's just a thought.

You're probably correct, it's always better to generate your own primary data.

[PatriotP74]

Anyone attend the ASD yesterday?

[thetravelinglawyer]

If you look at their website, it says they will not consider school ranking/prestige when reconsidering scholarships. Seems like a waste of everyone's time if they don't even care about ranking and will deny anyways. What's the point of the reconsideration form?

My guess would be that the only consideration they will give is if you retake the LSAT and score substantially higher. SMU says (and means it) that they give their best offer right off the bat based on your application. The only reason I can imagine that they would change their offer is if something has changed in your application.

[twokings]

I was at admitted students day and felt about five years older than others. Does anyone have stats on the average age of 1L students?

[BVest]

I was at admitted students day and felt about five years older than others. Does anyone have stats on the average age of 1L students?

For entering class in fall 2012, mean age for the day program was 23. There were a few of us 30-somethings in the class, but not that many. 5 or 6 perhaps. Top end was 39.

Evening program was older (26 or 27, IIRC).

ETA: I knew I'd posted this somewhere:

Code: Select all

Start Fall  2012   2011  CHANGE
FULL TIME			
N Students   154    158     -4
Med GPA     3.74   3.72   0.02
Med LSAT     164    165     -1
Avg Age       23     23      0

PART TIME		
N Students    64     73     -9
Med GPA     3.49   3.57  -0.08
Med LSAT     160    160      0
Avg Age       27     29     -2

BTW, the info from the school just said "average." I assumed that meant mean since they said "median" where they clearly meant it.

[p1921]

That's probably around the same it is now. There's a good mix of k-jd and people a year or two out of undergrad, with a respectable group in their late 20's-early 30's. A few that are a little older, but not many. I can't speak to the evening program though, but I would imagine BVest's number are still close.

[PatriotP74]

Anyone planning on attending the April 1 ASD? Had to switch last minute.

[thetravelinglawyer]

I'll be there April 1

[PatriotP74]

I wonder if there is enough interest in SMU to create a SMU page in the class forums? Anyone here pretty set on attending?

[sneijder]

I wonder if there is enough interest in SMU to create a SMU page in the class forums? Anyone here pretty set on attending?

There has been in the past. So, why not? **Kanye shrug**

[BeatriceButler]

I wonder if there is enough interest in SMU to create a SMU page in the class forums? Anyone here pretty set on attending?

For what it's worth I put down my deposit on Tuesday so I guess you could say things are getting pretty serious.
But yeah there was a page for last years class that was decently active. I just don't have the initiative to do that myself. Will gladly contribute though if someone else ends up making one.

[PatriotP74]

I wonder if there is enough interest in SMU to create a SMU page in the class forums? Anyone here pretty set on attending?

For what it's worth I put down my deposit on Tuesday so I guess you could say things are getting pretty serious.
But yeah there was a page for last years class that was decently active. I just don't have the initiative to do that myself. Will gladly contribute though if someone else ends up making one.

Bored at work so figured why not, here's a link for everyone!

http://www.top-law-schools.com/forums/v ... 9#p9203689

[PatriotP74]

Has anyone submitted the scholarship negotiation form? If so anyone heard anything back?

[HomesickTexasn]

Has anyone submitted the scholarship negotiation form? If so anyone heard anything back?

I sent one with a nice email about a month ago to admissions. I received a confirmation of receipt from someone about a day later and haven't heard anything from them since....