Which is right for me: Early Action, Regular Decision, or Early Decision?
Early Action: Apply by November 1, submit your portfolio by November 15. The benefit of applying Early Action is that a student will receive their portfolio results and their SMU admission decision by mid-December. If you apply Early Action, but do not submit your portfolio by November 15, your application to SMU will be deferred until Regular Decision. Early Action is not binding.
Regular Decision: Apply by January 15, submit your portfolio by February 1. Regular Decision applicants typically receive their portfolio results in mid-late February and their SMU admission decision by late March.
Early Decision is a binding application whereby students commit to attend SMU if admitted: Be sure to review the Early Decision FAQ. Early Decision I: Apply by November 1, submit your portfolio by November 15, receive portfolio results and SMU admission decision by mid-December. Early Decision II: Apply by January 15, submit portfolio by February 1, receive portfolio results in mid- to late February and SMU admission decision by early March.
Information for transfer students:
Fall Transfer: Apply by April 1, submit your portfolio by August 1
Spring Transfer: Apply by November 1, submit your portfolio by November 1
Note that all transfer students are required to complete college algebra or a college-level math course before transferring to SMU. We strongly encourage you to plan ahead and check with your transfer admission counselor to ensure that you have satisfied this admission requirement. Plan ahead to optimize your possibility of earning a Transfer Scholarship, and check out the Transfer Equivalency Guides.