MEDIA RESOURCES

DATE: August 19, 2005

CONTACT: communications@mail.cox.smu.edu

SMU Cox Admits Strongest Class of Business Scholars Ever

Average SAT Score of 1336 for Incoming Business Class

DALLAS (SMU) – For the Cox School, 2005 marks the fourth year since implementing its unique Business Scholars program. The class of 2009 includes 149 scholars, up from 120 when the program began in 2002, with an average SAT score of 1336 – the highest since the program’s inception.

The program was created to identify highly qualified students for admission to the Cox School as first-year students, where they have early access to Cox programs, advisors, and career counselors. The program also provides Business Scholars with activities designed to help them explore the business world, enhancing their experiences by exposing them to business much earlier in their education.

SMU Cox recruits the best and brightest high school talent for the Business Scholars program, making it one of the most selective in the nation. In order to recruit these students, the BBA Admissions Department visits over 200 high schools per year.

“These students represent the future, not only of business, but of our society. They are bright, articulate, academically and socially engaged, and well rounded. They are scholars, but they are also athletes, leaders, volunteers, artists, musicians, and entrepreneurs,” said Stephanie Dupaul, director of BBA Admissions. “By aggressively recruiting prospective students nationwide, we have nearly doubled the number of candidates for the Business Scholars program, and have seen close to a 30 point improvement in the average SAT score for Business Scholars.”

The creation of the scholars program opened doors for the Cox School to recruit in high schools nationwide, maximize scholarship opportunities for these exceptional students, and encourage the type of broad based, honors level education for which SMU and Cox are known.

The 2005 Fiske Guide to Colleges commends the Cox School’s strong ties with the Dallas business community, claiming “SMU is all but the alma mater of the Dallas business and professional elite.” In addition, U.S. News & World Report announced today its annual ranking of Best Business Programs, and SMU Cox ranked among the top 15 private schools in the nation.

“The creation of the Business Scholars program had an immediate impact on the Cox School of Business,” said Albert W. Niemi, Jr., dean of the Cox School. “By increasing the number of prospective students and applicants who plan to major in business, we have seen a transformation in the number and quality of students who are interested in receiving a Cox BBA – an increase that benefits the Cox School, the University as a whole, and our corporate contacts.”

About SMU Cox

SMU’s Cox School of Business offers a full range of business education programs, from BBA and full-time MBA to Professional MBA (PMBA), Executive MBA (EMBA), customized Lockheed Martin MBA Program, Masters of Science in Accounting, and Executive Education. With educational experiences like the SMU Cox Business Leadership Center (BLC), Caruth Institute of Entrepreneurship, American Airlines Global Leadership Program (GLP), and the Associate Board Executive Mentoring Program combined with an international alumni outreach of more than 29,000, it is no wonder SMU Cox is ranked among the top business schools nationally and internationally by major publications including BusinessWeek, Economist, Financial Times, Forbes, The Wall Street Journal, and U.S. News & World Report. At SMU’s Cox School of Business, what happens in the classroom is just the beginning.

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