Mustang StartUp
The Fall 2023 Campus Life Modules open early May and are a required item for completion for new students. Incoming students who have paid their deposit will receive an email with a link to complete this virtual orientation requirement. Please make sure you're checking your new SMU email address!
Students admitted for Summer 2023 and Fall 2023 will receive information about their Mustang StartUp in late April 2023.
Mustang Startup is a comprehensive virtual orientation experience designed to introduce new students to the SMU community and help them transition to the Hilltop. The experience involves a range of activities aimed at helping new students acclimate to campus life, register for courses, and complete required milestones. Below is a brief overview of the checklist of items.
New students are required to submit the SMU Health History Form, which includes your Meningitis A vaccination documentation before you can gain access to The PACC (Pre-Advising Canvas Course). Please review the health history form and vaccination requirements by clicking on the title of this section. Click the "Electronically Sign & Submit the Health History Form" button at the provided link to start the process.
We'd like to learn more about you as you start your journey here on campus. Your answers to the brief survey questions below, which will be kept private, help us learn more about the students while be coming to SMU in the Fall of 2023. They also help us make your transition to SMU as smooth as possible.
These interactive modules will introduce you to the SMU Academy, Spirit, People, Campus, and Community. Deposit-paid students can begin completing the Campus Life modules on May 8. All new students are required to complete these modules by August 1 for students deposited by July 15 and August 10 for all others.
The PACC prepares you for your advising and registration experiences and walks you through important aspects of the SMU Common Curriculum. It will open for first-year students on June 1 and May 8 for Transfer students. You must complete The PACC prior to setting up an advising appointment and registering for class. You must submit all required documents in order to complete The PACC and schedule an appointment with an academic advisor. Click the section header to view your status.
Calling all new Mustangs and their family members! Join us this summer for Red, Blue, & YOU! This weekly podcast series will help you prepare for life on the Hilltop, and each month we will host live Q&A’s to help answer your burning questions. Tune in to stay up-to-date on important information, tips, and for a chance to win some fun prizes along the way! These sessions start in June.
Small Groups are student-only virtual sessions designed to connect with Orientation Leaders and other new Mustangs.
You will sign up for a virtual advising appointment with your Academic Advisor following completion of The PACC. Your Advisor will guide you through the enrollment process and help you plan for your SMU academic career! New students will start advising during the PACC and then complete it later in the summer.
Every new Mustang needs an SMU ID Card. Must be submitted by July 5. Students living on campus will not receive housing assignments if they miss that date! This will become available one week after your deposit is paid.
We take a team approach to your success on the Hilltop. There are many campus partners contributing to helping you make a smooth transition to campus. Below you'll find a few campus partners with specialized information that can help set you up for success.
DASS is the primary contact for all SMU students with disabilities. Students requesting services and accommodations through Disability Accommodations & Success Strategies (DASS) must complete and submit an online Accommodation Request Form along with supporting documentation to determine eligibility for services.
The Financial Aid Office is committed to serving students by providing information to secure the necessary financial resources to meet their educational goals and financial obligations to the university. Our financial aid advisors offer personal attention to help explore a multitude of available scholarships, grants, loans, and payment plans.
Learn more about payment options and view payment due dates on the Office of the University Bursar's website.
The International Student & Scholar Services team is excited to welcome you to SMU, Dallas and the United States.
Please review this page as it contains information on what you need to do before you arrive to campus and during your first week at SMU.
Check out the dates and deadlines for new students and transfers. Milestones marked with a FY are for first year students and TR are for students transferring to SMU. Anything without a specific designation is applicable to all students!
Deposit deadline for FY students.
Campus Life Modules Open (All)
Transfer PACC Opens (TR)
Housing portal opens
The PACC Opens for FY students
RLSH priority deadline for students seeking housing
Complete the application in the housing portal
Staggered enrollment available for FY students
Deadline to submit ID photo for on-campus students. TR- submit within two weeks of deposit being paid.
Incoming student move-in
Stampede in-person orientation events for all students!