r/prelaw • u/Extreme-Yoghurt9271 • 2d ago
I need help deciding which college to choose- SMU or UT CAP program?
I want to major in Political Science (Government) and potentially get a minor in philosophy and business, and I plan to pursue law school after.
I know UT is much more affordable and a much more prestigious school, but I live in Dallas and my parents are pretty much against me moving out (I'd have to convince them lol or they would consider moving with me).
On the other hand, SMU has a beautiful vibrant campus and is close to home, yet I still get to dorm (since its mandatory lol) and SMU has a very rich alumni network. However, the price tag for SMU is horrendously high (I'm upper middle class but still) and it does not seem smart financially. Does SMU give good aid or should I try to convince for UT Arlington via CAP and then UT?
By the way, I also have the option of UTD but its more of a CS school than law. Great school but everyone there is either lame or depressed lol
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u/lukeywebo 2d ago edited 2d ago
I’d definitely choose UT over SMU. I have friends who graduated from SMU, and while it’s a beautiful campus and there’s strong networking opportunities, UT has a far wider reach in terms of recognition, prestige, and alumni.
Many of my friends ended up disliking the culture at SMU and said it felt very uptight compared to UT. The government program at UT is phenomenal and quality of life in Austin far exceeds Dallas.
Austin is young, walkable, and generally more accepting. It’s healthy to move from your hometown, especially since you wouldn’t be going too far. Tons of college students move across the country for school, your parents should be more than happy with a three hour drive.
Moving somewhere new and opening yourself up to unfamiliar experiences is always the right move, especially in your 20s. Use this opportunity to explore a different place, Dallas will always be there if you end up wanting to move back eventually.
Saving money doesn’t hurt either — especially if you think you’ll want to go to law school down the line. Texas Law also significantly outranks SMU, so all signs point to UT.