Almost half of all applicants to Southern Methodist University don't get in. The great majority of successful applicants have grades and standardized test scores that are significantly above average. In the graph above, the blue and green dots represent accepted students. You can see that the most students who were admitted had high school averages of "A-" or higher, combined SAT scores of about 1700 or better, and ACT composite scores of 24 or higher. The higher those grades and test scores, the better your chances are of winning admission. You'll notice that nearly all applicants whose scores placed them in the upper right corner of the graph were accepted.
In the middle of the graph, however, you'll see quite a few red dots (rejected students) and yellow dots (waitlisted students) hidden behind the green and blue. Many students with grades and test scores that were on target for Southern Methodist University did not win admission. Note also that some students were accepted with test scores and grades a little bit below the norm. This is because SMU, like most of the country's top private universities, uses The Common Application and has holistic admissions. The SMU admissions folks take into consideration the rigor of your high school courses, your application essay, extracurricular activities, letters of recommendation, and life experiences. The music, theatre and dance programs also have required auditions, and art students are encouraged to submit a portfolio.
To learn more about Southern Methodist University, high school GPAs, SAT scores and ACT scores, these articles can help:
- Southern Methodist University Admissions Profile
- What's a Good SAT Score?
- What's a Good ACT Score?
- What's Considered a Good Academic Record?
- What is a Weighted GPA?
- Articles Featuring Southern Methodist University:
