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AARO: First year & First-Year Transfer students
AARO is the first part of the orientation process designed to assist you in making a comfortable transition to University life at SMU. We have consistently received positive evaluations of the AARO program since it was first offered in 1966.
AARO is a two-day program for both First-Year and First-Year Transfer students who will be enrolling in Fall 2008 at SMU. Sessions are designed to offer information to assist you in your transition to Southern Methodist University. Programs provide academic requirements and expectations, campus resources, involvement opportunities and the chance to meet current students. During your AARO session, you will also meet one-on-one with an academic advisor and register for fall classes.
You cannot be advised or register for classes until your admission deposit is paid, and your final transcript from previous colleges and universities has been received and processed by the Division of Enrollment Services. This process takes a minimum of two weeks.
Each of the 12 AARO sessions will accommodate 120 new students and their family members. All new students, including those from the Dallas-Fort Worth area, are required to stay overnight in McElvaney Hall. Staying on campus provides an opportunity to experience residence hall living at SMU and to interact with the upperclass orientation student leaders also living in McElvaney Hall. Breakfast, lunch and dinner will be provided on the first day and breakfast and lunch on the second day.
Check-in for AARO will be held at 8:00 a.m. on the first day of each session. Activities will conclude at 5 p.m. on the second day, so please make travel plans accordingly. Confirmation of your assigned date will be mailed from our office within 5 business days of receipt of your reservation. Please verify this information carefully. Students who arrive late, or arrive on an incorrect session date, cannot be accommodated.
During your two-day AARO, you will attend several academic information sessions to help you plan your academic program. You will meet one-on-one with an academic advisor and register for fall classes. In addition, you will have the opportunity to learn about available campus resources, opportunities to get involved, and have a chance to interact with current students and other first-years.
After you have paid your deposit to SMU, New Student Programs will mail you an orientation brochure with information on how to register for AARO and Mustang Corral. An AARO information brochure will also be mailed to each deposit-paid student in early June. Please read the entire brochure before attending AARO.
Please DO NOT make travel arrangements until you have received a confirmation email for your AARO session. Registration for AARO will be available in March for students who have paid their deposit.
Bring The Family!
We encourage all family members to attend AARO with their students. In addition to attending some of the academic sessions with your students, we have planned some specific activities for parents and families. The registration fee for family members is $60 each and covers the cost of meals and program materials. There is limited on-campus housing available for family members for $40 per night. We encourage family members to make a reservation at our host hotel:
HiltonDallas – Park Cities
5954 Luther Lane
Dallas, TX 75225
214-368-0400
Click Here to Make a Reservation
AARO Sessions:
| Session 1: June 30 - July 1 | Session 7: July 17-18 |
| Session 2: July 2-3 | Session 8: July 21-22 |
| Session 3: July 7-8 (Honors) | Session 9: July 23-24 |
| Session 4: July 9-10 | Session 10: July 28-29 |
| Session 5: July 11-12 | Session 11: August 1-2 |
| Session 6: July 14-15 | Session 12: August 4-5 |
AARO Fees:
| Parent/Guest Fee | $60 |
International AARO:
For all international students, you may request any AARO session that is conducive to your travel arrangements. A special session has been set aside for International Students and Americans living abroad on Tuesday, August 19. The parent/guest fee for this program is $15. Registration is now available online!Honors Students:
All honors students receive an invitation to join the Honors Program. There is an AARO deigned specifically for Honors Students on July 7-8 (Session 3). Honors Students may attend any AARO session.
